Curtis Cavies
Junior Guinea Pig
I have a poorly piggie. She has been visiting the vet for at least 6 weeks now. It began as suspected respiratory illness, rapid loss of weight to skin and bone in about a week, despite critical care. Was suspected that I may have an endemic illness in my clan as fourth pig to go down with similar circumstances in last two years. I've changed bedding, cleaning routines, everything. No stone left unturned. On X-rays of previous piggie there have been enlarged hearts and black cavities where the lungs should show up. This little lady however was so thin we couldn't risk X-rays to start with until she gained weight. Vet advised adding porridge oats or baby porridge to critical care mix and it worked. Her X-rays then surprisingly showed a normal heart (relief) and her lungs were showing illness but not as drastic as we first suspected. She has been up and down weight wise though. Can't seem to keep it on and gain any. To cap it all, the wee thing now has diarrhoea a lost constantly. Every time I check on her she seems to be sat in large quantities of it. It's constantly stuck to her feet and underbelly. She's thoroughly fed up with me washing it gently off and drying her!
Suggestions please as to what I can try to help her? Does she need preboitics and Probiotics and if so what do I give from what source and where do I get it? She's only been touching little or no hay, worryingly, the regular food I use is Nature's Touch and there is never a scrap of it left or wasted with all 17 of my piggies. She is currently only foraging through this and eating some of it and she has constant access to water, critical care which she adores warm, and excel dual care. I have given fresh tomatoes and curly kale and tiny amounts of carrot and tops and beetroot and tops, some cauliflower an cabbage leaf but tiny amounts to help keep her teeth in good shape with her not touching much if any hay. Also readigrass. I am avoiding softer fresh greens such as spinach, corriander, parsley, etc. She tries to nibble her celeriac and Fennell. I don't know what I should be giving and should be avoiding. She is only on metacam now, last two weeks, and back at vet on Tuesday. She always want her food but when I go Say hello to them all, she is sat in her quarantine cage, all alone, and looking so miserable and her eyes are beginning to look dull, as I imagine I would feel if I had constant diarrhoea.
Please, can anyone offer me advice and help?
Suggestions please as to what I can try to help her? Does she need preboitics and Probiotics and if so what do I give from what source and where do I get it? She's only been touching little or no hay, worryingly, the regular food I use is Nature's Touch and there is never a scrap of it left or wasted with all 17 of my piggies. She is currently only foraging through this and eating some of it and she has constant access to water, critical care which she adores warm, and excel dual care. I have given fresh tomatoes and curly kale and tiny amounts of carrot and tops and beetroot and tops, some cauliflower an cabbage leaf but tiny amounts to help keep her teeth in good shape with her not touching much if any hay. Also readigrass. I am avoiding softer fresh greens such as spinach, corriander, parsley, etc. She tries to nibble her celeriac and Fennell. I don't know what I should be giving and should be avoiding. She is only on metacam now, last two weeks, and back at vet on Tuesday. She always want her food but when I go Say hello to them all, she is sat in her quarantine cage, all alone, and looking so miserable and her eyes are beginning to look dull, as I imagine I would feel if I had constant diarrhoea.
Please, can anyone offer me advice and help?
