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Suspected Bloat And Diarrhea

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Hank288

Hank288

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So I am very new at dealing with this issue. It is only suspected as I do not know what to look for. They have not really eaten much veg tonight but they did both eat grass when I cleaned them out (they eat cut grass from my garden often). They do not seem to be acting normal, still moving around but very quiet. Prodigy (I think as her bottom was dirty) seems to have sticky, squidgy poo which smells quite a lot. I have wiped her bottom and she did eat some lettuce. Her stomach seems a bit swollen but I might be imagining things (they are both a bit fat). Dotty had no dirty bottom but was off her veg tonight. I will be checking them first thing in the morning to see what they are like as they seem quite perky right now.
So the basis is I can only take them to a non-exotics vet which is local to me. So basically I want to be a bit clued up and know what they should be doing. I would also like to know what meds I need for them if they do have bloat. Just because I have been to a lot of vets with varying degrees of success. I would just like to do the best for them even though I can't get them to the best vets. I have managed to find a vet that consults for free and you just pay for meds as I am short on money seeing as I don't currently have a job.
Any help is really appreciated. I am an experienced owner but just not with this sort of thing.
Thanks
 
It may be the grass has upset them if they ate a bit more than they usually do. The usual medications given by a vet for bloat are gut stmulants such as Emepid, Cisapride or Zantac. I personally have no experience of either Cisapride or Zantac but I have used Emeprid. Supportive measures are also important - massage or vibration of the abdomen and fluids to keep them hydrated. I tend to give Dioralyte for this. If the vet gives gut stimulants it is imporrtant that they continue eating as the meds need to have something to move through the system. If they stop eating you would need to step in with hand feeding. Pain relief is important too. The vet also needs to make sure there is no blockage before any gut stimulants or massage are given. I would also take them off all veg until they have been back to normal for 48 hours at least and then phase it in slowly.
 
Thanks Helen for your advice very useful for any vet visits.
I have checked on them this morning and they did eat most of the veg in the night and they still seem bright and perky. I had them out checking them over and gave them each some water to keep them hydrated. They drank a good amount each so I am happy. They also ate a few pellets out of my hand and were munching hay and readi-grass happily when I left them.
Prodigy's poo is still a little soft and squidgy but it is no longer stuck in clumps. It is the right shape as well now.
Do I still need to take her to the vets or should I just keep an eye on her pooing habits (oh the things we do). I weighed them as well and they both weigh pretty much the same as last week.
Am I just worrying over nothing?
Thanks
 
I would monitor them for now if things have improved but keep an eye out for any bloating and if so get them to the vets. Try to encourage them to eat lots of hay rather than veg as the fibre will help.
 
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