• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Emergency URGENT: I need advice on very sick guinia pig

O

ophelia&hamlet

New Born Pup
Joined
Jun 19, 2018
Messages
7
Reaction score
9
Points
60
Location
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
I have had my guinea pig Ophelia for about 3 years now, and in this time she has had a long history of illnesses. Around Christmas time of last year my other pig Hamlet passed :(( after this happened it seems that Ophelia has gotten worse.
Very soon after his death, her eye began to get very crusty, so much so that it would cover her whole eye. We took her to the vet and when they were checking her eyes with the light, she had a seizure. After the seizure she because paralyzed in half her body.
The vet didn’t do anything to help this, he just gave in an anitibiotic in case there was an infection and a type of cream to rub on her eye to help keep it moist. He guaranteed that she would not live to January.
After that she seemed to be getting better and has lived this far, she now lives with her new sister Delilah, but now her health has gone drastically down hill. Her eye has gotten much worse than it ever was and she has lost a lot of weight. She has always been a tiny pig but now she seems so fragile. She seems to drink fine, but she doesn’t eat any more, and if she does she’ll only eat fresh grass. She also doesn’t poop at all any more. She also doesn’t care to be held either.
Often she’ll wheek so loudly every time she hears some one pass her cage and I’m so scared that she’s in constant pain :(( I just don’t want her to suffer anymore. I don’t know if she can recover from this but I really don’t want to put her down, I love her so much. But if her health declines even more I think it might be for the best. I just don’t want her to be constantly in pain anymore. Can anyone give me any advice?
 
It sounds like Ophelia has some complex medical issues and that your vet might not be veery guinea pig savvvy.
A good piggy vet can be hard to find.

If she is not eating them you need to step in urgently and start syringe feeding her, although depending on how long she has been without food it may already be too late.
Not Eating, Weight Loss Over 50g And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
She also needs to see a vet asap, to try and get to the root of the problem.

If you feel she has had enough then you also need ot be brave and make the hard decsion to end her suffering gently - it is often the greatest gift we can offer our pets.
 
Welcome to the forum,
I would recommend syringe feeding (mashed up pellets and water) and always making sure Ophelia is comfortable.
She NEEDS an emergency vet check up, go to a specialist there shouldn't be one to far from you.
 
LittleGems said:
Welcome to the forum,
I would recommend syringe feeding (mashed up pellets and water) and always making sure Ophelia is comfortable.
She NEEDS an emergency vet check up, go to a specialist there shouldn't be one to far from you.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the advice, I’ve tried syringe feeding her for the passed couple of days but I don’t know if it’s really helping, she doesn’t seem to be absorbing any of the nutrients. I plan on taking her to the emergency vet today or early tomorrow. Thanks again
 
Swissgreys said:
It sounds like Ophelia has some complex medical issues and that your vet might not be veery guinea pig savvvy.
A good piggy vet can be hard to find.

If she is not eating them you need to step in urgently and start syringe feeding her, although depending on how long she has been without food it may already be too late.
Not Eating, Weight Loss Over 50g And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
She also needs to see a vet asap, to try and get to the root of the problem.

If you feel she has had enough then you also need ot be brave and make the hard decsion to end her suffering gently - it is often the greatest gift we can offer our pets.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the advice, I’ve taken her it the vet quite a few times but they always focus on her eye and antibiotics. I’ve tried syringe feeding her for the passed few days but she absolutely hates it, is there anyway to make it easier or more comfortable for her to take?
 
ophelia&hamlet said:
I have had my guinea pig Ophelia for about 3 years now, and in this time she has had a long history of illnesses. Around Christmas time of last year my other pig Hamlet passed :(( after this happened it seems that Ophelia has gotten worse.
Very soon after his death, her eye began to get very crusty, so much so that it would cover her whole eye. We took her to the vet and when they were checking her eyes with the light, she had a seizure. After the seizure she because paralyzed in half her body.
The vet didn’t do anything to help this, he just gave in an anitibiotic in case there was an infection and a type of cream to rub on her eye to help keep it moist. He guaranteed that she would not live to January.
After that she seemed to be getting better and has lived this far, she now lives with her new sister Delilah, but now her health has gone drastically down hill. Her eye has gotten much worse than it ever was and she has lost a lot of weight. She has always been a tiny pig but now she seems so fragile. She seems to drink fine, but she doesn’t eat any more, and if she does she’ll only eat fresh grass. She also doesn’t poop at all any more. She also doesn’t care to be held either.
Often she’ll wheek so loudly every time she hears some one pass her cage and I’m so scared that she’s in constant pain :(( I just don’t want her to suffer anymore. I don’t know if she can recover from this but I really don’t want to put her down, I love her so much. But if her health declines even more I think it might be for the best. I just don’t want her to be constantly in pain anymore. Can anyone give me any advice?
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome

Are you support feeding Ophelia to help keep her weight up and to keep the guts going? Not pooping means that no food has gone in and that the guts are running on empty (considering that poo output is running 1-2 days behind the input) and are very much at risk of closing down and going into stasis.
Please step in ASAP with syringe feeding if you want to be in with a chance. Over 80% of the daily food intake is normally hay; if that doesn't happen you can do the maths yourself how many percent a few blades of grass make of the normal food intake that is necessary to keep a piggy alive. Sadly far too many people are not aware of this vital fact, nor are many vets. :(
Bloat, Gi Stasis ( No Gut Movement) And Not Eating
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
You can use mushed up pellets in an emergency as long as you cut the tip off as shown in the syringe feeding guide to allow fibre to get through. Also offer her as much water as she will take and contact your vet for gut stimulants.
Keeping the guts going and your piggy alive must be your #1 priority right now!

Fingers VERY firmly crossed!

PS: We may be able to help you more if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details so we can tailor any advice to what is available and relevant where you are. We have members and enquiries from all over the world. Please click on your username on the top bar, then go to account details and down to location. this makes it appear with every post you make and saves everybody time. Thank you!
 
Wiebke said:
Hi and welcome

Are you support feeding Ophelia to help keep her weight up and to keep the guts going? Not pooping means that no food has gone in and that the guts are running on empty (considering that poo output is running 1-2 days behind the input) and are very much at risk of closing down and going into stasis.
Please step in ASAP with syringe feeding if you want to be in with a chance. Over 80% of the daily food intake is normally hay; if that doesn't happen you can do the maths yourself how many percent a few blades of grass make of the normal food intake that is necessary to keep a piggy alive. Sadly far too many people are not aware of this vital fact, nor are many vets. :(
Bloat, Gi Stasis ( No Gut Movement) And Not Eating
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
You can use mushed up pellets in an emergency as long as you cut the tip off as shown in the syringe feeding guide to allow fibre to get through. Also offer her as much water as she will take and contact your vet for gut stimulants.
Keeping the guts going and your piggy alive must be your #1 priority right now!

Fingers VERY firmly crossed!

PS: We may be able to help you more if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details so we can tailor any advice to what is available and relevant where you are. We have members and enquiries from all over the world. Please click on your username on the top bar, then go to account details and down to location. this makes it appear with every post you make and saves everybody time. Thank you!
Click to expand...
Thank you for the response, I’m going to try my hardest to keep her in the best condition I can. Hopefully I can find a better vet ASAP to take my little pig to :(
I live in Pennsylvania in the United States. Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it :)
 
ophelia&hamlet said:
Thank you for the response, I’m going to try my hardest to keep her in the best condition I can. Hopefully I can find a better vet ASAP to take my little pig to :(
I live in Pennsylvania in the United States. Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it :)
Click to expand...

Recommended vets in your state: Veterinarians: Pennsylvania - Guinea Lynx Records

PS: Please start syringe feeding NOW! It is really THAT close to the edge!
 
Merab's Slave said:
How are things today?
Click to expand...
Hi! I took my pig to a new vet today and they were absolutely wonderful to her! I told her my worries and how she was expected to pass last Christmas but had made it this far. The vet said that it wasn’t her time yet if she had made it this far and that if we continued to help her eat she would most likely be fine and get through this! Due to her paralysis she has a harder time eating but the vet says that we’ve been helping her immensely! Syringe feeding is a must until she can build her jaw muscles back (if possible) but if I have to syringe feed my baby forever I’ll do it :) she was also prescribed some antibiotics and artificial tears for her eye. Getting this professional opinion has honestly given me so much hope for my little piggies future and I’m optimistic that she’ll make it through this! Thank you so much for your help:)
 
I'm glad you had a better experience with the new vet... having a vet who really is knowledgeable about guinea pigs makes a HUGE difference (having lost a pig myself in part because the vet was not experienced and I was too inexperienced an owner at the time to know what he didn't know, I can vouch for this.) Wishing Ophelia all the best.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top