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Guinea pig who has been diagnosed with bloat

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We’ve got a guinea pig who has been diagnosed with bloat. He is 5 years old and means the world to me. I really don’t want to lose him. Vet has given him a “laxative†to try and force the trapped bloat out and he has also put him on baytril in case it’s a bacterial infection. He is slowly going downhill, he hasn’t eaten or drunk anything in days, he isn’t passing anything and I really don’t know what else to do. We’re syringe feeding him some fibrous food which was given to us by the vet and he is taking it but he still isn’t eating anything or drinking anything for himself. Does anyone have any ideas what we can do for him? Anything we can try and give him to pass this bloat through? I really don’t want to lose this guy as we’ve had him a long time and he means the world to me. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance
 
Hi Misty, I am sorry your guinea is in such a critical condition. He is doing well at 5, I do hope he can get over this illness.

Has he been x-rayed to check that a blockage is not causing difficulties?
What medications has he actually been given, and when?
Is his abdomen still tight and swollen?

I would be reluctant to advise syringe-feeding until a blockage has been ruled out; in normal circumstances, a guinea who isn't eating would be syringe-fed but you do have to be careful with bloated piggies. If a blockage has been ruled out, then do syringe-feed as much as possible. The lack of poop could very easily be due to lack of food, in which case it can take a good day or so of very regular syringe-feeding to see any output again. Are you syringing him some water too? Hydration is also very important.

In terms of a cause for the bloat, what did he have to eat in the 24 hours before he developed the symptoms?
 
He wasn’t x-rayed at the vets yesterday, vet said he couldn’t feel anything solid blocking his stomach etc and I would have thought that if the vet genuinely thought it was something solid he wouldn’t have recommended syringe feeding him….

His abdomen is swollen still but I wouldn’t say it was necessarily tight just swollen. He was given a laxative to try and force it out and some baytril. He was given the injection yesterday evening to try and force it along and he was given some baytril last night. He will be given some more of that this evening.

He is getting some watered down syringe feed. Is water recommended in addition to this? Vet didn’t say anything about that.

He hasn’t eaten anything really since Saturday. He has plenty of hay and pellets. He was given some carrot on Saturday which he normally has but he didn’t touch it then. He did go out on the grass on Sunday and he did eat a little bit but not much. He had some food in his mouth at the vets yesterday and he couldn’t check his teeth because of it. I did advise the vet that he had been put on rabbit food, from guinea food and we were advised that it would be ok for them but we would need vitamin C supplement which he has been given. Vet did say chances are it wouldn’t be because of the change in diet but he said put him back on guinea food just in case. Other than that nothing out of the unusual
 
If you're confident with the vets diagnosis then there's no reason not to syringe-feed - I had to ask and mention the concerns about syringe-feeding bloated piggies to better understand his condition, as the advice you receive depended on your response. I hope that makes sense!

Acute cases of bloat tend to require fairly intensive care, regular medication and syringe-feeding, but it can be overcome. Do you know the name of the "laxative" given? One of the most common medications that appear to be given in such an illness is Metaclopromide, which helps stimulate the digestive system in an attempt to get it moving again.

The most useful medication I've personally used to treat bloated guinea pigs is Buscopan. It's usually marketed for IBS symptoms, but one tablet crushed (and syringed in 1ml water) helps significantly with my two guineas who suffer chronic bloat. However I am unsure if Buscopan can be given 'alongside' Metaclopromide or other medications, so perhaps it is worth discussing with your vet.

When you syringe-feed, alternate mouthfuls/syringes of food with a bit of water. Also syringe a little water into his mouth at the very end of the syringe-feed, to clean the back of his mouth a little. (It seems many piggies are terrible about letting food sit in the back of their mouth for a long time!) How much syringe-food are you able to get into him at each feed, and how often? Piggies who are not eating anything at all for themselves generally require at least 60ml per day, spread out between at least 4-6 feedings.

The change in diet is a possible cause, some particular foods or changes in the diet can upset the digestion of some guineas. I know a handful of people who feed rabbit food to their guinea pigs but it isn't something I would usually recommend, even with the Vitamin C supplementation.

I hope he's able to pick up very soon.
 
The vet has said it could possibly be a physical blockage (have spoken to him this morning) but he didn’t actually feel anything but he isn’t prepared to rule it out entirely. He says we can go down the x-ray, blood test etc route but he is reluctant to do all this because of his age.
I can’t remember off hand the name of the laxative given. The vet described it as a pusher. Something that he hopes will push the bloated area down his system and out. Can always ring up and get the name of it from my account if needs be. Do you know if Buscopan is readily available? In shops or anything or is it specifically from the vets? Also would it possibly makes things worse if he is suffering from a physical blockage? We’re able to give him a good 5-10ml of the fibrous food at a time and he is getting fed every 2-3 hours. I’m not really sure if that’s enough or whether we should be pushing for any more.
I know that our vet tried to look in his mouth yesterday at his teeth but couldn’t see them because of the food he had there. I’m going to try and tempt him with some lettuce. I really don’t want to lose him but he just doesn’t look like he will pull through so I want to do everything I possibly can for him without letting him suffer.
 
I understand...sometimes you fight hard for them and they pull through, sometimes they don't. Sometimes it takes a long time to see any particular improvement. It sounds like you are doing your absolute best for him, I really hope he does come through this ok.

Buscopan is an over the counter medicine, it is licensed for humans and not guinea pigs though so it's best not to mention that you need it for a guinea pig. If you could find out the name of the 'laxative' it would be useful. The Buscopan data sheet states:

Concomitant treatment with dopamine antagonists such as metoclopramide may result in diminution of the effects of both drugs on the gastrointestinal tract

I may be wrong, but to me that means that if you give both Buscopan and Metaclopramide, the effects of each drug are lessened. So finding out what has already been given to your guinea will help you figure out if there is anything more you can do at home for him.
 
http://www.oginet.com/pgurney/bloat.htm

this is from peter gurney web site help it helps

bloat is horrible when Beckham got bloat he sort of made a coughing noise & went to his left side & had a wet chin plus he's mouth kept opening like he wanted to be sick i know it was bloat as he had an x ray done & could see it

really hope your little one pulls though it xx
 
Bloat from a gas build up is most unlikely. The pig would be dead by now.
At that age you must consider the possibility that he is starting to "shut down".
Does he want to eat, is he lethargic?
 
Bloat from a gas build up is most unlikely. The pig would be dead by now.
At that age you must consider the possibility that he is starting to "shut down".
Does he want to eat, is he lethargic?

no he doesn't trying to syringe-feed him but thats a challenge because i don't know how much he actually getting inside.
he sat on my arm at this very moment, managed to get 2 ml down him but no more yet
 
Think this could be the end of a great 5 year life, he is leaning over to one side now and he keeps shaking (twitching) every now and again.
Any ideas what can be done to help him?
 
so sorry to hear your little guinea pig not well.......just keep him warm....lots of cuddles! x
 
No ideas, but you have my sympathy :-(
 
Oh, just say your latest reply - I am sorry :-(
 
i'm so sorry you were with your baby when he needed you the most
run free at the bridge little one :(
 
I'm so sorry he didn't make it. You did everything you could for him, he made it to a good age. Big hugs to you. xx
 
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