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Poorly Piggy

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smr1001

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One of our piggies has been slowly losing weight. We have had her for 3.5 years and think she was a year old when we got her. So she is somewhere around 4.5 to 5 years old. She has lost about 4ozs over a couple of months and is now just over 2lbs and she feels very skinny compared to how she was last year.

We took her to the vets for a check up today and the vet thinks she has problems with her uterus (some sort of poisoning), the only possible cure being removal. Given the nature of such an operation for a piggy, her age and current weight we feel that the chances of success are slim and it is not something we wish to put her through. She is still alert, eating reasonably well and is not in any obvious pain or discomfort. We feel that it is best to make her last few weeks or months as happy and comfortable as possible and let nature take its course.

Are these types of problem common in older females and has anyone else had experiences of or offer any advice in dealing with this type of illness?
 
Sorry to hear your piggy is poorly. She is an old lady and I think you're right not to put her through the risk of anaesthetic and an operation at her age. Did the vet say exactly what he thought the problem was?

If she is eating and getting about ok and in no obvious discomfort, I would probably do as you suggest and just make her as happy as possible. Poisoning of the uterus sounds like what dogs can get - Pyometra? But I don't know if it's the same with guineas, sorry.

Hope someone else can help more!

Sophie
x
 
Poisoning of the uterus? Interesting diagnosis. Never heard that one before!
If the pig is eating and functioning normally then leave well alone, older pigs do lose weight for no apparent reason other than old age. 4oz in 2 months is not a drastic weight loss as such. They do reach a critical weight at from which there is no recovery. I have had pigs lose 50% of their body weight before they died. Other than the weight loss there were no other signs/symptoms of illness. Do not be in too much of a hurry to have her operated on, neither let her be killed (by a vet) just because of weight loss. Attention/care by itself is superb treatment.
 
I've never heard of it at all ?/ If your piggie isn't showing signs of discomfort then I agree with the others and would leave the operation and just make her warm and comfy.
 
I haven't yet heard of this in a guinea and tend to agree with you and the others, let her be! not all vets are good with guinea pigs and this sounds like a bit of a guess to me! Keep a close eye and see if there are any other symptoms apart from a little weight loss which may point to something else :)
 
Thanks for the info on pyometra - not sure that is what the vet meant. His diagnosis seemed to be based on squeezing her stomach and sides and the fact that she has soft poos. Seemed to make sense at the time but I have not really managed to find anything on the internet of much relevance. Beginning to question the vets diagnosis now.

He did check her teeth which was our initial concern but he said they appeared OK. Apart from the weight loss and soft poos she seems fine - she has slowed down a little compared to the other nutters she lives with :)) but then I guess that is what happens with older piggies.

We are just going to keep a close eye on her for the time being and make sure she has lots of her favourite treats!
 
Maybe she has an upset tummy? That can cause stomach discomfort and soft poos. Leave off the veg for 48 hours and see if there's any improvement.
 
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