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Murphy's ill again, advice please!

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x-vic-x

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Just before christmas Muphy had a bout of diarrhea and he stopped eating for a few days, the vets treated him with baytril and panacur he was then ok until yesterday.

Yesterday he became very quiet again, and last night started with diarrhea and stopped eating (he will eat some lettuce). He is booked in to see the vet at 10:30 but I was just wondering if anyone has any ideas what it could be?

Murphy is a very small piggy and can't afford to loose any weight.
 
Are his teeth ok?

I really hope he's on the mend soon - poor boy - such a worry when they stop eating :( Hope the vets goes well, let us know how you get on

Sophie
x
 
I do send my best wishes for Murphy. My Eliza had some diarrhoea last year so I took her to the vets. He suspected some sort of tummy bug and prescribed her a course of baytril. The diarrhoea stopped soon after she started the antibiotics but she lost quite a bit of weight. My vet also suggested I leave off the veg for a 48 hours and make sure she drank. Eliza's appetite didn't change and she was fine within a week. Good luck xx
 
We have just got back from the vets with Murphy, and the vet and I have decided to get a sample before we start any treatment as Wiebke says it is a recurrent problem. The only problem is we need to get a sample today before 12 otherwise he will have to wait until Monday.

I am still feeding Murphy the veg (he is eating some hay) as it is all he will eat, do you think that could be doing more harm than good.

Also his teeth have been checked and they are fine.
 
If he is only eating veg and not dried food, you should probably continue in small quantities but cut down on watery veg if you can. It is important that he keeps eating x
 
Watery veg can cause diarhhea, but on the other hand, if he's got diarhhea he also needs fluids. You can give him dioralyte.
 
Hi Vicky, I saw your post on RU and replied there, will post here as well though.

It's generally seen that guineas with diarrhoea should be taken off fresh veg altogether for a day or two until their tum has settled; a dry diet will help to get things sorted a bit quicker. Lots of hay, dry food as well.

If you're worried about Vit C, an Oxbow Daily C tablet or 50-100mg Vit C given every day may help. A probiotic may also be helpful - Pro C, Avipro Plus or Bio-Lapis. As Alex (ajb) said, fluids are also important.

You mention his weight - weigh daily while he's ill and if he starts losing, consider getting the Critical Care/Science Recovery out.

What did he have to eat yesterday?
 
I always recommend plenty of hay and fibrous food. If need be, try him on an exclusion diet, it may be just one particular food that does not agree with him.
 
The vet has given us some fiberplex, he said to give him half a graduation 3 times a day does this sound about right. He also has some rehydration fluid, although he is still drinking well.

"an Oxbow Daily C tablet or 50-100mg Vit C" are these easy to get hold of, as this is the main reson I'm still giving him the veg.

Yesterday he had a inch slice of cucumber, a ring of green pepper, some round lettuce and parsley. He didn't eat the cucumber but he did eat about half of the pepper which is unusual for him. Do you think it could be that?

I should say that he is in the same room as other pigs and they have all had the same food, and all the others are fine.

I have already given him some science recovery as he is really small.
 
Give him plenty of hay, I would start him on an exclusion diet. Many pigs with his problem are intorant of a particular food, you just have to find which one!
 
Pepper can be a bit harsh on sensitive tummies, especially if they are not used to it; it sounds like it may have been a bit much for him. Different pigs may have different sensitivities, Murphy may well be one of those pigs.

Did you ever figure out what caused his first bout of diarrhoea?

The Oxbow Daily C I have seen online, not sure if it's available in many shops with it being an Oxbow product. No experience of Fibreplex either I'm afraid!
 
Just a thought but do you think it could be the dried food, it's only recently he has started to eat alot of it again, after he was ill the first time.

Also for the exclusion diet do I stop all the veg to begin with and then introduce them one at a time.
 
Laura-CCC4 said:
Pepper can be a bit harsh on sensitive tummies, especially if they are not used to it; it sounds like it may have been a bit much for him. Different pigs may have different sensitivities, Murphy may well be one of those pigs.

Did you ever figure out what caused his first bout of diarrhoea?

The Oxbow Daily C I have seen online, not sure if it's available in shops with it being an Oxbow product.
Click to expand...

No we didn't find out the first time, the vets just treated it with antibiotics, although he had to have 2 lots.
 
There is a chance it could be the dry food, I'm changing my pigs over to a pelletless diet as I suspect the pellets may be a problem with Dexter, who has chronic 'bloat' and sluggish digestion.

With Murphy being so lightweight, I don't recommend a pelletless diet for him as, like you say, he can't really afford to be losing any weight. It's a difficult position to be in...at the moment it's worth withdrawing all veg and seeing how he gets on with his hay and some Science Recovery.
 
i have just weighed him and he is 700g so he really can't afford to loose any weight.

He is still really lively and running around wheeking and popcorning, so I don't think he feels to poorly.
 
My Thisbe was a bit sensitive to green pepper. As I understand it, green pepper is less ripe than red/orange/yellow pepper.
 
"Pepper can be a bit harsh on sensitive tummies"

What does that mean, how can you tell?

A good food for pigs that need to syringe fed is Burgess Guinea Pig pellets, it is a fraction of the cost of powdered food. Here it is the first choice for sick pigs, some do appreciate it more if banana is included in the mix.
 
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Thanks for your replies everyone will read them properly in he morning. I have just woken up to feed Murphy and have set the clock to do him again at 5.

He is taking the syringed food really well, and I have just put him back and he is eating some hay. So at least he is eatingsomething by his self now.
 
Murphy seems to be getting better now he no longer has diarrohea and is eating his hay and pellets well. He has had no vet treatment so can we assume his problems are due to his diet?

Also he has had no veg for over a week, he is having vit C tablets, but I want to start and introduce veg again what veg would you start with first and how much would you give him?
 
I am glad that Murphy is better; bad diarrhea is so worrying!

Start slowly with a rather a veg treat than a full portion. Cucumber or a little bit of carrot is a good start. Stay off cabbages (incl. broccoli) for the first few days.
 
I think I may start him with the cucumber, he won't eat carrot.

I was think of giving him a very small piece of cucumber for a couple of days and them increase the amount for another couple of days to see how he goes.

If all is ok, I'll try him on a different veg next week.
 
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