• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

My new boy is poorly

Status
Not open for further replies.
Guinea Fan

Guinea Fan

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Aug 29, 2011
Messages
275
Reaction score
48
Points
275
Morph was fine yesterday, I always hang around after I have fed them night and morning to make sure they are eating and he was fine last night. This morning I put their veggies in and the girls were straight in there and he had a little sniff but that was it. He was still chasing the girls about though, little monkey. I thought it might cheer them up to go in their run for a while, but he still just sat there looking sad.

Tonight we went to the vets and he has a lump under his neck, it could either be the beginnings of an abscess or a lymph glad due to infection. His has a bit of a rattle too, but his lungs were clear which is good.

He has antibiotics and probiotics. He had his first dose in the vets at half four, but he will have to have his next one in the morning as tomorrow evening will be too late, that should be ok though do you think?

Whilst they were in their run I cleaned out the cage as I wondered about woodshavings, so I just put vet bed in and newspaper, but the vet said it certainly wasn't that.

Poor little chap, I am so worried about him :0 The vet said to put his probiotic on some cucumber, but he wouldn't eat it, so Matlida did. Any suggestions? He has had a little sniff in his bowl of dry food tonight, but Matilda pushed him out the way.
 
I'm so sorry to hear that you pig is unwell and I hope he gets better soon.

If he is not eating, you should get him some Recovery or Critical Care and syringe feed him. If you don't have any of this, then I think you can also mash up his normal pellets and use them instead. There are some really good threads on here and other sites about how to do it. It is difficult the first time you try, but does get easier with practice.
 
The vet said they will get me some syringe feed on Tuesday or sooner if he stops eating completely, or they will keep him in and do it for me, which I would prefer but sounds expensive. He said not to syringe feed yet as he is still interested, so give time for the antibiotics to kick in
 
Just found some useful links for you:

http://jackiesguineapiggies.com/handfeedingyourguineapig.html

http://www.guinealynx.info/handfeeding.html

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36533

However, my pig hated it when I tried to hold his mouth open and I really struggled (only managing one syringe-ful on each attempt, which is not enough). I just tried offering the syringe to him and then he gulps it down. Remember to press the syringe down slowly and gently though and to direct it to the side so you don't choke him!
 
Just found some useful links for you:

http://jackiesguineapiggies.com/handfeedingyourguineapig.html

http://www.guinealynx.info/handfeeding.html

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36533

However, my pig hated it when I tried to hold his mouth open and I really struggled (only managing one syringe-ful on each attempt, which is not enough). I just tried offering the syringe to him and then he gulps it down. Remember to press the syringe down slowly and gently though and to direct it to the side so you don't choke him!
 
Does Matilda usually act this way towards him ? Maybe give him his own bowl etc. to make sure he's getting enough food.
Which Probiotic are you using ? Fibreplex is good and already in a syringe - do you have any small 1ml syringes at all or why not just use the one for the abx ? Sorry for so many questions rolleyes
 
Sorry about the double posting - my internet just went a bit mental. My full post should have been this:

Just found some useful links for you:

http://jackiesguineapiggies.com/handfeedingyourguineapig.html

http://www.guinealynx.info/handfeeding.html

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36533

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1so5xX4c4oE&feature=related[/ame]

However, my pig hated it when I tried to hold his mouth open and I really struggled this way (only managing one syringe-ful on each attempt, which is not enough). I then just tried offering the syringe to him and he gulped it down.

Whichever technique you try though, please remember to press the syringe down slowly and gently and to direct it to the side of his mouth and not straight in so you don't choke him! Here is a clip that shows syringe-feeding without holding the mouth open:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ydy1bmgrZu8[/ame]

You can also try hand-feeding from a spoon:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzR8WDK8HtA&feature=related[/ame]

Good luck!
 
I perhaps shouldn't go against the advice your vet has given you, but it sounds like your pig has not eaten all day? If this is the case, I would not wait until next week to start hand feeding. Pigs are grazers and normally eat every few hours. They can go down hill very quickly if they stop eating and I know from recent experience with Little Pig how fast they can weaken and lose weight. When he stopped eating on his own, I was syringe feeding him every couple of hours (and usually at least 8 1ml syringes at a time).
 
Guinea Fan said:
The vet said they will get me some syringe feed on Tuesday or sooner if he stops eating completely, or they will keep him in and do it for me, which I would prefer but sounds expensive. He said not to syringe feed yet as he is still interested, so give time for the antibiotics to kick in
Click to expand...

A lot of vets stock the Oxbow Critical Care, the one closest to me has it and I always keep one in case of emergencies.
You need to keep the piggies gut moving to prevent stasis - he may be eating a bit but maybe not enough to keep him moving.
How are his poo's ?
 
Yes Matilda bosses everyone around, but he does have a separate bowl. He is eating hay, which the vet said was really good. I have put loads of readigrass in too.

I think my probiotic is called Avipro, I haven't started that yet though. I am out all day tomorrow which is a bit worrying, but I will give him his antibiotic before I go. Hopefully he will be ok and I probably stress him more keep looking at him and trying to make him take food.

If he still isn't eating properly after tomorrow I will ask my vet to get me some of that food and I will try and get him to eat from a syringe.

Hopefully he will pick up, it is difficult when you have only had a pig 5 days as I don't know his character that well yet. This could all be to do with moving house I suppose, stress can trigger all sorts of things.

Thank you for your help
 
I would keep a real close eye on him as by tomorrow evening, things could be worse. I don't want to scare you but piggies go downhill so quickly.
Is there someone at home with him ? Give him whatever he will eat, grass, dandelion leaves anything if he's not eating much of his normal diet. Gut stasis can be fatal. When my boy was ill, I never left him for a minute alone and my daughter sat through the night with him as he was so poorly and not eating.
http://www.guinealynx.info/common_mistakes.html
Antibiotics can diminish an appetite too and cause diarrhoea. Ensure he drinks plenty.
 
No there is no one here tomorrow, unfortunately I have to work. I will do the very best I can for him and I hope it is enough
 
Thank you. I promise I will do what I can, I love the little chap and lets face it I have already spent £110 on him in less than a week, what with his run, him and the vet today. Be worth it hopefully.
 
Guinea Fan said:
Thank you. I promise I will do what I can, I love the little chap and lets face it I have already spent £110 on him in less than a week, what with his run, him and the vet today. Be worth it hopefully.
Click to expand...

We know you will hun, it's sooo worrying when they're not well.
Give him a nice fresh bit of parsley, they usually flip for that or corn on the cob...anything.
 
Now that is interesting, he had a corn on the cob yesterday, but I threw it out as I worried that was what made him poorly. The other new thing I gave them were kidney beans, are they ok, as I threw them out too?
 
Guinea Fan said:
Now that is interesting, he had a corn on the cob yesterday, but I threw it out as I worried that was what made him poorly. The other new thing I gave them were kidney beans, are they ok, as I threw them out too?
Click to expand...
I'm not sure, but I would say guinea pigs shouldn't be given kidney beans...
 
Whee are really sorry to hear about little Morph being unwell :(
Like everyone said, and this is from experience i've had as well as reading many posts, they do need to keep the food up. Make sure you have loads of hay and dry mix for him, also give him a little bowl with his fav foods. The probiotic can easily be mixed with a little water and syringed if he doesn't like the taste on his food.

I'll pop the link for a food guide for you for future reference :)

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=42

HEALING WHEEEEEEEEEEEEKS FOR MORPH XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
I hope your little boys gets better soon - it's important the vet know's he was fed Kidney Bean's.

Sending healing wheeks to your boy! x
 
Kidney beans are very toxic when raw. After finding out that many beans contain the toxin I don't feed any type at all, though I knew about raw kidney beans as I look up each new food before feeding it.

"A toxic compound called lectin is found in many varieties of bean, but it's most heavily concentrated in the red kidney bean.

It takes ten minutes of cooking at 100 degrees Celsius to destroy the poison; any less and you risk nausea, severe vomiting and diarrhoea, and just three undercooked beans will do the trick."

Three beans - and that's for an adult human. Scary stuff.

Please let your vet know asap in case there is more help they can give. As the others have said getting food into him is very important, good luck to you and your piggy.

Suzy x
 
Please read back before you all keep posting to me i didn't give them kidney beans i gave them runner beans and that would not have caused the lump in his neck anyway
 
Your post appeared as I was looking for the information for you as you had stated that you had given kidney beans.
 
Guinea Fan said:
Please read back before you all keep posting to me i didn't give them kidney beans i gave them runner beans and that would not have caused the lump in his neck anyway
Click to expand...

My Pebbles had a lump on her neck granted it didn't affect her - I was advised it was a swollen lymph nobe, she had a weeks course of Baytril, this did not affect the lump the following 2 weeks later the lump was gone.

I know fellow members have advised - but if he is still not eating I would start syringe feeding, glad you didn't give him Kidney Beans, I don't personally feed any type of beans but I have fed runner beans before with no ill effects.

We have everything crossed for your little man - such a worry when they are ill! x
 
Thank you to whoever suggested parsley. I have been to Tesco and bought some and he is nibbling it, he has also been out and nibbled some romaine lettuce and some cucumber. I think he is a slow eater though, which annoys the girls who can't resist pinching food off him.

Sorry about the confusion, I have always called those green beans kidney beans, as well as the red chilli kidney beans
 
awwwwwwww i know what you mean......... we in Australia call veggies/fruits different names also........
It's ok when whee are upset/distressed whee just post our threads...........and of course a food can have a different name or what whee think it's name is :)

NOW most importantly whee send some loving wheeeeeeeeeks and loves to your boy XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

whee hope everything goes ok and he continues to nibble away YAY :) xx>>>
 
Guinea Fan said:
Thank you to whoever suggested parsley. I have been to Tesco and bought some and he is nibbling it, he has also been out and nibbled some romaine lettuce and some cucumber. I think he is a slow eater though, which annoys the girls who can't resist pinching food off him.

Sorry about the confusion, I have always called those green beans kidney beans, as well as the red chilli kidney beans
Click to expand...

My lot love parsley but they only have a sprig (or two, or three each rolleyes) When my Harley was poorly and not eating, I tried tempting him with everything possible - all of his favourites and things that he shouldn't have too much of i.e. parsley and melon. I swear these helped his gut to keep moving as nothing else was of interest.
My piggies have a little bit once or twice a week amongst their veggies.
Phew, I'm so glad he had green beans and not kidney, that worried me all day at work today mallethead
I am a nightmare with veggies and always have a quick peek on the net to see what they can/can't have. Another favourite they love is Celeriac - I'd never heard of it but found some in Tesco :))
Hope little one perks up and sneak him a bit more parsley from me x>>
 
Corriander Rules in Our house

Corriander is my girls biggest thing - better than melon skin and better than cucumber - can only afford it when its on special mark down though - god mine are so spoilt - with very posh pallets!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top