Emergency 7 month old guinea pig - pain and weight loss

[alpacasqueak]

I've called them and asked for our usual vet to call back and I've been added to her list of callbacks so hopefully I'll hear from her when she has a spare moment. I tried to book an appointment with her but she's fully booked until almost August so I'm hoping if I speak to her on the phone she might be able to squeeze Holly in somewhere before then

Hope you can speak to her and get squeezed in

 

[alpacasqueak]

Any joy getting Holly an appointment with your vet @Lazw? Hope she’s doing ok x

 

[Lazw]

Any joy getting Holly an appointment with your vet @Lazw? Hope she’s doing ok x

Hi there, so she's just been to the vets as she's continued to lose weight despite critical care and eating everything I give her, vet mentioned it could possibly be a metabolic disorder of some kind as her symptoms are really non specific . I've been told to switch from cc to emeraid as its higher calorie so I've just ordered some and it'll arrive tomorrow. I'm Waiting for a call back from our usual vet today but I do know she's in surgery most of the day. Still no closer to figuring out what's going on and vet did mention that some of the blood tests available for cats and dogs which can identify thyroid and other metabolic issues aren't suitable for piggies, so they may have to interpret the results themselves. Hopefully our vet can call me today. Thanks for asking I appreciate it x

 

[alpacasqueak]

Hi there, so she's just been to the vets as she's continued to lose weight despite critical care and eating everything I give her, vet mentioned it could possibly be a metabolic disorder of some kind as her symptoms are really non specific . I've been told to switch from cc to emeraid as its higher calorie so I've just ordered some and it'll arrive tomorrow. I'm Waiting for a call back from our usual vet today but I do know she's in surgery most of the day. Still no closer to figuring out what's going on and vet did mention that some of the blood tests available for cats and dogs which can identify thyroid and other metabolic issues aren't suitable for piggies, so they may have to interpret the results themselves. Hopefully our vet can call me today. Thanks for asking I appreciate it x

Sorry she’s still losing weight bless her. I’ve never used emeraid before but have heard lots of good things, you can feed less of it due to the extra calories so maybe only 40ml rather than trying to get 90/100 into her. I really hope you can get some answers from the tests and your vet
Hope she’s doing ok and you’re not too knackered! x

 

[Lazw]

Sorry she’s still losing weight bless her. I’ve never used emeraid before but have heard lots of good things, you can feed less of it due to the extra calories so maybe only 40ml rather than trying to get 90/100 into her. I really hope you can get some answers from the tests and your vet
Hope she’s doing ok and you’re not too knackered! x

Thank you-I am stressed with not knowing what's going on for her. Even if it's not good news, I'd rather know at this point so we know what we're dealing with. They're both with me in the office today whilst I'm training and she's eating away and looks happy, just skinny . She's 672g so she's lost 100g now since all this started.

 

[alpacasqueak]

Thank you-I am stressed with not knowing what's going on for her. Even if it's not good news, I'd rather know at this point so we know what we're dealing with. They're both with me in the office today whilst I'm training and she's eating away and looks happy, just skinny . She's 672g so she's lost 100g now since all this started.

I can imagine, it’s blooming stressful caring for poorly piggies anyway, but especially when you don’t know what you’re fighting.
I’m glad she’s looking happy and eating though! Definitely better than puffed up and quiet!
Hopefully she’ll start piling on some grams soon and get some piggy podge back bless her! Hope you all have a good day at the office and you hear back from the vets soon x

 

[Lazw]

I can imagine, it’s blooming stressful caring for poorly piggies anyway, but especially when you don’t know what you’re fighting.
I’m glad she’s looking happy and eating though! Definitely better than puffed up and quiet!
Hopefully she’ll start piling on some grams soon and get some piggy podge back bless her! Hope you all have a good day at the office and you hear back from the vets soon x

 

[Lazw]

Here they are in the office, they don't travel light but they are both very relaxed xx

 

[alpacasqueak]

Here they are in the office, they don't travel light but they are both very relaxed xx

Haha aah looks like a fun day out! Even if poor you sprains something carrying all that around! Hope you all have a good day x

 

[Black piggies]

Poor you doing critical care for so long and poor Piggy. Emeraid is like condensed milk, it looks really calorific, hope it helps

 

[Lazw]

Poor you doing critical care for so long and poor Piggy. Emeraid is like condensed milk, it looks really calorific, hope it helps

Thanks, I really hope it is as I think that's what we need at this point. Shes so bony now x

 

[Black piggies]

I recently adopted 2 piggies, they'd been at the rescue for 10 months getting great care, one of them is tiny and a bag of bones and the rescue woman said she was like that when handed in, and apparently always been like that. She's 5 now. She's only 670g adult size. She eats and is lively, she rumble struts my other piggy through the divider and then popcorns like ha ha that told you, a real character. The rescue lady thought she might have a genetic absorption issue, she had a sister the same apparently. She definitely eats. I have no idea what's up with Holly, just throwing that in there.

 

[Lazw]

I recently adopted 2 piggies, they'd been at the rescue for 10 months getting great care, one of them is tiny and a bag of bones and the rescue woman said she was like that when handed in, and apparently always been like that. She's 5 now. She's only 670g adult size. She eats and is lively, she rumble struts my other piggy through the divider and then popcorns like ha ha that told you, a real character. The rescue lady thought she might have a genetic absorption issue, she had a sister the same apparently. She definitely eats. I have no idea what's up with Holly, just throwing that in there.

Thanks for sharing this, and this does give me hope that your girl is 5 and still doing well despite her size! I've got her with me all day today and I have noticed she sits puffed up when she is still but then once she's up and about this disappears. I do think it's improved but I hope this isn't a sign she's in pain x

 

[Black piggies]

It'd be great if she's recovering from pain. Could you see if she's different on and off a good amount of pain meds, to see if in pain?

 

[Lazw]

It'd be great if she's recovering from pain. Could you see if she's different on and off a good amount of pain meds, to see if in pain?

I've got metacam I could give her, however she was on that all last week and to me she didn't look any different! I may try it for a couple of days though and see if I notice a difference this time round.

 

[Lazw]

I've got metacam I could give her, however she was on that all last week and to me she didn't look any different! I may try it for a couple of days though and see if I notice a difference this time round.

Is metacam OK to give fairly regularly? She's been on it a lot recently!

 

[Black piggies]

I think there's a trade off with very long term use, but a week or so here and there I don't think is considered a danger. I've never had a young piggy on it. Perhaps a question next time speak to vet. But even one dose can make a piggy in pain perk up so then you know they were in pain.