Guinea Boar not drinking water or eating, not pooping

[Guineasmama]

Hi all. I have a boar called Squeak, who is approximately 2.5 years old. He was abandoned in a field near my house. Since he joined my family just over 2 years ago, he’s suffered from cystitis every month and has seen Simon at the Cat and Rabbit clinic who advised metacam to help treat it, which works.

Squeak had a case of GI stasis in December 2022 and then last week, cystitis after a 2-3 month break. Metacam took some time so a different vet prescribed Sulfratim (0.3ml dose twice a day). He was on this for a number of days and Friday night, he was drinking a lot of water all day and did a large wee with bloods in it. Next day around midday, he went off his food and there was no more wees and I noticed he wasn’t drinking water.

I started syringe feeding critical care and water every 2-3 hours and stopped the sulfratrim. Gave him 0.2 metacam morning. He was doing poops but they were stuck in his anus and some were stringy.

Odd few wees he has done are now clear. I started to give him 0.5 emipred as prescribed by vet in December (she gave me enough if it happened again).

Took him emergency vets today and they gage him emeprid injection and subcutaneous water as he was dehydrated.

Came home, small wee but barely nay poops. I called the emergency vets and she said I could give another 0.5ml of emeprid 8 hours after injection which I did. I’ve syringe fed up and have been giving him fibreplex since Saturday.

I’ll be going to by usual vets tomorrow if he pulls though that night but any more advice? He’s not eating any veggies or fruit or even his hay and pellets.

I can’t give him poo soup from another piggy and am keeping him on a head pad as vet said his temp was 35 and should be 38 (on and off I’ve got this to 37).

2-3 hourly feed’s though the night again… I’ve started to alternate syringe feeding between mashed up nuggets as he ate those now and critical care (which he is started to spit out).

Temperature taken from rectum (vet showed me how to take it).

 

[piggieminder]

Digestive Disorders: Not Eating - Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement)

Bumping up for a health expert

 

[piggieminder]

Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre

I hope you find the two links helpful. Sorry not both in one post, the forum no longer lets me link more than one at once.

 

[lauryn1289]

No really useful advice unfortunately I’m no expert. I know antibiotics can affect their appetite and digestive system sometimes. When I’ve needed to syringe feed I did 5-20mls every 2 hours, or as much as the piggy will take which is usually 5-10mls realistically, but I’d always have pushed for at least 7mls. Syringing some water is also a good idea if he’s dehydrating but no matter how much I syringe water I still get nervous doing it incase I aspirate a piggy. I’ve always done the tiniest little drops of water, 0.1ml at a time, with the syringe not as far back as with critical care, with plenty of time to swallow but someone more experienced might tell you that’s totally wrong. If he decides he accepts ANY veggies at all having some water on them is usually a good idea too. If he’s spitting out the critical care could it be that the syringe isn’t far back enough? The links posted above are really helpful

There isn’t a whole lot you can do I think apart from keep him warm and syringe feeding to keep his system moving. Sending you and your little boy best wishes, I hope your vet appointment goes well. Thinking of you both

 

[Guineasmama]

He just took his last breaths and died whilst I was hugging him. Thank you for replying.

 

[lauryn1289]

He just took his last breaths and died whilst I was hugging him. Thank you for replying.

Oh no I’m so sorry for your loss. I lost 2 boys in the past few weeks, and I had a similar situation as you for one of them. He stopped eating and pooping normally after surgery, round the clock syringe feeds and care and passed away on my bed being tucked up in some blankets. I was hoping for a better outcome for you It’s so difficult when we try our best to save them

You did everything you could by the sounds of it and you sound like a wonderful owner and he was lucky to have you, please take care of yourself

 

[Guineasmama]

I'm so sorry for your loss, 2 guineas lost too. That is so heartbreaking.

I’m so heart broken. He said same symptoms in December and fought it. I see his heart stopped beating and it took some time for him to stop breathing after. Not sure he could hear me, but I kept repeating how loved he is, and what a pleasure it was him being a part of my family. I see my guineas as my children. House will be very quiet without him. Whenever he was picked up, he used to Squeak, hence his name.

Thank you for being so compassionate. Apart from my family, you’re the 1st I told. I now have to tell over 700 villagers in a Facebook group, as he and another boar (who died 2 months after we found the pair) were initially abandoned in a nearby field and although the other boat was captured within hours of being found, Squeak took over 30 hours.

He was quite the news in village.

Just can’t get over the pain he was in the time before he passed.

 

[piggieminder]

I am so sorry. Sending you hugs.

 

[lauryn1289]

I'm so sorry for your loss, 2 guineas lost too. That is so heartbreaking.

I’m so heart broken. He said same symptoms in December and fought it. I see his heart stopped beating and it took some time for him to stop breathing after. Not sure he could hear me, but I kept repeating how loved he is, and what a pleasure it was him being a part of my family. I see my guineas as my children. House will be very quiet without him. Whenever he was picked up, he used to Squeak, hence his name.

Thank you for being so compassionate. Apart from my family, you’re the 1st I told. I now have to tell over 700 villagers in a Facebook group, as he and another boar (who died 2 months after we found the pair) were initially abandoned in a nearby field and although the other boat was captured within hours of being found, Squeak took over 30 hours.

He was quite the news in village.

Just can’t get over the pain he was in the time before he passed.

It’s awful when their last days aren’t as pleasant and happy as we’d love them to be, but you clearly gave him a wonderful life and you were doing everything you could to try and continue giving him a wonderful life which is invaluable. It’s a shame their lives have to end to begin with, but their lives not always ending the way we’d like them to always seems a bit hard to accept.

One of my boys I lost Kip was 6.5, but the one Bobby was the same age as your Squeak and it’s another layer of sadness for them to die so young. From the sounds of it, Squeak had more love and happiness in just 2 years than a lot of animals have in their whole lifetime, and knew exactly how loved and cherished he was. He was really lucky to have found you. I’m so sorry again, be gentle with yourself and I’m thinking of you

 

[Guineasmama]

It’s awful when their last days aren’t as pleasant and happy as we’d love them to be, but you clearly gave him a wonderful life and you were doing everything you could to try and continue giving him a wonderful life which is invaluable. It’s a shame their lives have to end to begin with, but their lives not always ending the way we’d like them to always seems a bit hard to accept.

One of my boys I lost Kip was 6.5, but the one Bobby was the same age as your Squeak and it’s another layer of sadness for them to die so young. From the sounds of it, Squeak had more love and happiness in just 2 years than a lot of animals have in their whole lifetime, and knew exactly how loved and cherished he was. He was really lucky to have found you. I’m so sorry again, be gentle with yourself and I’m thinking of you

Oh my, you’ve really made my cry. Thank you for your really kind and comforting words. Takes one caring Guinea pig mother to understand another. People I work with can’t understand why I am so upset. Never had pets so I guess they don’t understand and don’t have the empathy. But thank you. Photo of my little Squeak

 

[eileen]

I'm so sorry for your ordeal.Squeak will have known how much you loved him.you did everything possible to give him the best care.He was a very handsome man.take care of yourself.x

 

[lauryn1289]

Oh my, you’ve really made my cry. Thank you for your really kind and comforting words. Takes one caring Guinea pig mother to understand another. People I work with can’t understand why I am so upset. Never had pets so I guess they don’t understand and don’t have the empathy. But thank you. Photo of my little Squeak

Anyone who can’t understand the loss of a pet has clearly been missing out on a lot! They bring so much happiness to our lives for however long they’re able to stay with us. I understand your grief completely, I’m just so sorry that you’re experiencing it. Give yourself all the time you need to feel whatever you need to. If you ever feel up to or would want to do it the OTRB part of this forum was helpful for me when my boys passed. Making a post dedicated to them gave me space to remember them in a way that no one in my life really understood.

What a gorgeous little boy! I rarely see any black and ginger piggies. He was so handsome and photogenic

 

[Wheekallweek]

What a gorgeous piggy he is. So sorry you've lost him, but at leat he was at home with you. Imagine if he'd never been found and come home to you! He was so lucky you were there to look after him.
RIP Sweet Squeaks, over the Rainbow Bridge
We've had a fair few strays at the rescue... Funnily enough all of them were black and ginger apart from one who had a bit of white on her too!
All piggies are special... But stray piggies are even more special, we have even decided to keep one here

 

[Guineasmama]

What a gorgeous piggy he is. So sorry you've lost him, but at leat he was at home with you. Imagine if he'd never been found and come home to you! He was so lucky you were there to look after him.
RIP Sweet Squeaks, over the Rainbow Bridge
We've had a fair few strays at the rescue... Funnily enough all of them were black and ginger apart from one who had a bit of white on her too!
All piggies are special... But stray piggies are even more special, we have even decided to keep one here

I agree, all guineas are special but tbt strays get that little bit extra since we don’t know how they were treated in previous home. I’ve just been to vets to send Squeak off for his cremation. Last goodbyes sting. Over the rainbow Squeako… I bet he will stand on his hind legs to see what’s over the bridge! Xx

 

[Guineasmama]

Anyone who can’t understand the loss of a pet has clearly been missing out on a lot! They bring so much happiness to our lives for however long they’re able to stay with us. I understand your grief completely, I’m just so sorry that you’re experiencing it. Give yourself all the time you need to feel whatever you need to. If you ever feel up to or would want to do it the OTRB part of this forum was helpful for me when my boys passed. Making a post dedicated to them gave me space to remember them in a way that no one in my life really understood.

What a gorgeous little boy! I rarely see any black and ginger piggies. He was so handsome and photogenic

He was so cheeky! He knew where the treats were kept and whenever someone went to that area (would only go there for treats), he would run round his cage to where they were and listen out for the treat box to be shaken. Then he would stand on his hind legs and wait for it to be handed to him in his mouth. Even way he drank from water bottle, was very loud and stylish! None of the 6 piggies I’ve had have done that. Thanks for the advice, I’ll visit that group. Hope you have a lovely day xx

 

[lauryn1289]

He was so cheeky! He knew where the treats were kept and whenever someone went to that area (would only go there for treats), he would run round his cage to where they were and listen out for the treat box to be shaken. Then he would stand on his hind legs and wait for it to be handed to him in his mouth. Even way he drank from water bottle, was very loud and stylish! None of the 6 piggies I’ve had have done that. Thanks for the advice, I’ll visit that group. Hope you have a lovely day xx

He sounds like he was a real character. What a special little guy. Take care of yourself