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New Piggie Owner - please help!

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WombatnPiglet

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:(

Please can someone advise - our lovely Piglet, who has been with us for just over 2 weeks isn't himself this morning and I'm really worried.

He's always been really active and not shy at all -plus, as his name suggests, he's always been a big eater. Well this morning, when I went down to them to change the litter and give them new hay, veggies and water, Piglet didn't come out of his tent to see me, which is odd, as as soon as I turn on the light he's usually there wheeking at me. I didn't think anything of it. Wombat came out and was sniffing around, but no Piglet.

What worries me is that even when I put out their lovely veggies he didn't come out and usually he's the one hogging it. I waited and he still didn't come out, not for the hay or the pellets - very worrying.

I left the room and peeked through the door and he still didn't come out. I know he loves cucumber, so I cut him a piece and left it at the entrance to his tent, he still didn't come out.

Getting worried I picked him up and put him on my lap and he was kind of vibrating? I tried to hand feed him, which he usually loves, but he wasn't interested. He just sat there!

What's wrong with him? Is he ill? He was absolutely fine yesterday, running and jumping around....?

Very worried - do I need to get him an emergency vets appointment?
 
Awww poor Piglet!

I'm new to piggies myself but would be taking him to the vets if it was me - he definitely sounds like he's not feeling well. Is he pooing / weeing normally? I'd take along some of his droppings to the vets if you see him doing any and watch to see if he squeeks when going to the loo. People say that piggies sitting looking puffed up / fluffy in a corner tend to be a sure sign that they're feeling unwell.

Sorry i cant be of more help, Fingers crossed little Piglet is ok.

Let us know how you get on xx
 
Please telephone the vet and get your piggy seen as soon as you can - any pig that does not eat needs to be seen quickly.

Suzy x
 
Completely agree your pig needs a vet visit immediately - a pig not eating is one very ill pig!

Please let us know how you get on, good luck!

x
 
Vet booked

Hi,

Thanks for the advice, I've booked the first appointment I could get - which is at 5.30pm (that's 8 and a half hours away) - is that soon enough or do I need to find an emergency vet?
 
Poor Piglet, Has he lost any weight at all do you know? Is is showing any interest in food at all?
 
He needs to be seen sooner than that if you can. If you cannot get an appointment sooner he will need to eat/drink through the day with your help.

Suzy x
 
WombatnPiglet said:
Hi,

Thanks for the advice, I've booked the first appointment I could get - which is at 5.30pm (that's 8 and a half hours away) - is that soon enough or do I need to find an emergency vet?
Click to expand...

If he is not eating or drinking you could do with getting one sooner, or else you may have to syringe feed to keep his guts moving, sending lots of healing vibes his way x
 
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He's not interested in food at all, he's just hiding in his tent and won't come out. He's still looking around and he was washing his face earlier, but just not eating or drinking.

I'm going to call around and see if I can get someone to see him sooner. Now I'm really panicking - he's only been with us for just over 2 weeks and my daughter is very attached to him already.

:...
 
This link covers support feeding a piggy - take a bit of time to read it carefully and it should help take some of the stress out of syringe feeding should you need to do it. I would syringe some fluid in to him now even if you can get a vet appointment.

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

Suzy x
 
Sorry to hear you have a sick piggy. My vets in Hitchin are good and if you say it's an emergency they will normally fit you in or tell you to come straight down. their number is 01462 451500. They are called Berry house. Or in Broxourne i have heard of a very good vet. Ask to see Amir and their number is 01992 478 657. They might be a bit nearer to you.
 
Thank you!

Thank you everyone, I've managed to get some water into him on my lap and he's attempting a piece of carrot at the moment...

I'll try the vet in Hitchin as that isn't too far from me with the car.

Please keep everything crossed for Piglet (I'm so worried I feel sick too!) :0
 
WombatnPiglet said:
Thank you everyone, I've managed to get some water into him on my lap and he's attempting a piece of carrot at the moment...

I'll try the vet in Hitchin as that isn't too far from me with the car.

Please keep everything crossed for Piglet (I'm so worried I feel sick too!) :0
Click to expand...

Well done, it's good news that he's attemping some carrot, well done for getting a little water into him. Really hope he gets well soon, it is awful when they are poorly.
 
Piglet Update - Blood! Injections!

So, visit to the vet...put him in the pet carrier with a lovely cosy pale green fleece, when we arrive, get him out, pull out the fleece, and there's blood on it!

Vet said it was quite watery so probably from mouth or urine. Thorough examination to rule out everything else, found out he's lost 300g! But, could be a difference in our scales?

Decided that couldn't find anything and because he's 'chunky' to use the vet's words, couldn't feel anything abnormal, to go with an anti biotic injection and another visit in 2 days.

He was very brave and only cried a little with the injection, and he had lots of cuddles after because he was 'the bravest guinea pig' the vet had ever met (so proud)

Anyway, we're home now and he's eating hay again! Still not as lively, but at least he's eating eh?

Any idea what the antibiotics will do to him - anything I can do to make him more comfortable?
 
They're not sure what it is.. could be a urine infection, or possibly kidney stones, but because he's quite big the vet couldn't feel anything.

They haven't given us anything to give him at home, he had the injection which is 3 days worth of ABs and then we go back on Friday for the next injection which should finish the course.

Looking into probiotics or something - I don't want him getting tummy trouble too! What do you guys think?

:(
 
I swear by Fibreplex which is a thick paste (available from vet surgeries)
1ml per kg of piggy three times a day keeps the gut flora nicely balanced.
Abx can also diminish their appetite so keep a close eye on food intake etc. Weigh your boy daily too.
Did he have Septrin or Baytril ? Baytril is harsh on their tummies, Septrin is kinder and more effective with bladder issues.
I have a bladder piggy who had a huge stone removed last year - he has unsweetened Cranberry juice daily in his water bottle (Ocean Wave available from any store) and a quarter of Cystease 125mg capsule daily which helps to ward off bugs in the bladder by lining the wall and after 10 months, he has never shown any symptoms of reoccurence.
A low calcium diet is also recommended.
Sending healing vibes to your boy, it's horrible when they're poorly :(
x>>
 
WombatnPiglet said:
Looking into probiotics or something - I don't want him getting tummy trouble too! What do you guys think?

:(
Click to expand...

Probiotics wouldn't do any harm. I'd certainly advise giving some.

If you don't have any at home to give tonight, you can take the poo of a healthy guinea pig (not on any medication or under the weather or anything), and mix with water to make a "poo soup" - this will replace some of the thing that his system will be getting rid of due to the antibiotics.
 
A probiotic is a must- you can buy these from vets and some pet shops but you'll be wanting to get your hands on some asap! Could you contact furryf riends she's an administrator on here and has a database of experienced syringe feeders that could teach you how to do it if he's still loosing weight. 300g in small scales is not a calibration issue. 50gish maybe, that's a huge loss and will be I suspect be in need of constant diet support from yourself to get his guts going and stabilise his weight while the underlying issue gets sorted. Get well little piglet , * did so well getting him seen so quickly x
 
Keep a very close eye on him, if he stops eating at all again, take him straight back. Has he passed any poos?
 
He's in his teepee with a bunch of hay just munching away, there's quite a few poos, so I know it's going through him. What should I be looking out for?

I'll go get some probiotics tomorrow for him, but I'm not sure what to give him to feed him up?
 
Really sorry to hear about dear Piglet :...
Well done for realising something was not right!!
Whee hope the injection starts it's job quickly for him :)
When mine are unwell i offer them all their fav veggies, but i cut it up smaller, you try in strips or grate some carrot for him.

HEALING WHEEEEEEEEEEKY VIBES FOR PIGLET XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
Piglet update - long night...

I am quietly hopeful that Piglet is doing a bit better - he's eating hay and veggies (although not touching the nuggets) and drinking and he was talking this morning. It was nice to hear his voice. He did seem to struggle to get his paws up onto the edge of the correx - which is what he usually does when the veggies come out... but he is poorly?

I am hoping this is a good sign and that the antibiotics are working? The worry is awful.

Everyone keep their fingers crossed that Piglet bounces back. Thank you.x
 
All paws crossed her for Piglet - how is he doing with his food ?
If you think he needs feeding up a little, mash his pellets in boiling water, cool and feed through a syringe or sometimes, piggies will take it from your finger :)
Please weigh him so you can see if he has lost/gained weight, if he's lost 20g (ish) I would defo assist him.
This is good to read:

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

Make sure he is drinking as well :)
 
Piglets better and back to his old self

Good news - Piglet is now feeling much better, eating constantly, wheeking and jumping about! Phew.

He does seem to be bearing a grudge a bit though, he's not best pleased with me and there's been a bit of teeth chattering at me - think he now thinks I'm going to take him to the vet everytime I pick him up! Not sure how long he's going to hold me responsible though!

Only bad news is that he's now taken to climbing out of their cage - we came down yesterday morning to find him snuggled in one of my daughter's toy cribs! He's also started chewing the correx! Not sure how to discourage him from that!

Thanks for all the positive vibes and excellent advice!
 
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