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Specialist Help!? Guinea pig losing weight!

MafaldaM33

MafaldaM33

Junior Guinea Pig
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First of all, I want to apologize for any mistake, since I'm am not very fluent in English.
I really need help thought: my guinea pig started to have dental issues on June 26th and she's been on baytril for almost 4 months. She lost since then almost 200 gr (she weighted 850, she is now to 650, not losing weight anymore, but not gaining either). After 3 dental surgery (where they filed her teeth) she can eat everything normally, but she doesn't eat the necessary amounts. Her poops are small, but in the right form (not soft or anything) but she doesn't have much apetite, doesn't care much about the hay ( before the problems she would eat 2kg of hay in one week) or her veggies. The vet that I went to did not gave us any probiotic or anything like that.. She just took baytril and some pain killers (tramadol- I don't know if this the same name) and meloxivet. I really don't know what to do, since I just find out about this forum, and I see everyone talking about probiotic and some medication to open their apetite. Here on my country there is only this exotic vet, and I don't trust him anymore. I was wondering if anyone could give some advice about this matter. She just stopped taking baytril and other medication.
Thanks to everyone who tries to help. I really appreciate it.
 
Hello, welcome to the forum.

Sorry to hear your piggy is poorly.

Could i first ask your location?

If she can eat that is a good thing and points to there not been a dental problem anymore if she chews okay.

What is the vets idea on her been on Baytril for 4 months?

tramadol- is a strong pain releiver

meloxivet - is metacam i believe

You say she is now off the meds? Has there been upturn?
 
sport_billy said:
Hello, welcome to the forum.

Sorry to hear your piggy is poorly.

Could i first ask your location?

If she can eat that is a good thing and points to there not been a dental problem anymore if she chews okay.

What is the vets idea on her been on Baytril for 4 months?

tramadol- is a strong pain releiver

meloxivet - is metacam i believe

You say she is now off the meds? Has there been upturn?
Click to expand...

Hi, I'm from Spain. Border with Portugal. The vet doesn't seem to think that being on baytril all this time is bad for her. He said that she should be on baytril to prevent infections on her mouth. I can really tell that the meds change her behavior, in every aspect: less apetite, doesn't move alot or run/play like she did before. I took her off her meds 1 month ago for the first time, after one week of taking baytril, meloxivet and tramadol (after her second dental work- the vet file the molars on the first, but forgot to do some work on the incisors which lead to her not being able to pick hay or other food) Since this happened, she had to do the 3rd dental work (28/08/2018) since the teeth grow back. . Now, as I said, she can eat but she won't eat much (hay or veggies) and she won't move much. I took her off her medication yesterday. Didn't see much of a diference, although I know is probably still too early to see big diferences. It really concernes me that she didn't had anything to help her to open her apetite or get an upset tummy. The vet told me after I did some pressure to give her "sucralfate" in powder. Not really sure about it though.
Thanks for the answer, by the way. I really appreciate it.
 
HAve you rang round all the vets local to you to see if any are cavy savy? By the way your english is excellent :)
 
Hi! Please start syringe feeding with mushed up pellets and water (cut off the syringe tip as shown) to help keep the weight up. Our syringe feeding guide has got a chapter on caring for dental piggies.
Antibiotics affect the gut bacteria that are vital for the digestion as well as the bacteria they are used against. Baytril is well known to be an appetite dampener/killer. You can also consider adding some probiotic to help counter that.
Dental problems can affect the digestion, too. Sadly the majority of vets haven't any experience with guinea pig dentals.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

As to the sucralfate, I am tagging our more medication savvy members for you.
@Jaycey @Abi_nurse @helen105281

Our member most experienced with dental problems is @furryfriends (TEAS)

In order to allow us to help you, please add your country to your details so it appears with every post you make. Here is how you do it:
Since we have got members and enquiries from all over the world, we find it very helpful if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details so we can always tailor any advice to what is relevant and available where you are straight away. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to account details and then down to location. This makes it appear with every post you make and saves everybody time. Thank you!
 
sport_billy said:
HAve you rang round all the vets local to you to see if any are cavy savy? By the way your english is excellent :)
Click to expand...
I went to the only exotic vet that we have here!
sport_billy said:
You could ask the vet for some gut stimulant to give at home such as
Metoclopromide (Reglan or Emeprid)


Guinea Lynx :: Digestion and Motility Drugs

Am tagging in @Jaycey @furryfriends (TEAS) @Wiebke @helen105281 to see if they can offer any advice.
Click to expand...

It wouldn't hurt to keep her on meloxivet in case there is any pain there. So her last dental was on 28th August, she chewing okay now?

HI! Thanks for answering again :nod: ! She is eating normally, doesn't do the strange movements with her mouth or let's little pieces of food fall while she eats. The tiny amount of hay that she does eat, she does it easily and doesn't struggle at all. My concern is that the amount of time that she was on AB and pain relievers could cause some stomach problems - since she doesn't have much apetite or eats like she used to. I'm going to start giving her some critical care to see if helps, since she takes it really well. Another thing that really bothered me was that the vet said that she wouldn't probably gain her weight back. This to me was really suspicious - I mean she is just 2 years old, was incredibly happy and good eater, I really don't get how he could assume that.
One friend of mine ask if I wanted to give her some probiotics - and I don't really know it that could help restored her digestive/intestinal health. so I still don't know if giving her would hurt or not.
Thanks again for helping me :) ! I'm going to call the vet and ask about the metoclopromide, and see what he thinks about it.[/QUOTE]
 
Wiebke said:
Hi! Please start syringe feeding with mushed up pellets and water (cut off the syringe tip as shown) to help keep the weight up. Our syringe feeding guide has got a chapter on caring for dental piggies.
Antibiotics affect the gut bacteria that are vital for the digestion as well as the bacteria they are used against. Baytril is well known to be an appetite dampener/killer. You can also consider adding some probiotic to help counter that.
Dental problems can affect the digestion, too. Sadly the majority of vets haven't any experience with guinea pig dentals.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

As to the sucralfate, I am tagging our more medication savvy members for you.
@Jaycey @Abi_nurse @helen105281

Our member most experienced with dental problems is @furryfriends (TEAS)

In order to allow us to help you, please add your country to your details so it appears with every post you make. Here is how you do it:
Since we have got members and enquiries from all over the world, we find it very helpful if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details so we can always tailor any advice to what is relevant and available where you are straight away. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to account details and then down to location. This makes it appear with every post you make and saves everybody time. Thank you!
Click to expand...

Thank you so much! As I said to sport_billy, I just started to give her critical care that she eats really well (she really doesn't like her pellets mushed with water). I wish my vet would have told me that AB would affect her so much on her apetite. I'm going go get the probiotic and give her that as fast as possible. She had her dental work done 3 time, since the 2 first time the vet did some mistakes, but now that part seems to be solved (although if she doesn't start to eat hat, the teeth will grow). I had to really push the vet and research alot in order to make him do his job correctly which is ridiculous.
Thanks for helping me ! I'm going to really take a look in the medication that you guys said and the probiotics!
 
sport_billy said:
Probitics may help with the gut flora

Pro C is one used over here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vetark-Professional-PCR10-Proc-Probiotic/dp/B0056ZTDI4

Avipro Plus (available online):
Avipro Plus - From £7.42

Bio Lapis (available from the vets or online):
Search Results : VetUK Selling Pet Meds and Pet Products to Pet Owners.

Its good news she chewing okay, maybe try getting her some hay such as Oxbow Orchard Grass to tempt her to eat or Oxbow Timothy Hay
Click to expand...

Thanks again! I'm going to get her some new hay from the exotic place! She used to really love timonthy hay from oxbow and bunny! Let's see if some different hay from oxbow does the trick!
 
Never met a piggy that didn't love orchard grass
 
MafaldaM33 said:
Thank you so much! Luckly I know this amazing local store that as all of the hays available! Thank you so much!
Click to expand...

Good stuff :)

Is that your little one in your avatar? What is her name?
 
sport_billy said:
Never met a piggy that didn't love orchard grass
Click to expand...
It's the one with the yellow package? I'm really gonna give it a try! She usually eats the Timothy hay from oxbow that has a red package.
 
MafaldaM33 said:
It's the one with the yellow package? I'm really gonna give it a try! She usually eats the Timothy hay from oxbow that has a red package.
Click to expand...
Yes thats the one
 
Please keep us updated on her
 
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