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Urgent help please possible bloat?

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JayneG

JayneG

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Hi all, I've just woken up and can hear my boys tummy gurgling. On checking him his tummy is swollen. He was out on grass today so maybe too much has caused bloat. I've bottle fed him some probiotic and he's eaten some hay. I have some metacam but not sure how much to give him. Going to vets first thing but if anyone is around now and can advise me further I'd really appreciate it.
 
I guess you just make him as comfy as possible. I don't put my pigs on the lawn because the temperature is always really hot here. And get that piggie to the vet as you said. Straight tomarrow or tonight?
 
Bloat or not? Seems to have settled a bit?

Well he doesn't seem as bloated now and the stomach sounds have stopped. Still going to pop him to the vet tho. I did leave him out a bit long on the grass and I feel awful now. Can bloat calm down by itself. Maybe the probiotic helped do you think? Hardly slept since I heard it this morning for worry!
 
The gurgling sound is his guts struggling is he passing pellets and eating? He needs a gut stimulant from the vet.
 
Thank you Flintstones. I will ask for that. He seems more normal now but I haven't seen many poops. I guess he shouldn't have any fresh veg until he's seen the vet. Going this morning, fingers crossed.
 
Oh no....
No fresh veg... Only pellets and hay...
If you can syringe feed him that would be good... Just keeps the guts moving...

If you can pop to holland and barrats today and buy 'activated charcoal' capsules they are great to have in just incase....
You sprinkle them on food or make it in to a mixture and syringe some in.... And it works wonders on bloat or the runs.... It will releive gases from tge guts.....

Grass this time of year is very rich and it can take a while for them to get used to it...
Hope he's okay...
x
 
Thank you Clare. I'm just waiting for the vet nurse to call me back as she says they're chocca today :-(

I've just checked him again and he's done 3 poos and a wee so that's better right? Ok no veg breakfast this morning then. He's eating hay and has been drinking the water with probiotic in.

I've asked the nurse to ask if he needs a stimulant but if he's pooping again ok now perhaps he doesn't need that?

I'll go to H&B. I have some spare syringes so I can crush up a tablet and get some charcoal into him.

Thank you very much!
 
Please speak to you vet/vet nurse BEFORE administering any medication/treatment. Where one treatment may work for one pig it may not be suitable for yours so always get qualified advice beforehand.

Suzy x
 
Please take him straight to a vet, I lost my Poppy last June to bloat, it developed from 8am, she was getting emergency help within an hour, it developed into gut torsion & despite my quick actions I still lost her 8... It is a life threatening thing & even if he looks better he could go downhill very fast.

Good luck at the vets, be persistent & tell them it's very urgent :(
 
We got in and he's been given an anti-inflammatory injection. Have to take him back tomorrow. Fingers crossed. Thank you everyone
 
Thanks for the update, keep a very close eye on him and monitor his poo output. One of our girls is on Metoclopramide for long term bloat and she has improved no end since having it. Although we can't find out any specific food that is causing it.

Gently massaging their tummy when they feel a little bloated also helps dislodge the gas. Lots of healing vibes his way
 
Hi all, well the injection hasn't worked. I've been syringe feeding and clearing his bottom, massaging his tummy and my poor boy is still bloated. He does seem a bit brighter this morning and is munching hay and drinking. We're off to vet at 10 and I'm dreading what he might say.

Does anyone have any more suggestions please? Thank you all so much for your help so far.
 
No I mentioned that to the vet yesterday. Can you tell me what to ask for? I'm going this morning. He definitely needs some more help.

The other thing the vet mentioned was putting needles in to get the air out but obviously that is dangerous :-(
 
Thanks. Had already left but we've seen the vet and he's given him an injection of Metaclopromide which is what he should have had yesterday I guess. The vet did a better job at massaging his tummy and got some really gunky grassy poo out which hopefully means we're getting his tummy on the move now and hopefully the stimulant will ensure that. Fingers crossed!
 
I'm to phone with an update tomorrow and if things aren't better go in. He mentioned an anal supository next if he has to, but this is very delicate. He's such a nice vet. I recently changed vets as I wasn't very happy with my last one who never seemed very interested or clued up on GPs. This one has far more experience and so good with my boy.

Toffee is a bit quiet at the moment, but he was yesterday after the other jab. He sort of sulks afterwards and I don't blame him. I'm just hoping this helps do the trick today. I'll carry on syringe feeding a little but he's eating hay and at the nugget bowl now had some cucumber and celery earlier. I'll also keep massaging his tummy and checking his bottom in case he needs help to clear it out and keep him going. Poor little lamb.

Thank you again :-)
 
If you have a vibrating massage mat it is worth sitting him on that for a while during the day, or pop him in his carrier & take him for a car ride as I've heard both those things help to dislodge the gas.
 
Hi all, should I be seeing any improvement in his bowel movement by now? He got his shot of metaclopromide at this morning. His appetite is waining a little. Not eating hay now which he usually loves. Has eaten a nugget or two, a little veg and I'm still syringe feeding a little.
 
If he is going off his food you need to start syringe feeding him, providing he has no gut obstruction. I think you are best to ring the out of hours vet for advice though because if they stop eating they can go downhill very fast. Is he pooing normally?
 
Update

Hi everyone. I wanted to update you and see what you thought.

Toffee had a metoclopromide injection day before yesterday and at first was quiet and withdrawn, not much appetite, then later perked up no end. I'm syringe feeding and we got a couple of pellet shaped poos out also, so I thought he may be on the mend.

He seemed perky this morning. The vet had said to try him with some fresh veg to keep his appetite up so I gave him a small amount, then later syringe fed him. He's got a mucky bum (no pellet shape whatsoever), it's mushy. The vet has said to keep going with what I'm doing to keep his guts moving and that it will probably take a while to get back to normal.

He didn't seem as bloated this morning, but now I look at him, it seems like since I've fed him, he appears a little more bloated. He doesn't like being syringe fed so is a bit sulky now bless him. He's eating hay.

I'm wondering whether to go and get him some timothy hay to entice him to eat. Any advice appreciated as always.
 
If you are at all worried, I think it would be better to have another vet trip rather than guessing what it could be and possibly wasting valuable time getting it wrong. Is your vet cavy savvy? Many aren't but someone in London could probably recommend a suitable one if you need it. Mine is a bit far away...

You obviously care for your piggies so good luck! :)
 
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Thanks Katie. We're actually just back from there. He's a really good vet yes. He's happy that I continue doing what I'm doing, syringe feeding and checking that Toffee eats hay/drinks. His gut is obviously moving but just not normally yet he says so I need to persevere and be patient. I'm not the patient type I guess, I just want him to be well! I'm always glad of advice from here as well as it's just invaluable.
 
Hi Jayne

Good to hear he is improving. I give both timothy and a finer meadow hay as I have found sick piggies may have a preference for one or the other.

Over the years I have had several piggies develop "gut" episodes - be it bloat, stasis, mushy poos.........and in each case my vet prescribes cisapride (an alternative to metoclopromide) together with zan-tac (both are gut stimulants but work on different areas of the gut) twice daily for up to a week, with unlimited hay, syringe feeding and fresh grass - but no veggies.

Two of my pigs have proved to be very sensitive to leafy greens and are not allowed veggies at all any more. They mainly get lots of special hays and readigrass with the occasional fresh grass, dandelions and the odd tiny piece of carrot or cucumber thrown in.

Given his poos are not very well formed, I personally would withdraw veggies at the moment, especially leafy greens as they could be contibuting to the bloat/squishy poos. You obviously need to ensure enough food is taken in so continuing the mushed pellets/sringe feeding is still an important factor to aid recovery. If you concentrate on this together with the gut stimulants/unlimited hay and the odd bit of fresh grass then this may help normalise the gut more quickly. Aslo fibreplex or other probiotic is useful (I use the protexin profibre pellets and mix them into the mushed pellets or syringe feeding)

HTH
x
 
Thanks Poppy. This is the first time I've experienced this in one of my piggies so I'm anxious to get him well again.

I've given no further veg so will continue to leave that out. I think I was mixing his syringe feed with too much water also and after reading a link on this I feel I've got it right now. His poos this evening are ever so slightly firmer.

I'm using bio lapis currently in his water. I'm going to pop out in the morning and get him some special hay. Many thanks for your advice!:)
 
I have heard with little orphan piggies you rub their bums so they will poo. Maybe this will help? I am not so good with bloats as I do not put my piggies on the lawn, someone else's opinion before anyone tries?
 
Thanks gpmomma, yes this does help. In fact, I was syringe feeding earlier and giving his tummy a little rub and was rewarded with some lumpy poo. I've never been so excited to see some!
 
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