More problems with Dougal - advice please

[hartleyhare]

As mentioned in a previous thread Dougal has been poorly for awhile with sore feet. I don't know if the sore feet ( bumblefoot ) has caused dental probs or the dental probs caused the bumblefoot flare up. Or there could be something else entirely going on. His feet have improved slightly with my treatments of hibiscrub solution and fuciderm but are not completely better. I have just ordered some of the F+M stuff from Gorgeous Guineas to try. He has seen 2 vets neither of which really have much idea what to do about him and I don't know very much about piggies. He is booked in at vets for an exploratory dental on Mon because I don't know what else to do with him to help him.

His weight is continuing to drop. It went up slightly with my syringe feeding and he started eating hay and some harder veg like kale, broccoli. I also saw him nibling on some nuggets so stopped syringe feeding. He seemed to improve in himself as well. At mealtimes he has started coming out to wait for me at the kitchen door to bring the food and he runs along behind me as I'm walking across the room with it. However its clear that he is not eating properly and has refused the nuggets again, although is eating tiny amount of hay. I am going to re-start the syringe feeds. He also has very soft poo's. I did think that maybe the baytril and metacam and possibly ingesting some of the fuciderm might have accounted for this ? I've got some fibreplex, should I also try a pro-biotic too ? Which is best for pigs please ? Any advice wqould be appreciated.

 

[Jerrybelly]

Bumping this up - hoping someone can offer some advice

 

[sport_billy]

Poor Dougal, he is having a rough time. When he is eating is he dropping veg, masticating and making exaggerated chewing motions with his mouth? it does sound as he may have dental issues.

Please weigh daily and supplement with syringe food like Critical Care/Science Recovery or if he doesn't like that some people use mushed up pellets. It is important to keep his weight stable.

The metacam will be helping with any pain and shouldn't be affecting the poo's, however lack of food and baytril may. Worth getting a probiotic to give at a different time ot the baytril such as Avipro-Plus http://www.vetuk.co.uk/dog-suppleme...probiotic-products-c-5_172/avipro-plus-p-1225 This is popular with piggies nad is syringed in water (they like the taste) or sprinkled on food. Fibreplex is a probiotic too but helps firm up poo's so good you already have that.

I have read your previous posts and noticed the closest recommended vet is 80ish miles away from you. I would recommend ringing around as many vets in your local area and ask if any are particularly interested in guinea pigs, that is how we found our current vet.

Hope you can get to the bottom of Dougals problems. Lots of healing vibes to him

 

[hartleyhare]

Poor Dougal, he is having a rough time. When he is eating is he dropping veg, masticating and making exaggerated chewing motions with his mouth? it does sound as he may have dental issues.

Please weigh daily and supplement with syringe food like Critical Care/Science Recovery or if he doesn't like that some people use mushed up pellets. It is important to keep his weight stable.

The metacam will be helping with any pain and shouldn't be affecting the poo's, however lack of food and baytril may. Worth getting a probiotic to give at a different time ot the baytril such as Avipro-Plus http://www.vetuk.co.uk/dog-suppleme...probiotic-products-c-5_172/avipro-plus-p-1225 This is popular with piggies nad is syringed in water (they like the taste) or sprinkled on food. Fibreplex is a probiotic too but helps firm up poo's so good you already have that.

I have read your previous posts and noticed the closest recommended vet is 80ish miles away from you. I would recommend ringing around as many vets in your local area and ask if any are particularly interested in guinea pigs, that is how we found our current vet.

Hope you can get to the bottom of Dougals problems. Lots of healing vibes to him

Hi

Thanks for all that. I have already tried all the vets on the island. Most of them are branch surgeries of the main ones n Bangor. Also, Anglesey appears to be 20 years behind the rest of the UK rolleyes. There is one in Caernarfon that may be better with small furries.

He does not have the usual symptoms associated with dental spurs but does make exaggerated chewing motions when I syringe feed. I did think this was down to him not liking being tipped on his back and a syringe stuck in his mouth. When I do something they don't like both of them make a sort of rumbling noise and start grinding their teeth. He is not taking Baytril now. He had a 5 day course but vet refused to give longer course. Wouldn't give me any metacam either but I have some at home so disregarded what vet said. Tonight he has been running around the room at dinnertime and wheeking at me to hurry up. Its a good sign that he has his ' wheek ' back ? Also more inclined to fight me when being syringe fed/feet creamed.

 

[sport_billy]

It can be difficult to find a vet

Don't take this the wrong way but please don't syringe feed him on his back, this can lead to a great risk of aspiration.
If you have someone else in the house get them to hold him on their lap and syringe feed slowly from the side of Dougal's mouth. Here is a link to Guinea lynx with some tips in it http://www.guinealynx.info/handfeeding.html
The cutting the end off a 1ml syringe is excellent, just make sure the plunger doesn't come out and their are no rough edges. It is easier to suck food up and you are less likely to squirt it out to first which again could lead to aspiration.

The Wheeking is a very good sign! Metacam will help with any Dental pain.

Healing vibes to Dougal

 

[hartleyhare]

It can be difficult to find a vet

Don't take this the wrong way but please don't syringe feed him on his back, this can lead to a great risk of aspiration.
If you have someone else in the house get them to hold him on their lap and syringe feed slowly from the side of Dougal's mouth. Here is a link to Guinea lynx with some tips in it http://www.guinealynx.info/handfeeding.html
The cutting the end off a 1ml syringe is excellent, just make sure the plunger doesn't come out and their are no rough edges. It is easier to suck food up and you are less likely to squirt it out to first which again could lead to aspiration.

The Wheeking is a very good sign! Metacam will help with any Dental pain.

Healing vibes to Dougal

Thanks for that . He isn't flat on his back, I've been holding him on my lap with one hand behind him and securing his head so he is kind of ' sitting ' in an upright position with his back feet against my stomach. But I do take your point entirely. Thanks again for the info and the healing vibes. He ate a few nuggets tonight and demolished his veg like it was going out of fashion.

 

[sport_billy]

Good news on the veg eating! C'mon little Dougal!