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Listless piggie

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Leigh P

Junior Guinea Pig
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HI

This is the first time I have used this Forum, but am a regular visitor to the Pet Forum Community.

My piggie, Sausage, is a boar who is not yet 1 year old. Today he is unwell and I have an awful feeling that we will lose him.

A few months ago he started to drink a lot, but not every day. He has been eating well and regularly "mounting" his fellow boars! This morning I went to feed all 3, but everyone was quiet which made me look into the bedroom of the hutch. Sausage was lying quietly and I knew he wasn't well. Since that time I have given him a syringe full of water on the hour, and also 2.5 mg of anti-biotics that I had in the cupboard (still in date), just in case. He seems to have lost weight, and is very quiet, not eating at all. I've made a bed for him in the corner of the hutch where he is presently lying.

Can anyone give me some insight? Obviously the vets are closed, and to be honest I'm not sure if I want to muck him around too much.

If anyone could give me some advice, I'd be so grateful.

Thanks
Leigh
 
he needs to eat too, can you mush up some pellets in water and syringe to him?

I hope someone comes around soon who knows more about ill piggies...

Fingers crossed for you and wee Sausage!
 
Thanks for your help. I am sure there are some pellets in the dry food I give him so will bring him in and give this a go. Not sure whether to bring him inside for the night as I always think they feel happier when they are with their "friends".

Leigh
 
Can you bring all inside, just for tonight? They are definitely happier with their friends!

The water you are syringing, could you make that haywater? You make it by soaking hay in water overnight and then drain. It keeps for 24 hours and gives some nutrients from the hay, but he will still need fibre from the pellets too.

Hopefully Laura or some other piggy savvy person will be online soon!
 
HI

I will make some hay water overnight, and have just started soaking some pellets too. Will give him the food asap.

I will bring the hutch in this evening, so that I can keep up with the feeding/watering. I just have an awful feeling that he's not going to make it as he's got weak so quickly. Anyway, I'll give anything a go.

Thanks again for your help, and am hoping that "Laura" will also be online soon!

Leigh x
 
Laura here - thanks to Petra for alerting me to this thread. :)

Welcome to the forum Leigh, I'm so sorry to hear one of your guineas is not well.

I have a few thoughts in my mind at the moment. Firstly, is there any chance he could have eaten something he shouldn't? It would be useful to rule out whether he could have been poisoned.

If he was an older pig I would suspect heart trouble, it's not impossible in younger pigs but for such a sudden switch from fine to listless, along with continual weight loss, it can point to heart problems.

Final thought thus far is diabetes, and I am wondering if his sudden "collapse" is related to insulin levels. You mention increased water consumption and weight loss, these are the two symptoms of diabetes - but do note that they are also symptoms of other illnesses too; diabetes is just one suggestion. More info here:
http://members.shaw.ca/patriciasimon/diabetes.htm

Do you know how much weight he has lost in what period of time? What antibiotic tablet are you giving?

I agree with Petra about bringing all your piggies in tonight, veyr important especially for the poorly chap. Also agree with syringe-feeding, this is going to be an important part of his recovery if he is to have a chance and not develop more difficulties; you need to aim for at least 10ml every 3-4 hours to reach a total of at least 60ml within 24 hours.
The fluids are good, another important thing to keep up.

Fingers crossed he's hanging on and you'll be able to get to the vets tomorrow. xx
 
Sadly we have just lost Sausage. He went very quietly, none of the fighting, rolling and kicking that I have experienced with all my others.

I can only think that there was something wrong with him all along, ie heart or kidney problem. Anyway, hes out of harms way now.

Thanks for all your replies...

Leigh
 
Aaawww... I'm so sorry, Leigh... Please stay here anyway. Maybe you want to post a picture of Sausage in our rainbow bridge thread? I'd like to see him, love the name!
 
OH no. I was hoping for a turn around. Sorry to hear he didn't make it! 8...
 
Hi Leigh,

Just logged in, read your post and was really hoping that things had improved for little Sausage, enough so that you could take him to the vets for further treatment tomorrow..................

So I am so saddened by your loss, what a sad time you have had today. I've lost my lil girl Daisy, (last Monday), so can appreciate the emotions you may be going through. Thinkin of you and of Sausage's little mates too.

RIP little Sausage. XX
 
I'm so sorry you list him, Leigh. I am glad it was a peaceful passing.

Rest well, dear Sausage. xx
 
Really sorry to hear that poor Sausage didn't make it. Even if you don't understand what caused his problems, I hope you can find consolation in the knowledge that he's now free of any ailments and in a better place. Take care x
 
Dear All

Thanks so much for your kind words. Its now two days since Sausage passed and I have stopped crying!

His "brothers", Chip and Fudgie, seem to be OK now - not so quiet. I think they will be fine and are having a break from being "mounted" all day! Sausage was a pretty randy little thing, so I think he had quite a happy and active time on the planet! I am given a bit a comfort that he passed so quietly, just seemed to drift away.

Thanks again for all your kindness and assistance.

I will stay with the forum now and hope I'll be able to help others with guinea pig experience I have!

Leigh x
 
Leigh P said:
Dear All

Thanks so much for your kind words. Its now two days since Sausage passed and I have stopped crying!

His "brothers", Chip and Fudgie, seem to be OK now - not so quiet. I think they will be fine and are having a break from being "mounted" all day! Sausage was a pretty randy little thing, so I think he had quite a happy and active time on the planet! I am given a bit a comfort that he passed so quietly, just seemed to drift away.

Thanks again for all your kindness and assistance.

I will stay with the forum now and hope I'll be able to help others with guinea pig experience I have!

Leigh x
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It will be great to have you on the forum. :)
 
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