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sick piggy

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luvleeju

luvleeju

Junior Guinea Pig
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my gorgous Dumpling is very ill. I thought he had heat stroke as when i got home from work the conservatory where he lives was very warm for this time of year. Both my pigs were very lethargic but Dumpling much worse.
i hand fed them some water both drank and Stu appeared more like his normal self and started eating.
I rang the vet who has given Dumpling 2 injections Baytril and Rimadyl and thinks he has a respiratory infection ive to return tomorrow if he survives the night.
I'm so upset he was fine this morning when i left. Stu is as lively as ever. I feel so guilty if the cause was over heating.
Is there anything more i can do ?:(
 
I cannot offer any advice but I just wanted to say I am so sorry your piggies are unwell. :(
 
Please dont feel guilty.

I dont quite understand. Did your vet take his temperature and confrim heatstoke? And what makes him think its a URI. Did he send you home with a course of baytril and rimadyl or just give him a one off injection? I see your going again tomorrow.

I hope tonight goes ok. I'm not sure what to suggest as if he is hot then he would need cooling, but I'm assuming he isnt now. I would ensure he is comfortable and warm (if not overheated) and that he is eating. You may need to syringe feed him if he is not eating.

Healing vibes sent your way.

x.
 
I can't offer any advice but am sending positive vibes, hope all is well with your poorly piglet soon. :laluot_29::laluot_29::laluot_29:
 
Abi_nurse said:
Please dont feel guilty.

I dont quite understand. Did your vet take his temperature and confrim heatstoke? And what makes him think its a URI. Did he send you home with a course of baytril and rimadyl or just give him a one off injection? I see your going again tomorrow.

I hope tonight goes ok. I'm not sure what to suggest as if he is hot then he would need cooling, but I'm assuming he isnt now. I would ensure he is comfortable and warm (if not overheated) and that he is eating. You may need to syringe feed him if he is not eating.

Healing vibes sent your way.

x.
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Sorry it was me who thought it was heat stroke my vet was not convinced.
He thought it was a URL because of his laboured breathing and he listened with a stethascope to his chest. Dumpling has always hated being picked up and today he was motionless while the vet examined him so lifeless.
We are going back in the morning if he survives i'm presuming for another injection the vet did say he thought it was worth starting treatment.
I just hope this works he's too young to die. He was a rescue piggy and had a bad start to life he's been happy well cared for and very much loved here
 
oh bless. If he was fine when you left him this morning there is nothing to blame yourself for. You got him in the vets as quickly as you could. I just hope the little fellow makes it through the night. Will be thinking of you and him xx
 
update on Dumpling

Hello everyone and thankyou for all your good wishes and healing vibes. I'm pleased to say my little fella made it through the night and was more alert today.
Have been back to the vet this morning who said there were signs of improvement but there was still a possibility he could relapse. Dumpling has had more antibiotics and tomorrow i have to ring them to see if he needs another injection or to be given oral medication. Problem is he has not been eating. He still looks poorly but so far so good.
Tonight i have persuaded him to eat by handfeeding him Dandy lion leaves. Once started there was no stopping him. Hes since eaten cucumber and mixed salad leaves out of his dish. Funny thing is hes ignoring all his favourites like carrots and apple and wont touch his nuggets.
I'm just so relieved he's fighting this infection and not giving up. Keep fightig little man
 
Abi_nurse said:
Thanks for the update. Lets hope he continues to pick up. Please weigh him daily and syringe feed him if hes eating very little. Get well soon little guy. x>>

x.
Click to expand...

Will do but what should i use as feed via a syringe?. Sorry if i sound stupid but have never dealt with this before my vet has not told me to do this yet.
I'm just scared i might stress him too much.:...
 
Sometimes needs must I'm afraid. Wrapping gently in a towel can help too. If you dont have any critical care food you can soak down pellets in warm water and mush them up. If you have a 1ml syringe, cut the end off to the barrel and you will have a wider opening to syringe the food up and then into his mouth. Also the smaller syringe fits much better into their little mouths. Just pop the syringe gently into the side of his mouth (between the front inciors and back molars) and squeeze half a ml into his mouth, see how he takes it. Piggies that take the syringe well and are big enough i will pop a whole 1ml into their mouths and then wait patiently for them to process and swollow it. its a long process but worth it in the end if it gets food into an unwell piggie.

x.
 
luvleeju said:
Will do but what should i use as feed via a syringe?. Sorry if i sound stupid but have never dealt with this before my vet has not told me to do this yet.
I'm just scared i might stress him too much.:...
Click to expand...


If you have never syringe fed before this is a very good guide:

http://www.guinealynx.info/handfeeding.html#top

You will need some 1ml syringes from your vet, rodentologist or online. Then you need to cut the nozzle off file it smooth, & suck up the Critical Care (vets/online) or softened pellets. Put the syringe into the piggy's mouth, towards the inside towards the cheek & syringe 0.1-0.2 ml slowly at a time, allowing the piggy to swallow in between. Leave a syringe intact with the nozzle for syringing water if they aren't drinking; be very careful not to syringe too much at a time, aim towards the inside cheek not towards the back of the throat to prevent aspiration of the fluid.

Hope he feels better soon :)
 
Last edited:
Whee would just like to send some healing wheeeks also!
Syringe feeding can be a little upsetting if they don't cooperate.... try your hardest to stay calm keep chatting to him, it really does help :)
When they realise you're trying to help them they do start to understand that syringe means food drool



HEALING WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKS FOR DUMPLING XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
I'm so sorry to hear Dumpling is not well.

I'm also slightly concerned that your vets have not mentioned syringe feeding as most vets are now familiar with this as a means of supporting guinea pigs through various illneses.

As has been stated
a) weigh him daily to monitor his wieght - it's your best indication on whether he is improving
b) mush up pellets (hand blended is brilliant) and syringe feed. He needs 20m every 3-4 hours 120ml per 24hours.There is a certain technique to cutting 1ml syringes (you need to slide a pair of sharp kitchen scissors up the syringe nozzle until just before you reach the barrel and then "snip". If you cut into the whole barrel you will risk him ingesting the black rubber plunger on the syringe) PM me for my phone number if you want a detailed step by step guide over the phone to syringe feeding
c) IMPORTANT - given he has a respiratory - frusemide diuretic can help piggies wiht a lower respiratory tract infection (ie in the lungs rather than in the nasal passages) -

It does sound like you have not yet seen a cavy savvy vet - can you Pm me the pratice you visit? I know there are few really good guinea pig vets in Sheffied as I;ve tried to search for one before for a member of the forum - would you be prepared to travel to Leeds?

By the way - he definitely needs oral medication - an antibioitic course should be minimum 7 days for guinea pigs - be it injections or oral.

HTH
x
 
Update no 2

It's good news everyone the difference is unbelivable. Dumpling is eating very active and alert. So much so the vet has discharged him. I have to syringe feed him his antibiotics twice aday. Have to say its as if he knows this is helping him. He takes it via the syringe with no problem bearing in mind I have never done this before and was scared i would mess it up lol.
Dumpling is a little star he obediently let me do this with no fuss and actually looked as if he liked the taste .
Tonight when i came to his cage he ran to the bars and wheeked at me i think my boy is back. I'm so so happy.
Thanks everyone for your advice and support really pleased i joined this forum
you all gave me hope meant alot :<>
 
Oh YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY FOR DUMPLING XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Gosh tears of joy here!
Good luck i'll be thinking of you whilst i syringe feed too!
 
Happy healthy piggy says thanks

DSCF0213.jpg

what a difference 2 weeks makes. Dumpling is fit and well and wants everyone to know he appreciates all the kind wishes and advice sent his wayx>>
 
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