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Possible bloating

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Jebebr

Jebebr

Junior Guinea Pig
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Got up through the night because I was worried about Jerry. Noticed a drop in food and water intake through the day (Sunday). Poops are smaller and slightly drier too. Kept an eye on this. Topping him up with some cranberry juice, CC (when I can get it in him) and water. So When I got up at 3.45am I noticed that he is now slightly bloated and not many poops if any since I had went to bed. I lifted him out and massaged his stomach as I have noticed people on here have done. He is eating some hay and I have given him cucumber and wet lettuce just to keep his fluids up. I have phone the emergency vets. She said as long as he is eating hay and give him some more water he'll be fine until the morning to see the vet. I feel a bit lost in what to do for him just now. He is currently sitting in his cage hiding :( Since I have massaged his stomach he has passed about 12 better looking poops compared to yesterdays. I have tried to give him some more water and CC (he really does not like). I have put some more hay and a couple of wet lettuce leave to keep him going just now.
He doesn't appear to be in pain. He was pretty happy at me rubbing his belly. Just waiting for 9am now so I can make an appointment!
 
Don't give him any more veg, that's often the culprit or will at least exacerbate bloat.

How bloated is he? Is his abdomen still soft or taut?

If its taut, he needs to see a vet now.

When you call the vet, you're likely to talk to a receptionist; stress how serious bloat is and that you want to be seen ASAP, don't let them fob you off with an afternoon appointment or whatever!
 
It was the vet I spoke to this morning at 4am. His stomach isn't so taut/solid, but is noticeable. I don't have anything to compare it too but maybe to someone else they might not notice, I think there is def bloating. Plus with him being off his dried food and water. Yeah I am going to get an appointment for this morning. He is still urinating and his poops yesterday were rather small. The are slightly bigger this morning (closer to normal) but not much of them.
 
I meant when you call this morning ;)

Hope you manage to get an early appointment!

If you gentle tap his side and he sounds hollow, then that's gas...keep massaging his abdomen if it's not too painful for him!
 
We are away to the vets at 10.30. I did speak to this receptionist when I phoned they know Jerry. So there was no issue with a early appointment. I think the bloat has been caused by broccoli and cabbage as he has had a lot of this recently (had both last night and grass). Just concerned about his lack of eating and drink!
Hopefully well will be on the mend soon. Thats two more veg we can knock off now :(
He was pass some overly rip wind last night! Almost made my eyes water.
Will let you know soon. Thanks
 
Back from the vet. He has to be given Septrin x2 daily and Zantac x2 daily. According to the vet all appears to be ok just now! His stomach is gas Zantac prescribe to help things get moving again. As for the Septrin there is no obvious reason for him to be not taking dry food or water. Heart and lungs sound fine, looked in ears in his mouth and he isn't dehydrated. So antibiotic given just in case there is something underlying.
Vet also showed me how to syringe properly. So I'll give him water and CC as a top up with his veg and hay and see if that improves anything.
 
I Would hold off on the veg for 24 hours as that may make any bloat worse or make a episode re-occur, when you start veg again introduce it slowly at first.... Usually cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli can cause bloat.
The zantac will help keep everything moving, please keep up with the gentle massaging and lots of hay and pellets and CC.

Hope Jerry gets better soon
 
That's a relief! I hope there isn't anything underlying, and that he was just feeling a bit uncomfortable. Hopefully he'll be happily munching again soon.
 
Thanks all. Pellets and muesli available to him as well as his water bottle and water in a dish. I suppose he will start to eat in drink in his own time :(
Since I have been typing this he as been at his nugget and muesli had a sniff but went away again!
How much CC should I be giving him? Need to back to work soon too. Maybe in that time he'll relaxing and start to nibble.
Does spinach cause bloating? He has been turning his nose up at that too recently.
 
Well worth weighing him now so you know what weight he is at.
If Piggies aren't eating at all it is recomended to get 120mls of Critical Care into them over 24 hours spread out.

Keep massaging him to help get the gas out. If he goes downhill, please get back in touch with the vet ASAP, bloat can be very tricky.

Is he pooing?
 
He was weighed at the vets and weighed when we got home. He's about 945g which is average for him these days. As long as he stays above 900g I'll be happy. Yeah kind of. His poops are back to the typical darker colour but the still on the smallish side and not as many as we are use to. His cage has been cleaned and I'm going to leave him meantime. So we shall see how he gets on!
 
Hi there, I hope he feels better soon. I have been watching my boys diet ever since he first got bloat. Ever since he first got it, he is prone to it coming back. I don't give him any bloat causing veg any longer (no broccoli, kale, cabbage) and he is much better without it. I would leave out any veg until he is stable and hopefully bloat free. It can take a while and then reintroduce slowly.

I kept his bottom cleaned (sometimes clearing out the poops followed by a tummy rub helped with gas release). If your boys poops slow up, critical care or mashed nuggets are a must to keep his gut going.

Get well soon Jerry!
 
A wee update. His stomach doesn't feel as bloated as it did during the night Sun/Mon. Having said this he is still looking a bit sorry for himself. He is taking his meds well and ever once in a while I syringe some water and CC into him too. I have been giving him wet lettuce and cucumber since he isn't drink but only a small about. He is starting to pick at his nuggets and museli but he is refusing to look at his water bottle or bowl. I have just bought some bottled water so I'll try this when I get home.
 
C'mon little Jerry x
 
Don't forget that you're feeding him critical care which you're making with water! It's much wetter than hay an pellets that he'd normally be eating... He probably just doesn't need a drink :)
 
Gripe Water

There is slight improvement in Jerry but nowhere near full health. He is still nibbling on his hay and occasionally eating some dried food. Syringing CC but he only tolerates 2mls at a time before he slips out the towel like a bar of soap! What's new is he take a small amount of water from his bottle if you put it in front of him. Plus he woke me up this morning by him being at the bottle himself. He wasn't there for long but still. He is still pooping albeit they're roughly 1/4 of the normal size and still a limited amount.
He still on his meds also but not convinced the Zantac is doing much. Although he isn't bloated like he was I feel he still looks bloated/swollen or I'm not sure if I'm imagine it. It's noticeable when he is sitting position ie eating hay. Lying down or when he's out running about he just looks pre bloat! His stomach is still making grumbling noises. So can I give him Gripe Water while still on his current meds? Is it beneficial? His last dose of Zantac is tonight, he was only to get it for 3 days.
 
Unsure on the gripe water to be honest, never used it. One of our girls is prone to bloat and we get given a gut stimulant called metoclopramide that helps keep everything going through after her bloaty episodes.

It maybe speaking to your vet about getting some more zantac to help him over the next few days.
 
sport_billy said:
Unsure on the gripe water to be honest, never used it. One of our girls is prone to bloat and we get given a gut stimulant called metoclopramide that helps keep everything going through after her bloaty episodes.

It maybe speaking to your vet about getting some more zantac to help him over the next few days.
Click to expand...

Where do you get metoclopramide from? I have done a wee bit of research and people have used Gripe Water and Buscopan with success.
 
Jebebr said:
Where do you get metoclopramide from? I have done a wee bit of research and people have used Gripe Water and Buscopan with success.
Click to expand...

The Metoclopramide also known as Emeprid was prescribed for Treacle by our vet, she'll have it for 5-7 days if needed after her mini bloaty episodes just to keep everything going through. I believe it works similar to Zantac.
 
I would definatley get him back to the vets if you are concerned. Bloat can be very serious and troublesome to get rid of. Hope he gets better soon x
 
I have taken today and tomorrow off so I can monitor/listen to what he is up too. I'll give him his last dose of Zantac tonight and see how he in the morning. We are moving forward if not very slowly! Also noticed mentions of vibrating pillows. I have something similar, anyone used this trick?
 
It sounds like your boy needs a gut stimulant such as metaclopromide which only the vet can prescribe. My boy needed a few doses along with Zantac which helped. I did get a massage pillow but its difficult to get them to stay on them if they don't want to. Keep up the tummy massage and syringe feeding to keep his gut going, that's important as I've learnt.

I did the same as you initially searching for anything to try but if you have a piggy savvy vet, that really is your best option. It can be stubborn to shift so may take some time. X
 
Meant to add that I even drove my boy around a bit every chance we had as the car movement/vibrations can help too! He actually loved going out in the car. We sat him In a small cat igloo and even had him looking out of the window (got some strange looks) but he enjoyed it and hopefully it helped shift some gas!
 
JayneG said:
It sounds like your boy needs a gut stimulant such as metaclopromide which only the vet can prescribe. My boy needed a few doses along with Zantac which helped. I did get a massage pillow but its difficult to get them to stay on them if they don't want to. Keep up the tummy massage and syringe feeding to keep his gut going, that's important as I've learnt.

I did the same as you initially searching for anything to try but if you have a piggy savvy vet, that really is your best option. It can be stubborn to shift so may take some time. X
Click to expand...

Yeah back to the vets in the morning. See what else can be done and also to determine if it is bloating or not. I had him a vibrating neck 'thing' tonight. He sat on it happy for 10mins then I took him off. He also appeared to be eating his rather small poops too when he was lying on my husband, but you could hear his gut sometimes. Finger crossed we get more of an answer tomorrow!
 
Don't feel frightened to mention the mobility drug to your vet. If he agrees it's bloat, he'll probably prescribe it anyway. Alongwith Zantac, I found this helped by boy. Yes the gurgling tummy sounds are quite loud!

Hope he's better soon. Give us an update after the vet visit!
 
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