Piggie not eating or pooping 9 hours after neutering

[Tasha007]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for advice or information that may ease my anxiety. I probably am overly anxious as we lost a piggie not that long ago (different circumstance).

My 7.5 month old was neutered today. He came out of surgery at about 11am. On the information the vet gave me it says they should start eating about 4 hours post op. I picked him up at 4pm and the nurse said she had fed him critical care a few hours ago, as he wasn’t eating. They gave me some to take home. He is home and still not eating. At 6pm I gave him critical care, and he is obviously hungry because it was so easy to give to him. He took 12ml. It’s now 8:30 and he still isn’t eating his pellets or his hay. So I will give him more critical care at 10pm.

I just checked and he has not pooped at all. He is just sitting in the same position not really moving in the hutch. He has wee’d.

The vet will call tmw just to check in. So I will relay all this info. But I’m starting to get worried. Does anyone have any experience with this? Is this normal for some piggies? Is there anything I can or should be doing?

Many thanks! Sorry if I come across as incredibly anxious….. I am.

 

[Piggies&buns]

He is going to be groggy so it is very important you continue with the syringe feeding until he feels well enough to eat for himself.
Make sure you are weighing him each morning so you know that he is being fed enough to keep his weight stable.
He won’t poop if he isn’t eating enough. However as poop output is 1-2 days behind food intake, poop output is never a reliable method to gauge food intake (this is why the weight checks are so important as they give up to date information). Also You are going to see a gap in poop production which will be the time he was in surgery and not eating.

Have they given you painkillers to give him twice a day? (Once the painkillers given during surgery have worn off).

I’ve added guides below which explain everything more fully

I hope he is ok

Weight Monitoring and Management
Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support
Signs of Pain

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

• 
• 

Tips For Post-operative Care
Neutering operations: Considerations, post-op care and a successful recovery example

 

[Tasha007]

This is good to know that the gap in poop is normal post surgery. Definitely will continue critical care.

Yes he has meloxicam twice a day for three days. I gave him his dose tonight. I thought maybe he was in pain hence the no moving, but perhaps he is still groggy.

Thank you so much for the advice and links to more information. Very helpful!

 

[Piggies&buns]

This is good to know that the gap in poop is normal post surgery. Definitely will continue critical care.

Yes he has meloxicam twice a day for three days. I gave him his dose tonight. I thought maybe he was in pain hence the no moving, but perhaps he is still groggy.

Thank you so much for the advice and links to more information. Very helpful!

I’m glad he has painkillers. keep an eye on it, being pain will stop him from moving and wanting to eat but you would expect him to start showing interest by the next day. Although prepare that you could need to syringe feed for a few days.

It is the weight checks which are so important here so please do keep up with them every morning. Any weight loss of 50g is when you get concerned but 100g of weight loss in a day or two is an emergency

 

[Tasha007]

I’m glad he has painkillers. keep an eye on it, being pain will stop him from moving and wanting to eat but you would expect him to start showing interest by the next day. Although prepare that you could need to syringe feed for a few days.

It is the weight checks which are so important here so please do keep up with them every morning. Any weight loss of 50g is when you get concerned but 100g of weight loss in a day or two is an

Definitely, I’m worried tonight but if he hasn’t pepped up at all tomorrow, that’s a huge concern. Ok I will weigh him tomorrow morning, and see how he is, whether he needs urgent care. And continue weighing him.

 

[Wiebke]

This is good to know that the gap in poop is normal post surgery. Definitely will continue critical care.

Yes he has meloxicam twice a day for three days. I gave him his dose tonight. I thought maybe he was in pain hence the no moving, but perhaps he is still groggy.

Thank you so much for the advice and links to more information. Very helpful!

Hi and welcome

Here is our post-op care guide with what you can expect and should look out for after an operation. If he is not eating, then your feeding support is crucial. Aim for 60-90 ml in 24 hours but at least 40 ml. GA drugs can knock the digestive system but you best think about it as one big internal conveyor belt. What is loaded in at the front will eventually turn up at the other end. Once you see poos, they are usually small and funny looking at first, reflecting the operation cocktail before you start seeing the results of your feeding support coming gradually through.

Thread 'Tips For Post-operative Care'

Feb 7, 2016

1 Preparing for an operation
2 Care tips for freshly operated guinea pigs
- General advice
- Supportive home care and syringe feeding
- Pain relief, gut stimulants and when to see a vet as an emergency
3 Recovery
4 Companionship
- The importance of company
- Tips for medically separated piggies


Ideally, your...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 2
• Forum: Wiebke's Home Care Guides

• 

All the best. It is always an anxious time.

 

[Tasha007]

Hi and welcome

Here is our post-op care guide with what you can expect and should look out for after an operation. If he is not eating, then your feeding support is crucial. Aim for 60-90 ml in 24 hours but at least 40 ml. GA drugs can knock the digestive system but you best think about it as one big internal conveyor belt. What is loaded in at the front will eventually turn up at the other end. Once you see poos, they are usually small and funny looking at first, reflecting the operation cocktail before you start seeing the results of your feeding support coming gradually through.

Thread 'Tips For Post-operative Care'

Feb 7, 2016

1 Preparing for an operation
2 Care tips for freshly operated guinea pigs
- General advice
- Supportive home care and syringe feeding
- Pain relief, gut stimulants and when to see a vet as an emergency
3 Recovery
4 Companionship
- The importance of company
- Tips for medically separated piggies


Ideally, your...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 2
• Forum: Wiebke's Home Care Guides

• 

All the best. It is always an anxious time.

Hi there!

I’ll aim for 60 - 90ml this 24 hours. I’ll do a feed at 2am as well, as far as I know he only had the one 10ml syringe at the vets, so I’m thinking he needs one in the night too. Which will make 40ml in 12 hours (provided he eats it all, of course), and go from there tomorrow.

Haha thanks for the heads up about the funny looking poop! Good to know!

Thank you for this information, this is very very helpful! Many thanks!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi there!

I’ll aim for 60 - 90ml this 24 hours. I’ll do a feed at 2am as well, as far as I know he only had the one 10ml syringe at the vets, so I’m thinking he needs one in the night too. Which will make 40ml in 12 hours (provided he eats it all, of course), and go from there tomorrow.

Haha thanks for the heads up about the funny looking poop! Good to know!

Thank you for this information, this is very very helpful! Many thanks!

We are here for any practical tips and questions along the way. Make sure that you get some sleep as well and don't get up more than once at night unless, especially if the loss of appetite is dragging on.

All the best.