Advice Help

[PipSqueak20]

Hello,

I’ve noticed an extended gut of my 2 year old sow Pip. I’ve felt and massaged her. However, her belly isn’t hard or hollow. She’s eating and drinking as well as going to the toilet. She is usually the first one going to the food and hay but she wasn’t today. She’s not hunched over or grunting but something is off and I just can’t put my finger on it. She’s walking around as usual. It all might be my anxiety talking but I’ve just got to ask

I am at work today, so I’ve got a family member checking in on her.

Any advice to ease my anxiety would be amazing!

 

[Claire W]

Chances are there’s nothing wrong but if you have the tiniest incline that something is amiss, a vet check during regular opening hours wouldn’t hurt.

A vet would rather see an over anxious owner where the animal is fine rather than an owner who doesn’t care with an animal who’s really poorly and been left for too long

You know your piggy the best x

 

[PipSqueak20]

Chances are there’s nothing wrong but if you have the tiniest incline that something is amiss, a vet check during regular opening hours wouldn’t hurt.

A vet would rather see an over anxious owner where the animal is fine rather than an owner who doesn’t care with an animal who’s really poorly and been left for too long

You know your piggy the best x

I will keep an eye on her this weekend and if I still feel the same way, I will take her to the vet on Monday

 

[Piggies&buns]

I would advise you switch to daily weight checks so you can more closely monitor hay intake and enable you to step in with syringe feeding. If she isn’t eating enough hay then it needs to be replaced with a recovery feed.

I hope she is ok what?

Thread 'Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment'

Mar 14, 2019

1 Statement
2 Emergency assessment and accessing vets
- How urgent is my guinea pig's problem?
- Finding an emergency vet
- Seeing a vet not familiar with guinea pigs (including lists of safe and dangerous medications)
3 First Aid care and easily available products
- General 'always have at home' stuff and comfort measures for very ill guinea pigs
- Improvising support feed; recovery formulas...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 4
• Forum: Emergency Information and Care

• 

Thread 'How to Improvise Feeding Support in an Emergency'

May 31, 2024

1 Feed
- Important crisis management resources
- When is improvising necessary?
- Which food group am I replacing with my feeding support?
- How much and how often should I feed and water?
- What can I use that I have already got at home?
- Other possible easily available foods with their pros and cons
- How do I prep a syringe for rougher pellet fibre?
- What can I do without a syringe?
- The role of lukewarm water
2 Probiotics
- Probiotic products...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Emergency Information and Care

• 
• 

Thread 'Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support'

Jun 20, 2024

1 Weight and Weight Loss
- Why regular weight monitoring matters
- How weight changes over a lifetime
- How to weigh on your kitchen scales (with video)
- The weight loss rules
- How critical is the weight loss for my piggy?
- Possible causes for weight loss
2 Body Mass Index (BMI) or 'Heft'
- Why is understanding your piggy's weight so important?
- 'Average' weight vs. individual weight - the big trip up
- How to check for the BMI...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 5
• Forum: Health & Illness Support Corner

• 

 

[PipSqueak20]

I would advise you switch to daily weight checks so you can more closely monitor hay intake and enable you to step in with syringe feeding. If she isn’t eating enough hay then it needs to be replaced with a recovery feed.

I hope she is ok what?

Thread 'Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment'

Mar 14, 2019

1 Statement
2 Emergency assessment and accessing vets
- How urgent is my guinea pig's problem?
- Finding an emergency vet
- Seeing a vet not familiar with guinea pigs (including lists of safe and dangerous medications)
3 First Aid care and easily available products
- General 'always have at home' stuff and comfort measures for very ill guinea pigs
- Improvising support feed; recovery formulas...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 4
• Forum: Emergency Information and Care

• 

Thread 'How to Improvise Feeding Support in an Emergency'

May 31, 2024

1 Feed
- Important crisis management resources
- When is improvising necessary?
- Which food group am I replacing with my feeding support?
- How much and how often should I feed and water?
- What can I use that I have already got at home?
- Other possible easily available foods with their pros and cons
- How do I prep a syringe for rougher pellet fibre?
- What can I do without a syringe?
- The role of lukewarm water
2 Probiotics
- Probiotic products...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Emergency Information and Care

• 
• 

Thread 'Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support'

Jun 20, 2024

1 Weight and Weight Loss
- Why regular weight monitoring matters
- How weight changes over a lifetime
- How to weigh on your kitchen scales (with video)
- The weight loss rules
- How critical is the weight loss for my piggy?
- Possible causes for weight loss
2 Body Mass Index (BMI) or 'Heft'
- Why is understanding your piggy's weight so important?
- 'Average' weight vs. individual weight - the big trip up
- How to check for the BMI...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 5
• Forum: Health & Illness Support Corner

• 

From what I’m seeing she is eating enough hay. She just seemed a bit off personality wise but I don’t know if it’s my anxiety talking.

 

[Piggies&buns]

From what I’m seeing she is eating enough hay. She just seemed a bit off personality wise but I don’t know if it’s my anxiety talking.

You as her owner can pick up on slight changes in behaviour which may not yet translate to diagnosable symptoms. We always say a change in behaviour is definitely something to take notice of.

Do note that hay intake cannot be gauged by eye at all - they can still be eating it but their intake has reduced and you’d never be able to tell without the daily weight checks.

 

[PipSqueak20]

You as her owner can pick up on slight changes in behaviour which may not yet translate to diagnosable symptoms. We always say a change in behaviour is definitely something to take notice of.

Do note that hay intake cannot be gauged by eye at all - they can still be eating it but their intake has reduced and you’d never be able to tell without the daily weight

You as her owner can pick up on slight changes in behaviour which may not yet translate to diagnosable symptoms. We always say a change in behaviour is definitely something to take notice of.

Do note that hay intake cannot be gauged by eye at all - they can still be eating it but their intake has reduced and you’d never be able to tell without the daily weight checks.

I check her weight frequently and she’s actually gained a little but generally her weight is always the same

 

[PipSqueak20]

You as her owner can pick up on slight changes in behaviour which may not yet translate to diagnosable symptoms. We always say a change in behaviour is definitely something to take notice of.

Do note that hay intake cannot be gauged by eye at all - they can still be eating it but their intake has reduced and you’d never be able to tell without the daily weight checks.

I weigh Pip frequently she had stayed roughly the same weight until recently where she gained a little

 

[Piggies&buns]

I weigh Pip frequently she had stayed roughly the same weight until recently where she gained a little

That’s good, but as it was only from today that she has seemed out of sorts and didn’t come out for hay this morning, then any weight loss as a result of reduced hay intake won’t start to show until tomorrow onwards so ensure she is weighed every morning until you are sure she is back to normal