Piggie hasn't eaten in 3 weeks - Poo Soup?

[Gayles Piggies]

My piggie (a satin) had a UTI several weeks ago and then started losing weight. She's two years old and no other symptoms of being a satin beside her coat.

I was syringe feeding her with Emeraid, and then Emer aid and pellets, and now I'm just doing pellets. She's dropped 20% of her weight (1,000 to 800 grams). I'm feeding her every 2-3 hours throughout the day to maintain her weight. She's been to our exotic pet vet multiple times - her teeth are in fine shape. She seems to eat on her own just after I'm done syringe feeding her. Two days ago the vet tried sucralfate 3x daily. Immediately after getting it, she seems to feel better and eat on her own. I called them again today - her stomach is rumbling and her poops have never gotten dark again after cutting back and stopping the Emer aid (which would make them very light colored).

QUESTION: I've been reading through the forum and ran into the poop soup (soaking fresh poop from a healthy pig and syringing the water for the bacteria). The vet recommended live culture yogurt - but I'm thinking the poop soup is a better idea. I have three other healthy piggies - so I have access to the healthy poop.

I'm just asking if this seems like a reasonable next step? It is killing me to watch her be miserable and not being able to help her. I'm ready to try anything ....

 

[Gayles Piggies]

What I should have also said is that she first stopped eating because she was taking Cipro with a UTI and it's gone down hill from there. There are some nights she holds her weight over night and eats and others where she loses 20 grams over night.

I think the poo soup is a good idea - but not sure how much water to soak it in and if giving it twice a day would be ok - at least in the beginning.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear she is unwell.
Please don’t give yogurt - they can’t eat that kind of thing and is not good advice.

This is our guide for poop soup.
She only needs a couple of ml of the water, a couple of times a day is absolutely fine

Thread 'Probiotics & Live Gut Microbiome Transfer ('Poo Soup'); Recovery Formula Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links and Transfer Recipe'

Jun 12, 2014

1 Overview of recovery formula foods
- Recommended brands
- Emergency alternatives
2 Probiotics
- Standard brands
- Enhanced probiotics
- Live gut microbiome transfer (poo soup)
3 Vitamin C
- Recommended brand
- Alternatives
- Booster vs. long term supplementation


These chapters have been copied from the complete...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 1
• Forum: Emergency Information and Care

• 

 

[Gayles Piggies]

THANK YOU! I didn't think yogurt was a good idea at all - I just wasn't sure how many times would be ok.
THANK YOU!

 

[Wiebke]

My piggie (a satin) had a UTI several weeks ago and then started losing weight. She's two years old and no other symptoms of being a satin beside her coat.

I was syringe feeding her with Emeraid, and then Emer aid and pellets, and now I'm just doing pellets. She's dropped 20% of her weight (1,000 to 800 grams). I'm feeding her every 2-3 hours throughout the day to maintain her weight. She's been to our exotic pet vet multiple times - her teeth are in fine shape. She seems to eat on her own just after I'm done syringe feeding her. Two days ago the vet tried sucralfate 3x daily. Immediately after getting it, she seems to feel better and eat on her own. I called them again today - her stomach is rumbling and her poops have never gotten dark again after cutting back and stopping the Emer aid (which would make them very light colored).

QUESTION: I've been reading through the forum and ran into the poop soup (soaking fresh poop from a healthy pig and syringing the water for the bacteria). The vet recommended live culture yogurt - but I'm thinking the poop soup is a better idea. I have three other healthy piggies - so I have access to the healthy poop.

I'm just asking if this seems like a reasonable next step? It is killing me to watch her be miserable and not being able to help her. I'm ready to try anything ....

What I should have also said is that she first stopped eating because she was taking Cipro with a UTI and it's gone down hill from there. There are some nights she holds her weight over night and eats and others where she loses 20 grams over night.

I think the poo soup is a good idea - but not sure how much water to soak it in and if giving it twice a day would be ok - at least in the beginning.

Hi

I am ever so sorry. You are clearly a very devoted piggy slave. Once the digestive tract goes off piste due to a negative response to whatever medication (most commonly antibiotics or GA drugs), it can be so difficult to get it back on track.

I would recommend that you try a combination of both benebac plus (which is a US brand) and twice daily poo soup. Benebac powder you can give any way you want: mixed into your syringe feed, sprinkled on some favourite veg or syringed in a little water.

One is a live piggy microbiome transfer and the other is encapsule herbivore microbiome. They are not the same.

 

[Gayles Piggies]

Suddenly, three pigs who poop ALL the time have decided to withhold the gold. My little girl, who was Fig's kennel mate until they decided they didn't like each other anymore, has been holding out for over 30 minutes - hahahahaha! She must know I want the poop!

 

[Wiebke]

Suddenly, three pigs who poop ALL the time have decided to withhold the gold. My little girl, who was Fig's kennel mate until they decided they didn't like each other anymore, has been holding out for over 30 minutes - hahahahaha! She must know I want the poop!

Put her on a towel on your lap and feed her pellets or veg. Eating usually send a signal to the gut to please move things on and make space in there. Have a small dish with just enough water to cover the poos and a syringe ready next to you. Syinge the mix as soon as the water starts discolouring when you gently swish it around. If you can, about 3 ml of it.

 

[Gayles Piggies]

Put her on a towel on your lap and feed her pellets or veg. Eating usually send a signal to the gut to please move things on and make space in there. Have a small dish with just enough water to cover the poos and a syringe ready next to you. Syinge the mix as soon as the water starts discolouring when you gently swish it around. If you can, about 3 ml of it.

Thank you! I tried that - with all 3! All of a sudden they all became poop shy Lots of patience and 2.5 HOURS later the little girl pooped. The first boy didn't poop for 2 hours but the second boy pooped after 15 minutes. She has had four doses - 2 yesterday and 2 today - and I see a glimmer of light. My sick piggie started eating some pellets on her own today (she's been eating hay) and her poops are now a normal color (for her). Not a normal shape for her yet (still a little thinner than normal) but this is definitely a movement in the right direction! And mom is getting a little tired. 3.5 weeks of syringe feeding her every two to three hours from 9am to 11:30pm.

THANK YOU for all your help! You have no idea....

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you! I tried that - with all 3! All of a sudden they all became poop shy Lots of patience and 2.5 HOURS later the little girl pooped. The first boy didn't poop for 2 hours but the second boy pooped after 15 minutes. She has had four doses - 2 yesterday and 2 today - and I see a glimmer of light. My sick piggie started eating some pellets on her own today (she's been eating hay) and her poops are now a normal color (for her). Not a normal shape for her yet (still a little thinner than normal) but this is definitely a movement in the right direction! And mom is getting a little tired. 3.5 weeks of syringe feeding her every two to three hours from 9am to 11:30pm.

THANK YOU for all your help! You have no idea....

There is still a bit less intake than there should be but the composition and proportion of food groups is right. I am very glad that you are seeing positive changes. Continue with the poo soup and the feeding. Try and see whether she will eat top up feed from a bowl on her own; if she does, it is going to make your life that bit easier even if you still need to finish with a syringe. But you will hopefully get there over the coming week. Once the appetite is starting to come back it is always such a relief. Smaller and thinner poos means usually means that she is not getting enough feed. You are aiming at 60-90 ml in 24 hours but make sure that you have an unbroken 6 hour period at night for your own sleep once you get past the first few days into longer term feeding and look after yourself as well.

Use your normal kitchen scales to check whether she is eating enough on her own or whether you need to step in with syringe feeding during the transition period.
This guide here will help you understand the different monitoring methods and what each brings to the table so you can use them all optimally.

Thread 'Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support'

Jun 20, 2024

1 Weight and Weight Loss
- Why regular weight monitoring matters
- How weight changes over a lifetime
- How to weigh on your kitchen scales (with video)
- The weight loss rules
- How critical is the weight loss for my piggy?
- Possible causes for weight loss
2 Body Mass Index (BMI) or 'Heft'
- Why is understanding your piggy's weight so important?
- 'Average' weight vs. individual weight - the big trip up
- How to check for the BMI...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 5
• Forum: Health & Illness Support Corner

• 
• 

Thread 'All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures'

Mar 9, 2022

Introduction
1 Choosing the right place to medicate/feed your piggy
2 Guinea pig whispering and asserting your authority
3 Recovery products and emergency improvisation
4 Syringe recommendations
5 Weight monitoring: your biggest ally
6 Weight loss guidelines and when to step in with feeding
7 Syringe feeding amounts/frequency advice
8 Practical medication and syringing tips (incl. missed a dose)
9 Medicating and feeding cooperative guinea pigs (videos)
10 Medicating and feeding uncooperative guinea pigs (hold pictures and tips)
11 The line between...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Health & Illness Support Corner

• 
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Once a piggy is eating 10-15 ml from the syringe in one session, you can then start to reduce the frequency of feeds; which is always such a relief for the owner. Every 2-3 hours during the day is for piggies totally off their feed. We all know just how draining it is to look after a pigy totally off their food for any length of time.
Because you cannot measure the independent food intake by eye, weighing first thing in the morning (when the weight swing is lowest) is your best ally.

We are here for you for ongoing support (practical and moral) for as long as needed. You may want to bookmark this your personal support thread so you can always pick it up easily again. It helps us if we can keep each case together in one thread since we do not rely on the number of threads because we are not part of social media.

 

[Gayles Piggies]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

She completely stopped in the beginning and now eats hay immediately after the syringe feeding AND she held her weight overnight last night for the first time in a while (I weigh first thing in the morning and last at night before her last feeding). Yesterday she also was eating a couple of pellets during the day! That was after only two days of poop soup When you have a chance - should I continue the poop soup for a certain length of time (like 2 weeks?) or until she is gaining weight on her own and off of syringe feeding? Or is there another metric I should use?

Thank you!

 

[Wiebke]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

She completely stopped in the beginning and now eats hay immediately after the syringe feeding AND she held her weight overnight last night for the first time in a while (I weigh first thing in the morning and last at night before her last feeding). Yesterday she also was eating a couple of pellets during the day! That was after only two days of poop soup When you have a chance - should I continue the poop soup for a certain length of time (like 2 weeks?) or until she is gaining weight on her own and off of syringe feeding? Or is there another metric I should use?

Thank you!

Continue with the poo soup until her poos look like her usual ones, she is eating by herself and the weight has been going up well for several days. She needs to feel stable for you and should be able to fend for herself without your support for several days.

It is not a medication, it is digestive support which you can give for as long as you feel she needs it and you can start it up any time again.

 

[Gayles Piggies]

She seemed to do well after two days but it's been five or six and she's deteriorating again. She has an appointment with the vet again tomorrow. She's not gaining weight at all - where before she was gaining a little each day and holding it overnight. She was fed six times today and still lost 10 grams since this morning. I have no idea what the scale will say in the morning. She started at 1,000 grams in August and now is 800 grams.

I'm in the U.S. and it's 11pm now.

If anyone has any other suggestions I would love to hear them! Her poops still look decent but not quite normal - but definitely better than they were before the poop soup. I'm giving her the soup twice a day.

I have three other pigs and have alternated the poop donations - maybe I should have kept it to one pig?

She has had a completely normal physical exam otherwise, so it's been a bit of a puzzle. It started with a UTI and two antibiotics, so we thought it was just a gut microbiome problem ... but now. Does anyone know if this could be a result of her genetic problem? (She's a satin and has splayed front feet. Her sister, who we lost last year, had a malformed mouth.)

She is such an angel - but I hate seeing her suffer. She's not sitting with her face in the corner anymore -so that's a plus. She is breaking my heart.

 

[Gayles Piggies]

I couldn't edit the last post - another question - should she be given the poop soup 30-60 minutes before she's syringe fed? I've been giving it during her feeding but I can adjust that of course!

 

[Wiebke]

She seemed to do well after two days but it's been five or six and she's deteriorating again. She has an appointment with the vet again tomorrow. She's not gaining weight at all - where before she was gaining a little each day and holding it overnight. She was fed six times today and still lost 10 grams since this morning. I have no idea what the scale will say in the morning. She started at 1,000 grams in August and now is 800 grams.

I'm in the U.S. and it's 11pm now.

If anyone has any other suggestions I would love to hear them! Her poops still look decent but not quite normal - but definitely better than they were before the poop soup. I'm giving her the soup twice a day.

I have three other pigs and have alternated the poop donations - maybe I should have kept it to one pig?

She has had a completely normal physical exam otherwise, so it's been a bit of a puzzle. It started with a UTI and two antibiotics, so we thought it was just a gut microbiome problem ... but now. Does anyone know if this could be a result of her genetic problem? (She's a satin and has splayed front feet. Her sister, who we lost last year, had a malformed mouth.)

She is such an angel - but I hate seeing her suffer. She's not sitting with her face in the corner anymore -so that's a plus. She is breaking my heart.

BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry. It's not you doing anything wrong; it's just that something is not right with either her recovery process or her reaction to the GA drugs. It can unfortunately happen.

And it doesn't have anything to do with the poo soup. You can give that before you syringe feed (an hour before may be better if you can stretch as far as that but that is splitting hairs). Poos from different healthy piggies provide a wider range so that was a smart choice.

Please try not overthink and doubt everything you do. You are doing perfectly alright, unless you start tripping yourself up. Unfortunately, we can only ever so much; we cannot change what is not in our control and we should also not blame ourselves for what we cannot impact on. And most of what is happening right now is not in your own control.

I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed for your girl and you. You are really doing everything you can do. Never doubt that!

 

[Gayles Piggies]

Thank you so much! It's been a difficult road and one I know others have been on. I've lost several in the last several years and I don't want to lose her. But you understand. My last one had a thyroid tumor so we had time to say goodbye and the one before intestinal torsion, so it was an emergency. I'm holding out hope for my little Fig.

Thank you!

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much! It's been a difficult road and one I know others have been on. I've lost several in the last several years and I don't want to lose her. But you understand. My last one had a thyroid tumor so we had time to say goodbye and the one before intestinal torsion, so it was an emergency. I'm holding out hope for my little Fig.

Thank you!

Fingers firmly crossed!

My own 3 years old Tudur developed a fast growing lump over the turn of the year so I was starting the year with an emergency pts (putting to sleep) as soon as clinics reopened after the holiday.

At the start of August in the wake of an extremely humid heat spike I lost two piggies out of the blue within less than 48 hours, one older one to a sudden heart attack and one seemingly healthy one whose body started closing down without warning all of a sudden. Maelona did tuck into her freshly cut afternoon grass as usual but by dinnertime I found her apathetic and unable to eat; she passed away in the early hours of the morning. Heilin and Maelona were loss #4 nd #5 for this year with two really frail sows around 6 years still in the pipeline. Their last day could come any day.

It is hard to cope because it leaves you shaken and doubting yourself even though you know that you haven't done anything wrong.

You have my full sympathy. Unfortunatly, all you can do is ride the tiger but please keep telling yourself that it is not your fault and not caused by anything you are doing wrong. We can only ever buy our piggies chances but never a guarantee for success; that is not in our control.

 

[Gayles Piggies]

Thank you for your kind words. I am so sorry for your loss ... there really aren't words except to say I understand and my heart hurts for you.

She seems to be going up and down but not nearly as far down as she was two weeks ago. The vet listened and looked yesterday - heart, lungs, ears, eyes, and abdomen are all unremarkable. I'll keep supporting her and giving her the poo soup and praying for the best.

I told him what I was doing with the poo soup and he was thrilled that she's getting the gut microbiome transplant (so to speak ).

THANK YOU!

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for your kind words. I am so sorry for your loss ... there really aren't words except to say I understand and my heart hurts for you.

She seems to be going up and down but not nearly as far down as she was two weeks ago. The vet listened and looked yesterday - heart, lungs, ears, eyes, and abdomen are all unremarkable. I'll keep supporting her and giving her the poo soup and praying for the best.

I told him what I was doing with the poo soup and he was thrilled that she's getting the gut microbiome transplant (so to speak ).

THANK YOU!

Thank YOU. It sometimes helps to know that you are not alone with it and that others really understand where you are coming from and what you are going through.

'Poo soup' mimics natural behaviour in recovering piggies who are stealing fresh poos from their mates' bums. When made absolutely fresh, it can be more effective than commercial products because it is tailor-made for the species. It is one of the relatively few tricks of the trade that have actually stood the test of time.

Unfortunately, it very much looks like my Carys's time has come and that her body has started to close down. She's 6 years old and has had advanced arthritis for over a year now.

 

[Gayles Piggies]

I am so sorry to hear that. It is so hard to lose a little loved one.
My thoughts and prayers are with you during this time.

 

[CTWC]

Sending our best to you and Carys

 

[Wiebke]

I am so sorry to hear that. It is so hard to lose a little loved one.
My thoughts and prayers are with you during this time.

Sending our best to you and Carys

Thank you.

Carys has climbed the Rainbow Bridge this morning. Because she wasn't in distress I let her pass away naturally from her familiar surroundings in her chosen cave with a gently warmed (and regularly replaced) heat pad underneath.

She lived to celebrate her 6th Gotcha Day (adoption anniversary) last month, which in view of her advanced arthritis and progressing kidney failure is a blessing I hadn't expected. I am going to miss her of course. She was a gentle and friendly soul who got on with any piggy she met.

 

[KK327]

Oh so very sorry to hear this sad news. Sending you a guinea pig hug and if there is a good way to pass it sounds like Carys was given that gift. Everyone of us will feel your sorrow x

 

[CTWC]

As you say to all the others be kind to yourself as you grieve. Carys as with all your guineas was lucky to have you as much as you were lucky to have her in your life. Popcorn happily over the Rainbow Bridge Carys

 

[Wiebke]

As you say to all the others be kind to yourself as you grieve. Carys as with all your guineas was lucky to have you as much as you were lucky to have her in your life. Popcorn happily over the Rainbow Bridge Carys

Thank you. I have done a lot of grieving underneath already - Carys has been in the way of a terminal care piggy for me since last year, like all my oldies when they are starting to show their age. But I have no regrets since she has held on for quite a bit longer than I would given her, and I have been cherishing every day she was waiting to be the first of her group to get her slice of pepper in the mornings. I am grateful and relieved that her passing was a comparatively gentle one as these things go.
Just the ache of losing yet another special friend of old and the big gap in the piggy lounge she is leaving behind.