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Please read - sick piggie - advice needed

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Mr Audrey & Mr Marilyn

Mr Audrey & Mr Marilyn

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Hi All,

This morning we woke up and found Marilyn making a whimpering noise, which I understand to mean I have a poorly piggie and I'm very worried - I just called the vet and I can't get an appointment until 3.30.

His behaviour also seems slightly unusual although it's a bit difficult to explain, he seems to be having difficulty settling and just doesn't seem himself. He's also done this a couple of times (video below)- a sort of slow rumblestrutting, but with my other piggie nowhere in sight, if you turn up the volume loud you'll hear the noise


I've just given him a bit of parsley and he's eating, but didn't seem his normal excited self.
Audrey, my other boar, seemed slightly out of sorts on Saturday night, but we put that down to fireworks, and he was behaving normally yesterday.

Can anyone shed any light on what this might be?
 
That's not rumblestrutting...the video almost looks like it's on a 'repeat'. Have you check his undercarriage. Boars can suffer with the penis being stuck out which can happen if he has become excited and ejaculated...sorry, very graphic. It could also be a problem with his bottom.
I hope you get it sorted, poor little man.
 
Hi There,

I'm afraid I can't watch your video as I'm on my phone, do you weigh your little piggy if so has he lost weight? I would bring him out on your lap with a white towel to see that he is able to pass urine and that there is no blood visible.

You describe the noise as 'whimpering' when is he making this noise?

Hope your little piggy get's well soon.

X
 
Has he got something stuck up his bum, it looks like hes having a good old wiggle, check for debris round his bum and willy, hope he is ok x
 
He does look in discomfort. I definitely think he could do with seeing a vet as soon as possible. Could you say you will go in and wait until they can find a slot to fit you in. Most vets get clients who don't show, particularly the cat clients who have to cancel because the cat doesn't turn up at home in time to leave for their appt.
 
He does look in discomfort. I definitely think he could do with seeing a vet as soon as possible. Could you say you will go in and wait until they can find a slot to fit you in. Most vets get clients who don't show, particularly the cat clients who have to cancel because the cat doesn't turn up at home in time to leave for their appt.
 
Hi all, thanks for your replies. I've checked his underneath and everything looks normal. I've weighed him, and although I admit I haven't weighed him very recently, he doesn't seem to have lost weight. He has been eating his usual amounts these last few days, and when I just had him out on my lap he was eating normally.*
Unfortunately I couldn't get him to wee on me- he never has, he gets very agitated, and would rather try and take a flying leap than go on me. I've checked the cage and can't see anything.*

When I just had him out and eating he almost appeared completely normal, but after putting him back he was making the noise again and looked like he was having real difficulty getting comfortable lying down.

I really hope the vet comes up with something, If he doesn't I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for vets in London (I'm based in South), we've only been to our vets for check ups and nail cutting and although they've proactively given good care advice they don't claim to be exotic specialists so it would be good to have a back up lined up.*
Many thanks *
 
Sounds very similar to how oliver was the other day...
He had been running round the garden showing off for his ladies and had managed to collect all sorts of cr*p in his man bits...
He had Megazorb... Grass... Poo(?!?!?)... And general grime....
I tried for quite a while to get his man bits cleaned out but ended up being a trip to the vets... Rather embarrassing phone call to them...
The vet managed to clean him up and he's been fine since...
Dirty bores...
x
 
Have you extruded his penis to check for a problem? Debris built up around the shaft can cause a great deal of discomfort and can be removed with a delicate hand, and a wash in warm water. Penis plugs (hardened ejaculate) can block the urethra causing a lot of discomfort too, they can be removed carefully.

If you need a vet I would recommend -
Ann from Goddard Veterinary Group‎
150 Kingston Road
Surrey KT17 2ET
020 8393 6049

HTH

Suzy x
 
He looked to me like he was scratching himself against the cage, a bit like horses scratching themselves against a wooden post.

How did you get on at the vet?
 
Hi all,
We've been to the vets, she checked his bits, and gave him a good feel under his belly. She said he was quite bloated but otherwise couldn't shed any light at this point. She gave him an injection of something to get his gut moving*(I specifically asked her what it was so I could report back here but now I can't remember what it was called - I think I would recognise the name if I saw it?). Unfortunately she made him bleed quite a bit by doing it which was annoying. She said to seperate them overnight because she needs to know if he is weeing and pooing normally, so they have been seperate since we got home, he's weed at least three times and pooed, but he was getting really stressed about being seperated so I called the vets and she said to put him back and keep an eye on him.**
She said to take out his pellets, but feed hay and veggies as normal.
We havent really heard him make the same noises this afternoon/this evening, and it's difficult to judge if he's being himself now because he's had a traumatic experience with the bus ride and prodding and poking that it's quite normal for him to be resting and moping a bit. I'm keeping a very close eye (and ear), but if anyone has any advice/comments, please let me know.*
 
Marilyn has seemed a bit perkier this evening, but then we noticed him doing
the movement again as on the video. Having not seen how thoroughly the vet had looked at his bits, I thought I would give it a go. Bless him he's had an awful day. Unfortunately I just couldn't get 'it' out. I think my technique was just wrong, although I was able to get some small things out of his bum which probably weren't too comfortable.*

I've since watched a video and think I know where I was going wrong (pushing in rather than pushing down), but I can't bear to traumatise him anymore, so I'll give it another go tomorrow. I've since discovered I should have been doing this regularly already, which I feel badly about.*

So during my research I also looked into bloat, as the vet said Marilyn had some bloat, but she didn't seem overly concerned, she gave the injection, but as I said above, other than taking out the pellets she didn't give me anymore advice. I've since read too much vitamin c can cause it, which would suggest i need to plan out his meals accordingly, and that it can quickly lead to a fatal condition- can anyone help me with advice? *
 
If there is any way you can get down to Ann tomorrow please do, she is my vet and treats all my piggies, Suzy is right she is brilliant. Or contact the piggy hotel the boys went to as they should I imagine have a specialist guinea vet they can recommend.

With all due respect I have no idea why your vet gave your guinea a gut stimulant jab then told you to take the pellet food away, if you want the gut to move you feed anything the piggies will eat, I have even let mine have a bit of meusli when I wanted them to nom.

Bloat can be caused by smegma building up inside the foreskin and making it painful for piggie to pee, thus they don't, thus they get bloat. It can be serious and I think your boy does need his willy looked at. Dodge had a build up of smegma which Ann 'removed' last Weds, it wasn't pretty and it smelt horrible but he is much happier since, he had no visible symptoms but I definitely wouldn't rule this out.

And I had no idea I needed to do it regularly either, so don't feel bad, and I have even less of an excuse as I know you do horses regularly!
 
Hi all,

Just a quick update and a question.

Marilyn is appearing much brighter today, we've heard no untoward noises, and seen none of the odd movements again. We've given them floor time and he's been running around, popcorning, rumblestrutting and begging for food as normal. Of course I will continue to monitor him closely, and I plan to take him back to the vet soon for a check up either way.

We attempted the check of the man bits again tonight, after a bit of feeling around I eventually got it out, and I'm no expert but all looked ok to me! I gave it a gentle bathe with a cotton wool pad and some warm water anyway, and did the same to my other boar Audrey while I was there, he was actually dirtier (and smellier eww). I do have a small question about it if there is anyone who is in the know about these things is willing for me to email a picture and an email to? (to protect Marilyn's modesty!)
 
I'm by no means an expert but I do have dirty boars whos bits I am always checking, so If you would like to Pm me the picture I am happy to help if i can. :)
 
Please let us know how you get on - goods luck.
 
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