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Underweight Guinea

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Tinman

Tinman

Junior Guinea Pig
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Had an emergency last night where Rodders my gp pretty much died in my hands. I even had to do mouth to nose on the way to the vets to keep him going! (see thread http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/new-female-dominating-old-male.114700/ )Anyway, he is home again and pretty chirpy considering, but he is underweight and I cant figure out why. He is eating and has been since the few weeks ago we noticed ourselves he was underweight but didnt realise how much.
I have been watching him as much as I can since we noticed it and his appetite seems fine so I cant understand why the weight is going back on. We need to bulk him up a bit as he is going under a general anaesthetic soon so want him as strong as possible.
 
I am wondering about a heart condition especially as he collapsed last night. I am glad he is back home though. Has your vet mentioned the possibility?

Symptoms of a heart condition include:

Weight loss and failure to thrive
Recurring upper or lower respiratory infections
Laboured breathing
Head nodding in unison with breathing
Rapid breathing
Hooting sometimes followed by a cough
Coughing when eating
Fluid on the chest or around the heart
Excessive salivation without any sign of dental issues
Fatty eye
Bumblefoot
Abdominal bloating

Have you noticed any of these in your boy?

Please note though that if a heart condition is diagnosed then it is not advisable to put him under a GA. What is he having it for?
 
His breathing seems fine other than last night and no coughing from what I have heard. They have ground all his incisors down today as they said they were long, I'm hoping its just that but suspect it could be kidney problems from what weibke said on the other forum. The wife said one of her old guineas had a messy bottom before he died of kidney problems and she said Rodney had that when she picked him up today. I guess we will find out next week if he makes it that long when they investigate further. Doesnt look good though I must admit. Guinea pigs certainly have more than their fair share of problems dont they!
 
They certainly do. Weight loss is indeed a sign of renal failure and leaking urine can be too.

If you notice any of the other signs of a heart condition though please mention it to your vet. Dental issues and renal failure do not explain him collapsing really. A heart pig chooses to breathe rather than eat and so lose weight and if they are not eating then the teeth start to overgrow.
 
Did they just do his incisors? Incisors being not aligned or overlong is a sign of the cheek (molar) teeth being overgrown or misaligned. If he is suffering from dental disease he will be trying to eat and not eating well, hence weight loss. (you will see him eating but he will struggle and not eat as much as you think).Not diregarding any of the other thoughts, but please make sure your vet has checked all the teeth out before considering other things. Kidney problems can be ruled out by a blood test, which would need to be done under a very quick gas down aneasthesia. And to check for heart problems he would probably need an xray and or ultrasound of his heart.

Hope you get some answers.
x.
 
Thanks, I'm not sure about teeth but from what the other half says it was just his incisors from what she was told. If they dont find any problems when he is under (here's hoping!) then I think I might take him to that simon guy mentioned in another thread as I only live 10miles from Northampton so he can check his teeth.
 
It may be worth taking him to Simon first of all as he may not need to go under at all then. I am not sure it is a good idea for a pig that recently collapsed to go under an anaesthetic unless absolutely necessary.
 
Unfortunately apparently Simon is away this weekend and I want Rodney seen to asap. He seems fine in himself. His eating is a bit hit and miss it seems. He wont eat his pepper, but neither is Cass in the other cage so not sure whats going on there. He is eating carrot, hay, grass, nuggetts and coriander (he loves that) but only on and off. I am also giving him some critical care although he doesnt like much. Funny enough he puts up so much of a struggle if I syringe feed him its impossible, put it on a spoon however and he licks it off with a vengeance! Trouble with this method is he only has a small amount as he gets bored I think.
Him and Cass seem to be getting on through the bars quite well, touching noses etc, she certainly seems more keen to get back though and chatters alot, something we are not used to as Del (RIP) and Rodney were never big "talkers" so is quite funny to hear.
Anyway, keep your fingers crossed (again!) for tues when he goes in. If after that he is still with us but needs more care I am going to book him in with Simon to give his opinion. I think one of the vets at our practice is good, some others not so, so its luck of the draw really who it is. I say this because the good one said his teeth should never be clipped as they can splinter and cause an abcess, but one of them did this before and I think maybe the other day when he stayed in they did as it says clipped teeth on the reciept.
 
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