Chris24
Junior Guinea Pig
Hi All,
Hope you can help. We have a poorly Guinea Pig named Apple (female, approx 4 years old) who has been back and forth to the vets for the past week. Here is the story so far (apologies for the length but we did not want to miss any pertinent information):
02/05/2015
We first noticed that Apple was very subdued in her cage, sitting in a ball all fluffed up and refused to eat. She is normally very adventurous and full of life so this was unusual. As we went to take her out, we noticed diarrhoea in the cage. Apple appeared to be a lot thinner than normal so we feared the problem had been going on for a few days (minus the diarrhoea).
Apple was taken to the vets immediately and her weight had dropped from just over 1kg to 850g. Apple was very gassy and her tummy was distended. She was administered with IV fluids and the following medication schedule was started:
• Oxbow critical care fine grind: 3 tablespoons over 24 hours with water (24/7 syringe feeds every 4 hours)
• Septrin: 0.27ml twice a day
• Fibreplex: 1mg three times a day
03/05/2015
After 24 hours Apple had not opened her bowels so we were prescribed metoclopramide 0.43ml twice a day for four days and to perform regular tummy massages. Apple began to pass faeces in the early hours of the morning but they were tiny, sticky and unformed.
04/05/2015
Apple was livelier, pooping throughout the day. Poops are becoming slightly more formed but still sticky. Apple became more interested in certain foods (curly kale), but was unwilling to eat.
05/05/2015
Apple started to struggle more when being syringe fed and she is brighter in herself. Ate one piece of curly kale and interested in hay, but only nibbling and also drinking independently from water bottle (but only a small amount).
06/05/2015
Apple is eating tiny amounts of Kale and drinking from water bottle. Poops are still small, but almost formed. We decided at this point to go back to the vets. On examination the vet discovered her lower abdomen was hard, but intestines seemed to be empty. A kidney and ovary scan was advised. Also advised that the issue may be related to a teeth problem.
07/05/2015
Kidneys and ovaries were scanned under anaesthetic and a full check of the mouth was performed. No teeth problems found – no ulcers and no foreign bodies located. The front teeth were trimmed at this point as a precaution. Following ultrasound and x-ray scans, Apple was diagnosed with early stage polycystic ovaries but the cysts were tiny and we were assured they would be causing no other clinical symptoms. Nodules were detected on her spleen – which we were told could be reactive or neopathic.
Medicine provided:
• Loxicon 0.25mls twice a day
• Recovery plus food – 20g in 90mls of water over 24 hours for two days then back onto oxbow fine grind
• Continue with metroclopramide, septrin and fibreplex as above
08/05/2015
We noticed Apple was unable to eat curly kale this morning. She was very interested in it, but couldn’t seem to chew the food. Took Apple back to the vets for a check-up following yesterday’s procedure. We asked if it was possible that the front teeth were cut too short – the vet said this could be a possibility.
We asked them if it the reluctance to eat could be caused a misaligned jaw or elongated roots. The jaw was checked and no problems found, we were told elongated roots were not a problem as her back teeth were really short.
Apple was able eat kale providing it was held for her. She also managed to eat 2-3 nuggets and some hay. Poos are back to normal size and shape but still sticky.
09/05/2015
Still on syringe food, but able to eat a small amount of nuggets, hay and some curly kale unassisted. However, when being syringe fed or eating nuggets she sometimes looks like she is retching – perhaps unable to swallow the food?
Although Apple is starting to eat food independently, she eats VERY slowly compared to normal.
10/05/2015
No further change, still retching when eating nuggets. Apple is generally subdued and spends a lot of time sleeping although she gets more excitable when treats are present.
Her weight has been maintained at 850g throughout. She has also been urinating normally throughout, although her urine is orange in colour (which we presume is a side-effect of the fibreplex).
We are seeing the vets again on Tuesday but felt at this point we need a second opinion as something is still not right with her. The retching and slow eating are particular concerning and we are still having to syringe feed her in order to maintain her weight.
I have uploaded a video to YouTube showing the retching – I hope it helps.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Chris and Kim
Hope you can help. We have a poorly Guinea Pig named Apple (female, approx 4 years old) who has been back and forth to the vets for the past week. Here is the story so far (apologies for the length but we did not want to miss any pertinent information):
02/05/2015
We first noticed that Apple was very subdued in her cage, sitting in a ball all fluffed up and refused to eat. She is normally very adventurous and full of life so this was unusual. As we went to take her out, we noticed diarrhoea in the cage. Apple appeared to be a lot thinner than normal so we feared the problem had been going on for a few days (minus the diarrhoea).
Apple was taken to the vets immediately and her weight had dropped from just over 1kg to 850g. Apple was very gassy and her tummy was distended. She was administered with IV fluids and the following medication schedule was started:
• Oxbow critical care fine grind: 3 tablespoons over 24 hours with water (24/7 syringe feeds every 4 hours)
• Septrin: 0.27ml twice a day
• Fibreplex: 1mg three times a day
03/05/2015
After 24 hours Apple had not opened her bowels so we were prescribed metoclopramide 0.43ml twice a day for four days and to perform regular tummy massages. Apple began to pass faeces in the early hours of the morning but they were tiny, sticky and unformed.
04/05/2015
Apple was livelier, pooping throughout the day. Poops are becoming slightly more formed but still sticky. Apple became more interested in certain foods (curly kale), but was unwilling to eat.
05/05/2015
Apple started to struggle more when being syringe fed and she is brighter in herself. Ate one piece of curly kale and interested in hay, but only nibbling and also drinking independently from water bottle (but only a small amount).
06/05/2015
Apple is eating tiny amounts of Kale and drinking from water bottle. Poops are still small, but almost formed. We decided at this point to go back to the vets. On examination the vet discovered her lower abdomen was hard, but intestines seemed to be empty. A kidney and ovary scan was advised. Also advised that the issue may be related to a teeth problem.
07/05/2015
Kidneys and ovaries were scanned under anaesthetic and a full check of the mouth was performed. No teeth problems found – no ulcers and no foreign bodies located. The front teeth were trimmed at this point as a precaution. Following ultrasound and x-ray scans, Apple was diagnosed with early stage polycystic ovaries but the cysts were tiny and we were assured they would be causing no other clinical symptoms. Nodules were detected on her spleen – which we were told could be reactive or neopathic.
Medicine provided:
• Loxicon 0.25mls twice a day
• Recovery plus food – 20g in 90mls of water over 24 hours for two days then back onto oxbow fine grind
• Continue with metroclopramide, septrin and fibreplex as above
08/05/2015
We noticed Apple was unable to eat curly kale this morning. She was very interested in it, but couldn’t seem to chew the food. Took Apple back to the vets for a check-up following yesterday’s procedure. We asked if it was possible that the front teeth were cut too short – the vet said this could be a possibility.
We asked them if it the reluctance to eat could be caused a misaligned jaw or elongated roots. The jaw was checked and no problems found, we were told elongated roots were not a problem as her back teeth were really short.
Apple was able eat kale providing it was held for her. She also managed to eat 2-3 nuggets and some hay. Poos are back to normal size and shape but still sticky.
09/05/2015
Still on syringe food, but able to eat a small amount of nuggets, hay and some curly kale unassisted. However, when being syringe fed or eating nuggets she sometimes looks like she is retching – perhaps unable to swallow the food?
Although Apple is starting to eat food independently, she eats VERY slowly compared to normal.
10/05/2015
No further change, still retching when eating nuggets. Apple is generally subdued and spends a lot of time sleeping although she gets more excitable when treats are present.
Her weight has been maintained at 850g throughout. She has also been urinating normally throughout, although her urine is orange in colour (which we presume is a side-effect of the fibreplex).
We are seeing the vets again on Tuesday but felt at this point we need a second opinion as something is still not right with her. The retching and slow eating are particular concerning and we are still having to syringe feed her in order to maintain her weight.
I have uploaded a video to YouTube showing the retching – I hope it helps.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Chris and Kim
Last edited:
