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Male Guineq Pig Whats Wrong?

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Sabrina25

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi everyone I need some help so my 4 year old male guinea pig wasn't eating a lot and spent a lot of time in his house also making noises which I thought sounded like reaching/being sick , I took both my pigs to the vets on the 8/12/2016 , the vet said that his heart and lungs are healthy ,they both had 2 shots and each had medicine to take and some food to use in a syringe if he is not eating, 3 days after he seemed to be improving he played an interested in food, although he wasn't eating as much as he usually would he was eating , but today he seems to be back to were he was 3 days ago, he ate a little bit and he is making those noises, I've recorded those noises which I will attach if I can, my vet bill was very expensive ( £97.89 ) I've been giving them there medication as described I just don't want it to be waste , and cant seem to find an answer any help would be grateful.
 
What medications where you given home with you and why where the injections? Did the vet say why he was given them and what they where for? Or did they give them as a "just Incase?"

If maybe suggest trying to find a more piggy savvy vet to get a diagnosis:

If he still isn't eating right then step back in with syringe feeding. Weigh him Daily at the moment to make sure you are feeding enough to maintain his weight.

Hope u can find a piggy savvy vet soon x
 
Hi thanks for reply the vets I went to are specialised in small animals but I will look into a second opinion.
The medications are.....
Stewie (4 years old) - metacam oral suspension for cats 4kg dose once daily.
1 shot for anti inflammatory.
1 shot for pain relief and oxbow critical care syringe food- I don't have a syringe to use I'm trying to find where to buy.
 
I have heard a retching sound once before and that was my Buzz when he had Pneumonia, but if the vet says his lungs are healthy hopefully it is not that.

I agree with Adelle about finding a more savvy vet and stepping in with syringe feeding in the meantime.

Here is our guide
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
 
You can usually get a 1ml syringe from a pharmacy or your vets should give you some.
 
OK I will look the only thing the vet mentioned was how he was a bit uncomfortable and kept backing into her when she felt his gut and that normally they sit still and are not bothered she showed me this with my younger pig he didn't care he sat there still.
 
Small animals usually mean cats and dogs to vets, not guinea pigs.

Is your piggy eating anything at all now?
 
Sabrina25 said:
Oh and she said he has this when the may have a lump or tumour of some kind but she couldn't feel anything there.
Click to expand...

Has he has a scan? It could also be a bladder stone. That would be the next step to investigate what is going on.

Please start syringe feeding ASAP - it is absolutely vital that you keep his guts going. Our illustrated step-by-step guide for first timers gives you all the information from how to prep the syringe, to how to prepare any syringe feed (whether that is recovery formula powder or mushed up pellets) to how to hold the guinea pig and how often/how much to feed and water.
Loss of appetite is typical for any pain issue. The first food group that is usually dropped is hay, which makes up to 80% of the daily food intake and which you can't control. You need to switch to weighing daily at the same time to monitor the actual food intake for the time being.

We have got a recommended UK vets locator on the top bar, but can provide a link for recommended vets in some other countries. Since we have got members and enquiries from all over the world, it helps a lot in being able to help you most efficiently if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details. Please click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thank you.
PS: Please always ask any vet what they are injecting. Refuse any steroid injections which are harmful to rodents, but often given to ill cats and dogs.
 
Hi yes he is eating a little just not as much as he usually would I've searched for specialist guinea pig vets and it recommends the one I go to I picked him up earlier to check over him and I noticed that when I touched his belly he would try to nibble my finger also he doesn't seem to be pooing that much as normal he still eating hay I know what the shots were she told me I just can't find my vet receipt which has the exact name the vet seemed to know quite a bit she also demonstrated to me on how to syringe feed him they just didn't give me a syringe I've purchased some of Amazon will be delivered tommorow he has not had a scanned the vet said do his medication for 7 days if I'm not happy and has been no improvement bring him back.
 
Sabrina25 said:
Hi yes he is eating a little just not as much as he usually would I've searched for specialist guinea pig vets and it recommends the one I go to I picked him up earlier to check over him and I noticed that when I touched his belly he would try to nibble my finger also he doesn't seem to be pooing that much as normal he still eating hay I know what the shots were she told me I just can't find my vet receipt which has the exact name the vet seemed to know quite a bit she also demonstrated to me on how to syringe feed him they just didn't give me a syringe I've purchased some of Amazon will be delivered tommorow he has not had a scanned the vet said do his medication for 7 days if I'm not happy and has been no improvement bring him back.
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Is his abdomen tense at all? Does it look bloated or sound hollow when tapped?

If you feel he is worse then I'd take him back to the vet.

It's better to be safe than sorry with these little guys. I'm off to the vet with one of my youngsters later as she just doesn't seem right.. Can't quite put my finger on it but it's best to go too soon than too late x
 
You can get syringes from your vet. Pop back and ask for one/some :)

It sounds like he could be bloated. I have had one piggy that did the retching noises when he was bloated. If it is bloat then it is life threatening. I would recommend that you take him to the vet asap
 
Sabrina25 said:
Hi yes he is eating a little just not as much as he usually would I've searched for specialist guinea pig vets and it recommends the one I go to I picked him up earlier to check over him and I noticed that when I touched his belly he would try to nibble my finger also he doesn't seem to be pooing that much as normal he still eating hay I know what the shots were she told me I just can't find my vet receipt which has the exact name the vet seemed to know quite a bit she also demonstrated to me on how to syringe feed him they just didn't give me a syringe I've purchased some of Amazon will be delivered tommorow he has not had a scanned the vet said do his medication for 7 days if I'm not happy and has been no improvement bring him back.
Click to expand...

You can always get a 1 ml syringe (which is the best, but needs the tip cut off for easier feeding) from your local pharmacy or vets. Please start as soon as possible. Decreased pooing and smaller poos reflect a diminished food intake. You can see whether he lokes to eat mushed pellets from a spoon until tomorrow to help prevent the guts from slowing down and to keep as much fighting strength. You also always have the right to ring up the clinic and ask the receptionist to look up what medication he has got.
If it is a recommended vet clinic, then you don't have to worry about having been given bad meds.

I assume that you vet has checked for signs of bloating?
 
Yeh she did check.
She was she was only a lil concerned about the uncomfortableness he showed we she was feeling his gut she did say that the next step if no improvement would be an x-ray I just gotta try get the money together it cost me alot the first time I used the last but of money I had at the vets I get payed on the 15th of this month so I hope I can sort something out .
The noises he is making though scare me as I don't know what they are is there anyway I can post a video to show?
 
Sabrina25 said:
Yeh she did check.
She was she was only a lil concerned about the uncomfortableness he showed we she was feeling his gut she did say that the next step if no improvement would be an x-ray I just gotta try get the money together it cost me alot the first time I used the last but of money I had at the vets I get payed on the 15th of this month so I hope I can sort something out .
The noises he is making though scare me as I don't know what they are is there anyway I can post a video to show?
Click to expand...

Yes, please post a video if possible; has your vet checked the mouth to see whether something is stuck that could cause the retching/coughing?
You have to upload a video on a public setting elsewhere though and then link it in, as it is not possible on this forum - it would cost too much than we can afford with running this forum by members donations.
 
Sabrina25 said:
Someone mentioned to me Infacol for bloating should I give this a try?
Click to expand...

Please don't treat on spec if your vet hasn't found any indication for bloat and his belly is blown up and tight, just tender. Infacol collects any gas into one large bubble which could make things worse in your case.
 
Has anyone looked at his teeth? Sometimes pigs will make a 'coughing/throwing up/gagging' noise if food gets stuck in the back of the throat when eating due to tooth overgrowth. It would be a fairly easy thing to check, at least to rule it out before you move onto more extensive testing.
 
The last time my pig had an upper respiratory infection he sounded like that.
 
It doesn't look like you were given any antibiotics. Did the vet rule out an infection?
 
He sounds congested bless him. Place a bowl of steaming water next to his cage with a blanket over one side of the cage and the bowl (make sure he can't access the bowl) to try and clear it.

I'd definately take him back to the vet to query a chest or upper airway infection x
 
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