Picky with veg?

[Honey&maple]

I noticed this morning honey has been off her food. She’s been having nibbles of veg but not acting her normal self and constantly sitting in her hay cube making herself get a wet bum. I went to the vets after work today and they have given me emperid and metacam to see if it’s a gut issue . She doesn’t feel bloated, her teeth look okay etc. So the vet wasn’t 100% what is going on with her. I have got critical care if I need to step in but she is still having nibbles of hay and drinking water etc. She is being very picky with veg which is so strange. But not fully refusing to eat.

Vet said she would recommend a scan tomorrow before the weekend to see if anything is going on. So I’ll have to see what she’s like in the morning.

Anyone had any similar experiences ? I’m so worried about her she seems so sad and extra sleepy today.

Here’s a picture of her in her little hay cube

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear this.

Please make sure you have switched from the routine weekly weight checks and are instead weighing her every morning. This is the only way to monitor independent hay intake and to ensure that you are getting enough critical care into her.
Seeing her nibble at bits is very deceptive and can mean that their have dramatically reduced their hay intake often without the owner noticing.

Ensure you are syringing enough critical care per 24 hour period to keep her weight stable

I hope she is ok. Let us know how things go

All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support

 

[Merab]

Holding you in my thoughts

 

[Maryjames]

I noticed this morning honey has been off her food. She’s been having nibbles of veg but not acting her normal self and constantly sitting in her hay cube making herself get a wet bum. I went to the vets after work today and they have given me emperid and metacam to see if it’s a gut issue . She doesn’t feel bloated, her teeth look okay etc. So the vet wasn’t 100% what is going on with her. I have got critical care if I need to step in but she is still having nibbles of hay and drinking water etc. She is being very picky with veg which is so strange. But not fully refusing to eat.

Vet said she would recommend a scan tomorrow before the weekend to see if anything is going on. So I’ll have to see what she’s like in the morning.

Anyone had any similar experiences ? I’m so worried about her she seems so sad and extra sleepy today.

Here’s a picture of her in her little hay cube

Sorry to hear your baby is not well. Getting a scan is probably your best bet. That way you know for sure what is going on.

 

[Piggies&buns]

How is she?

 

[Honey&maple]

How is she?

This morning she came downstairs and showed interest in her breakfast Which she didnt the day before. However she is still spending a lot of time in her hay cube but has got a couple of times for a little wander which is an improvement from yesterday. But she will go straight back into the cube ? Is this worrying ? She seems obsessed with it.

Her poo this morning looked normal but this evening I’ve noticed a couple of smaller ones . Is this from her not eating as much uestrday? Would you worry about this?

Ive let the vets know that she is better than yesterday and they said to just continue what I’m doing with the meds etc over the weekend .

 

[Piggies&buns]

Being off and sticking to one spot would be seen as a general sign of feeling unwell. It’s good she has ventured out but so far isn’t over whatever is making her feel unwell.

Have you been weighing her?
If so, what has that been telling you?
That is the essential part and the only way to know she has eaten enough.

How much have you been syringe feeding her?

Small, thinner than normal poop is of concern as it reflects that she didn’t eat enough. However poop output is 1-2 days behind food intake so doesn’t give you useful information in a timely manner. Small poops today are only telling you that she likely hadn’t eaten enough 1-2 days ago. And as such, if she still hasn’t eaten enough today then you will still be seeing small poops in another 1-2 days time etc. - hence the importance of weight checks and syringe feeding!

Wiebke's Guide to Poops

What dosages of meds is she on?

 

[Honey&maple]

Have you been weighing her?
If so, what has that been telling you?
That is the essential part and the only way to know she has eaten enough.

How much have you been syringe feeding her?

Poop output is 1-2 days behind food intake so doesn’t give you useful information in a timely manner. Small poops today are only telling you that she likely hadn’t eaten enough 1-2 days ago. And as such, if she still hasn’t eaten enough today then you will still be seeing small poops in another 1-2 days time etc

Wiebke's Guide to Poops

What dosages of meds is she on?

She got weighed at the vets yesterday and she was 1.15kg which she was last week as well. Today she is 1.14kg so not a massive change that has happened.

She’s been put on
emperid 0.5mg x2 daily
Metacam 0.4mg once daily .

 

[Honey&maple]

Is gut issues common in older pigs? Does their system becomes slower at all?

 

[Piggies&buns]

So a 10g change. Anything up to 50g is within normal fluctuation. Continue to weigh her daily on the same set of scales while you have concerns about her.

Are you syringe feeding her?

Yes their system can become disrupted as they age and make them more prone to bloating. They can find it harder to cope with certain veg or with being on grass etc.