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Soft poo's and other stuff ...

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LennyPig

LennyPig

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Soft poo's and other stuff **UPDATED on PG2 - more advice please**

Lenny, my 14 week old boar, was castrated on Monday.

He went back to the vets for his post op check today and one of his ball sacks (sorry to be crude but can think of no better description on the spot!) was very swollen. The other had the expected "dimple" in the middle and is fine. Both sides were fine to begin with but then the one side has started to swell over the 2 days.

The vet initially thought a hernia, but then dismissed this as the "mass" would not "pop back in" when manipulated. He settled with thinking maybe an infection in the area and gave Lenny an antibiotic jab. I am to check twice daily and go back friday morning if there is no improvement.

I am not experienced on the full range of risks of these ops (apart from the obvious anesthesia risks) so would appreciate thoughts on this?

I want to add also, as per the title of this message, since the op Lenny has had quite soft, damp looking poos that are squishy to touch. He has plenty of them and is having no problems pooing that I can see.

This may or may not be related but would appreciate advice on this also?

Apart from being a little quiet in himself since his antibiotic jab this morning he seems fine and happy. He has been popcorning as usual, wheeking for his veg and "kissing" Murphy the dog through his bars all of which are normal for him. :(|)

EDITED TO ADD - don't know if its relevant but he is not as eagre about eating his dry food as usual. He is steadily grazing but not routing head first in his bowl like he normally does. Seems to be eating his hay and fresh veg the same as normal though.
 
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I'm assuming he's had antibiotics after the operation... have you been giving him a probiotic to keep his tummy in balance? That might explain the soft poos, can't belp with the swelling, though... sorry.
 
probiotic?

would that be needed for ALL pigs, or just because he's had an op?

and in what form would that be given.
 
A probiotic like Bio-Lapis you can get from your vet. It's preferable if a pig is on antibiotics because they kill off all the "good" bacteria in the digestive system as well as the bad where it's needed. They should be given about an hour after the antibiotic. Since he had it by injection it's not as much of a worry as if it was given orally but it would be a good idea to get some in asap anyway.

There's some good advice on post op care here - http://www.cavyspirit.com/neutering.htm#9Postop
 
thanks so much. you would have thought the vet would have mentioned that wouldn't you!

do you think this may be the reason for the soft poos? and do you think that it is therefore unrelated to the swelling?

I know you cannot see him to be able to tell but opinions are great.

Thanks again
 
Probably a combination of the upheaval and the antibiotic. If you can bring yourself to do it and excellent probiotic is a poop from a healthy pig (sorry, can't remember if you have more than one piggy). Mixed with water = poop soup! Gross but it helps them!

Definitely keep an eye on the swelling though because if it gets full of pus the vet might need to think about reopening it to flush out or make sure nothing has popped through (hernia). Hopefully the antibiotic will help though.
 
yes I do have another piggy, a girlie.

I can bring myself to do "poop soup" LOL :)) Anything that helps my little guy.

Does it need to be any type of poo as they do the 2 types don't they?

They vet did say to keep a close on him to make sure the swelling is reducing and the vet did say that if it doesn't go down they would re-operate to try and dort it out.

Thanks :(|)
 
how would i administer that? syringe? or allow then to eat in their own time?

how watery? very watery, or mushed into a paste?

gross LOL :))
 
For "poo soup" I'd syringe feed it... and give them something to follow up that they like. Pigglywink fought that every step of the way, every time. Pretty much anything that they have to have into them, it's better to give by syringe, as there's no guarantee that they'll be getting it if you try giving it to them mixed with their food or water. There's a lot I don't know about guinea pigs, but I became a bit of an expert on syringe feeding.

For consistency, just thin enough that you can get it into the syringe, since this minimizes the amount you need to give them, while maximizing the benefit of what they're getting per dose.
 
Well Lenny has had to go back in today as the swelling had not gone down much at all, if any. Vet thinks possibly hernia, but going to operate to investigate. :(

I discussed the antibiotics and probiotics issue and come to the conclusion my vet is a stuck up idiot! mallethead He said that giving antibiotics to pigs is a matter of debate and not a problem at all and that they don't need probiotics, in fact he said the vets surgery doesn't stock or supply them. He said that as I am concerned, he won't give antibiotics at all!

I told him in no uncertain terms that should he feel Lenny needed antibiotics, he is to give them and I will sort the probiotics myself!

??
 
I *hate* it when vets just aren't willing to listen. Just because they have qualifications and letters after their name doesn't mean they know it all - some vets just seem to forget this! Grrr.
Many vets don't give or suggest probiotics so you're not alone there, but for him to say they don't need them...well you said it yourself!

Given what you have said about your vet, I'm willing to bet that after the castration he put the fat pads back in. Most vets remove the fat pads, remove the testicles, and put the fat pads back in. This usually causes bruising and swelling. Leaving the fat pads out can save for a lot of trouble.

Since the swelling has not gone down, I would be inclined to think post-neuter abscess, basic infection, or hernia. Did the vet do a fine-needle aspiration to determine if there was any fluid or pus in the swelling?
 
no he didn't do anything other than press it. but then that is what he kept him back of for, to have a look further.

I might ask him about the fat pads when I go to pick my little lad up but I get the impression that he is the kind of vet who feels threatened and get defensive when faced with a client who knows what they are talking about pow-pow.

When he went for his post op check on wednesday he just did "prodding" then too and gave antibiotics to see if that would help.

we shall see. at least the vet did say that he reacted VERY well to anesthetic on Monday.
 
an update on my little fella

he came out of the op fine and is no worse for the experience.

he DID have a hernia and also a cystic growth. poor little guy. the vet sorted this anyway and want him back tomorrow to check how he's getting on.
 
He has hasn't he. :( And all because Pets @ Home mis-sexed my other piggy who turned out to be a sow mallethead

He's looking loads better this morning, the wound site appears to be healing well and he is his normal self. his poopies are better too.

He is being spoilt that last few days :red:))
 
I'm very glad he's feeling better :)

With regards to your vet please remember you are the one paying them, and they have no right to speak to you in a rude way, they should listen to their clients. Many vets do not give prebiotics, I sort out mine myself.

Vets do sometimes feel threatened when a client comes in suggesting things, I usually let them give their opinion and reasons, then I 'suggest' things, which sometimes are responded to and sometimes not. If they are not I go to a different vet.
 
I wouldn't have minded if te vet had just said "sorry, we don't see probiotics" but the blatently say that piggies don't need them is another thing and his actions could potentially put an animals life in danger.

Can I ask where you buy your probiotics from and in what form they are given? Thanks.
 
You can buy Bio Lapis from Thistle Cavies shop (all money goes towards the rescue) if you do a google search it should come up :)

You can also use Avipro instead of Bio Lapis...
 
i hope he's back to his healthy self soon! i'm so sorry you're going through this. i'm tempted to keep sonny as a lone male until he's fully grown and we've got a bigger place to see if we can bond him to a rescue baby boar instead of putting him through the op. :(
 
thanks Starla ...

Claire - I do feel guilty for putting him through this, poor little guy
 
Poor little guy now has a bit of an infection in the area, returned to vets just to check how he's doing and the wound site expressed thick white puss when the vet pressed the area although the area looked good and healing well.

I've got some antibiotics (baytril) to give the little fella every 12 hours and also got some Avipro Plus in readiness for needing it (any not too soon huh!)

He is perfectly happy otherwise ... STILL popcorning and wheeking away.

The vet has been so apologetic today that the castration hasn't gone its best ... he wants me to go back with him when again to let him know how he's getting on. I think he's gone soft on the little chap x):red
 
Hope he is feeling better soon. Dexter also had a small infection after his castration, luckily it cleared up no problem with Baytril and Reiki. Good luck with Lenny, keep us updated. x
 
So sorry you have had problems with Lennys op...sounds like you have it sorted though which is good.
What sort of stitches did Lenny have? Cat gut stitches shouldn't be used on GPs as they can have a severe allergic reaction to them. The dissolvable ones are best.

Also, sounds like you need a vet that isn't up his own ****!
 
true, I DO need a better vet. I think he is new as I have never seen him there before and I am there enough with the hounds sometimes!

he used dissolvable stitches.

luckily I am experienced with handling sick animals, and am not having much problem at all getting the baytril etc... into him and am fine expressing any more gunk and keeping an eye on the area although I do feel mean when he starts crying at me :( ... the parts I am not so good at (yet) are the little "things" that are unique to the way piggies "work".

He's my little baby pig and I am just glad he is happy in himself so far what with popcorning.
 
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