Off to the vet!

[lilpiggi]

I booked Nut in for a vet appointment in a couple of hours for her suspected bloat, currently, she is eating small amounts of hay and a little bit of lettuce this morning, she hasn't left her hidey much today except for hay or sitting on top of their bridge, her stomach feels rather large, sounds hollow when tapped, and slightly stiff.
Is it recommended that I bring her friend to the vet with her so that neither of them gets lonely or is that just unnecessary stress for Riley?

 

[lilpiggi]

p.s she is also still pooping and peeing

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

I would take them both. Hope all goes well

 

[David Piggie Lover]

Take both as I always do. Reduces stress all round and best of luck. X

 

[lilpiggi]

just came back and the vet didnt seem like anything was too serious and that maybe she was just stressed out from losing her previous partner, I have bought vitamin C sodium ascorbate, infacol for the gas, and metacam for the pain. if anyone has had any experiences with these I would love for you to tell me how you went with it, also how can I get her to take the stuff easier I am really struggling to get the infacol in her.

 

[VickiA]

Did the vet give you those meds?
We don’t recommend Infacol. It works by bringing gas bubbles into one big bubble which is fine for human babies but not for guinea pigs.
Digestive Disorders: Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement) And Not Eating

 

[lilpiggi]

Did the vet give you those meds?
We don’t recommend Infacol. It works by bringing gas bubbles into one big bubble which is fine for human babies but not for guinea pigs.
Digestive Disorders: Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement) And Not Eating

oh no really, she sold me the pain killer but told me to buy the infacol, do you recommend not using? I have already bought it and don't really have access to anything else but if its very bad I can stop using it.

 

[rhymer]

Don't use the infacol. Piggies don't burp, it will make he worse. Please read the guides suggested by @VickiA .

 

[Piggies&buns]

oh no really, she sold me the pain killer but told me to buy the infacol, do you recommend not using? I have already bought it and don't really have access to anything else but if its very bad I can stop using it.

The guide explains why the reason why infacol is not recommended - it forms one large gas bubble which a piggy cannot pass easily and may cause more pain

 

[lilpiggi]

The guide explains why the reason why infacol is not recommended - it forms one large gas bubble which a piggy cannot pass easily and may cause more pain

Don't use the infacol. Piggies don't burp, it will make he worse. Please read the guides suggested by @VickiA .

Oh dear I don't know what else to use, does anyone have tips of tummy massages I'm trying but she keeps jumping away from me, is this because its pain full and does that mean I'm doing it wrong

 

[David Piggie Lover]

The vet told you to buy Infacol. Not from the vets. other meds good . . Pls keep calm and keep piggy comfy. .

 

[GPTV]

Can u get any gripe water from the pharmacy or supermarket baby aisle?
This one is popular...
Online Food Shopping - ASDA Groceries
This disperses the gas into many little bubbles not one big one like Infacol.

Also if you have an electric toothbrush, massage pad/cushion to rub round her belly it should help to disperse the gas.

At a push, put her on a towel/blanket in the washing basket & pop her on the top/lid of the washing machine on a spin cycle (hold the basket securely so it won't vibrate off).
Massaging her stomach with your hands will help if no other option (yes, she will probably find it uncomfortable & painful to be massaged at first, try gently & get firmer with your movements as the gas moves & she gets used to you doing it.)

Also take her off of any Veggies for a few days&see how it goes.
Just feed her unlimited hay with access to water & feed a few nuggets.

Introduce veg slowly in small amounts, when she's improved & only give her one sort at a time for a day or two, hopefully you can discover the trigger food this way?

Have a look at the handy guide link as posted above by VickiA, it's in detail, also a tried & tested method.

Discuss with your vet gut stimulants if she stops eating or pooping.

Good luck, fingers and paws all crossed here for a full & speedy recovery xx

 

[lilpiggi]

update she looks and feels alot less bloated today stomach isn't as firm or large and she let me massage her for a bit this morning I have taken her off veges and she is only eating pellets, hay and water. I will continue to use infacol unless its seems to make it worse <3

 

[rudent]

It's so great that she's feeling better and you're doing everything else right -- but I really recommend not using infacol. The reason you massage her tummy or, as others suggested, put her on a vibrating cushion, is to break up the gas bubbles in her gut into smaller bubbles so that they can pass through her system. Infacol has the exact opposite effect, so you're actually making more work for yourself unfortunately. Piggy guts are just too different to human guts for this medicine to work on them. Creating a large bubble from smaller bubbles can create a blockage and cause gut stasis.