Stomach issues, different behaviour.

[justnobody]

Hi,

I have recently posted here with one problem and here comes another.

I noticed that one of my boar changed his behaviour, he was all the time sleeping outside his hidey and also wasnt scared of me when i was talking to him etc.

About 2 days ago he stared to act differently. He is now spending most of the time in his house. When i was trying to catch him, he started to run (he never did that before). When i took him out of the cage and touched his stomach, he started „jumping” like it would hurt him. Ive noticed that his stomach is kinda hard. Also when i gave him a free roam around the house i found a little red spot on the floor. Idk if its blood, but I'm worried... He also sneezed few days before that. I’ve a appointment with vet scheduled but i want to ask you about what should i suggest to check or look for.

Or even what can i do at this moment to help my piggy. The visit is in 6 days from now, because of covid and no free spots...

Any help appreciated.

PS. He also was wheeking two days ago when he was pooping. I dont know if its related also...

 

[Siikibam]

I think it could be a sign of a UTI. It’s good you’ve got him booked in. Speak to the vets and tell them to let you know if there’s a cancellation. All the best and let us know how you get on.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi,

I have recently posted here with one problem and here comes another.

I noticed that one of my boar changed his behaviour, he was all the time sleeping outside his hidey and also wasnt scared of me when i was talking to him etc.

About 2 days ago he stared to act differently. He is now spending most of the time in his house. When i was trying to catch him, he started to run (he never did that before). When i took him out of the cage and touched his stomach, he started „jumping” like it would hurt him. Ive noticed that his stomach is kinda hard. Also when i gave him a free roam around the house i found a little red spot on the floor. Idk if its blood, but I'm worried... He also sneezed few days before that. I’ve a appointment with vet scheduled but i want to ask you about what should i suggest to check or look for.

Or even what can i do at this moment to help my piggy. The visit is in 6 days from now, because of covid and no free spots...

Any help appreciated.

PS. He also was wheeking two days ago when he was pooping. I dont know if its related also...

Hi!

The red spot could be a sign of a developing urinary tract problem, whether that is an infection or a stone - just one drop is not exactly a lot to go by. A hard stomach where it normally feels soft could indicate some bloating but if you have never really noticed before, it may just be due to you having a closer look. Only a hands-on vet examination will tell.

The sneezing is irrelevant. Guinea pigs can sneeze voluntarily in order to clear their noses at the end of a 'piggy wash'. A one-off sneeze or even sneezing fit is nothing to worry about. Only when you come to very frequent regular sneezing ever few minutes for hours or weeks on end, then that needs to be attended to. Keep in mind that respiratory infection is a bacterial infection and not a viral cold, like in humans - and that therefore symptoms differ.

Switch to weighing your boy daily at the same time instead of weekly so you can step in with feeding support if at all necessary. Hay is usually the first food group impacted when a piggy is not feeling well but it cannot be controlled by eye. However as it is the equivalent of roughly a human breakfast, lunch and dinner all together, it is well worth keeping an eye on the situation. We are talking about weight loss only from 50g or more onward (ca. 2 oz). The weight between a full and empty belly plus a fully/empty bladder can swing around 30-40g over the course of 24 hours - hence the need to always weigh at the same time in the feeding cycle.

If it is a urinary tract infection, then it takes about 5 days to get fully going. If it is sheer bleeding and not just red porphyrine coloured urine, then that is more worrying, as would be your ballooning up.
Here is our bridging and emergency care guide where we have collected all the relevant tips and information that you need to get your boy through the wait; especially if he starts getting worse. Please bookmark and read; you should find it very helpful: Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

All the best!

 

[justnobody]

Thanks for replies.
Small update today - I have visited the vet today without a queue. I have overreacted and just went there just to be sure and they let me stay

Doc took blood sample and also took a x-ray photo. Blood results should be tommorow, so i need to wait for that. On xray he looked good, she said that urinary tract and diggestive system is fine. Also no stones or anything like that. Piggy is maybe just a little too fat I'll take care of that in a while.
Also in just first examination he said that he could have a teeth problem - his incisors grinds not equally, but for now its ok.
I've got some pain killers for him, but I'm not sure if he needs it.

Maybe thats all my rookie mistakes and lack of knowledge, but i feel better when i tested him.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks for replies.
Small update today - I have visited the vet today without a queue. I have overreacted and just went there just to be sure and they let me stay

Doc took blood sample and also took a x-ray photo. Blood results should be tommorow, so i need to wait for that. On xray he looked good, she said that urinary tract and diggestive system is fine. Also no stones or anything like that. Piggy is maybe just a little too fat I'll take care of that in a while.
Also in just first examination he said that he could have a teeth problem - his incisors grinds not equally, but for now its ok.
I've got some pain killers for him, but I'm not sure if he needs it.

Maybe thats all my rookie mistakes and lack of knowledge, but i feel better when i tested him.

Hi!

Glad that there are no problems with the lower body.

Please be aware that slanted, jagged or in a more advanced stage inward pointing incisors can be a sign of overgrowing back teeth, which do the grinding down of fibre. Make sure that your boy has got lots of hay because it is the abrasive silica in grass and hay that guinea pig teeth have evolved against.
Pellets contain much more fillers than fibre; if you reduce them to 15ml (1 tablespoon or 1/8 cup per piggy per day) you are doing a lot for your boy's teeth AND for any overweight because that is where a lot of the calories sit. Since grass and hay both contain vitamin C, your boy is not going to lose out on it by eating less pellets but he is gaining by eating more of the tough but nutritious grass/hay fibre he depends on.

Please take the time to read our diet and weight guides. They are important for long term health and a longer life. You will hopefully find them very helpful and interesting.
- Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
- Weight - Monitoring and Management (contains a chapter how you can work out whether your guinea pig is really overweight for his size by 'checking the heft' and a chapter on overweight and exercise etc.)

Thank you for the feedback. Glad that you could be seen immediately!

 

[Siikibam]

Glad to hear you got your piggy in sooner. And that it wasn’t stones or anything to do with that.

 

[justnobody]

Another update:
It appears he has some inflammation. He got antibiotic prescribed... I'm really struggling to give him that. He bites me and definitely doesnt like syringe.
Also his cholesterol level is slightly higher than usually.

 

[Agashe]

Another update:
It appears he has some inflammation. He got antibiotic prescribed... I'm really struggling to give him that. He bites me and definitely doesnt like syringe.
Also his cholesterol level is slightly higher than usually.

Is there any way the vet will give you a flavored antibiotic? Or even add flavor to the current one? My vet gave me apple for my stubborn piggie and omg you’ve never seen a fully grown pig fight so hard to get at a syringe before. It was like a baby trying to find it’s moms milk lol. It could be worth a look to see if they can do it. If not determination seems to work with a lot of owners but be careful none the less otherwise you might cause them harm.

 

[Wiebke]

Another update:
It appears he has some inflammation. He got antibiotic prescribed... I'm really struggling to give him that. He bites me and definitely doesnt like syringe.
Also his cholesterol level is slightly higher than usually.

If you have got baytril or sulfatrim/bactrim, then they are unfortunately pretty horrible. Veterinary products licenced for small animals in teh UK are generally unflavoured.

Use the piggy whispering tips to ensure more compliance and rather wash down the horrible taste with something stronger tasting or just a syringe full of water and then a little veg treat in the cage.
Who is the boss - your guinea pig or you?

Here is how I control an uncooperative piggy with one hand and my upper body so I have got the other hand free for the syringe.