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Help with illness?

Julesie

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This morning I was told that Mumen (my neutered boar) was not quite right and he seemed a little unstable on his feet.
I went to check on him (I'm also ill with a very heavy cold) to find the girls rushing to me for their food as usual but Mumen walked away and into the corner. He then bit on the bar and held on with his teeth. He stumbled a little and almost fell over.

I immediately phoned my nearest vet whose not cavy savy but the only one I could get him to and he checked him over. He suspected somehow Mumen has hurt his lower body somehow as he would cry if touched there and his legs kept seperating. He called a more cavy savy vet. He gave Mumen some pain relief in the form of an injection and I've been feeding him critical care as often as possible.

During this time he seemed very dull eyed and was mostly flopped, seemingly lifeless. After the vet he was the same until roughly half an hour before the 4.15 appointment when he seemed livelier, even running away from me when I went to give him CC which he hadn't ran previously.

So I took him to the cavy savy vet, she took an xray and it turns out he has a problem with the bones just under where his ribcage turns into the single spine. Roughly 2 of the discs. We have no idea how its happened as there's nothing but flat surface in the cage.

Anyway, since then I've bought him home with instruction to give him more painkiller at 11pm as he got his first lot at 11am. At 5pm feeding he had a slice of cucumber and a piece of lettuce which I was happy about as other than the Critical care he hadn't eaten anything today.
I just went to check on him again and this time he's back to being lethargic. I took him out for more critical care and he's back to chewing randomly on anything that isn't edible. He was doing it a few times earlier, eating paper, random bars (he's never chewed them before), fleece or my robe. He then bit me. He doesn't seem to be purposely biting things to eat or for any reason that I can see, other than just to do it?
He's just not acting how he normally does. He's a laid back piggie who just potters around happily, content to be bossed around by his ladies or wooing them.

I'm really confused on whats wrong. Is it all to do with his spine pain? Or is there something else also? Would the pain relief cause him to act so weirdly? Could the chewing be a tooth problem? He almost seems in his own little world.

The girls aren't really bothered by him at all.

I really don't know what to do.
 
As he improved with his first dose of pain relief l suspect it is pain that is making him behave oddly.
I suggest discussing with your vet either a higher dose of pain relief or giving more often.
Also l had a piggy with spinal issues who responded well to gabapentin. It relieves nerve pain and can be given alongside metacam and other pain killers.
Keeping him warm may help, nursing him on vet bed as his mobility is affected and maybe a smaller cage to encourage rest, gut stimulants may improve his appetite as pain slows the gut.
I do hope he improves soon
 
As he improved with his first dose of pain relief l suspect it is pain that is making him behave oddly.
I suggest discussing with your vet either a higher dose of pain relief or giving more often.
Also l had a piggy with spinal issues who responded well to gabapentin. It relieves nerve pain and can be given alongside metacam and other pain killers.
Keeping him warm may help, nursing him on vet bed as his mobility is affected and maybe a smaller cage to encourage rest, gut stimulants may improve his appetite as pain slows the gut.
I do hope he improves soon
Thank you.
I have metacam for his pain relief. Do you think it would be safe to give him it 3x a day rather than the suggested 2? He's very miserable at the moment and I can't give him it for another two and a half hours yet according to the instructions.
He's in a large CC cage with his two girls but he's not really moving. He's just cuddled up in one spot, only moving when I take him out for critical care then put him back in.

What are some gut stimulants I can use?

Thank you for responding.
 
Thank you.
I have metacam for his pain relief. Do you think it would be safe to give him it 3x a day rather than the suggested 2? He's very miserable at the moment and I can't give him it for another two and a half hours yet according to the instructions.
He's in a large CC cage with his two girls but he's not really moving. He's just cuddled up in one spot, only moving when I take him out for critical care then put him back in.

What are some gut stimulants I can use?

Thank you for responding.
What dose is he on? Is it dog or cat metacam? How much does he weigh?
The vet can prescribe something like Zantac or Emeprid to help. Is he pooing and peeing ok?
 
What dose is he on? Is it dog or cat metacam? How much does he weigh?
The vet can prescribe something like Zantac or Emeprid to help. Is he pooing and peeing ok?
0.21mls every 12 hours and its dogs metacam

He weighs 1100

He is pooing, I'm not sure about peeing as his bedding doesn't really show and he hasn't peed while I've held him. He did pee at the vets this morning though.
 
0.21mls every 12 hours and its dogs metacam

He weighs 1100

He is pooing, I'm not sure about peeing as his bedding doesn't really show and he hasn't peed while I've held him. He did pee at the vets this morning though.
That's quite a low dose of metacam for his weight so it should be fine to repeat it now.
I would contact your vet first thing and ask for the dose to be increased.
My vet prescribes 0 4ml /kg of dog metacam twice a day in acute pain situations. But talk to the vet first.
It's good that he is pooing. Maybe syringe him some extra fluids as if he isn't going to the water bottle he may be dehydrated.
Let us know how it goes tomorrow
 
That's quite a low dose of metacam for his weight so it should be fine to repeat it now.
I would contact your vet first thing and ask for the dose to be increased.
My vet prescribes 0 4ml /kg of dog metacam twice a day in acute pain situations. But talk to the vet first.
It's good that he is pooing. Maybe syringe him some extra fluids as if he isn't going to the water bottle he may be dehydrated.
Let us know how it goes tomorrow
Thank you. I just gave him it and he's now perked up a little bit and eating some orchard oxbow hay.
I've been giving him a little bit of water between feedings and lowered the bottle so its head height.

Thank you. I will x

Just wanted to offer support - it's not easy when a pet is sick
Thank you so much! I'm scared to go to bed as I'm not sure how he'll feed in that time.
 
Thank you. I just gave him it and he's now perked up a little bit and eating some orchard oxbow hay.
I've been giving him a little bit of water between feedings and lowered the bottle so its head height.

Thank you. I will x


Thank you so much! I'm scared to go to bed as I'm not sure how he'll feed in that time.
You have to look after yourself so that you can care for him.
How is he this morning?
 
You have to look after yourself so that you can care for him.
How is he this morning?
That’s true.

He’s not doing well. I can’t figure out how to feed him. He refuses at the moment. We managed to get him to eat some off a spoon at 6am but now at 9 he won’t take any. I tried to give him apple as he’s never had it before and I thought it might tempt him but he won’t eat it.
I don’t know how to force him to eat the critical care because I can’t pick him up because of his spine.
I feel such a failure as I usually just pick them up and force it down and I can’t with him. I only managed a quarter from the syringe and 1ml of water from it.

The girls aren’t helping as the youngest keeps stealing all the food I’m trying to tempt him with despite putting the same and even more over their side.
 
I’ve gently wrapped fleece around him. This is him right now. As you can see not very well :( 19E26F4C-ABC7-41B1-ABDC-F685491AF06B.webp
 
Try sitting him on your lap, facing away from you. Hold the top of his head with your fingers and one thumb on the side of his head. Use some force but not too much. Then poke the syringe in the side of the mouth until he starts biting it and do a little at a time feed. This is how i manage it
 
Try sitting him on your lap, facing away from you. Hold the top of his head with your fingers and one thumb on the side of his head. Use some force but not too much. Then poke the syringe in the side of the mouth until he starts biting it and do a little at a time feed. This is how i manage it
is that ok to do though with his spine? I’m hesitant lifting him up as i was yesterday but he seemed happier to take it while sitting in the cage.
I’ll give it a try
Thank you
 
is that ok to do though with his spine? I’m hesitant lifting him up as i was yesterday but he seemed happier to take it while sitting in the cage.
I’ll give it a try
Thank you
I dont know actually. May be best to call your vet and ask
 
Thank you me too :(
He’s not! I only got him last year. He’s roughly 2
Still a young lad. All the best. I'm not very experienced but i have syringe fed an old boar with cancer for a month straight. Was easy when he got used to it , but i was able to pick him up and he was eating a little bit for himself still but not enough to keep his weight up. Just enough to stop his gut from stopping
 
Still a young lad. All the best. I'm not very experienced but i have syringe fed an old boar with cancer for a month straight. Was easy when he got used to it , but i was able to pick him up and he was eating a little bit for himself still but not enough to keep his weight up. Just enough to stop his gut from stopping
Yeah he's a young boy so I don't want to give up on him. I've managed to syringe feed quite a few piggies in the past but I was able to be a bit rougher with them, but with Mumu I'm scared to touch him much. The vet said they can't help when I phoned for advice.

Mumu did eat a little veg last night by himself and some orchard hay but today he's not interested.
 
Yeah he's a young boy so I don't want to give up on him. I've managed to syringe feed quite a few piggies in the past but I was able to be a bit rougher with them, but with Mumu I'm scared to touch him much. The vet said they can't help when I phoned for advice.

Mumu did eat a little veg last night by himself and some orchard hay but today he's not interested.
Tough situation your in isnt it. 🤔 hopefully you will find a technique for him
 
I remember when one of my sows misjudged a jump , she was checked over by a vet - no broken bones - but , she " took to her bed " for a couple of days . I was getting very concerned about her, but , in hindsight, this was natures way if helping her heal up. My vet prescribed Dog Metacam 0.4 mls twice daily - and she clearly needed this amount of pain relief.
 
Tough situation your in isnt it. 🤔 hopefully you will find a technique for him
It is. You just want to do whats best for them.
I still can't figure out how he even got hurt. His cage has nothing with ramps or anything to climb on. It's completely flat, even the hay is in a box on the floor.
 
I remember when one of my sows misjudged a jump , she was checked over by a vet - no broken bones - but , she " took to her bed " for a couple of days . I was getting very concerned about her, but , in hindsight, this was natures way if helping her heal up. My vet prescribed Dog Metacam 0.4 mls twice daily - and she clearly needed this amount of pain relief.
I'm going to up the dose he's getting as 0.2 really doesn't seem to be enough.

I'm glad your little girl was okay in the end xx
 
He looks very poorly poor boy.
If you pick him up wrapped in a cosy or fleece that will support his spine. Try and get little and often into him. I agree about upping the pain relief. He may need a stronger painkiller.
I can't believe that your vets say they can't really help. Where abouts do you live?
 
He looks very poorly poor boy.
If you pick him up wrapped in a cosy or fleece that will support his spine. Try and get little and often into him. I agree about upping the pain relief. He may need a stronger painkiller.
I can't believe that your vets say they can't really help. Where abouts do you live?
I’ll try that thank you
I’m going to change to 0.4 rather than 0.2.
I live on Hatfield Hertfordshire
 
He looks very poorly poor boy.
If you pick him up wrapped in a cosy or fleece that will support his spine. Try and get little and often into him. I agree about upping the pain relief. He may need a stronger painkiller.
I can't believe that your vets say they can't really help. Where abouts do you live?
The vet part i thought the same about
 
I’ll try that thank you
I’m going to change to 0.4 rather than 0.2.
I live on Hatfield Hertfordshire
Could you go to one of our recommended vets in your area?Recommended Guinea Pig Vets
Or visit Simon Maddocks at the cat and rabbit clinic in Northampton. He is an excellent vet
 
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