Specialist Strange? Long term problem?

[Bradshaw Piggies]

Hi everyone,

So I took little Odin to the vet this morning. He has been showing pain (squeaking a lot) when passing droppings since last Thursday. The droppings are perfectly normal and he is still eating loads. He hasn’t lost any weight.

The vet checked his teeth and said they looked fine. He felt his stomach and said all feels fine there. He gave him an anti-inflammatory injection. Though the vets there are not exotic specialists.

I’m worried maybe there’s infection somewhere? Urinary? Hopefully not stones!

Odin is around 11 months old but had Giardia parasite infection when he was a baby (still no idea where he picked that up from)? Since he’s always been smaller than his brother at 800g and has always had days where he sits more hunched. But he seemed to be perfectly fine for a while.

he really is jumping around in pain when he passes droppings. The vet said the injection should last a week, but I’m wondering if I need to get him to a specialist?

if it was infection? Would he be losing his appetite/weight by now?

 

[PoppyFloss]

Pain when pooping is usually because of urinary tract problems. Your guinea pig might have a urine infection or a bladder stone.

 

[Claire W]

Your guinea pig may have a urine infection which only antibiotics can treat. Worse case scenario, he may have a bladder stone. I’d seek a second opinion from a different vet if he were my piggy

 

[Piggies&buns]

 

[piggieminder]

I am not a health expert and wouldn't normally comment here but I have had experience of giardia and stones.
with seeking a second opinion from a piggy savvy vet. Make sure the vet knows about the giardia, it can cause long term IBS type symptoms. I have had guinea pigs with this, it's very rare but can be picked up at the breeders or from eating contaminated food. I would normally think UTI/stones with those symptoms but the giardia is another cause to look at.

 

[piggieminder]

Whilst weeding the garden I've had some further thoughts! Could he still have giardia?
Was Odin retested for the giardia after treatment to make sure it had gone?
Was his cage mate treated at the same time?
Was the cage deep cleaned everyday after treatment?
All these steps are needed to remove any chance of re infection.

 

[Bradshaw Piggies]

I am not a health expert and wouldn't normally comment here but I have had experience of giardia and stones.
with seeking a second opinion from a piggy savvy vet. Make sure the vet knows about the giardia, it can cause long term IBS type symptoms. I have had guinea pigs with this, it's very rare but can be picked up at the breeders or from eating contaminated food. I would normally think UTI/stones with those symptoms but the giardia is another cause to look at.

Thank you. I’ve took him in tonight and they are keeping him in to do an ultrasound tomorrow, under general. I can’t cope. I’m so worried about him and about the risks of the anaesthetic. He literally follows me around everywhere and he will be thinking I’ve left him, and wondering where I am. I can’t settle for worrying

 

[Bradshaw Piggies]

Whilst weeding the garden I've had some further thoughts! Could he still have giardia?
Was Odin retested for the giardia after treatment to make sure it had gone?
Was his cage mate treated at the same time?
Was the cage deep cleaned everyday after treatment?
All these steps are needed to remove any chance of re infection.

Thank you. They were all treated for it at the same time and deep cleaned etc. The vet thinks it’s unlikely the giardia, but he’s been kept in over night for an ultrasound in the morning. I can’t cope, can’t settle for worrying and I hated leaving him there

 

[Bradshaw Piggies]

Update: Odin has been kept in hospital over night. For an ultrasound under general anaesthetic in the morning.
I can’t cope with the worry. I’m missing him and worrying so much. He will be so stressed without me. He literally goes everywhere with me, he’s not even very keen on other piggies!

I’m so worried about the risk of anaesthetic and the findings of the ultrasound

 

[piggieminder]

It's horrible when they stay in overnight but he's in the best place to get some answers. Sending you my very best wishes, I hope Odin feels better soon.

 

[Bradshaw Piggies]

Update: the ultrasound showed a little bit of bladder sludge that they have flushed out. But they are more worried about the inflammation in his intestines. They said that all guinea pigs have a number of normal parasites in their intestines, but he is over run. That maybe the giardia in the past has weakened him and made him more susceptible. They are starting him on antibiotics. He hasn’t eaten while he’s been in there so they are syringe feeding. They are keeping him in another couple of days.

I’m heartbroken, I can’t help think that he’s just never going to be ok with all of this.

 

[Bradshaw Piggies]

Update:
After being admitted to hospital yesterday the vet has just called. Odin had his ultrasound that showed a little bit of bladder sludge which they have flushed out. But they are more concerned about the inflammation in his intestines. They took a faecal sample and it’s negative for giardia but shows another burden. The vet said most guinea pigs have a number of normal parasites in the gut, be he is over run with them. She thinks maybe the giardia he had when he was a baby has done some damage and makes him more susceptible. She says he hasn’t eaten over night so they are continuing to syringe feed. They are starting anti-biotics and keeping him in over the next couple of days. She’s worried that my previous vet has given him a steroid based anti-inflammatory which she said can weaken his immune system further.

I am so heartbroken and worried. I’m worried about the ultimate prognosis and future management for my little man; if it’s something that can be treated and managed?

has anyone any ideas?

 

[Wiebke]

Update:
After being admitted to hospital yesterday the vet has just called. Odin had his ultrasound that showed a little bit of bladder sludge which they have flushed out. But they are more concerned about the inflammation in his intestines. They took a faecal sample and it’s negative for giardia but shows another burden. The vet said most guinea pigs have a number of normal parasites in the gut, be he is over run with them. She thinks maybe the giardia he had when he was a baby has done some damage and makes him more susceptible. She says he hasn’t eaten over night so they are continuing to syringe feed. They are starting anti-biotics and keeping him in over the next couple of days. She’s worried that my previous vet has given him a steroid based anti-inflammatory which she said can weaken his immune system further.

I am so heartbroken and worried. I’m worried about the ultimate prognosis and future management for my little man; if it’s something that can be treated and managed?

has anyone any ideas?

Hi!

I am very sorry that the news is not very good. Hopefully you can get over the inflammation.

I am linking @PigglePuggle , @furryfriends (TEAS) and @Abi_nurse for you as they may have experience on this rather unusual issue. It is outside my own experience.

PS: In order to help us when we jump between lots of different threads in our free time, please keep all information and updates to the the same thread so we can refer back and read up. Not all of us around all the time and will be able to read everything on this lively forum; this means that with every new thread you are starting the quality of responses is at risk of becoming less good due to lack of crucial information and what has already been discussed, proposed or not.
It will also save us time we would have to answer more posts if we didn't have to make a search to find the initial thread. Thank you!
Please Start Your Own Thread And State The Problem In The Title!

 

[piggieminder]

I am sorry to hear the news isn't brilliant, but at least now you know what you are dealing with. I hope this vet can get on top of things, she certainly sounds like she knows what she is doing.
Get well soon little Odin.

 

[Bradshaw Piggies]

I am sorry to hear the news isn't brilliant, but at least now you know what you are dealing with. I hope this vet can get on top of things, she certainly sounds like she knows what she is doing.
Get well soon little Odin.

Thank you

 

[Bradshaw Piggies]

Update: the vet called. They are keeping him in tonight. They said he is still not eating but is taking his syringe feeds well and that he is bright and alert.
They want him to start eating over the next 24 hours or it will be further investigations.
I’m worried some of him not eating is him staying away from home

 

[Wiebke]

Update: the vet called. They are keeping him in tonight. They said he is still not eating but is taking his syringe feeds well and that he is bright and alert.
They want him to start eating over the next 24 hours or it will be further investigations.
I’m worried some of him not eating is him staying away from home

HUGS

Your boy is not well enough to eat on his own but he is thankfully not so bad that getting food into him in a attempt to keep him alive is a desperate life and death struggle. Nothing to do with him not being with you but an indication of how ill he still is.

Your boy will of course be delighted to come back home but your vet wants to make sure that he is stable to do so and that they are on the right track. What they are dealing with is rather rare so it is very much trial and error to come up with a treatment that works; especially as steroids (which are the best medication in these situations) are a big no no for any rodents.

Fingers crossed but glad that he is bright in himself!

 

[Bradshaw Piggies]

Update: Odin is still in the hospital. He’s had X-rays that were clear, no sign of any gas or stasis. Each day I get updates. He has been bright, alert and passing some normality droppings, and some soft. They have been syringe feeding and apparently he’s taking that really well. He’s just not eating independently. Yesterday he had eaten his greens but then stopped eating again in the afternoon.

I called them this morning. They said he had eaten over night, but stopped again today. They said his droppings are soft and he is quiet today.
I’m so worried.

the exotic vet on Friday said his bladder may still be sore from irritation from the sludge they removed and that he’s holding onto urine as long as he can before he goes. But the urine he is passing is normal.

the vet said they are running out of ideas
They have been treating any parasite burden but said they are still confused with the inflammation in his intestines.
On Friday I was allowed to visit him for a cuddle. I left him some of his fave veggies and hay from home, 2 of his favourite toys and his fleece from the cage that smells of his brother.

I really wish we could figure out what is going on with him

 

[Freya1234]

I’m so sorry that your struggling to find answers about what is going on with Odin, I hope the vets can get to the bottom of the problem and he can come home to you soon. Sending lots of hugs

 

[Wiebke]

Update: Odin is still in the hospital. He’s had X-rays that were clear, no sign of any gas or stasis. Each day I get updates. He has been bright, alert and passing some normality droppings, and some soft. They have been syringe feeding and apparently he’s taking that really well. He’s just not eating independently. Yesterday he had eaten his greens but then stopped eating again in the afternoon.

I called them this morning. They said he had eaten over night, but stopped again today. They said his droppings are soft and he is quiet today.
I’m so worried.

the exotic vet on Friday said his bladder may still be sore from irritation from the sludge they removed and that he’s holding onto urine as long as he can before he goes. But the urine he is passing is normal.

the vet said they are running out of ideas
They have been treating any parasite burden but said they are still confused with the inflammation in his intestines.
On Friday I was allowed to visit him for a cuddle. I left him some of his fave veggies and hay from home, 2 of his favourite toys and his fleece from the cage that smells of his brother.

I really wish we could figure out what is going on with him

HUGS

Very sorry that Odin is not stabilising!

We strongly recommend using glucosamine for a traumatised bladder; it really makes a big difference in terms of comfort but needs a bit of time to build up. It is there it support the beleaguered natural glucosamine coating of the urinary tract that keeps the corrosive urine from coming into contact with raw flesh. Glucosamine is not classed as a medication; it comes under 'food supplement' so it is not necessarily something he may be getting at the clinic.

You may also want to raise the option whether Odin's brother could come to live with him for moral support? But this is very much how the clinic would feel about it after weighing up the pros and cons of companionship in every single case; you can only suggest it but not insist.

I have now got my second piggy with long term digestive problems that resemble IBS symptoms (thickened gut with cramps and temporary bloating). He is on long term metacam, emerprid and cisapride as zantac is sadly no longer available. It is about managing his condition, which seen more often in rabbits but not in guinea pig. Before Barri my Pili Pala had it in the last year of life after surviving a bad case of GI stasis but never quite fully stabilising her weight in the wake of it. She was eventually diagnosed with it. We have seen the odd case with similar IBS like symptoms on here in recent years.
I am however fairly sure that Odin is already on some gut stimulants and anti-inflammatories. Like I said in my previous post and like my vet explained to me when Pili Pala was diagnosed - your options when treating intestinal problems in rodents are very limited and anything but ideal.