Please help, Pepe is very poorly :(

[pigsnpugs]

Hello, our 3 year old male Pepe is very poorly can you help?

Lets go back 3 weeks ago. On Friday 23rd July I went in to feed the pigs their morning treats, normally Pepe runs to the front of cage, Wheeking loud to make sure he gets his treats first. But not this morning I called him and he eventually came out from his hidey house, I instantly knew he was not well. He took the cucumber from me and that is the last time he have ate something properly (more than a couple of bites.)

When offered treats a little while later he was not interested. He looked very depressed; lethargic and he was lying down with his face in a corner.

We took him to the vets later that day, where the vet said he could not see anything wrong with it. We were told to keep an eye on him and to syringe feed him critical care.

After the weekend Pepe did not improve and I was not entirely happy with the vet so we took him to a different vet on the Monday.

This time the vet checked his teeth (the first one didn't!) and saw no problems but said Pepe was suffering from bloat but was unsure if it was the result of Pepe not eating or was the reason why he was not eating.

Pepe was injected with Metoclopramide and Vetergesic.

We were told to continue feeding him critical care, give him a small amount of metoclopramide tablet (mixed with water) twice a day and give him Protexin Fibreplex (1ml) 3 times a day.

He seemed to pick up little; he was still not drinking water or eating pellets but was nibbling at treats (2 or 3 bites) and eating a few strands of hay/readi grass.

Back to the vets that Thursday to see how he was doing. The bloat was gone and again the vet could see no problems with his teeth.

Pepe was prescribed once a day a quarter of Rimadyl tablet and Baytril twice daily. We kept feeding him critical care and Protexin Fibreplex.

During this time he seemed to have got worse, He was not interested in food and syringe feeding was difficult as he kept refusing it or spitting it out.

We returned back to the vets Friday (6th August) there she remarked on him looking worse and the amount of weight he have lost. Checked his teeth again and they seemed perfect. We were offered an x ray to see if we can find what is causing him not to eat or to put him to sleep.

We decided to book the X ray, which will be this Tuesday (10th August) depending on what they find or don't find we have to consider putting him to sleep.

After our Friday appointment he seems a little brighter, he is taking his critical care and having little nibbles of treats. But is still not drinking water or eating pellets or hay.

Is there any hope for him? It is so confusing, sometimes it looks like he given up on life and then other times he seems a bit perkier; interested in his treats (he seems like he wants to eat it but can't be bothered to chew it, or gives up after a few nibbles) and walks around in floor time.

He still pooing and weeing but the poos are very thin and dry. I worry I am not feeding him enough.

Does anyone have any advice or have had a pig that has gone through something similar?

I am concerned that I am causing him to suffer but then I don't want to give up on him just in case he gets better.

I have no idea what have caused this, there has been no changes to his bedding or food, he haven't been outside to eat something that has poisoned him and I have 4 boars but they all live in separate cages next to each other so he is not getting bullied.

I really hope he gets better
I apologise for the length of this thread and any grammar, spelling mistakes; English was never my strongest subject.

I look forward to hearing any advice, past experiences or piggy wisdom.

Kind regards,

Melissa, Jon and Pepe

 

[flintstones]

Melissa were abouts are you? Maybe consider another opinion.

Not all vets are piggy savy!

Oh I see Wiltshire, sorry. Have you heard of the CCT?

 

[Wiebke]

My medical knowledge is sadly not up to your case, but I can recommend contacting the CCT (Cambridge Cavy Trust), too.
http://jackiesguineapiggies.com/cct.html

You have done everything right so far, taking your boy to the vets immediately and changing the vets. It is so hard not knowing what you are really up against.

Here is a list of things that can cause sudden loss of appetite. Has your vet considered an oral or throat rush? It may be something as serious as an internal tumour, of course, which only a scan can tell.
http://www.guinealynx.info/anorexia.html

It is important that you syringe your boy water as well as food - his body can close down if is not hydrated, and a guinea pigs that goes off food usually goes off drink as well.
Here is a link to handfeeding; it may contain some more useful tips for you:
http://jackiesguineapiggies.com/cct.html

 

[Cgilchrist]

Just a suggestion my boy had similar issues but luckily i have a great piggy vet who did an xray and ecg etc and found he has a swollen heart it was a bit up and down but with CC and some heart tabs he is now steadily putting on weight again. I think I read you need to give 90-120 ml of CC a day to a piggie that is totally dependant on it little and often is best. also try full fat goats milk porridge too. My vet nurse also said that if you make up the CC with a little water into a sticky ball often piggies will nibble it or eat off the back of a spoon. Smokey was a bit of a difficult one but I also tried my own veg smoothie (raw veg, little water little CC and some probiotic) or some dairy and meat free stage one baby food might help. good luck keep us posted

 

[Ruth]

Have they had a proper look at his teeth? After this long of not eating properly I can't beleive his teeth would be ok . As the others have already said you need to find someone who is good with piggies .

I take it the vet is going to use a GA for the x ray, It is quite possible to do one without but most vets won't .

 

[pigsnpugs]

Hello thank you for the replies.

I have contacted CCT and we decided to take Pepe there for an x ray on Wednesday instead. So fingers crossed we have some good news.

He looks better this morning and had a few nibbles of a tomato.

Thanks Cgilchrist, I will try the full fat goats milk porridge. Hopefully that will help him put weight on. I have tried mixing CC with a little water and offering it to him in a ball but he just turns his nose up at it! He is being a very difficult piggy!

The link for hand feeding was extremely useful Wiebke; I don't think I have been feeding him enough CC and water. He always gets fed up after about 3, 1ml syringes of CC and I hate forcing him for fear of choking him. I also don't think I have been putting the syringe far enough. So hopefully we will have better luck today feeding!

Right I best get off to the shops for full fat goat milk!

Thank you all for your kindness

 

[Laura-CCC4]

Welcome to the forum, I am sorry to hear Pepe has been unwell for so long. Vedra will be able to have a good look at Pepe's teeth as well as taking the x-ray, fingers crossed she is able to identify his problem.

If you have any further trouble syringe-feeding, I have a factsheet I can email to you (if you drop me an email at [email protected] I will reply with the factsheet).