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Piggie retching and salivating

Rivendellelf

Rivendellelf

New Born Pup
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I took my girlie, Rosie, to the vet this morning as she had rapidly gone downhill overnight. She wasn’t eating and very lethargic. I also noticed she was salivating a lot. The vet has done X-rays, had her on an IV and given painkillers and gut meds. The X-ray showed she was gassy. She then started gagging and retching when she had some critical care, so he used a camera to see if there was an obstruction in the throat. There wasn’t.

I now have her at home overnight to care for before taking her back in the morning. I’ve just tried syringe feeding her again and she’s just gagged and thrown it all back up again. They say that piggies can’t be sick, but that’s exactly what she’s doing 😢

The vet doesn’t really know what’s wrong and neither do I. She’s so poorly. I was just wondering if anyone had a similar experience.

Thanks so much.
 
Rivendellelf said:
I took my girlie, Rosie, to the vet this morning as she had rapidly gone downhill overnight. She wasn’t eating and very lethargic. I also noticed she was salivating a lot. The vet has done X-rays, had her on an IV and given painkillers and gut meds. The X-ray showed she was gassy. She then started gagging and retching when she had some critical care, so he used a camera to see if there was an obstruction in the throat. There wasn’t.

I now have her at home overnight to care for before taking her back in the morning. I’ve just tried syringe feeding her again and she’s just gagged and thrown it all back up again. They say that piggies can’t be sick, but that’s exactly what she’s doing 😢

The vet doesn’t really know what’s wrong and neither do I. She’s so poorly. I was just wondering if anyone had a similar experience.

Thanks so much.
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Hi

BIG HUGS

I am ever so sorry.

Retching, gagging and salivating (i.e. not being able to swallow anymore at all) in combination with lethargy and gassing are unfortunately characteristic for a twisted gut which is extremely painful and fatal.
Please consider an emergency pts/euthanasia at the out of hours vets as the kindest thing you can under the circumstances.
Digestive Disorders: Not Eating - Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement)
How to contact a vet out of hours
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

My thoughts are with you. A twisted gut is thankfully pretty rare in guinea pigs but it can and does happen. Because of its rarity, the symptoms are not necessarily known. A guinea pig that can no longer swallow is always a dying guinea pig.

I wish I had better news and kinder advice.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi

BIG HUGS

I am ever so sorry.

Retching, gagging and salivating (i.e. not being able to swallow anymore at all) in combination with lethargy and gassing are unfortunately characteristic for a twisted gut which is extremely painful and fatal.
Please consider an emergency pts/euthanasia at the out of hours vets as the kindest thing you can under the circumstances.
Digestive Disorders: Not Eating - Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement)
How to contact a vet out of hours
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

My thoughts are with you. A twisted gut is thankfully pretty rare in guinea pigs but it can and does happen. Because of its rarity, the symptoms are not necessarily known. A guinea pig that can no longer swallow is always a dying guinea pig.

I wish I had better news and kinder advice.
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Thank you. You confirmed what I already suspected 😢😢. Absolutely gutted xx
 
Sleep easy Rosie, it is so tough helping a pig across the bridge let alone under such circumstances.
I can tell how loved Rosie was.

If you wish to, you can post a little memory of your gorgeous girl in our rainbow bridge section.
Completely up to you but just a thought.

Please be kind with yourself at this time x
 
Rivendellelf said:
Today, my little Rosie crossed over the rainbow bridge 🌈. I’ve never seen a piggie go downhill so quickly. I will miss you Ro Ro ❤️
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HUGS

It is truly terrifying when it happens as quickly as this and you (or any vet or any medication) are helpless to stop it, isn't it? Sadly there are a number of things that can strike out of the blue with horrifying force and speed. :(

Please be kind with yourself and give yourself time to get over both the shock and the pain of the loss. Try to take consolation in that the one blessing in such a quick decline is that your piggies' suffering is over much sooner than in a larger pet with more body mass and a much slower metabolism. Wouldn't we rather choose to bear the extra burden of the shock in order to ease the suffering of one we love anyway?

Rosie had only one really bad day compared to all the happy days you have given her - which is what guinea pigs measure a good life by - and you have been able to cut short her agony, too.
She couldn't have found a better home. There is nothing you have done wrong and you couldn't have done any more for her. The rest is unfortunately out of your control.

Death, Dying, Terminal Illness; Human Grieving and Bereaved Companions: Information and Support for Owners and Their Children



She was a beautiful girl.
 
Wiebke said:
HUGS

It is truly terrifying when it happens as quickly as this and you (or any vet or any medication) are helpless to stop it, isn't it? Sadly there are a number of things that can strike out of the blue with horrifying force and speed. :(

Please be kind with yourself and give yourself time to get over both the shock and the pain of the loss. Try to take consolation in that the one blessing in such a quick decline is that your piggies' suffering is over much sooner than in a larger pet with more body mass and a much slower metabolism. Wouldn't we rather choose to bear the extra burden of the shock in order to ease the suffering of one we love anyway?

Rosie had only one really bad day compared to all the happy days you have given her - which is what guinea pigs measure a good life by - and you have been able to cut short her agony, too.
She couldn't have found a better home. There is nothing you have done wrong and you couldn't have done any more for her. The rest is unfortunately out of your control.

Death, Dying, Terminal Illness; Human Grieving and Bereaved Companions: Information and Support for Owners and Their Children



She was a beautiful girl.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your help and kind words. That set me off again ❤💔. I’m happy that she’s no longer suffering. Xx
 
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