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Help required for sick piggy.

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mcfly666

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My GF's piggy is quite sick and we need some advice for him...

Piggy is a seven year old bull who's lost quite a bit of weight recently so my GF took him to the vet. The vet said Bib (the piggy) lost 10% of his weight since he has been in last and also has mouth ulcers, and something wrong with his teeth, which is probably why the piggy is not eating/drinking as much and has lost weight.

The vet has given Bib some pain medication (non to take home though) I don't know what meds it was but the vet said its like Honey? Bib also has some Vit C tablets and a 7 day course of antibiotics.

Bib has been eating more since he has been home probably due to the pain meds, but I'm worried that as soon as they wear off..

Anyway, does anyone have any advice? Me and my GF were thinking...

1: Syringe feed the piggy / with watered down pellets

2: Look into safe pain medication, I've heard human calpol is suitable but we dont know the dose and we dont was to 'overload' Bibs system.

3: Make him as comftorbal as possible.

Any advice would be very grateful.
 
Syringe feeding Bib pellets would be a help. You should weigh him daily while he's ill, then you can see exactly if he's getting sufficient food. Probably best not to use Calpol but some owners do use it, maybe someone else will advise. I'd ring the vet & ask if you can buy some Metacam which is good for piggies.
 
Stewybus said:
Syringe feeding Bib pellets would be a help. You should weigh him daily while he's ill, then you can see exactly if he's getting sufficient food. Probably best not to use Calpol but some owners do use it, maybe someone else will advise. I'd ring the vet & ask if you can buy some Metacam which is good for piggies.
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Thanks stewybus, Bib is now sitting on Sarahs (GF) lap and is eating pellets which have been mashed up to mush! The vet was going to give Sarah some pain meds but then thought otherwise, we don't really know why but we are assuming its because the Vit C and Antibiotics will be taxing Bibs system enough already?

We hope he is eating the 'mush' because it's easier for him and not because of the meds but I suspect its a little of both.
 
Has your vet said there is definately a problem with his teeth, if so what is his next course of action, if he is on pain relief that is good, the antibiotics will help clear up the ulcers yes, but that is only part of his problem by the sounds of things. Where are you based, could you look for a cavy savy vet on the link given for recommended vets. If he does have problems with his teeth they need sorting ASAP.
Simon Maddock at the Northampton cat and rabbit clinic is excellent with dental piggies.
 
sharonS said:
Has your vet said there is definately a problem with his teeth, if so what is his next course of action, if he is on pain relief that is good, the antibiotics will help clear up the ulcers yes, but that is only part of his problem by the sounds of things. Where are you based, could you look for a cavy savy vet on the link given for recommended vets. If he does have problems with his teeth they need sorting ASAP.
Simon Maddock at the Northampton cat and rabbit clinic is excellent with dental piggies.
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Hi, thanks for your post. We live near Exeter if I can find the link I will have a look at other Vets.

I am only going by what Sarah said and unfortunately she was having trouble taking it all in because the Vet said Bib might not make it. The Vet didnt specifically say anything was wrong with them but said:

They are going brown and does not know why, could be that a one or more of them have died, or could be plaque build up because he has not been eating. Also he said something about 'burring' but didnt explain further than that.

Bib has eaten a fair bit of mushed up pellets on his own and also half a lettuce since he has been back so at least he has taken on some water/food but he does not like the antibiotics given to him and has spat it strait out. I guess that if he has sores in his mouth then medication might sting him a bit?

The medication given to him was Septrin pediatric suspension if that helps?
 
Please do not give him any other pain meds except what is given by the vet as you may cause an overdose or reaction. He certainly sounds like he needs a serious look at his dental health by a specialist. Ulcers are common in pigs who have dental issues.

The Septrin is an antibiotic to cover and infection he may have in gums or ulcers. It may be that he has an abscess under his teet roots.

You need to keep him comfy as piggy pain don't eat and then underweight piggies get ill as they do not have a reserve to help them heal. Keep him pain free using the medication provided at the dose recommended unless vet advice changes as piggies have delicate kidneys which are easily damaged by large doses.

Keep feeding him pellet mush (include some poos from his cage mate if he has one to keep his gut working well) and veggies if he will take them. Often cutting them into spaghetti like strips helps them eat them easier and feed by hand so he doesn't struggle to pick them up. Weigh is a good indicator of health so weigh him regularly. Try to use the same bowl and the same time each day for comparison.

I really think he needs a specialist vet opinion to sort his teeth over multiple visits to give him the best chance of survival. Use our vet locator at the top of the page to find a good vet with dental experience.
 
MerryPip said:
Please do not give him any other pain meds except what is given by the vet as you may cause an overdose or reaction. He certainly sounds like he needs a serious look at his dental health by a specialist. Ulcers are common in pigs who have dental issues.

The Septrin is an antibiotic to cover and infection he may have in gums or ulcers. It may be that he has an abscess under his teet roots.

You need to keep him comfy as piggy pain don't eat and then underweight piggies get ill as they do not have a reserve to help them heal. Keep him pain free using the medication provided at the dose recommended unless vet advice changes as piggies have delicate kidneys which are easily damaged by large doses.

Keep feeding him pellet mush (include some poos from his cage mate if he has one to keep his gut working well) and veggies if he will take them. Often cutting them into spaghetti like strips helps them eat them easier and feed by hand so he doesn't struggle to pick them up. Weigh is a good indicator of health so weigh him regularly. Try to use the same bowl and the same time each day for comparison.

I really think he needs a specialist vet opinion to sort his teeth over multiple visits to give him the best chance of survival. Use our vet locator at the top of the page to find a good vet with dental experience.
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Thanks for your post, I had a look at the Vets list and none are in our area :( Thing is the Vet has not given Bib any pain medication to take home, just a single dose of what was described has 'Honey' We are going to try and give him his antibiotic hidden in some liquidised pellet food as he just wont take it from the syringe. He has started to get grumpy again which could be a good sign or maybe the pain meds are wearing off :(
 
I would definitely ring the vet and ask if you can have some Metacam or similar for Bib. It is important that he's not in pain & the painkiller given at the vets will last less than 24 hours.
 
Rang the Vet and she said the pain medication should last for 24 hours though I find hard to believe. managed to get him to take the antibiotics and a small amount of Vit C and nuggets but no where near enough. Blended some fresh veg together and he is nibbling that every now and then but chews his food for ages and I think he has trouble swallowing.

The Vet said that if it is his teeth they would want more weight on him before they do any sort of operation...

We've just noticed his poos are very small/compact and are strung together on what I can only describe as string I guess we just have to see what tomorrow brings...
 
Sorry to hear Bib is poorly an injection of metacam can last 24 hours or a top end dose orally. However due to pain cuased by teeth issues he will need some more after that so speak to your vet. As others have said the Septrin is an AB and is there in case of infection.

The chewing taking a while is because of his teeth - he will need them looked at. Do you have any syringe feed in such as Critical Care http://www.amazon.co.uk/Oxbow-Critical-Care-Herbivores-Pack/dp/B004W7511K or you can use pellets mushed up. If he is not eating at all you need to aim for around 120ml daily, but if he is eating you can reduce the amount. Please weigh his daily so you get a handle on how much food he is getting in his system.

As for the poo's it is because his system is upset and maybe because there is not enough food going through the guts...

Tomorrow please speak to your vet regarding pain relief for at home (metacam) and also if the poos get any smaller or stop it maybe worth asking about a gut stimulant (metachlopromide) commonly know as emeprid - it is a medicine that keeps the gut moving.

Am struggling to see vets near you but found a few on a few threads on forum:

Woodlands Vets at Ivybridge Vet there is Justine 01752 690999

Will have a dig for anymore for you

P.S. A tip on syringe feeding is to trim the end off a 1ml syringe (make sure the plunger can't come out) This makes sure the food doesn't squirt out at force. Syringe feed from the side of the mouth and slowly allowing piggie to chew
 
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Thanks Sport_Billy I'll give some vets a ring in the morning. The Posloe vet is near us but we are really apprehensive about going there as we feel like they ripped us off by charging £100 for some 'spot on' type mite treatment. The vets we go to now seem really understanding, reasonable and kind. Sarah is going to do an all night vigil with Bib, he has just taken about two tablespoons full of water through a syringe so hopefully he has worked out that the syringe isnt bad and we can do 'little and often' till he is re-hydrated.

His bum was all compacted and I guess he is constipated due to the water loss as it was really hard, smelly and we had to pull it out as a big lump. Can the Vets give him a shot of saline or a salt fluid thing to re-hydrate him as I'm sure the medication will make the fluid situation worse?
 
hi i am sorry bib is feeling awful, first, teeth burring, this is when the teeth are trimmed to a coorect level, using a large file, for the molars and a cutting tool for the front teeth, for this bib would have to be a sleep for.

please ask the vet for fibreplex, bib needs some fibre in his diet, he would normally get this from the hay, and get some critical care food from the vet, this has fibre in it as well.

try and presuade him to eat soft wet veg, like cucumber, or little gem lettuce, not iceberg

as he is on antibiotics he will need a probiotic, i give mine pro-C * can get it from the pets at home stores

weigh him morning and night to ensure he is not losing weight.

cuddles from me hope he gets better soon
 
i also wanted to mention impaction to *, this is a very normal condition, where the poos become impacted in the bum, they clump, and harden, become smelly, my seth has this and everyday i clean out his wee bum i am sorry but it is a messy smelly job, but they really appreciate the help, i use gloves, and a tissue to gently cox the clump out, as it is an uncomfortable condition, but easy cleaned.
 
It's only when you need vets at a time like this you get to find out how good (or bad) they really are. Unfortunately too many vets although fully qualified don't know enough about guinea pigs to give the best treatment & still charge you the earth for themselves to practice on your piggie. It is worthwhile getting in touch with one of the 2 vets that sport_billy mentioned. If you change now you could see real results. I did the same earlier this year with my piggies because Minky had a recurring abscess. This should have been solved with one op but after 2 ops @£125 each it didn't seem to be getting better. I changed vets and when it did come back, the new vet removed it completely with a £65 op & touch wood it's gone for good. I've also had my piggies their with a fungal & Minky with a head tilt & I'm really glad that I changed.
 
Hello, McFly666

I am sorry to hear that your girlfriend's guinea pig, 'Bib', is unwell!

However, when taking everything into consideration, especially Bib's age, personally, unless I was able to arrange for Bib to see a cavy savvy veterinarian/ rodentologists, who could perform dental procedures without anaesthetic, unfortunately, I would have to consider euthanasia as an option!

I do not wish to be that person . . . However, as an individual who has previously been owned by several dental guinea pigs, and an individual who has travelled considerable distances to have their dental guinea pigs examined/ treated by cavy savvy veterinarians/ rodentologists; an individual who has spent a *cough* small *cough* fortune on veterinary fees on said dental guinea pigs; and an individual who has invested untold hours nursing said dental guinea pigs, I would seriously have to consider whether, in these circumstances, it would be kinder to end Bib's suffering, rather than asking Bib - a seven year old guinea pig - to undergo treatment. . .

Certainly, I do not believe that Bib can wait for treatment. However, one must question whether, at his age, and in his condition, Bib would be able to handle, and/ or recover from an anaesthetic.

In conclusion, unfortunately, I can only reiterate that I believe that you have two options - To arrange for Bib to be examined/ receive treatment from a cavy savvy veterinarian/ rodentologists, who can perform dental procedures without an anaesthetic, or to opt for euthanasia . . .

However, one must question whether they trust their animal's veterinarian, and one must question the animal's quality life during, and post treatment.

I am sorry that I cannot be more optimistic.

Needless to say, I am sending you, Sarah, and Bib my best wishes.
 
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I agree with Guinea-pigGaga, it is obviously your decision but it is a matter of weighing up whether your Bib has any quality of life, guinea pigs live to eat and a pig that can't eat is miserable. Keeping him pain free is important too and if your vet is not giving you enough pain relief medication to do so then that needs to be considered too.
 
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