I spoke at length to
@Poppy'sMum last week on the phone and am sorry to hear that Petal is no better.
For info: The faecal samples were negative for all the usual suspects.....but logged a low level of the Saccharomyces gutulatus that the other two girlies have had but that the vet didn't think merited a course of anti-fungal atm owing to the low level.
I understand how worrying and draining this is for you...but I think you are placing too much focus on trying to stop the cowpatty poos at the moment ....Petal has gone through a tremendous op for an infected womb......she was bunged up and now her gut is doing the reverse.
It can take weeks for a guinea pig gut to stabilise again properly after an event of this nature.
I realise you are also worried because your vet is away for a week...but I don;t think you should be self-medicating or going against the vet's advice atm. As you say yourself, it is not an emergency and apart from the poo consistency she is still doing fine in herself (?...or is there other changes in behaviour etc?)
Could you please clarify - apart from the cowpatty poos is she still eating/drinking/maintaining weight etc and healthy?
The most important thing is to carry on with the vet's recommendations and to monitor her for dehydration (or if she develops fulminant diarrhoea ie fluid-like in which case that would be am emergency). As the fecal result were negative for "the usual suspects" then the cowpatty poos are more likely evidence that the gut is not pushing the contents along in a normal [you]smooth and rhythmical manner[/you]...but instead the gut muscle is spasming and, in the case of diarrhoea, is pushing the feacal matter out too quickly and before the hind gut has had a chance to absorb the water content..The gut meds help to restore that balance.....although it may be that you need to stop the cisapride which acts on the hind gut...but i think you should discuss with a vet. When my Ginger used to get loose poo "episodes" we withdrew all veg and my vet put him on a low level course of zantac (not the rest of the gut meds) at 2mg/kg for 5 days to help stabilise things....it took up to a week (and he had not had a major op/gut stasis etc like Petal has had)
ON NO ACCOUNT USE IMMODIUM - The best option to help firm up poos in animals is kaolin. Discuss with your vet when they return whether it is worth trying Protexin Pro-kolin for dogs However be advised that whilst it contains kaolin, the probioitics in this product are designed to support the flora in a carniverous gut ...so your vet might feel this particular product is a bit risky and suggest an alternative source of kaolin (although I know of a couple of guinea pigs with cowpatty poos that have been given this and made a full recovery with no ill effects). i am also thinking that the differing porobioitics could help make the gut less favourable for the Saccharomyces gutulatus
(FYI - Here is a paediatric product I have just found....but I have no idea what type of dose should be used...also I'm concerned about the other ingredients.....but worthwhile pointing it out to your vet if they don;t agree with the Protexin product. Personally I think the Protexin is less risky than the paediatric suspension
http://www.allcures.com/Medicines/Child-Care-68900/CARE-100ml-894675-Leaflet.htm)
WHY DIAROLYTE? Unless Petal is dehydrated (in which case keep syringing water) it can actually cause more problems in the gut than it solves owing to the ionic content. I do not give diarolyte to my pigs unless the vet has approved it as a support measure for their particular condition
OTHER THINGS TO DISCUSS WITH A VET ON THEIR RETURN:
1) You could try replacing or supplementing the metacam with tramadol (again in discussion with your vet). It provides the pain relief that metacam does...but not the anti=inflammatory action ref the bladder. However as an opiate tramadol may help slow don the gut (assuming the cowpats are because the gut is moving too quickly...although I'm not sure that this is the real problem)
2) I would strongly suggest another sample - collect lots of cowpats and specifically ask for giardia PCR test as opposed to microsocopy. Last time we had a pig on the forum with this type of chronic issue they were finally diagnosed with giardia (and given metronidazole antibioitic to get rid of it). In the human gut Giardia infection is extremely difficult to diagnose by microscopy as it comes down the gut periodically in showers.....so microscopic diagnosis is a bit hit and miss whereas a PCR test will identify Giardia DNA fragments and provide a more confident result.
3) If the test results are still negative (except for gutulatus) I would then discuss a course of antifungal. Petal may have lower levels...but after everything she has been through this may be enough to cause the problems you experienced with your other girls that had much higher levels.
Chin up and hugs Hun.....this is proving a bit of a challenge for all concerned and clearly it's not an "overnight fix"...However, on the bright side, it is not currently life-threatening and Petal's condition can be supported (with rehydration if necessary) until you find out exactly what the real problem (assuming it isn't just a spasming gut)
Ring me anytime if you're worried
xxxxx
I've tried everything, no veg, veg, she has been on Zantac since the op, to protect her gut, she only had antibiotics for a week after the op, now she is showing all the signs of IBS 
I have given her a little bit of fresh grass, washed it well & she is currently tucking into a load of hay & pellets. Things are not worse or better right now, but her soft poos look darker. I am tempted not to give her anymore gut meds tonight as she is eating really well & see how things are in the morning. what do you think?
