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Pig not eating hay, pellets, water

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Wheeky

Wheeky

Teenage Guinea Pig
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We went to the vet yesterday and Elliot either has an overwhelming infection or lymphoma (more likely lymphoma). We're trying Baytril and Metacam anyway and going back on Tuesday.

In the meantime he is still barely eating and pooing, and losing weight. He will occasionally nibble a few pellets or strands of hay but nowhere near enough. He isn't drinking water. He still wants vegetables though and eats them fine and begs for more.

I have ordered some Critical Care but it won't get here until Tuesday at the earliest so in the meantime I'm making pellet mash. At first he chose to eat it but today I have had to syringe it to him, along with water. What else can I do in the meantime? Should I give him extra veggies since he's still willing to eat them? I don't want to give him too many in case it makes him worse.
 
Were you given a pro biotic from your vet ? Also you could get Critical Care food from your vet to use now ?

I’d be careful with how much veg you give as it could cause diarrhoea and like you said would just make the situation worse, at the minute it seems like your doing everything you can with the pellet mash, just make sure your feeding every few hours as you want to help protect his gut from going into gut stasis.

Hope Elliot gets better soon :)
 
I hope your lovely better is well soon.

In the mean time, don't increase his vegetables intake as Twiams said it could lead to a runny bottom! Get as much food syringed into him as possible. I would consist getting a probiotic to help with good gut flora - I use Avipro Plus which is good! If not and you have another guinea pig, who is in a separate cage and healthy, make a poo soup! Its simple and doesn't cost anything though may not be as pleasant.
 
How did the vet diagnose Lymphoma? Are his lymph glands inflamed, these are located under their Neck, shoulder area and back piggie knees.

Syringe feed CC or mushed up pellets if you don't have any. Ask your vet for some gut stimulant such as metachlopromide (emeprid) this will keep things moving through and avoid gut statis. Is he feeling bloated?

If he is eating Veg, that's good news but don't give extra veg as you want to avoid sloppy poo's... - top him up with syringe feed, we had to do this with Treacle.

Remember baytril is harsh on the gut so some probiotic would be a good idea.

Lots of love to your little boy x
 
HI, I'm sorry to hear your piggy is poorly. when our Jasper stopped eating and went onto CC our vet also recommended getting some soluble vitamin C to syringe him. It gives fluids and needed vit C at the same time. He really liked it. Good luck with your boy xx
 
It sounds like you are doing a lot to help him, were you able to get any probiotics? they are important to have on hand when a pig is on Baytril. It may also be worth asking the vet to increase his pain relief if he is not eating? As this can be a sign of pain?

Another suggestion I have is Metatone tonic, it is a vitamin supplement that you can get from the supermarket and it gives a pig that is under the weather a boost, and can even stimulate their appetite. The dose would be 0.5ml for one week and 0.3ml for the second week. It has helped with some of my pigs who have been poorly.
 
Also if he is not pooing he may need some kind of gut stimulant such as Metachlopromide to keep things moving, my vets have this as Emeprid.
 
Unfortunately Elliot deteriorated and had to be PTS. Just got back from the vet. I am heartbroken but trying to see it from Elliot's point of view ... he was obviously miserable and in pain so I'm glad that he could go quickly rather than dragging things out even longer for him.

I took his cage mate Ollie so that they could say goodbye.
 
Am so so sorry, it sounds like you made the right decision if he was suffering. It's such a hard decision to make but shows that you put his needs first. Bug hugs to you and Ollie.
 
I am very sorry that you had to let Elliot go; it is always such a heartbreaking decision! But you did all you could for him, and cared for him and Ollie right up to the end - sometimes that is all we can do.

Give Ollie a cuddle from me and make sure that he has a cuddly toy to snuggle into.
 
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