Sore abdomen

[Popps&Dais]

Hello,

Please may I ask some advice? We have a vet appointment at 3.15pm, but our vet whilst good, isn't an exotic specialist so I need to know what to mention.

One of our two year old female piggies is a bit sore at her rear left hand side abdomen. Around the hip area, but more her fleshy tummy area. She squeaks when I touch it.

I'm currently trying to get a urine sample from her, fingers crossed.

She and her sister have both been doing a full body shake where they rear up on their hind legs. At first I thought it was a dominance thing, but they're doing it occasionally whether or not the other is there.

I had also noticed that one was doing slightly smaller poos than usual, but haven't tracked down which one and things look fine today.

Please is there anything else I need to check? Grateful as ever for your suggestions.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello,

Please may I ask some advice? We have a vet appointment at 3.15pm, but our vet whilst good, isn't an exotic specialist so I need to know what to mention.

One of our two year old female piggies is a bit sore at her rear left hand side abdomen. Around the hip area, but more her fleshy tummy area. She squeaks when I touch it.

I'm currently trying to get a urine sample from her, fingers crossed.

She and her sister have both been doing a full body shake where they rear up on their hind legs. At first I thought it was a dominance thing, but they're doing it occasionally whether or not the other is there.

I had also noticed that one was doing slightly smaller poos than usual, but haven't tracked down which one and things look fine today.

Please is there anything else I need to check? Grateful as ever for your suggestions.

Hi

Seeing that she and her sister have a sligh disagreement, please have her checked for potential ovarian cysts; but of course, this is only a guess and it could easily turn out to be something else. What is your sow's age?
Sow Problems 'Down Below' (Ovarian Cysts, Super-seasons, Womb Infection, Pregnancy & Mammary Tumours)

The poos can either indicate a reduced food/hay intake (please switch to weighing daily first thing in the morning) or they can reflect a pain issue in the lower body radiating into the area where poos are formed and expressed; or both issues. Shorter poos are more likely a potential but not conclusive sign of pain while thinner than normal poos tend to more reflect a reduced food intake - however, you cannot control this by eye and need to monitor any pain/reduced food impact impact with your kitchen scales.
Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support Levels

Wishing you all the best. I hope that the vet can work out what is going on.

 

[Popps&Dais]

Hi

Seeing that she and her sister have a sligh disagreement, please have her checked for potential ovarian cysts; but of course, this is only a guess and it could easily turn out to be something else. What is your sow's age?
Sow Problems 'Down Below' (Ovarian Cysts, Super-seasons, Womb Infection, Pregnancy & Mammary Tumours)

The poos can either indicate a reduced food/hay intake (please switch to weighing daily first thing in the morning) or they can reflect a pain issue in the lower body radiating into the area where poos are formed and expressed; or both issues. Shorter poos are more likely a potential but not conclusive sign of pain while thinner than normal poos tend to more reflect a reduced food intake - however, you cannot control this by eye and need to monitor any pain/reduced food impact impact with your kitchen scales.
Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support Levels

Wishing you all the best. I hope that the vet can work out what is going on.

Thank you so much. She's around two. We're not 100% because she came to us from a rescue.

It is shorter poos rather than thinner, so that's helpful. Will take a look at the links you shared. We have had one other with ovarian cysts so I'll make sure to mention that later.

 

[Popps&Dais]

Thank you so much. She's around two. We're not 100% because she came to us from a rescue.

It is shorter poos rather than thinner, so that's helpful. Will take a look at the links you shared. We have had one other with ovarian cysts so I'll make sure to mention that later.

I managed to get a urine sample. From my test strips and protein was as far over on the scale as it could go. PH is 8.5. Blood is possibly trace but I can't match it to any of the boxes. All the others are negative. Does that give me something else to check?

 

[Claire W]

I would take the urine sample with you and let the vet test it for a potential UTI to either diagnose one or rule it out. Keep the sample in the fridge until you go.

Please be aware that high protein in the urine doesn’t always indicate an infection and neither does a trace of blood.

I hope the appointment goes ok x

 

[Popps&Dais]

I would take the urine sample with you and let the vet test it for a potential UTI to either diagnose one or rule it out. Keep the sample in the fridge until you go.

Please be aware that high protein in the urine doesn’t always indicate an infection and neither does a trace of blood.

I hope the appointment goes ok x

Thank you

 

[Popps&Dais]

We're back from the vets and she's got metacam for the discomfort and Baytril in case it's an infection. The vet could feel fluid there, although a scan showed less fluid than the vet expected. There is maybe something else going on as one side didn't look quite as expected in the scan but we'll try this first and then they'll refer her to a specialist if needed.

As ever, so grateful for this forum. Thank you

 

[Wiebke]

I managed to get a urine sample. From my test strips and protein was as far over on the scale as it could go. PH is 8.5. Blood is possibly trace but I can't match it to any of the boxes. All the others are negative. Does that give me something else to check?

We're back from the vets and she's got metacam for the discomfort and Baytril in case it's an infection. The vet could feel fluid there, although a scan showed less fluid than the vet expected. There is maybe something else going on as one side didn't look quite as expected in the scan but we'll try this first and then they'll refer her to a specialist if needed.

As ever, so grateful for this forum. Thank you

I am glad that she has got painkillers at least and that there is slowly something emerging that could be at the bottom of the persistent bloating, which in this case would be secondary and not primary.

Please be aware that baytril (active ingredient: enrofloxacin) may wipe out her appetite again. It is the most commonly prescribed and worldwide licensed antibiotic for guinea pigs, so it is good that you are getting formula delivered tomorrow.

 

[Popps&Dais]

I am glad that she has got painkillers at least and that there is slowly something emerging that could be at the bottom of the persistent bloating, which in this case would be secondary and not primary.

Please be aware that baytril (active ingredient: enrofloxacin) may wipe out her appetite again. It is the most commonly prescribed and worldwide licensed antibiotic for guinea pigs, so it is good that you are getting formula delivered tomorrow.

I'm pleased she's got the painkillers too.

Her appetite has been good so fingers crossed. I do have critical care in stock though if she needs it. Is that the kind of thing you mean by formula? Is it a good idea to be offering it to her now?

 

[Wiebke]

I'm pleased she's got the painkillers too.

Her appetite has been good so fingers crossed. I do have critical care in stock though if she needs it. Is that the kind of thing you mean by formula? Is it a good idea to be offering it to her now?

Yes, Critical Care or other herbivore brands is what I mean with formula because it is made up with fluid - in this case, water.

 

[Truffolo]

A probiotic is good too. I recommend Biolapis Fibreplex. My piggy Polo is on Baytril and it helped when his poop went soft and like clay. Biolapis makes another probiotic which is dandelion flavoured which piggies really like. I gave Polo some Pro C probiotic which has vitamin C in it as I reduced his veggies while his poops were soft and I think it also helped ❤

 

[Popps&Dais]

Please can I ask for some help around getting her to take the Baytril? She's great at the Metacam, but I know Baytril tastes very different. I've managed to get some into her, but it's not easy and I wonder if there's a better way.

I've read the medicating and handling guides here, they're so good.

She can't hear, so although I'm keeping up a steady stream of calming chatter which I know is important, I'm also having to be aware that she relies on her vision far more than other guineas. She can spook far more readily. She is very wriggly and determined and getting more so as she feels better - which I am grateful for, whilst it adds to the challenge.

Please do you have any suggestions?

 

[Lg2]

Please can I ask for some help around getting her to take the Baytril? She's great at the Metacam, but I know Baytril tastes very different. I've managed to get some into her, but it's not easy and I wonder if there's a better way.

I've read the medicating and handling guides here, they're so good.

She can't hear, so although I'm keeping up a steady stream of calming chatter which I know is important, I'm also having to be aware that she relies on her vision far more than other guineas. She can spook far more readily. She is very wriggly and determined and getting more so as she feels better - which I am grateful for, whilst it adds to the challenge.

Please do you have any suggestions?

Honestly it’s a tricky one. Ours have never been good with baytril. The vet suggested mixing the two and it did help a little bit. We’ve also spread it thinly on lettuce which has worked some of the time

 

[Wiebke]

Please can I ask for some help around getting her to take the Baytril? She's great at the Metacam, but I know Baytril tastes very different. I've managed to get some into her, but it's not easy and I wonder if there's a better way.

I've read the medicating and handling guides here, they're so good.

She can't hear, so although I'm keeping up a steady stream of calming chatter which I know is important, I'm also having to be aware that she relies on her vision far more than other guineas. She can spook far more readily. She is very wriggly and determined and getting more so as she feels better - which I am grateful for, whilst it adds to the challenge.

Please do you have any suggestions?

Try to picture what you are about to do in your mind, with a strong emotional note of that you want her to feel better again.

Give her a tiny treat first with you calling up in your mind just how precious she is to you with a good note of protection as well as well as picturing and genty touching the body part that is not well, then shove the baytril syringe in with holding her head as quickly as you can with an emotional note of feeling very sorry you have to do that but it is necessary for the body part/symptom you are picturing again; if necessary with gently pressing her ear between your fingers (asserting your authority). Then when that has gone in, a big burst of emotional well done and praise with stroking around the cheeks and eyes as a sign of affection in guinea pig body language.

Follow up with the water to wash the taste away, picture that in your mind and then with more emotional and pictured praise, pride and jubilation follow up with the treat. And put her back in the cage with your feeling of how precious she is to you and how proud you are of her.

Guinea pigs have a much finer sense for reading your emotions. I know that I can send but sadly I cannot receive despite having had guinea pigs sat in front of me staring at me intensely and trying their best to send me a message.

If one of the senses is missing, the brain compensates with transferring jobs to other areas and by sharpening the other senses.

I've never had a deaf piggy, but using a mixture of piggy body language and picturing things in my mind has helped me with my cataract piggies as well as some very scared piggies.

It's a bit out there but I hope that this method can help you. It gets easier once she has the experience of getting better and has added another layer of trust.

Baytril is unfortunately about the worst tasting medication - please never try it for yourself; humans don't tolerate baytril. Even a drop can make you feel not well at all.

Mixing baytril doesn't work because piggies have double the number of taste bud and you have the unenviable task of getting double the amount of it into an uncooperative piggy. The mouth cleaning water is important because otherwise the first bites of the treat or favourite piece of veg will taste of baytril and making your piggy go off them.



Wishing you the best. The confident and firm you are and the more you signal that, the more it helps. If you are being insecure and dreading it, you will transmit that and your piggy will do their best to wiggle out of it. If you transmit grim determination that they cannot dodge it come hell or high water, then they will pick up on that.

Sympathy but no lenience from you is not easy to convey to a deaf, blind or panicked piggy but you can get there. Like all skills, it takes practice to learn and to master your piggies individual dodging quirks. Especially when you have a battle on your hand, it is important that you fuss afterwards and make it clear that they are still in your good graces and you fully appreciate their stance on not wanting to be made to swallow something so foul.

 

[Truffolo]

I found that if I put some of piggy's Metacam dose into the syringe after drawing up the Baytril he started to suck at the Metacam and I could quickly and gently squirt in the rest of the syringe contents. If you have to do pure Baytril, with Polo, he put his head back and starts licking his lips, possibly pushing with his tongue in anticipation of the syringe. Often I manage to squirt the stuff in at this stage. It is a very difficult drug to administer. The smell itself is revolting, the taste must indeed be disgusting

 

[Truffolo]

My vet recommended putting some Ribena into the start of the syringe as well, and dipping the syringe in Ribena to make piggy think it's a syringe full of nice stuff. Polo wasn't particularly keen on Ribena and most of it went down his chin into his fur

 

[Popps&Dais]

Try to picture what you are about to do in your mind, with a strong emotional note of that you want her to feel better again.

Give her a tiny treat first with you calling up in your mind just how precious she is to you with a good note of protection as well as well as picturing and genty touching the body part that is not well, then shove the baytril syringe in with holding her head as quickly as you can with an emotional note of feeling very sorry you have to do that but it is necessary for the body part/symptom you are picturing again; if necessary with gently pressing her ear between your fingers (asserting your authority). Then when that has gone in, a big burst of emotional well done and praise with stroking around the cheeks and eyes as a sign of affection in guinea pig body language.

Follow up with the water to wash the taste away, picture that in your mind and then with more emotional and pictured praise, pride and jubilation follow up with the treat. And put her back in the cage with your feeling of how precious she is to you and how proud you are of her.

Guinea pigs have a much finer sense for reading your emotions. I know that I can send but sadly I cannot receive despite having had guinea pigs sat in front of me staring at me intensely and trying their best to send me a message.

If one of the senses is missing, the brain compensates with transferring jobs to other areas and by sharpening the other senses.

I've never had a deaf piggy, but using a mixture of piggy body language and picturing things in my mind has helped me with my cataract piggies as well as some very scared piggies.

It's a bit out there but I hope that this method can help you. It gets easier once she has the experience of getting better and has added another layer of trust.

Baytril is unfortunately about the worst tasting medication - please never try it for yourself; humans don't tolerate baytril. Even a drop can make you feel not well at all.

Mixing baytril doesn't work because piggies have double the number of taste bud and you have the unenviable task of getting double the amount of it into an uncooperative piggy. The mouth cleaning water is important because otherwise the first bites of the treat or favourite piece of veg will taste of baytril and making your piggy go off them.

View attachment 283402

Wishing you the best. The confident and firm you are and the more you signal that, the more it helps. If you are being insecure and dreading it, you will transmit that and your piggy will do their best to wiggle out of it. If you transmit grim determination that they cannot dodge it come hell or high water, then they will pick up on that.

Sympathy but no lenience from you is not easy to convey to a deaf, blind or panicked piggy but you can get there. Like all skills, it takes practice to learn and to master your piggies individual dodging quirks. Especially when you have a battle on your hand, it is important that you fuss afterwards and make it clear that they are still in your good graces and you fully appreciate their stance on not wanting to be made to swallow something so foul.

Thank you so much. That all makes sense to me. I'd been doing my best to convey images, calmness and what was needed but you've given me many more piggy whispering tricks to try.

She also gets to have a run around the floor before and after, which she enjoys greatly.

Wish me luck for later

 

[Popps&Dais]

My vet recommended putting some Ribena into the start of the syringe as well, and dipping the syringe in Ribena to make piggy think it's a syringe full of nice stuff. Polo wasn't particularly keen on Ribena and most of it went down his chin into his fur

My vet said apple juice for one of out previous piggies, but it went about as well as your experience with Ribena

 

[Popps&Dais]

I found that if I put some of piggy's Metacam dose into the syringe after drawing up the Baytril he started to suck at the Metacam and I could quickly and gently squirt in the rest of the syringe contents. If you have to do pure Baytril, with Polo, he put his head back and starts licking his lips, possibly pushing with his tongue in anticipation of the syringe. Often I manage to squirt the stuff in at this stage. It is a very difficult drug to administer. The smell itself is revolting, the taste must indeed be disgusting

Thanks, I wondered if I could do that. She definitely knows her Metacam.

 

[Popps&Dais]

We completed the course of Baytril - yay. She got very good at taking it, so thank you for all your suggestions and encouragement.

 

[Wiebke]

We completed the course of Baytril - yay. She got very good at taking it, so thank you for all your suggestions and encouragement.

I sincerely hope that she is better in herself and is continuing to get better in herself.

 

[Popps&Dais]

I sincerely hope that she is better in herself and is continuing to get better in herself.

Thank you Wiebke. She does seem more herself and she's kept eating. We checked the sore area today and it doesn't seem sore. We're going to check her again over the weekend though in case things change now she's off the metacam.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you Wiebke. She does seem more herself and she's kept eating. We checked the sore area today and it doesn't seem sore. We're going to check her again over the weekend though in case things change now she's off the metacam.

I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed that your old lady has turned the corner for good.