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Sick Guinea Pig Advise!

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Kirsty

Kirsty

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi there
My guinea pig recently has lost weight and I took him to vets and he prescribed baytril just incase he has a URI which he has had before. he's been on the medication for 5 days now and his eyes have sunk but he seems to be drinking ok. I've just brought him inside to monitor him and his belly is gurgling quite loudly. I don't quite no what to do. I don't no if I should put him back outside with his cage mates (which has a thermol cover over) or keep him inside with me still.. He just isn't himself at the moment! so worried :(
 
Kirsty said:
Hi there
My guinea pig recently has lost weight and I took him to vets and he prescribed baytril just incase he has a URI which he has had before. he's been on the medication for 5 days now and his eyes have sunk but he seems to be drinking ok. I've just brought him inside to monitor him and his belly is gurgling quite loudly. I don't quite no what to do. I don't no if I should put him back outside with his cage mates (which has a thermol cover over) or keep him inside with me still.. He just isn't himself at the moment! so worried :(
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Is he managing to eat normally?

I have found a link through the forum about 'Bloat' which is a serious thing that needs treated by a vet ASAP.

There is a recommended vet locator: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/pages/guinea-pig-vet-locator/

http://www.guinealynx.info/emergency.html#bloat < bloat link.

Personally, I would take him back to the vet as soon as you can, possibly an emergency vet.
 
Yeah he's eating fine but slower than usual? When I took him to the vets they checked his teeth and said they were fine. I'll be ringing the vets tomorrow for definite but I just don't no what to do at the moment, he seems fine snuggled in my dressing gown and I don't really wanna put him back outside in his cage with his mate just incase he gets worse :( do you no if baytril causes gas? Cos his belly doesn't feel bloated just gurgling loads and loud!
 
If he has lost weight he will need syringe feeding recovery or critical care food & he will need gut motility drugs from the vets, Emeprid & Zantac to get his guts working properly again. Is he pooing & eating the same?
 
Yep seems to be eating and pooing regularly. His poos are quite light with a tinge of green colouring id say? But it isn't diaaria as it's still solid.

I'll make sure to mention that medication to the vets when I go later at 6!
 
Definitely worth the vets visit. The baytril maybe upsetting his tummy a little. Does sound to be something going on with his gut with the gurgling.

He is on Baytril for a URI what where his symptoms? Was it just weight loss?
 
Well I noticed he lost weight and one day he had a bit of wheezing, so I took him to vets and he said his breathing seems fine and couldn't feel no lumps ext so he prescribed baytril just incase and said to take it for a week (it's day 5) and then leave it a week then come back on the third week to see if he lost any more weight but the last couple days I've noticed his eyes have been abit sunk (although seem ok today..strange?) and he is still eating but really slowly but the vet looked at teeth and all fine! got vets appointment today at 6. Still drinking and pooing but like I said poos are slightly greenish in colour and very light
 
Have you weighed him the past week, has he lost anymore?
 
Weighed him 2 days agoand was still the same the vet will weigh him again today I'm assuming that's why I haven't yet
 
The slower eating is a concern, it may indicate teeth issues, but would have expected weight loss with it... Is he doing any over exaggerated chewing movements or pawing at his mouth?
 
Nope not at al and he isn't drooling or anything either, today surprisingly I gave him a bit of broccoli and he ate it all, which last couple days he's eaten some veg but not as much as he should, he seems perkier today! But not sure if he's just getting better at covering it up
 
hi, if piggies tum is gurgling loudly he may have a gassy tum and is feeling uncomfortable. he's probably slowed his eating because the gas is making him feel full. its a good sign that he wants to eat, but at the moment foods like broccoli, cabbage and root veg can create more gas so it may help to hold off of these for a few days and feed easy to digest foods like portions of fresh grass, little and often, and plenty of good hay to get his tum more settled, i would give some pro-biotic to reblance the gut flora as the change in colour of the droppings suggests there may be an imbalance. re-introduce fibrous veg slowly in small portions spread through out the day. Be worth talking to your vet and see what he thinks. hope he is better soon.
 
Hi everyone
I'd firstly like to thank you all for your prompt replies, generally has helped
so much! I took him to the vets today and he's got two different types of medications I have to give him from tomorrow one is a pain killer type medication and the other is for his gut the vet said. Sadly he has lost more weight in 5 days so vet wants to see him again on Tuesday to see if he lost more and if he has then he will have to have an X-ray, can you recommend any good fruit/veg that helps with gut problems? Didn't realise I gave him some Curly kale earlier which I'm assuming is also gassy! Oops, shall lay off this for a few days as of tomorrow! I did give him apple also though and carrot :)
 
If he was my piggy I would feed just fresh grass & good quality hay for a few of days to see if it helps. Its easy on the stomach, has a lot of nutrients & it is their natural food. Grass will provide Vit c for him. Hay is a vital part of the diet for tums & teeth and sometimes if they fill up on too much veg and dry mix not enough hay is eaten daily so the stomach & diet is out of balance (rabbits get this problem too).
 
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