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Guinea Pig Attacked By Dog.

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Murphy

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Hi Everyone,

I'm new to this thread so I hope I've got the proper posting etiquette! 4 days ago, one of my boars was attacked by a trespassing dog. To make a long story short, he is ok but definitely has some brain injury. He was left blind, deaf and appeared to be catatonic. The vet did what she could but we decided to take him home as he was seeming to improve after some pain meds taken in the office.

Well after 4 days, he has only partial sight but is so much better. He is wheeking, cuddling, scampering a bit and is overall very responsive. We are all happy with his improvement. The remaining issue is that he can't feed himself and I have been doing so with vet prescribed food given by syringe. Although being fussy, 2 days ago I got him to eat quite a bit but since then he has been refusing again. Today, I force fed him while wrapped up in a towel as he has lost so much weight on top of it all. He gets excited with food but once he bites down on it he loses interest. I can't really tell if its painful or he just has to learn to chew and swallow all over again as brain injuries go.

It is a messy job so afterwards I took him to the sink for a little wiping down and discovered an enormous anal impaction. He has never had this before. I managed to clean it all out for him with no complaints on his part. He must have been so uncomfortable.

Anyway, I suspect that the food is doing this to him but since he can't get anything else down I don't know what else to do. He can kind of gum down on some lettuce and other soft leaves but doesn't get anywhere enough to keep him well. Either that or the brain injury has affected his digestive system as well. Just wondering if anyone else has dealt with this type of thing? What can I feed as an alternative? His vet prescribed mix is apples, bananas and greens blended with water.
Thanks for any help you can pass my way.
 
Its only 04.34 am in the morning here in the UK, our forum experts will pick this up when they next log in and give you suitable advice. Welcome to our friendly forum, you've come to the right place. ;)
 
Welcome to the forum :( Can you give your location as that will help us to give the right advice. It sounds like he needs some gut stimulant drugs such as Emeprid & Zantac to get his digestive system working again & also some pain medication.
 
I agree with Poppy's Mum he needs pain relief as soon as possible if he is not already on any as a pig that is in pain won't eat. It worries me though that he trying to chew but can't and this makes me wonder if there is something wrong with his teeth or jaw, or he may even have an abcess forming from where he was bitten? was he bitten around his head? Is your vet familiar with guinea pig dentistry?

I also agree on needing gut stimulants to move things through.
 
Thanks.
He is taking pain meds and is on antibiotics in case of injuries we can't see. There were no flesh wounds. He had a bulged out eye for a day and a half though so I know there was pressure around his head. I thought his jaw was broken and it is possible he is still in pain though I am less inclined to think so only because he loves a vigorous cuddle and lets me wash his jaw area as he isn't grooming himself very well yet. He looks more confused and than in pain when approaching food. The enthusiasm for it lasts only seconds, a bit longer with green leaves. I am in California. I gave him his favorite veggies but in juice form with water. He took that without resisting too much. He looks like he's forgotten how to chew, he mostly thrusts his tongue out like a baby does. Don't know if my vet knows piggie dentistry..I will check. What should I look for in his mouth and teeth area? Do I get Emeprid or Zantac at vet or pet store?
Thanks for all the help.
 
I haven't had much experience with wounds but I send BIG hugs to your little buddy and I wish him a speedy recovery. xoxo
 
Your boy could also have suffered gut stasis (guts stopping to work) from the shock, which may explain the congestion and his inability to process food. With a likely infection and the pain from the wound, his appetite will be suppressed. Please keep on hand feeding him, if necessary little but often round the clock. You also need to give him water to prevent dehydration. offer him as much as water as he will take.

For hand feeding, please use a 1ml syringe where you have cut off the narrow tip just below where it widens. Always give about half the syringe in one go. This is about a mouthful and will prevent things from going down the wrong way. Wait until he has swallowed and processed the food before giving him more.

You may want to ask your vet for a gut stimulant on top of all the other meds recommended to help him make it. He will need the kitchen sink thrown at him, but there is still a chance. Your constant home care can make a difference, so don't underestimate it!
 
Thanks everyone I really appreciate all the tips. Pepper is doing very very well today. He seems much happier with the "green juice" I am making him. He even pulls the syringe to his mouth like he can't get enough. There is very little gut movement yet but the change from vet food to green juice was started 14 hours ago so I'll give it a little more time. I should mention that he was still having movements the first 2 days after the dog attack, it was really after getting him to eat fully that he got backed up.

I was able to get a look at the teeth and the lower ones are the tiniest bit wiggly. They only wiggle with his chewing though..almost like they march (left right) in unison with his chewing?!?! Is that normal? (Not the breakage sometimes seen but true wiggling from down in the gums.) And with each drink from the syringe he would bite/tug on my shirt sleeve, like he needs to chew. He is making more chewing movements when eating and less tongue thrusting along with what appears to be increased visual recognition, chatter and even a bit of sassiness! I called the vet and am waiting for a call back. In the mean time are there any veggies I can blend up to help the gut move?

Thanks again!
 
To get the gut to move he needs to have fibre, do you have any of the food the vet gave you left? or if he usually has pellets you could soak them and give them to him all mushed up via syringe. When the vet calls please ask about a gut stimulant. It also may help to massage his tummy with anything that vibrates as this can help get things moving. He will also need plenty of fluids. The green juice is good but veg should be a very small portion of his diet or he could get the runs.

I am not sure about the chewing, if you could film him chewing we could have a look but I think the vet would be the best person to tell.
 
Can you get Fibreplex in California. It's great for getting them to eat again while on antibiotics.
 
Hi Everyone,
Pepper started moving his food! Moving too much in fact as he keeps refusing food in anything but liquid form. He doesn't have the runs too badly as I am trying to keep him hydrated on watered down pellets as suggested. He still gets momentarily excited about solid food but instantly leaves it. If he does have a dental injury that is paining him, the vet said we'd just have to wait to see. He is losing weight and that's the part that concerns me as he is otherwise in good form considering. Should I put him back with his buddy to see if that motivates/teaches him to be more piggie like? It almost seems as if he just doesn't know how to eat unless it comes at him from a syringe.

Thanks again...
 
It does sound like he has something wrong dental wise, the fact he is excited with solids then stops. Has he got any pain meds such as metacam for you to give at home?
 
I agree with @sport_billy , he really needs to see a vet that is competent with dental issues. He can't survive on liquid food as there will not be enough fibre. Putting him back with his friend will help him mentally but he really needs to see a vet who can help with his eating.
 
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