piggy still off colour

[herbie53]

Hi Everyone

Smokey still not 100%, he's been fine for 4-5 weeks but still getting some diarea about once a week, been back to vets and said as long as he is eating he should clear himself, he's been running round the living room and popcorning and generally seems happy,

On Friday he started again with diareah so i made another appointment with vet, but saturday mornign wasnt eating, vet gave him baydril again which always seems to stop him eating totally.

Monday took him back to see a lovely lady who speciallises in guine pigs, who changed his antibiotics to flagyl and said to cut out all fresh fruit and veggies, just to give him hay, grass and dry food for a week.

Today his his second day on the flagyl and although he does seem perkier in himself, he wont eat crunch and is only nibbling at hay, but is loving the grass.

I'm giving critical care too every couple of hours and syringes of water just to make sure he isnt dehydrated.

His poo's are starting to form shapes but are very soft and have a slimey wetness to them, how long does the flagyl take to work?

I'm so worried for my little boy :... :...

he has also been given fibreplex as a pro biotic.

What else can i do, he has lost weight and must be so hungry as he is going mad when i come out the kitchen thinkin i have got something for him

 

[sport_billy]

Hi

Sorry to hear Smokey is poorly. I didn't want to read and run but have no experience of using the antibiotic flagyl but found more info on it at http://www.guinealynx.info/antiparasitics.html - Guinea lynx is a excellent medical website for pigs.

I would get back in contact with your vet today to to find out how long before he should perk up, they will be able to advise..

Please try and get as much fibre in him as possible, try some different types of hay also to encourage hay eating -Orchard Grass, Timothy Hay etc...
The Fibreplex you have got will also help, if you have a well piggie it is a good idea to mash up some of the well piggies poo with water to make pooh soup (gross sounding I know) and syringe it to your poorly boy. This will help the gut flora in his tummy which the Anti-biotics will be having an effect on.

If he is losing weight, you will need to consider syringe feeding him something like Oxbow Critical Care. The recommended amount is around 120ml over 24 hours. Here is a link to a fact sheet on syringe feeding by a former member of this forum who runs The Guinea Pig Helpline http://www.guineapighelpline.com/SyringeFeedingFactsheet.pdf

Please weigh him morning and evening and record his weights, so you can see how he is doing. If he shows no improvement, gets worse or you are concerned please contact your vet immediately.

Sending lots of healing vibes to Smokey x

 

[herbie53]

My boys alot happier this morning, and doing some solid poo's althought smaller that should be,

i feel so guilty not giving him any fresh veggies, but have to do as the vet says.

He's still not keen on his hay or crunch just keeps nibbling at them.

I think the weather is upsetting him, cos they cant play outside.

:... ^)