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Sick piggie

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lynn110

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Hi
My 2 year old girl isn't very well. She went off her food Tuesday. I took her to the vet today who couldn't find any obvious problem. Gave her a pain killer and appetite stimulant but she's hidden herself in her house and hasn't come out. She's normally very vocal and loves runner beans which she normally squeaks for most of the day. Her friend could be sister is fine. Any advise greatly appreciated.
 
Did the vet check her teeth, including her back ones? How much weight has she lost? Did the vet advise you to syringe feed? You need to start doing this ASAP, piggies do not survive long without food, advice on syringe feeding here is you need it. x
 
Has she eaten any food at all? She really needs to be eating as like Toffeewoffee has mentioned, piggies can go downhill very quickly if they don't eat.
Please weigh your girl now and weigh daily to check for anymore weight loss.
If you need to syringe feed, you can buy Critical care from your vet. If this isn't an option or until you have the chance to get some, you can mash her nuggets with warm water so you have a thickish paste, leave to cool and syringe feed. If you need any help with doing this, just ask :)
 
The vet weighed her but didn't say what she was but said a good weight. Got another appt tomorrow. She has mixed dried food. Is the baby food suitable? That's what vet told me to give. Told me to mix with a little water and to syringe into mouth. Told me not to give too much as needs to check if she will eat alone.
 
You should weigh her daily yourself for now and monitor any weight loss. Baby food is ok, but avoid anything fruity or with onions or garlic in, the more important thing she needs is fiber, so if she isn't eating hay, you need to get some critical care or some guinea pig pellets (burgess excel blackcurrant and oregano are brillinat) and soak them in warm water, then mush them up and syringe them, they have fiber and vit c in, the food will give her energy to fight whatever it is she has.

Porridge oats are also good for sickly piggies, either dry or mixed with water. x
 
That is a positive start, fingers crossed she keeps it up, but she really needs that fibre to get her gut going and keep her teeth from overgrowing x
 
I will pick the pellets out of her feed and try that later. Thanks for all your advise. I do hope it's nothing serious.
 
I would be tempted to get a second opinion on your little girl, to be honest, the info your vet has given you is rather vague. x
 
i would definately seek a second opinion x

perhaps if you give an area someone can recommend a savvy vet?
 
Hi
Been back to the vets. Saw a different one still no further forward. But she hasn't lost weight overnight. Trying with antibiotics now. I live in near Epsom Surrey so if anyone knows vets that do specialise near me. That would be most helpful. I appreciate all your advise and help.
 
Hi, did the vet take her out the back and check all her teeth. The back molars sometimes cause problems. How is she today (piggie not vet).....
 
I am glad to hear she hasn't lost anymore weight, i seriously hope someone can recommend a vets to you. Its easy to prescribe anti biotics, but what have they prescribed them for with no diagnosis?

How much food had she eaten since yesterday? Have you been syringe feeding her?
xx
 
Hi no the vet checked her teeth in front of me she was looking for a while but said she couldn't see the very back ones clearly well on one side anyway. What she could see seemed ok. She's not herself at all. Hasn't left her little house only once or twice. And normally out and about most if the day and very vocal. She was 93 not sure what that is but 94 today (weight) I've put loads of hey in her bed so hopefully munching on that. I stringed fed last night but she seems to not like that.
 
If you can, try CJ hall at Mortlake.They very expensive - but very effective.I'd say 100% effective.They never say we don't know.
 
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Aw honey, i am so sorry! A Good vet would have the equipment used to clamp the mouth open to get a good look and feel of the back teeth.....Piggies dont like being syringe fed, but if she is to have a chance, you need to get it into her 120mls every 12 hours. I had a boy who was at deaths door, i syringe fed him around the clock for 4 weeks, he is now a picture of perfect health, if i hadn't of syringe fed him he wouldn't have been here now for sure. Their little tummies pack up so quickly without food and their digestive systems stop, i so hope someone can recommend another vet to you, the poor little girl needs a proper diagnosis, and the correct treatment if she is to make it. Massive hugs to you, your in the right place her for support and advice, alot of us have dealt with similar situations. I think you would be better off buying an all in one pellet, like the burgess blackcurrant and oregano, mashing it and syringe feeding her that. If only you were closer to me.

x
 
I also encourage you to keep on syringe feeding, I use Critical Care. One of my piggies was at deaths door twice in his early life and I managed to bring him back to full health by just keeping his food intake up. He now loves being syringe fed so I let him have a bit of Critical Care occasionally as a treat! Good luck, I hope your piggie is better soon.
 
My vet doesn't have critical care. Where can I get some? She must have been eating the hay in her house though as she hasn't lost weight. It's so difficult to gage when I have two in same cage. I cannot separate them to get a true picture. Apart from taking her to the vet at 9 I've not seen her all day well I get a peep but normally she's out and about and puts her feet up the bars waiting for a runner bean:(
 
I've just given her the antibiotic and 5mls of syringed food. Pellets from her normal food and baby food. Hope she picks up soon.
 
You should give her a pro-biotic while she is on AB's they are really harsh on tummies, especially when they are empty, you can get pro-biotic powder or, feeding her sisters poo's mashed with water will be good. Please consider getting some all in one pellets, they will be far more beneficial for your girl as they will have the vit c and fiber in them that she is missing out on.
 
Just got back from 10 mile trip and managed to get some critical care. Also some woodlands herbal forage and the other feed recommended in earlier replies. She's sitting on my lap munching on the herbal foliage after 3 mls of critical care. All a good sign I hope. She won't leave her house to eat though. And have not heard her chatting since Tuesday.
 
Bless her, fingers crossed with plenty of critical care and syringe feeding she'll soon start to feel better again. xx
 
hiya i.ve just read through this thread for the first time. I'm really glad things are looking positive now she.s on the critical care. Just to add that the burgess pellets are very widely available in pet shops. Some of the independent pet stores only carry one variety but our friend (not!) pets at home stocks a full range including the blackcurrent and oregano that is so well liked. Healing vibesx
 
She hasn't been out since lunch time. I've had her on my lap of an hour given her another 3 mls of critical care. I'm not sure how much and how often. She had a little woodlands but she's always out and chatting but isn't now. **** off to vets again but don't know what they're going to do.
 
Hello my Love,

How is your little girl doing? I see you had some more vet recommendations, any luck? xx
 
Hi there, I fed her twice yesterday and today to see if she would come out to feed herself. She's come out more today and seems to be eating a little more. Still not her normal self. I miss her greeting me. Both girls are quieter than normal but liquorice is eating as well as normal. I'm keeping a close eye on her and will take her to Goddards if I need to. She hasn't lost any more weight thank god. Seems to be maintaining at present. That god for this website and all advice and support.
 
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