Squeaking When Pooping, Stop His Fresh Veg?

[LiziBee]

My guinea pig Georgie has squeaked while pooping for a few years but with nothing to worry about. A few days ago it got worse, he stopped eating much and his poops started to go wierd with mucus in and also small wierd shapes came out. He really struggled to go this morn and had watery eyes, I think he had been up all night. He also didn't drink overnight. I have just brought him home from a day under the care of the vet with Fibreplex and Zantac, they said his poops have got better throughout the day. I think this is a bigger problem than just getting him better this time though. I have been reading about it and perhaps he is sensitive to some fresh foods. My question is, should I stop the fresh veggies for a week to see if it is that? And if so should I only stop them once the medication has stopped? I don't want to impair his progress because the vet was happy that he ate salad today.

Background: Georgie is recently 3. He used to squeak when peeing and pooping but had an op 3 months ago to flush his bladder. He is fine peeing now, it's just the pooping he squeaks at. He also doesn't drink as much as my other guinea pig, so I considered he may also get constipation? I just don't know if stopping the veggies will help or not, does anyone have any ideas?

 

[sport_billy]

Hi, Welcome to the forum sorry it is such bad circumstances.

Did the vet say what was wrong, it sounds like bloat the way you are describing the poo's and the medication the vet has given. Zantac is a gut stimulant which will help push things through and Fibreplex helps firm up soft poo. Has the vet gave you any medication to give at home such as Metachlopromide (Emeprid) or Zantac? This would in my experience be vital over the next few days to keep him wanting to eat and move food through the digestive system

It is important Georgie is still eating food, Is he eating hay at the moment? The fibreplex will help with this also as fibre is what is needed to go through the guts.

Fresh veggies should be introduced gradually once he has started pooing, best start with one type then introduce slowly, we have had 2 bloaty pigs in the past and kept a food diary to find their triggers.
Avoid gassy Veg like Cabbage, Kale, Green Beans, Brocoli for sure.

Would recommend getting some nice hay in such as Timothy Hay and Orchard Grass to tempt him to eat

Could you add your location to your profile also. It helps us tailor advice to your location as we have members all over the world.

 

[LiziBee]

Thanks for your prompt response.

I am in Nottinghamshire,, UK.

Yes I have the Zantac and Fibreplex to use at home over the next week.

The vet didn't specifically mention bloat but it does look that way. The vet couldn't say what causes the squeaking either.

I have put some normal hay in for bedding and also some Timothy hay in his hay rack.

He hasn't eaten since he has been home but I just think he is shattered, I don't think he slept last night or at the vets and he came home from the vets with an eye ulcer, I assume from not shutting his eyes much, so I have eye drops for him too.

I will see how he gets on tomorrow and just introduce the veg over time. Thanks for your reply. I think if he still squeaks when he is better then I may try limiting veg to see if something soecific causes him bloat?

 

[Wiebke]

The poops you are describing are very typical for a guinea pig that has not eaten or drunk in 24 hours. Has your vet checked for the underlying cause that is preventing him from eating or drinking? Please top him off with hand feed, as much as he will eat and often as necessary round the clock. You can introduce veg slowly, ideally starting with a few fresh herbs. Also make sure that you syringe as much water as he will take. It is very important that to get food into him and that you keep the guts going. You can find out how best to in our guide: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/complete-hand-feeding-guide.115359/

Bloat is a swollen, very hard/tight belly that sounds hollow as the gas is building up. Did you notice anything like that?

It can take a few days for the guts to get working well again and for the poos to normalise as food is again passed and processed. Please weigh him daily at the same time in the feeding cycle instead of the usual once weekly.

Has your boy ever been checked/x-rayed for bladder or kidney stones?

PS: We have members from all over the world. Please help us to adapt any advice and recommendation to what is available and possible where you are by adding your country, state or (for the UK) your county to your details. https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/adding-your-general-location-and-creating-an-avatar-picture.107444/

 

[sport_billy]

Good idea by @Wiebke regarding an xray, it would give a better idea on what could be going on

 

[LiziBee]

I haven't noticed a hard/swollen belly. I know the vet did the normal checks of checking his teeth, they had a good feel around his belly and I think because he has come home well hydrated and was eating at the vets that they are quite happy with that. My issue is, like you say, I do not know the underlying problem.

Yes George had problems urinating towards the end of last year. After medication and an x-ray he then had an operation to have his bladder fushed and backflushed as he had small clumps of stones. But he is fine now when he pees, but the operation didnt fix his squeaking when pooping. I don't know how to find the underlying problem, which is why I wondered about him having a sensitive tummy to some veg, but I don't want to stop the veg if that is something that is in fact helping him poop?

 

[sport_billy]

If he is pooing now then keep feeding him hay and pellets and maybe something like Pepper (high vit c), top up if needed with syringe feed as Wiebke has said.

The squeaking does sound like maybe something Urinary going on, I would suggest another xray to rule out stones as he has had them in the past, an ultrasound would also be able to show any inflammation of the bladder lining. Squeaking when pooing can indicate urinary problems, one of our bladder piggies would only cry when pooing not weeing, it was most odd.... Perhaps this has put him off eating a little which has then caused the digestion problems it can be hard to tell.

Keep us updated on Georgie, lots of healing vibes being sent

 

[sport_billy]

Our special needs piggy started suffering with bloat and we had to take her off all veg and re-introduce slowly keeping a food diarl to track down the veg that caused it, so is something to think about in the future.

 

[LiziBee]

Thanks so much for all your advice guys. Perhaps he does need another x-ray, I had just assumed not because his bladder was all taken care of 3 month ago. I will see what the vet says when I go back for the follow up in 7-10 days.

I just checked on him again before I go to sleep and he still seemed quite sleepy. I couldn't see any poops but I think I unnerved him staring at him so he went in his hidey hole, then I heard him eating his bedding hay so that has to be a good thing.

Thanks again, I will let you know how he gets on.

 

[LiziBee]

Hi All,

Unfortunately I only have bad news. Georgie just got worse overnight Wednesday night so he was back in the care of the vet Thursday. He was cold and his back legs were shakey, and not eaten drank or pood apart from what I had put in with a syringe.

At the vet yesterday (Thursday) his temperature improved (they couldnt even take a reading at first) and aparently his heartbeat improved a bit but they said for me to book an appointment that evening in case he didnt make the night.

I turned up to see him last night at 9.30 and he was in a bad way. He was lying flat with his back legs out to the side. They had given him pain relief but he still looked in pain. I had given consent for them to take a blood sample to confirm what they suspected but in the end they thought it would be too painful. They are pretty sure he had cancer because of all the signs, his eyes kept looking white too which can indicate high white bloodcell count.

I therefore agreed with the vet the best thing to do would be have him go to sleep. RIP George, I miss him so much.

 

[piggyfan]

Oh I'm so very sorry for your loss.

 

[helen105281]

I'm so sorry. Sleep tight little George.