Update: Post Neutering syringe feeding and lump

[Mamich]

I hope this is allowed.
I have a positive update on my boar George.

Backstory:
He got neutered last month, stopped eating and drinking. One ball was swollen (which turned out to be an infection) and he got diarrhea from one of his medication. He would also randomly squeal during the occasional bowel movement, which increased during the night but the vet still had no idea.
He was hospitalized for 4 days, after receiving IVs and 2 injections per day. When discharged he was no longer moving and just laid there. X-rays showed no issues.

I honestly thought I was going to lose him.

He continued to not eat, developed a mystery scab.

Lost 200g in weight in total.

——

Hello,

I wanted to first thank everyone for the helpful advice and encouraging words.

The vet said they didn’t know what the scab with blood was, they implied it was a bite mark from one of my other pigs (which was impossible, since they had not been together yet.) They prescribed Hypochlorite water (I think this is the correct translation) and Vaseline.

He is still being syringe fed but is eating much more enthusiastically since I blended veggies with his pellets and gave him the occasional dandelions.

He has gained 100 of the 200 he lost (since surgery) and is often seen humping his stuffed bunny (with the occasionally the ladies watching him.)
He’s gained the energy to popcorn and purr again.

He still needs some syringe feeding but I’m so happy.

Thank you everyone

 

[Wiebke]

I hope this is allowed.
I have a positive update on my boar George.

Backstory:
He got neutered last month, stopped eating and drinking. One ball was swollen (which turned out to be an infection) and he got diarrhea from one of his medication. He would also randomly squeal during the occasional bowel movement, which increased during the night but the vet still had no idea.
He was hospitalized for 4 days, after receiving IVs and 2 injections per day. When discharged he was no longer moving and just laid there. X-rays showed no issues.

I honestly thought I was going to lose him.

He continued to not eat, developed a mystery scab.

Lost 200g in weight in total.

——

Hello,

I wanted to first thank everyone for the helpful advice and encouraging words.

The vet said they didn’t know what the scab with blood was, they implied it was a bite mark from one of my other pigs (which was impossible, since they had not been together yet.) They prescribed Hypochlorite water (I think this is the correct translation) and Vaseline.

He is still being syringe fed but is eating much more enthusiastically since I blended veggies with his pellets and gave him the occasional dandelions.

He has gained 100 of the 200 he lost (since surgery) and is often seen humping his stuffed bunny (with the occasionally the ladies watching him.)
He’s gained the energy to popcorn and purr again.

He still needs some syringe feeding but I’m so happy.

Thank you everyone ❤

Hi!

Glad that your boy is recovering well. Most wounds in piggies are actually self-inflicted and a sign of pain/major discomfort.

If he is putting on weight on syringe feed, I would start to introduce solid foods again after you have fed a little syringe feed, like some veg and pellets (dry or mushed up) and then just top him up with as much syringe feed as he wants afterwards. The initial bit of syringe feed can help to trigger his feeding reflex. The more you encourage him to eat on his own, the better for his teeth but use the last bit of every feeding session to offer him as much top up syringe feed as he still needs so he has both - encouragement to eat on his own and feeding support as much as he needs during the transition phase.
Also offer plenty of hay - that is the food group he needs to eat most of.

All the best!

 

[Mamich]

Hi!

Glad that your boy is recovering well. Most wounds in piggies are actually self-inflicted and a sign of pain/major discomfort.

If he is putting on weight on syringe feed, I would start to introduce solid foods again after you have fed a little syringe feed, like some veg and pellets (dry or mushed up) and then just top him up with as much syringe feed as he wants afterwards. The initial bit of syringe feed can help to trigger his feeding reflex. The more you encourage him to eat on his own, the better for his teeth but use the last bit of every feeding session to offer him as much top up syringe feed as he still needs so he has both - encouragement to eat on his own and feeding support as much as he needs during the transition phase.
Also offer plenty of hay - that is the food group he needs to eat most of.

All the best!

Thank you!
He has started eating some pellets. A local breeder recommended a brand for guinea pigs that is mixed foods (looks almost like hamster food) but only as a “side dish.” So I tried that and he has started to eat but is more interested in jumping in and purring at the ladies.

He has always come out to eat when we humans have dinner, so lately I have put him on the towel on the table (a safe spot) and some hay in hopes he will start eating (it worked!)

I tried the mushy pellets in his food dish but he was completely uninterested and lost weight again.

I will try with syringe feeding a little and then hand feeding him some soft pellets!

 

[Merab]

Thank you for the update.
It’s lovely to hear that George is recovering well.
You have shown so much dedication and love - he’s a lucky boy.
Hope everything continues to go well.

 

[YvonneBlue]

Glad to hear that George is getting better. You are doing such a great job caring for him.