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Help please

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Help please
Hi guys. I have been a member of this forum, but am not really a regular poster although I like to read the other posts.

I am really worried about one of my pigs, Chip (age 3). About 1 year ago, he had a lump removed from him mammary gland. We were told that it was benign although there was another lump the other side that we should keep an eye on. This other lump gradually got bigger although it didn't seem to be causing him any discomfort. A few weeks ago, we took Chip in to have this lump removed and by this time it was quite sizable. The operation was a success and he has recovered well.

Over the past week, Chip has lost a lot of weight. We currently have 3 piggies and Chippy has always been the biggest one with the best appetite. I was cleaning them out on Friday and he wasn't even nosing around which isn't usual so I made a vet appointment for Monday. On Saturday morning, he really didn't look right. We couldn't see that he had eaten any dry food although he had munched on a small piece of cucumber. In addition to the not eating, he had started to make a weird noise when he pooped. Initially, we though that this was becuase of his scar, but we then realised that the two weren't connect.

We moved the vet appointment forward to yesterday morning (Sat) and the vet said that he could feel another lump in his bladder so would need to scan to see what it was.

He called me and confirmed that it was another lump. They could operate, but this would be a lot more intrusive than previous operations, so they would twice about it before doing it. The other option (apart from the unthinkable) is to give him some medicine and see how he gets on which is what we opted for. I also asked them to give me some critical care so I can try and get some nutrition in to him.

Since we have been home, he seems to have gotten worse. He won't eat at all really and I haven't seen him drink at all. We have a 2 tier hutch and he has been sitting upstairs so I have left more food and hay up there for him. His eyes seem dull and I really don't know what to do. How long do I give it without being cruel? I feel like I am being selfish. I have been up for hours as I can't sleep for worrying.

I have given them fresh veg this morning (he lives with one brother) and his little nose went up in the air, but he isn't eating. I am wondering if he won't eat as it hurts him to go to the toilet?

Any suggestions from experienced piggy owners? I would do anything to make him better as I love him so much. I don't want to keep forcing critical care in to him.

Sorry for the novel, I just wanted you to have al of the facts.
 
you need to bring him and his bro indoors and syringe feed him around 120mls a day so aim for around 40mls every 4 hours approx plus water feeds after of around 20mls is he getting probiotics? he will need this...

is he on antibiotics? if so is it baytril? as this can really cause gut problems at times so probiotics is a must.... these can be brought from pets at home and the vet...

also its worth getting so vit c tablets used for humans and add this to the water you are syringing...

also get some Burgess excel pellets and get a small cup full, pour boiling water onto them to cover them, wait 15mins then add more water wait another 15mins then mix with a fork until smooth, wait for it to cool and syringe this or the critical recovery feeds.

he sounds dehydrated so getting food and water into him is a must, also its worth asking your vet for some Metoclopramide this is a gut stimulant and the first one can be injected and then you can give it oral at a dose of 0.5ml-1ml 3 times a day until his poops are normal and he is eating on his own...

if he is not eating now the chance of HIM just starting to eat on his own is low and his gut will also start shutting down if he has no food,

its poss too the op (GA) as knocked him off his feet.

keep on with the syringe feeds but he and his bro need to be indoors and the ill on on a heat mat.
 
also was he having any problems with his bladder before the op? as its poss his bladder is not affecting him but the after affects of the GA and by chance the bladder lump has been picked up....

is he on pain meds??

if not he can be given 0.2mls of calpol used in human babies 3mths plus twice a day and he can also be given 0.2ml of nurofen used for human babies aged 3mths plus twice day, its very safe for them and will not hurt them, but if he is getting pain meds from the vet Metacam then just stick to this one.
 
sorry miss red i see the op was a few weeks ago? when did he come off antibiotics if he was on any?

i would also stick to what i have said in my other posts, but i do think he wouldnt survive another op at the mo with him been unwell, i would defo try what ive said and see how he goes, is he weeing at all? if so what colour is the wee?

i do think you are the best judge of when his time has come as with out seeing him its hard to suggest anything other then the above
 
He is already inside (all of my piggies have always lived in the house, I wouldn't want to put them outside). The hutch is also kitted out with vet bed.

The op was a few weeks ago so I don't think that these two illnesses are connected. He was on Metacam after the op for a week or so. They have also prescribed him this again now.

We weren't aware of the bladder problem pre-op. It may have been lying there dormant and has now started causing problems.

When I move him, he isn't happy. I feel so bad force feeding him.
 
Sorry.

I am so sorry to hear that Chip is unwell, I wish him all my luck. He has had alot of operations, maybe he is constipated? Have you tried any tablets? But I think you should start feeding him with a syringe. If you struggle maybe only feed him little ammounts of food and water in the syringe and then as time goes on give him a bigger ammount in the syringe.

I hope little Chip gets better.

All my love Bobby<3
 
The vet had a good feel of his tummy yesterday and didn't mention any constipation. I don't think that he is pooping as he isn't eating :(
 
I am sorry that Chip is so poorly.

A guinea pig that doesn't eat and drink is a dead guinea pig; the guts must be kept moving if he is to live. You either have to force feed him on Critical Care and water (he must be very dehydrated by now) round the clock or let him pass, either on his own or (if you think that he is in any discomfort) have him pts - for his sake.

There won't be any poops and pees if a piggies has stopped eating and drinking; most piggies who are not well and in pain will lose their appetite.

Sorry about being so brutal, but those are your choices. If you love your piggy as much as you say, you have to make your decisions according to what is best for him, not for you. Even if that means thinking the "unthinkable".
 
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PS: I just wanted to add that I have lost one of my piggies to an abdominal tumor a few weeks ago. An operation was not viable. I decided to let Llewelyn live out his life in peace for as long as he was not in pain (which he thankfully wasn't due to where the tumor was located). Otherwise I would have him pts at any time to spare him suffering, as I have done with others of my piggies. So I know what situation you are in and I can sympathise.

However, you will have to make your choice now whether to try and force feed Chip to give him a chance to live or to let him go. There are no easy choices anymore, and neither are there any right or wrong ones from hereon in.
 
We have been feeding him by syringe every few hours and we have also been syringe feeding him water. We *think* he may have done a couple of poos and there are some which seem smaller than his brothers.

He looked quite lively at his last feed although his head has gone down now that we have put him back.

If he is in too much discomfort, it goes without saying that we will have him pts. We just don't want to give up on him too early and not give him a chance. I'm not sure how long we should give him to start eating of his own accord.
 
It looks like he is coming round - you must be so chuffed! You have to probably continue overnight and perhaps into tomorrow until his peeing/pooing and his weight has stabilised, but you can try offering little bits of his favourite foods at all times, even if he is just nibbling.

Make sure that you weigh him regularly twice daily until he is starting to put on weight again, then you can go to once daily.
 
He seems more bright eyed when I hold him bit they his head is down and eyes almost closed when he is back in the run. I wonder if i am seeing what I want to see (if that makes sense). I'll weigh him at the next feed.
 
They signs are very faint at first, but I am sure that they are there. The trick is to give little, but as often as you can. Add a pinch of probiotics to the Critical Care as well as a bit of vitamin C tablet (you can dissolve 1/8 of a tablet in a little bit of water and syringe that).

It took about three days and nights to bring my Hywel round (Llewelyn's successor) after he developed some rare late complications after his neutering op; a painful swelling prevented him from pooing/peeing and therefore eating just two weeks after Llewelyn had died. It was the combination of a very strong antibiotic of Llewelyn's which I happened to have unused at home and the dedicated round the clock nursing of the rescue lady who took him in again which has saved his life - of course, this all just happenend on a weekend, too! It was the specialist I saw afterwards who couldn't stress enough how important the nursing part was. I am happy to say that Hywel is now a very happy boar having the time of his life looking after 10 girls.

I am sure that Chips can make it for a little while longer!

BIG HUG
 
Nursing a sick piggie is emotionally draining but the rewards are priceless if you succeed. Keep up your excellent nursing of Chippy and sending you loads of good wishes for a full recovery. x x>>
 
Well don't give up on him yet! He sounds a bit better now maybe keep trying! XX
 
Thanks everyone. Your support and advice is much appreciated. x

I have just been updstairs for 40 winks (it has been a loooooon weekend) and I have come downstair to Chip sitting under the hay rack with a piece of timothy hay in his mouth. This is the first thing he has eaten without me feeding him all weekend. And, he moved without me forcing him.

Surely there is light at the end of the tunnel?!
 
Chip seemed quite excited at breakfast time and ate a few pieces of cucumber. He has also started pooping and weeing again. His bum is really dirty though, probably because he isn't moving around much so is just lying in it. He seems to be limping around a bit too so there is obviously still some discomfort.

I'm at work today, but will go home at lunch time. My o/h will finish work earlier than me so won't be late home so Chip will only be on his own for a minimal amount of time.
 
It's me again.....although Chip is now eating some greens, he won't eat pellets or eat much hay. His bum is also dirty with poo and wee. Any thoughts?
 
If he's not moving much wether it's due to pain or something else i would think he's peeing/pooping where he's laid/sitting & because he's not feeling well he's not cleaning himself.
I would take him to your vet & have him seen because if he is in pain he won't want to eat & the cycle of not eating/eating very little - little/no poops - pain continues.

I would keep him well hydrated & give him probiotic in his water, either syringe it into his mouth or offer it to him from his bottle.

Pets at Home sell Probiotic if you haven't got any. :)
 
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