Weak Anus?! Please advise, can't sleep!

[kaz91]

Hi, everyone

This is my first post but I would really appreciate some advice, I can't sleep with worry

My almost 4 year old unneutered boar, Serj, has always been very backside heavy. The other day, I noticed he was a bit more swollen than normal and a check seemed like he was slightly impacted. Not taking any chances, we went straight to the vet who said he seemed fit and healthy and prescribed Metacam and Emeprid. Since then, he has been passing poop but when I check him he still has fully formed poops inside his perineal sac! I have been manually helping him twice a day and l really just need to hear from someone who has been here before because I am freaking out that I have done something wrong and not doing right by him.

Any tips, advice, or even a chat would be amazing as people really aren't getting why I am so upset

♡

 

[Piggies&buns]

Welcome to the forum

Impaction happens in older boars once their back end loses strength.
I will add a guide below which explains everything further

Impaction: Practical Care and Diet (with videos)

 

[AidaB]

We have helped our boy piggies clear impaction/build up of poo help to keep them comfy & everything moving. It can be quite stinky.
We quickly settled into a rhythm of how often they needed help.
One boy struggled with sperm rods, and would get impacted at the same time. Might be worth checking his bits!

Another of our boys had a bad pain near his spine, and struggled to bend over to clean himself down below. He was pescribed Metacam for life for his spine pain. We also gave him Johnson’s 4joints liquid once a day which helped him immensely, and we found ourselves having to help him with the poo backlog a lot less.


I hope sharing our experiences helps you. & your boy is ok.

 

[weepweeps]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Just to clarify - he’s on pain meds and emeprid because he’s swollen? Where exactly is the swelling. For normal impaction you don’t need any medication. So the vet thinks there is something wrong “down there”?

I’ve had an old boar with impaction. I had to help him daily clear it out. Oh my goodness, the smell . Does your boy have a large round ball of poop or is it just normal shaped poops?

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum.
I don’t have any experience to share but you are held in my thoughts

 

[CTWC]

Morning I hope Serj can soon feel better and this can be resolved easily

 

[kaz91]

We have helped our boy piggies clear impaction/build up of poo help to keep them comfy & everything moving. It can be quite stinky.
We quickly settled into a rhythm of how often they needed help.
One boy struggled with sperm rods, and would get impacted at the same time. Might be worth checking his bits!

Another of our boys had a bad pain near his spine, and struggled to bend over to clean himself down below. He was pescribed Metacam for life for his spine pain. We also gave him Johnson’s 4joints liquid once a day which helped him immensely, and we found ourselves having to help him with the poo backlog a lot less.


I hope sharing our experiences helps you. & your boy is ok.

Your poor babies how do you find it giving the medication? Serj is a sassy wee guy and the last thing I want to do is stress him out.

I hadn't even considered impacted sperm rods, but I see how that could be connected - thank you so much. I am checking on him almost constantly, the vet said he was perfectly healthy and guts moving fine. It is just the exit we are having trouble with.

 

[kaz91]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Just to clarify - he’s on pain meds and emeprid because he’s swollen? Where exactly is the swelling. For normal impaction you don’t need any medication. So the vet thinks there is something wrong “down there”?

I’ve had an old boar with impaction. I had to help him daily clear it out. Oh my goodness, the smell . Does your boy have a large round ball of poop or is it just normal shaped poops?

Hi, sorry - I was in a bit of a state when I wrote this and maybe wasn't clear Serj has always has very big testes so it was really hard to know if it was swollen. It was only when I noticed some poop poking out and not moving that I got him and noticed it was hard and ball-like. The vet extracted it and prescribed the meds but we aren't seeing any improvement. I am manually 'emptying' him (for want of a better term!) every 8-12 hours or so. If we wait any longer, it turns into a ball and I don't want to hurt him.

Can I ask how old your boar was when you were doing this? My boy doesn't turn 4 till April so didn't think that really was an expected age!

 

[kaz91]

Welcome to the forum.
I don’t have any experience to share but you are held in my thoughts

Thank you and I do apologise for my late reply, I didn't have push notifications on and pretty sure I have just spent 2 weeks staring at Serj. He is eating, drinking and running around as usual

 

[kaz91]

Morning I hope Serj can soon feel better and this can be resolved easily

Thank you so much my boys are my first and mean the world to me

 

[weepweeps]

Hi, sorry - I was in a bit of a state when I wrote this and maybe wasn't clear Serj has always has very big testes so it was really hard to know if it was swollen. It was only when I noticed some poop poking out and not moving that I got him and noticed it was hard and ball-like. The vet extracted it and prescribed the meds but we aren't seeing any improvement. I am manually 'emptying' him (for want of a better term!) every 8-12 hours or so. If we wait any longer, it turns into a ball and I don't want to hurt him.

Can I ask how old your boar was when you were doing this? My boy doesn't turn 4 till April so didn't think that really was an expected age!

Hello. His name was Biscuit and he had very large testicles too . Maybe that has something to do with it but who knows for sure. Anyway he was about 6ish when he got it. His impaction ball could get quite large but it really didn’t bother him when it was “expressed”. Sometimes the sac would be inside out and I’d have to poke it back in. It’s a disgusting smelly job (but I did find it weirdly fun to do).

I hope Serj is ok.

Have you watched the impaction video on here? I’ll see if I can find it.

 

[weepweeps]

Here it is

Impaction: Practical Care and Diet (with videos)

 

[kaz91]

Here it is

Impaction: Practical Care and Diet (with videos)

Thank you!

 

[kaz91]

Hello. His name was Biscuit and he had very large testicles too . Maybe that has something to do with it but who knows for sure. Anyway he was about 6ish when he got it. His impaction ball could get quite large but it really didn’t bother him when it was “expressed”. Sometimes the sac would be inside out and I’d have to poke it back in. It’s a disgusting smelly job (but I did find it weirdly fun to do).

I hope Serj is ok.

Have you watched the impaction video on here? I’ll see if I can find it.

Thank you so much I am so glad someone can relate when he hit puberty I called the vet because I was worried it was abnormal only to be told he was 'blessed' looked like he had a wee train behind him!

The video was so helpful, thank you. Serj just seems so young and I am panicking it is something I have done. He only has 1 other cage mate and they have been bonded since birth, they have massive mounds of timothy and meadow hay in 16ftsq enclosure indoors and I only buy their food from Excel. They get peppers once a day and everything else in moderation. I know I am going over everything with a toothcomb but I can't get out of my head I have messed up

 

[weepweeps]

You have definitely not messed up. It sounds like a wonderful 5 home with you. Biscuit lived along side a friend not actually with him.

Glad I could help.

 

[AidaB]

Your poor babies how do you find it giving the medication? Serj is a sassy wee guy and the last thing I want to do is stress him out.

I hadn't even considered impacted sperm rods, but I see how that could be connected - thank you so much. I am checking on him almost constantly, the vet said he was perfectly healthy and guts moving fine. It is just the exit we are having trouble with.

The boys who we helped with poo issues, both enjoyed taking the medication. The 4joints is a supplement & Hamish loved it, so we could offer him the syringe while he was at home. Likewise with the metacam- (pain & inflammation medication- he had for his back pain)he was very happy to take it, you could almost say he was addicted!

Has the vet suggested anything to help?

Sounds like you have settled into a routine that’s working for you both.

 

[kaz91]

Thanks so much, everyone took Serj to the vet again yesterday as I am concerned his left testicle is a bit bigger than usual and wanted to check on his situation. Was really sad to hear this may just be something we need to do for the rest of his life vet wants to get him as well as we can before investigating the lump as it doesn't seem to be bothering or hurting him. He is still eating, drinking and moving around as usual.

Main issue now is the medication he is on Metacam once a day, and Emeprid & Lactulose Solution twice a day till next Wednesday when we have another appointment. Problem is - the wee bundle of fluff is intent he doesn't want it and has taking to spitting it out - usually on me. Have tried mixing with a little bit of pineapple and apple juices (vet recommended), sneaking up from behind, sticking it through a bit of pepper, pretending his brother is having it too, going fast, going slow...any tips before going down the baby bird feeding route?

Pic attached of Serj with his timothy hay witches broom at Halloween to put a face to the name

K xx

 

[weepweeps]

No advice on getting the medication in sorry.

He’s a gorgeous boy

 

[Ramia]

They usually like metacam.

Are you putting the syringe between the front tooth and molars?

 

[kaz91]

Thanks, Ramia. I was told that as it is quite sweet he will like it - his brother took it no problem!

Yes, between front teeth and molars but he is squirming and spitting out all 3 medications. I am very cautious of stressing him out and really don't want him to associate being taken out as a 'bad thing'. Is there another way for it to be taken?

 

[weepweeps]

Try taking him to another room. It might just scare him a bit to keep still.

 

[weepweeps]

Or try standing up with him so he’s not in a comfortable position

 

[Ramia]

I keep Stripe in his snuggle sack when I give him his metacam. He feels secure there.

 

[AidaB]

What a handsome piggie Serj is.

I hope you manage to get him to take his medicine ok.

We just accept that our reluctant guinea pigs will dislike us while they have to take medicine, no sneaking, no diluting. Just hold them on a lap, medicine syringes pre loaded and ready to go. and pop it in usually Metacam first, followed by the yucky tasting meds, then a veg or pellet treat.

 

[kaz91]

Or try standing up with him so he’s not in a comfortable position

I will absolutely try this, thank you he has been sulking so I am really hoping tonight's medicine time goes better

 

[kaz91]

I keep Stripe in his snuggle sack when I give him his metacam. He feels secure there.

A snuggle sack is a great idea both boys have multiple baskets, blankets, burrows but the sack keeps him a wee bit more compact

 

[kaz91]

What a handsome piggie Serj is.

I hope you manage to get him to take his medicine ok.

We just accept that our reluctant guinea pigs will dislike us while they have to take medicine, no sneaking, no diluting. Just hold them on a lap, medicine syringes pre loaded and ready to go. and pop it in usually Metacam first, followed by the yucky tasting meds, then a veg or pellet treat.

And doesn't he know it, Aida thank you, he really is striking especially in the sun!

Acceptance seems to be something I need to grapple with this year - I was convinced there was something I was doing wrong and all would be fixed but guess it is just part of having guineas. Was even looking up guinea pig stoma bags at one point

Do you skoosh it in fast to get it over with or take your time? Really don't know what is best

 

[weepweeps]

I wouldn’t do it too fast in case it goes down the wrong way.

Pebble has 0.13ml of gut meds. I do this quite quick as it’s only a small amount. Then he’s got 0.5 pain meds so I do this slowly as it’s quite a bit.

Do you mean accepting the impaction? You’ll soon get used to doing it.

 

[kaz91]

I wouldn’t do it too fast in case it goes down the wrong way.

Pebble has 0.13ml of gut meds. I do this quite quick as it’s only a small amount. Then he’s got 0.5 pain meds so I do this slowly as it’s quite a bit.

Do you mean accepting the impaction? You’ll soon get used to doing it.

I have just been reading the syringe feeding post, so helpful. Serj has 1ml of Emeprid, 1ml of Lactulose Solution and 0.27 of Metacam so feels like a lot of liquid, especially when he is dead set against it.

Honestly, yes. I'm so glad I have found this forum because people are so dismissive but these boys are the loves of my life . I looked into it so much and kept a diary of every single thing I was doing because he just seems so young for this. I think I could have avoided this for him by getting the boys snipped when they were young but I read so much about guineas under anesthetic that I talked myself out of it. Not fussed about what I have to do - just want them to be safe, healthy and happy. We have got into a good routine and I can do it much faster without annoying him too much - it is just this medication we need to tackle now!

Here is Serj and his brother, Chester - like chalk and cheese but wouldn't have them any other way

 

[AidaB]

And doesn't he know it, Aida thank you, he really is striking especially in the sun!

Acceptance seems to be something I need to grapple with this year - I was convinced there was something I was doing wrong and all would be fixed but guess it is just part of having guineas. Was even looking up guinea pig stoma bags at one point

Do you skoosh it in fast to get it over with or take your time? Really don't know what is best

I agree with @weepweeps , I just judge it on how much medicine is in the syringe. Not too fast, but no messing about. Guinea pigs can be a little like toddlers in attitude!

Sounds like you are making a good routine around the have too things, then you can enjoy the fun moments, once meds etc are all finished.