Teeth Growth Rate - Mystery Weight Loss / Loss Of Appetite

[piggies04]

Hi Caramel has been to vets 3 times in the last 2 weeks. on baytril and metacam.
has now gone off food, syringe feeding nuggats and pro c probiotic, critical care being delivered today.
She hasn't eaten much since Saturday as weight has dropped from 970g to 902g
would teeth grow so fast to stop her being able to eat, or is it she doesn't want to eat.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi Caramel has been to vets 3 times in the last 2 weeks. on baytril and metacam.
has now gone off food, syringe feeding nuggats and pro c probiotic, critical care being delivered today.
She hasn't eaten much since Saturday as weight has dropped from 970g to 902g
would teeth grow so fast to stop her being able to eat, or is it she doesn't want to eat.

Hi! Can you please tell us what your piggy is being treated for? How piggy savvy is your vet?
Has she had a scan to see what could be going on inside her body ('silent' large bladder stone, gas filled stomach, internal tumours, womb) etc. ? 'Mystery weight' loss and then loss of appetite is personally my least favourite symptom, but I have been there all too often; usually it is something serious and something painful.

You can check whether her teeth are still OK by looking at the incisors; if the tip of them is nice and even and not arching inwards, then you can assume that the back is still working normally, too, because the self-sharpening incisors usually show when things are going badly wrong at the back. They become slanted or jagged. When they overgro, their tips start pointing inwards. That said, teeth grow at over 1 mm per week; they are the fastest growing of all rodents since guinea pigs have evolved on silica-rich grass/hay as their main diet, which is very abrasive.

Please have her seen again promptly today. Loss of appetite is always a very worrying sign.

 

[piggies04]

Hi! Can you please tell us what your piggy is being treated for? How piggy savvy is your vet?
Has she had a scan to see what could be going on inside her body ('silent' large bladder stone, gas filled stomach, internal tumours, womb) etc. ? 'Mystery weight' loss and then loss of appetite is personally my least favourite symptom, but I have been there all too often; usually it is something serious and something painful.

You can check whether her teeth are still OK by looking at the incisors; if the tip of them is nice and even and not arching inwards, then you can assume that the back is still working normally, too, because the self-sharpening incisors usually show when things are going badly wrong at the back. They become slanted or jagged. When they overgro, their tips start pointing inwards. That said, teeth grow at over 1 mm per week; they are the fastest growing of all rodents since guinea pigs have evolved on silica-rich grass/hay as their main diet, which is very abrasive.

Please have her seen again promptly today. Loss of appetite is always a very worrying sign.

Being treated for blood in urine possible Uti.
Am using vet on recommended list, after visit to my local vet first didn't go well.

 

[piggies04]

Back from visit to vets.
Seemed to think Baytril was the problem, gave her examination and checked her teeth for me.
Had an injection of Metoclopramide to try and stimulate appetite, have to go back tomorrow if it doesn't work.
Also taken her off Baytril and put on Septrin Paediatric Suspension 0.4mls x twice a day to treat UTI.
Need to get her eating on her own again and get her weight back up.

 

[Wiebke]

Back from visit to vets.
Seemed to think Baytril was the problem, gave her examination and checked her teeth for me.
Had an injection of Metoclopramide to try and stimulate appetite, have to go back tomorrow if it doesn't work.
Also taken her off Baytril and put on Septrin Paediatric Suspension 0.4mls x twice a day to treat UTI.
Need to get her eating on her own again and get her weight back up.

Please step in with syringe feed top up and don't rely on her eating on her own. Your home care in that respect can make all the difference, and in some cases even the difference between life and death!
You can use mushed up pellets in an emergency as long as your cut the tip of the syringe as shown in our guide.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

 

[piggies04]

Please step in with syringe feed top up and don't rely on her eating on her own. Your home care in that respect can make all the difference, and in some cases even the difference between life and death!
You can use mushed up pellets in an emergency as long as your cut the tip of the syringe as shown in our guide.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

don't know how long injection will take to work, only said take her back if "not eating in 24 hours."
have received bag of oxbow critical care at lunchtime and have given her a feed and water, offered fresh grass but would not take.
I am committed to feed her until she is stable and eating as normal.

 

[piggies04]

Unfortunately Caramel passed away.
Even with my help and the vets she slipped away wed morning.
I am so upset, I never thought that she would die.