• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

swollen tummy?

Status
Not open for further replies.

daleksarah

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Jul 8, 2009
Messages
3,461
Reaction score
3
Points
510
Location
wallasey, merseyside
I'm a bit concerned as Rascal seems to have a large tummy all of a sudden!its soft to touch and ive just been massaging it and he hasnt complained,hes eaten today and drank yet hes quiet, hes alert but not his normal self as he didnt moan when i picked him up,which worries me.I'm hoping its just wind so i have given him some infacol and he is now nibbling a bit of hay.any advice would be appreciated
 
Sorry I have no advice for you hun, but I hope the wee mite's tummy gets back to normal soon.
 
I'm hoping I'm just worrying too much but his tummy is considerably larger than Macs,if he didnt have such well defined man bits id say he was pregnant!he has been having celery and spring cabbage frequently lately.none today though, just cucumber and carrot
 
Just keep an eye on it and give him only dry food and plenty of water for a few days.

If he has bloat, it comes on quite quickly and is becoming painful very soon. A piggy will go off food and look seriously ill.

I suspect that he may just have a lot of gas from too much cabbage.
 
funny enough the dry food has really gone down today,usually they leave quite a bit but have eaten a lot.should i still give cucumber?as that has a high water content? hes not acting as though he is in pain which is a good sign.
 
Oh dear, what has Rascal been up to!? rolleyes

May be worth laying off the spring greens; they are usually a type of cabbage, which can lead to a degree of gas buildup in some pigs, especially if fed more than normal for a while.

Hope his tummy shrinks down soon.
 
It might be worth getting some buscopan just incase he takes a turn for the worse. I gave this to a piggy with bloat and it helped very quickly and she is now fine (6 months on). I only wish I'd had some to hand when my best piggy Pepper had bloat - despite infacol and 24hr syringe feeding she didn't make it.

Paws crossed for Rascal - with any luck it isn't bloat at all!
 
Don't give cucumber - just have a fresh supply water ready; they will drink more with only dry food anyway.

If you wish you can give cooled down fennel or chamomile tea to help soothe the tummy.

Any more massages will be probably welcome.
 
after me giving him infacol and rubbing his tummy he has seemed more alert,he is sat eating hay at the moment i just wish he would make some noise,it worrys me him being quiet.
 
i havent any buscopan in but when i go to get georgia from her friends later i will pop in the co-op and see if they have any,its something ive been meaning to get in but havent.
 
"If you wish you can give cooled down fennel or chamomile tea to help soothe the tummy."


I wonder which book you get your information from as I cannot recollect having seen that before?
 
I can't speak for Wiebke, but fennel (and fennel tea) is good for the digestive system. Everything I have read about fennel tea so far says it can help relieve bloating, likewise chamomile tea.

Must admit I have not tried this with my pigs, the only thing I drink other than water is fennel tea. And before you ask, no, I don't!
 
On the continent, we use these teas a lot for colicky babies or those with tummy upsets. Herbal teas are still strongly recommended on German forums.

I got this advice from our vet back in Switzerland when we had the occasional trouble with our piggies - one of our piggies actually LOVED chamomile tea and couldn't get enough of it!

Teas do quite obviously NOT replace a visit to the vets or the use of antibiotics, but can help soothe down crampy and irritated bowels.
 
so shall i give him a toblerone :))
Rascal perked up last night after another snuggle and tummy massage,his tummy doesnt seem as big and hes still eating drinking and moving fine, so hopefully i was just being over anxious, i will be keeping an eye on him though
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top