Stares into corner, can't run far, bangs teeth on floor, etc.

[Shirin]

Hey everyone.

I'm very worried about my guinea pig's health but her vet doesn't come to the hospital until 3 hours from now.

Background:
She's a young (2-year old) female guinea pig who was diagnosed with possible ileus 3 weeks ago as one side of her belly was swollen as evidenced in the photo attached below. The specialized doctor treated her with injections of B-complex and other things that I can't remember. Just hours after the first shot of three, she started pooping again, which the doctor said would be a good sign.

Now, we come to the case of today:
She was standing still for a minute each time. Sometimes she was staring at the four corners of her cage and would not move even if you nudge her with something. When I tried to grab her, she started running but was mostly running in one spot, not getting far like always. At one time, she was banging her teeth at the floor and then later chewing on her plastic feeding box. She would stand over her hay box, not eating any. I picked her up to check her teeth but didn't see anything stuck there; she was squirming alright in my hand, though. What's the matter with her?

I called another doctor and said it might be neurological. Chatgpt says it could also be GI Stasis (Gastrointestinal Stasis). It may also be a recurring case of ileus? In either case, it seems like emergency. I am worried I will have less than 3 hours till her doctor comes to the hospital. I'm currently at work and can't provide any more information or photo.

 

[Shirin]

For further information, this was her X-ray results from three weeks ago:

Techniques : LAT and VD views of abdomen.
Finding : The abdominal cavity is markedly distended.
Multiple gas-filled intestinal loops are visible, with variable diameter. Several loops appear severely distended, particularly within the mid to caudal abdomen.
There is a generalized increase in abdominal radiolucency consistent with excessive gastrointestinal gas accumulation.
The stomach is moderately distended with gas and ingesta.
The large intestine appears to contain reduced fecal material compared with normal expectations.
No discrete soft tissue or mineral opaque foreign body is clearly identified on these views.
No obvious free abdominal fluid or mass effect is noted, although evaluation is limited by gas superimposition.
Skeletal structures appear within normal limits.
Interpretation : Severe gastrointestinal gas accumulation and intestinal distension, most consistent with gastrointestinal stasis/ileus.
Comment :
Ultra Sonogeraphy
Techniques : US.
Finding : The stomach is moderately distended with heterogeneous hyperechoic ingesta and gas shadowing.
Multiple small intestinal loops are visualized with marked dilation and hypomotility. Peristaltic activity is significantly reduced to absent in the observed segments.
The intestinal wall layering appears preserved; no focal thickening, mass, or intussusception is identified.
The colon contains scant fecal material.
No evidence of free abdominal fluid, abscess, or large intra-abdominal mass is noted.
Urinary bladder and other visualized abdominal organs appear within normal ultrasonographic limits.
Both kidneys are within normal limits as size with normal.

Interpretation: findings are consistent with gastrointestinal ileus (functional stasis

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m so sorry to hear this

All you can do is keep up with emergency measures (of daily weight checks and the essential syringe feeding ideally at least 60ml of syringe feed per day but a minimum of 40ml ) and speak to your vet as soon as you can

I hope she is ok

Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Wiebke's Guide to Tummy Trouble
How to Improvise Feeding Support in an Emergency
Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry. I cannot add anything to @Piggies&buns emergency care advice. It is going to be a very anxious wait for you, sadly, because there is only so much you can do; especially as it sounds rather like a potential neurological problem and there is very little research and very little that vets can do for guinea pigs.

Neurological Issues (Seizures, Strokes, E.cuniculi etc.) - Symptoms and Care

My thoughts are with you.

 

[Wheekallweek]

Fingers crossed she's going to be - it does sound neurological to me. Hope all goes well at the vets

 

[Shirin]

Hello again.

I would like to thank everyone who shared their insights and, most importantly, consoled me during a time of distress. Your words mattered a lot.

An update is due:
She's fine and recovering right now.
That day, I took her to her specialized vet as soon as possible. After putting her in a box full of oxygen and giving her some sugary liquid, she was able to handle going through the process of radiography. Fortunately, there were no foreign objects in her stomach, and the previous issue of ileus was seemingly resolved. When we were waiting to see her vet again, she started eating again, seemingly from the combination of oxygen and sugar. However, she was still not pooping. So, the doctor diagnosed the issue to be not neurological, but rather digestive, since there was a little blockage in her belly. He prescribed her PediLact drops and one other drop (whose name I can't remember). Now, she's eating, pooping, running, and being herself again, and I'm a happy father, again

 

[Ramia]

Salaam,

Glad she's better.

 

[CTWC]

What a wonderful update

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

I am very glad that for the good news.

Please be aware that it takes around a day for any food to pass from mouth to anus so you will see that gap after every diminished/absent food intake. Think of the digestive system of one big conveyor belt. Please also be aware that hay makes over three quarters of the food intake and that if you see a piggy nibbling on a little veg or pellets it can be very misleading.

But I sincerely hope that the problem has solved itself. I would recommend that you continue to monitor the food (hay) intake with daily weigh-ins first thing in the morning for a little while longer to make sure that her weight/food intake is indeed stable. The tummy may need a little time to get going again fully. I assume that she isn't on painkillers?

 

[AmirATM]

Hi

I am very glad that for the good news.

Please be aware that it takes around a day for any food to pass from mouth to anus so you will see that gap after every diminished/absent food intake. Think of the digestive system of one big conveyor belt. Please also be aware that hay makes over three quarters of the food intake and that if you see a piggy nibbling on a little veg or pellets it can be very misleading.

But I sincerely hope that the problem has solved itself. I would recommend that you continue to monitor the food (hay) intake with daily weigh-ins first thing in the morning for a little while longer to make sure that her weight/food intake is indeed stable. The tummy may need a little time to get going again fully. I assume that she isn't on painkillers?

Thanks a lot. Almost everything you said was news to me.
Since she's with her mom, it would be hard to judge her share of the hay based on the total hay consumed. Weigh-in seems a better way to do that.
No, she isn't on painkillers. Just Metoclopramide and PediLact (probiotic) drops.
I'm thinking of including one or the other of these drops in their weekly diet from now on to avoid a flare-up like this again. Do you have any thoughts?

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks a lot. Almost everything you said was news to me.
Since she's with her mom, it would be hard to judge her share of the hay based on the total hay consumed. Weigh-in seems a better way to do that.
No, she isn't on painkillers. Just Metoclopramide and PediLact (probiotic) drops.
I'm thinking of including one or the other of these drops in their weekly diet from now on to avoid a flare-up like this again. Do you have any thoughts?

You can do it but there is actually a more effective method that doesn't cost anything - live microbiome transfer from a healthy companion. The traditional vernacular name is 'poo soup'. If done correctly (i.e. very quickly between dropping healthy poos and syringing the water in which they have been soaked shortly) means that your ill piggy gets tailor-made live gut microbiome. I usually recommend to take the companion out and feed them a bit of fresh grass (if they are used to it), veg or treat - this usually triggers poos, so you get them guaranteed fresh. Dunk a few into a little ramekin or smaller of water, wait shortly - latest until the water just starts colouring - and syringe 3 ml to the ill piggy twice daily. The donator cannot be on antibiotics or other strong meds.

This actually mimics natural behaviour in recovering guinea pigs, so it is one of the few old-fashioned tricks that has stood the test of time.

Please be aware that guinea pigs are lactose intolerant after weaning and should never have cows milk.

Probiotics & Live Gut Microbiome Transfer ('Poo Soup'); Recovery Formula Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links and Transfer Recipe

We have got an extensive, very practical and helpful information resource. I would recommend to bookmark the link, browse, read and re-read at need. The guides format allows us to add and update at need or as we find spare time.
Comprehensive Owners' Practical and Supportive Information Collection

 

[Ramia]

Salaam,

Farsi yé kami baladam. Amreekoi am.

(Hello, I speak a little Farsi. I'm American)

Welcome to the forum.