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Piggie not eating- please help :(

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Branston&Pickles

Branston&Pickles

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My guinea pig Branston seemed very reserved and not himself on Monday night, so I checked him over everything seemed fine...apart from his weight he normally weighs 1,150kg and on Monday night he was down to 1kg. I kept a close eye on him on Tuesday and I don't think he hardly ate (hard to tell with another greedy pig in the cage). So I weighed him this morning, he weighed 975kg so I took him straight to the vets. They checked his eyes,temperature, body and front teeth- all fine, so they really can't understand what's wrong with him :( so they gave him a antibiotic injection, steriod injection and we've got Baytril 0.2ml to give him three times a day. He's just eaten a bit of grass but that's it :( he's really not himself. Does anyone have any idea what could be wrong with him?or how can we get him to eat? He's done a tiny wee and a few mini poo's (half the size they normally are) today.


I don't know if this has any relavance but him and his cage mate also don't seem to be getting along very well at the moment, quite often teeth chattering at each other, fur up and chasing each other. Junior(cage mate) is going through his teenager stage at the moment, so I don't know if it's just coinsidence. I haven't seperated as there hasn't been any blood drawn, they do normally get along so well.

Rachel x
 
It's very possible his cage mate knows he's ill as in the Wild the ill Guinea Pig is seen off from the pack as they are considered a Weakness and may attract predators.

You really need another vet if this one isn't prepared to find out whats wrong. How Guinea Pig Savy is your vet? I know only to well what it's like having a sick pig with a vet not willing or knowing how to help.

I know you have adopted from Suzy before are you anywhere near her Vet, as he is very good and maybe able to help further. I know she see's Lance, I'm sure if you called her she would advise the surgery name as I don't know it off hand.

Please start syringe feeding Critical Care, he needs to maintain his weight. To allow you to find out whats wrong.

Unfortunately with Guinea Pigs, its very much trial and error ruling out numerous illnesses to find the cause. It's never easy, but it's not impossible!
 
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i agree withflintstones you need to try syringe feeding or at least hand feeding. Guinea pigs hide it really well when they are ill. If the piggie doesnt get too stressed traveling i would keep hasseling the vet, clearly something isnt right.
 
Did they look at his back teeth?

If you don't have critical care you can make up a mix by softening pellets in water, then blending with cucumber, lettuce, etc and water to make a sloppy mix. Cut the end of a 1ml syringe and file down and rough edges.
If he is taking the critical care/ mix well and is obviously hungry then it may well be a teeth problem.
Also syringe some water if he is not taking fluids.

I hope he picks up soon.
 
Thank you for your reply :)

Do you know where can I get Critical Care from?
My mum was the one who took him to the vets and they told her they weren't concerned by the amount of weight he had lost :... but he's lost 175kg in just a few days, he's just under two years old. I'll try hand feeding him and weigh him again later.

I live in Gloucestershire but am staying at my mums in Powys because I have a weeks holiday from work this week, so I'll see if Suzy would mind giving me her vets details, I don't mind driving a few hours just want him better :(
 
Branston&Pickles said:
Thank you for your reply :)

Do you know where can I get Critical Care from?
My mum was the one who took him to the vets and they told her they weren't concerned by the amount of weight he had lost :... but he's lost 175kg in just a few days, he's just under two years old. I'll try hand feeding him and weigh him again later.

I live in Gloucestershire but am staying at my mums in Powys because I have a weeks holiday from work this week, so I'll see if Suzy would mind giving me her vets details, I don't mind driving a few hours just want him better :(
Click to expand...

I had the same with Bette although ahe lost 100grams, thats why I changed vets that amount is a HUGE weightloss and should be taken very seriously!

I tried to contact Suzy to find out her Vets name. I think Lance works in a Swansea practice and another practice. I will have a search, I'm sure shes put it onthe forum before.

Critical Care you can get from the Vets are various sites online (VetUK) was the cheapest last time I bought it. If you don't have Critical Care, Burgess Pellets are great for mushing up into a gloup and syringing to a sick pig. A piggy needs roughly 120mls per day.
 
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Suzy's Vet - As above - Lance is my vet.

In Cardiff area - highly recommended
Bridges Veterinary Surgery
at Pugh's Garden Centre
Ty Nant Rd
Morganstown
Radyr
Cardiff
South Glamorgan
CF15 8LB
029 2084 2440
 
Thanks Flintstones, I just P'M Suzy aswell.
Shall I monitor and hand feed him tonight and see how how he is in the morning and if no better phone Suzy's vet in the morning, its an 1hr 40min from my parents house.

Flips they didn't check his bach teeth, they said he would have to be put under anaesthetic for this.
 
Oh no! Poor you...and poor Branston. Ditto the above really - this is a SIGNIFICANT weight loss in a short time and the interaction between your piggies is also a dead giveaway that summat's up.

From 1.15 to 975g in 3 days is to be honest, red alert...and first thing to consider is water loss

At the very least his temp should have been taken by previous vets (for possible infection) and he should have been assessed for dehydration (pull up the skin on the back of his neck to make a tent...if it stays put he is deydrated) as this can cause a piggie to lose 70-100g very quickly (and if they then start drinking again they can be restored to previous weight within the space of a few hours).

So might be worth checking if the water bottle has been blocked..(some of my piggies are notorious for "spitting their food" back into the spout :)>>>) ? I have had two "scares" with my piggies caused by blocked water bottles recently...each lost 70-90g on their daily weight...and after restoring a new water bottle they were back up to normal within 4 hours.

Also as already said.....Hand feed....lots (120ml per day if you possibly can) P@H pellets work for me if you can;t get Burgess.You can also include guinea poos and Vit C in the "mush"...and just do water if he won;t eat.

Try tempting him with chopped grass and small veggie pieces (if he has a toofie porblem this will help)

Little poos means his gut has already slowed down and he therefore definitely needs a vet and possibly a gut stimulant within the next 24 hours....plus he needs his back teeth properly examining and a full work up on possible respiratory/heart/UTI conditions..by stethoscope and palpation (and X ray)

Lance is an exceptional piggie vet...but is only around once or twice a wheek near your mum's. Personally, from what you;ve described, I don;t think your piggie can wait more than 24 hours before seeing another vet in view of the weight loss and poo size. So contact Suzy for another vet she recommends...(**** same practice as Lance?)

Before the next vet visit - withdraw all hay/food and feed nothing but peeled cucumber for an hour beforehand - this will cleanse the mouth and get rid of the green gunk which means hopefully the vet can see the molars without having to perform a GA


Hugs to you...ill piggie and away from home.....must be horrible for you.

All piggie paws are crossed here that Branston gets an accurate diagnosis and the proper treatment to make a full recovery.


xxxxx
 
I hope the hand feeding goes well tonight. Some proper piggy poops would be a big relief. I hope you manage to find a vet tomorrow that you feel confident with.

Sending healing wheeks to Branston. xx>>>
 
He's had a little food and we gave him some water, he seems to have purked up a bit. He's started moving about a lot more and talking to us again, he also hasn't lost anymore weight today.
Thanks for all your help and advice :) x
 
Hope you get on ok at the vets and they get to the bottom of it.
Healing vibes from here.
xx
PS My piggy also lost weight recently - not as sudden as yours but she was at the vets today and needed spurs on her teeth filed (not front teeth).
 
As regards to your concerns about bullying- My boys had a big tiff recently and Roy just refused to eat point blank, he was too scared to move from the corner of the cage as Fitz charged him everytime he did and lost 90g over a weekend, but when he was out in the indoor run alone he was fine and eating normally which is how I knew it was down to him being scared of Fitz in the cage rather than a health issue.
 
Poor piggie! That is a lot of weight loss in a short period of time... if you pinch the skin of his neck, does it return to it's normal position quickly? Not doing so is a sign of dehydration. I would definitely start syringe feeding food and water. Checking with another vet would be a good idea too- I would be suspicious of the back teeth- some vets can check the back ones without anasthesia using a buccal separator... pigs don't like it, but who really likes the vet? Often the front teeth don't look bad even when the back teeth are overgrown. We lost a piggie to dental issues a year and a half ago- in spite of major malocclusion and molar issues, her front teeth looked relatively good until the last few days of her life- and at that point they were simply overgrowing as she could not chew at all. I would definitely get some mushed up food in a syringe, and check around for a vet who will check teeth without anasthesia!
 
Hi Rachel - how is Branston this morning? Lance should be in the Neath branch today. If you do come down, call in and I'll see if there's any supplies you need.

I PM'd the vet details to B&P yesterday afternoon, just to let everyone know I didn't miss the thread, my one afternoon off in a month - that'll teach me!

Suzy x
 
Hi Suzy,
Just phoned Lance's surgery in Neath,he's booked up until next Wednesday so we couldn't get an appointment with him. We do have an appointment at 2.20 with one of his collegues.
I went back to the orignal vets this morning to see if I could get some critical care to feed him but they didn't have any to buy, they gave me some which is out of date (by 2 years) so i'm not sure if I can use it.
He still weighs 975kg so hasn't lost any more weight but doesn't seem himself again this morning.
Sorry to disturb your afternoon off.
Rachel x
 
Hi Rachel,

I know you have an appointment, but just a thought Mark, the vets details I originally gave thinking he was Lance is also fabulous with Guinea Pigs, perhaps you could try him. I'm sure if you let Suzy know his colleagues name, she'll be able to let you know if they are experienced with Guinea Pigs.

Good Luck, its good he's not lost anymore weight!

The Critical care has it been kept in the freezer? I would think feeding mushy pellets would be as good!

X
 
I find all the vets in the Neath practice very good, the vet nurse Claire is superb and very piggy savvy too - and if they need a 'bit of Lancing' they can speak to him.

x
 
ask the vet for Metoclopramide, the first one would be best in injection form, and then you need to give it orally 3 times a day 0.5ml/1ml until he is eating and pooping normal.

this is a gut stimulant.

You need to be (if you cant get cc) getting some Burgess pellets pouring boiling water on a small amount around egg cup amount, wait 15mins, then pour more boiling water on to cover them wait another 15mins then mix, wait until they go cool, i would also mix in some probiotics in it and some vit c supplement and healthy mushed poop from your other guinea pig.

you need to be getting around 30-40 mls per sitting which should take around 20mins to do.
total 120mls in 24hours.

after syringe feeds always syringe around 5ml-10ml water so this will flush away the food at the back of the mouth and act as a bit of fluid.

it would also be worth having pain meds.

just cause the front teeth look normal doesnt always mean the back ones are fine. guinea pigs can eat well have normal front teeth and still have molar problems x
 
It wasn't kept in a freezer flintstones, it was just on the side half empty, so I haven't used it.

Thanks Suzy, I'm not sure who we are seeing, hopefully we'll get to the problem though. I'm getting nervous already!

Thanks Claire, he did have two injections yesterday one an antibiotic and a steriod injection, we've also got baytril to give him.

x
 
Haven't long got back from Neath, I saw a lady called Kat. We are still unsure what is wrong with branston, so she gave me some supreme science food to give to him every two/three hours also Metoclopramide that Claire mentioned to give to him twice a day.
She said if there's no improvement by tomorrow/Saturday, then I'll need to phone them to book an x-ray (not sure if he has to be out under GA for this) to see what his teeth are like. She did try to check his back teeth but couldn't see the teeth very well, she did say his front teeth were slightly long.
He weighed 952kg at the vets, so again has lost a bit more weight, hopefully he'll start to put some weight back on with the science supreme food.

Rachel x
 
Hmmm, so not any clearer yet. Hopefully the metaclopramide will help a lot - I would phone and make an appointment with the Swansea branch for Wednesday with Lance if there's an opening. You can always cancel it if he improves in the meantime.

Lance does his surgeries there so if his teeth do need sorting then at least he's in the right place. If you feed cucumber with the green sliced off in the hour before examination it really helps to clear the mouth of food residue so the teeth can be viewed more easily. Lance does conscious x rays normally and if he gets a good view of the mouth they may not be neccessary anyway.

Suzy x
 
Thanks Suzy for all your help, i'll try phoning tomorrow morning to see if I can get an appointment for Wednesday. Do you think he will be ok until Wednesday? I'm convinced it's his teeth, he hasn't even tried eating anything tonight, last night he ate some grass & hay.
I tried giving him some cucumber this morning but he won't take any veg at all off me, thats partly why Kat couldn't see his back teeth.

Suzy, you know the supreme science how much/how often do I give him? similar to what clairelove said? the label isn't very clear, it says make up in 70ml of water and offer little & often. approx 1-2ml at a time.

I go back to work on Monday and am working Wednesday if I can get an appointment with Lance I'm sure i'll be able to change my shift.

Thank you xx
 
I've got an appointment with Lance on Thursday in Neath at 12.00, couldn't get in on Wednesday. Branston did a little wee and three little poo's this morning, he also drank from his water bottle last night. So we are progressing i think, he still won't eat anything, the supreme science is going down very well though!
 
Branston's been going to his water bottle by himself and drinking today. He's been taking the supreme science and medicine very well. He was wandering around his cage earlier, which is such a change to how he has been. He kept going to his bowl but couldn't seem to eat any food :( and I've just chopped veg and gave it to him but he couldn't really pick it up/chew it, so i've got him on my lap and he's very slowly managed a bit of lettace and parsley, his poo is normal shapped again.

I just realised in all my posts I've put kg! and not grams, what an idiot :red just aswell you all knew what I was on about :)
 
How's Branston doing today? Keeping my fingers crossed for him and you.

Suzy x
 
Hey, my little pig has had similar symptoms. I'm not very experienced, but would suggest that a vet cant always see the back teeth without putting the piggie under anasthetic, as the teeth can be covered with food and the cheek pouches can hide problems. He should have a proper check, sometimes vets miss the fact that the teeth are growing the wrong way over the tongue, and only notice the spikes. It may also be to do with the roots of the teeth, but if the teeth are filed, this may take pressure off of the roots. He may well have tooth ache, so they should give him pain control too.

I hope your little guinea pig recovers soon, mine is still recovering and I know what that worried feeling feels like! :O)
 
can i add a GA is not need to do a dental in guinea pigs, and any guinea pig that is not well should only be put under GA if it is life or death in a dental situation and where serious health problems with the teeth can only be fixed with a GA most dentals 9/10 can be done with out a GA via a rodentologist and any vet that routinely suggest a GA just to check the teeth in a guinea pig that is ill is not recommended as its possible the guinea pig will not recover from the GAxxx
 
He's stopped going to his water bottle by himself today and isn't moving around a lot :( he's lost a bit more weight too, he weighs 899g now. I'm feeding him every 4 hours and giving him water, so can't understand why he's still loosing weight (20g since yesterday) he still shows an interest in food and tries eating it but doesn't get anywhere.

I have got an appointment with Debbie's (furryfriends) vet, Simon Maddock in Northampton on Monday morning. I don't think he would make it to Lances appointment on Thursday. Simon's very experienced with dental guinea pigs (i'm sure its this) and does all his dental animals on Monday, so if this is the problem will do Branston's teeth then and there. I just hope he can hold on until then. x
 
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