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Sways got bloat!

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Cozmo

Cozmo

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We've just fed the guineas about 20 mins ago and I went to say goodnight to the girls inside and noticed Sway's tummy is tight and distended.

I think she has bloat.

Please tell me what I need to do....I have Buscopan but I don't know much I should give her and how long to run her tummy for and how long I should wait for that to kick in and know that its worked.

Please help, I'm worried and never had this problem with any of my piggies before.
 
got this off peter gurney site hope it helps xx

Give one tablet Rennie Rapize, crushed and in 2.5ml of water via a syringe. Follow this with one crushed tablet of Buscopan in about 1.5ml water. Leave for about half an hour and then gently massage the sides of the guinea pig, resting it on a towel. Better still if you have access to one of those vibrating pads that are used for people with artritic or circulation problems in human beings, a good twenty minutes settled on it as in photograph should greatly improves the chance of clearing the blockage.


http://www.oginet.com/pgurney/bloat.htm
 
I haven't got any Rennie...so I'll have to give the Buscopan and massage her. I've started massaging her and she doesn't seem to mind...didn't like me picking her up though.

Thanks for the quick reply Ollie.
 
With bloat - see a vet asap. Buscopan may tidy you over.

The best info is on the Peter Gurney website.
 
We've just given her Buscopan....she seems fine in herself so I'm going to massage her sides for 20 minutes and see how she gets on....if no change after that....I'm gonna seriously consider the vets.

One question...if she poops...is that a good sign? She hasn't yet but I'm just wondering if thats a good thing and I don't need to worry as much.
 
dont know on the poo sorry

really hope she's going to be ok xx
 
She's pooping and peeing loads now...her tummy feels a little better (and I mean...a little)...but still tight more on the right side.

She seems busy trying to investigate the smells on my jumper and cleaning herself.

I don't know if I'm out of the woods yet but she doesn't seem to be in any pain. She keeps putting her head down under her to look so I don't know if thats cuz she might be in a little pain or what.
 
it could the Buscopan working feeling strange in her tummy keep the massage going xx
 
Her sides feel so much better now...but the under part of her tummy still feels tight...gonna keep massaging.

She's still fine in herself...wanting to moved all over the place on my lap, and loving the massage.

I just don't know what to do...I don't wanna put her back, go down in the morning and find her really ill or worse.
 
think its just a case of keep going till her tummy feels normal & your happy with it

your doing great

come on Sway keep still just a little enjoy your massage xx
 
Ok....We just got in a piggie of a similar age and size to compare tummies. The other pigs tummy feels harder than her's does....her's is alot more squidgy now.

I think I'm gonna put her back for half an hour and then check on her and see how she is.

Thanks so much for your help Ollie....I really appreciate it xx
 
no problem thats what i'm here for i know what bloat does :(

send big hug xx
 
Well she's eating hay and telling off the youngster she's in with. Have taken the bowl of food away for the night (it had some mix and concentrate in it).

Have picked her up and felt her tummy and it feels squidgy at the sides still so I'm hoping she's fine. Will check on her a couple times more then go to bed.

Thanks again hun xx
 
Gripe water can be used to help bloat. I always have a bottle of this just in case. It sounds as though Sway is over the worst but if the symptoms come back or get worse, I would get sway to a vet. Best of luck..
 
Buscopan, and get the pig to move around.
I used to use a massage pad to treat pigs that had bloat, but it is easier and more effective just to gently massage the abdomen, besides which there is no risk of making the condition worse.
If she still had bloat she would not be eating. Try checking pigs that have eaten within the last 30 minutes or so, you can often find that they feel bloated but if you wait another 30 minutes the condition has gone.
Genuine bloat is a desperately serious condition and the pig's condition rapidly deteriorates and can prove fatal if left untreated.
 
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Update. I went down to Sway a couple of times last night and she was fine. Have come down this morning and she has a lovely soft squidgy tummy.

I do think it was a very mild case as she is normally a pig who loves to be picked up and I knew something was wrong when I put my hands under her and she cried out in pain, and she usually likes a little cuddle before bedtime and this was 30 minutes after she'd eaten, and she felt exactly like people have described bloat before - like there's a ballon in their stomach and it feels like if you put a pin in them, they'd pop..lol.

I'm gonna revise their diet lists and study the Vitamin C/Calcium ratio thread after work this morning. As for Sway...no more cabbage, broccili, sprouts or kale (she had cabbage and broccili last night so I think one of them...or both caused it).

Thanks for the replies guys, I'm so glad I could treat her myself, and Ollie - your really helped keep me calm through it. Thank you so much! xx
 
Oh ***, I've only just seen this. I'm glad she's feeling better today. I found out yesterday that fennel is meant to help bloat a little bit if given in small quantities, maybe you could give her a little during lap time so you know she's getting a little bit? I've no advice other that that. I have everything crossed for Sway. And lots of love to you as ever. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
I hope Sway is doing well this morning.

Dexter had another bout the other night, not as severe as the time I posted about on 1 Feb but still a hardened, painful tummy. A couple of leaves in the Woodlands hay was the culprit this time, it is the only thing that was "different" that day.

I gave 1 Buscopan tablet (crushed, mixed with 1ml water) and 1ml Infacol. Unlike AP's experience, I found the massage pad was a godsend; it was an expensive investment but worth it. Dexter had 20 minutes on it, followed by some manual massage, and his abdomen softened quite quickly.

In the past I've tried Gripe Water and fennel tea, but as it was in conjunction with Buscopan I couldn't say whether either had notable effect. The Buscopan/Infacol/massage pad combination was very effective this time.

Re the poops. If the pig is not pooping and is suffering from bloat (whether mild or acute), it could suggest a blockage. Thus if there is poop, it is a good sign. :)
 
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She's absolutely fine, back to her sexy self. We kept her on a hay and water diet yesterday, much to her disgust, and she's fine. Her tummys squidgy still and we haven't had any problems.

I think the Buscopan was a godsend for her and the tummy rubs went down a treat. I'm so glad she's alright cuz I dunno what I'd have done if it had gone badly.

Thanks Ollie xx
 
soooooooo happy she's feeling better ;)

i've lost 2 to bloat so know just how much of a worrie it is
 
Oh no! Well it is very scary so I can understand how you feel about it. I was in such a panic!

I've just printed out a brand spanking new Guinea pig shopping list for the fridge which outlines the bloat causing foods, so will be avoiding them at all costs to be honest! I'd rather give my guinea's other foods that I know will reduce the cause of it, than risk it.
 
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