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Bloat - Feeling Like My Furbabies Are Cursed...

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Mishka

Mishka

Junior Guinea Pig
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God... So after losing Mab only a couple of weeks ago, I now have another sick pig... Last night around 3am our Pompom was making odd little grunty noises while she was eating some hay that woke me up. The bf fished her out of her cage and her sides were SO distended, it was horrifying. I gave them a tap and they sounded hollow and I instantly knew we were in real danger.

Fortunately I had some metoclopramide in the fridge, so I made the executive decision to go ahead and dose her myself. The vet wasn't going to be open for 5 hours and though I've never had an episode of bloat with my babies, I know how serious it is and I was willing to take the chance. I also massaged her belly with a massager thing I have for my back issues for half an hour, fed her a few slithers of pepper which she practically tore out of my hand, and then put her back. She shuttled around eating and drinking, so I risked getting a couple more hours sleep.

8am I shot straight down tot he vet with her. Her sides had shrunk some and softened some, and the vet reckoned that making the decision to give her the metoclopramide probably saved her life. She gave her a metacam injection, prescribed some Zantac syrup as well and said I should continue massaging regularly. So we came back home, I dosed the poor baby up to the eyeballs, and have been regularly getting her out for belly rubs, sessions with my back massager and her meds.

She's still eating and drinking on her own and this evening the metoclopramide really seems to have kicked in as she's pooping LOADS and they are healthy looking poops. So there's that. But her sides are still quite swollen and don't sound great when I tap them... They're not as big or as hard, and they have gotten a little smaller I think since this morning, they've certainly not got bigger. But it is all very frightening.

I guess I am looking for opinions on her chances, her potential recovery time if she is going to make it, just... Just someone who's gone through this and might have some input for me. I have never had to deal with bloat before and went totally on instinct last night. Luckily they seem to have been the right instincts. But I know how quickly this can turn really nasty as well... I don't want to get my hopes up. I'm just so, so done with burying pigs, I've lost two in the last 4 months in horrendous circumstances of illnesses. I need a win....
 
Hi Mishka,

Your quite right Bloat can be potentially fatal. Having rallied many a pig though it I have also lost a pig to Bloat after an operation he was extremely compromised.

The fact your piggy is eating, moving around and producing poo's is all very good signs. My pig's have always made a full recovery at this stage. Keep up the gut stimulants, I also remove vegetables as this can exasperate Bloat.

The one who didn't make it, was unable to move or eat. His breathing was louder than normal and he was very hunched.
 
You did absolutely the right thing for Pompom. I keep metcloporamide, Zantac and gripe water in my emergency kit for just these occasions as my Connie is prone to bloat and we've learned that speed is of the essence. Keep up,with the gut stimulants. No fruit/veg. Plenty of hay and pellets and some paper/cardboard for shredding/extra fibre. If you can get some Woodwards gripe water that can help shift gas and they like the taste.

Connie had an attack about 3 weeks ago and recovered well enough to give herself a hay poke so we've hardly been away from the vets! Connie has survived several attacks of bloat. We've identified certain key triggers for her. She no longer has broccoli as that is a trigger for her, she has limited grass time, and unfortunately the cause of the last attack was unidentified. However we've got better at spotting it and speedy treatment is the key.

Healing vibes to Pompom
 
My word, how lucky you knew what to do! Get well soon little piggy.

Metaclopromide and zantac in what form? And gripe water, the dill extract stuff you give babies?
 
Tigermoth said:
My word, how lucky you knew what to do! Get well soon little piggy.

Metaclopromide and zantac in what form? And gripe water, the dill extract stuff you give babies?
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The first 2 are in liquid form from the vets and yes, the very same Gripe Water you buy from the chemist/Tesco, wherever! Gripe water and massage at the first sign of a problem can really help.
 
I agree with Vicki A - regular gentle massaging and vibrating can help (you can use a cheap electric toothbrush for the vibrating bit).

Gripe water from the baby section in any UK supermarket can help to disperse the gas bubbles; you can give about 0.3 ml every 3-4 hours alongside the anti-bloating medication zantac/rantidine and the gut stimulant metoclopramide. Good that you have seen a vet promptly!

Serious bloat is sadly still a major killer, as it can come back. :(
Keep at it!
 
It doesn't work in all cases, but I have found that it has made a difference with a number of bloated piggies of mine. And with serious bloat, you really need to throw the kitchen sink at it.
 
I really really hope PomPom gets well soon. Sending tons of healing vibes!
 
Thanks so much guys. Pompom is doing well at the moment, I think she's even learning to like the vibration sessions! She's pooping lots and they're good looking poops. She still has some air trapped in there though, particularly on one side, so I will try and grab some gripewater tomorrow for extra help. How long does it usually take a piggle to get over a bout of bloat, out of interest?
 
It just depends. Sometimes it can be a few days, other times a couple of weeks. You just have to be watchful and play it by ear. Avoid greens for several days and then introduce them slowly again.
 
Gotcha, she's getting lots of hay and excel nuggets at the moment but no veg. I feel mean but I know it's for the best. I think from now on as well we're going to have to restrict their diet a bit more vegetables wise, to try and avoid this as much as we possibly can in the future.
 
I use Gripe water too and it really can help. My Millie is prone to gassy episodes and she goes straight on the massage pad and we give gripe water and she is usually ok by the next morning. Luckily we don't need gut stimulants with her as she seems to respond well to the less is more approach. She doesn't stop pooing though when she is gassy.
 
Pompom puffed up some again during the night. Not as bad as before but enough to scare the heck out of me. I gave her a good massage and her meds and she was shunting around eating hay but I'm worried. I've been reading around and seen buscopan recommended to help with getting things to relax, is it safe to give this alongside metoclopramide?
 
Infacol works differently to Gripe water, and is recommended by some vets and not by others. Is it is something your vet suggested?
 
Although some vets recommend Infacol opinions are varied on its use as it creates (if I understand correctly) one big air/gas bubble rather than smaller ones. However, it was prescribed by a vet for my piggy and did her no harm. With bloat it can feel like you are taking two steps forward and one backward. You just have to keep on with the treatment and hope for the best. don't feel despondent.
 
VickiA said:
Although some vets recommend Infacol opinions are varied on its use as it creates (if I understand correctly) one big air/gas bubble rather than smaller ones. However, it was prescribed by a vet for my piggy and did her no harm. With bloat it can feel like you are taking two steps forward and one backward. You just have to keep on with the treatment and hope for the best. don't feel despondent.
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Sorry about your ongoing struggles. Keep at it! Severe bloat is unfortunately usually not quite a straightforward problem. it comes and it goes.

I have not made great experiences with infacol; it has made the bloating worse instead of better. Gripe water has been generally more effective in moving the gas. My vets have been OK with its use when I asked.

I would recommend to ring up your vet about using buscopan with all the other meds, as they interact.
 
Okay, went back to the pharmacist on the way home and got some Woodwards gripe water. The infacol was something I saw on an April Lodge emergency guide for bloat, but it does seem more of a measure to be taken if you don't have access to metoclopramide,

Pompom has deflated a little again during the day fortunately, She's still nibbling her hay and excel and drinking on her own which is great. I'm vibrating her tummy at the moment hoping she'll poop in my lap ^^;
 
All the best! I use Woodwards gripe water, too, and have an emergency supply at home for my own piggies.
 
So Pompom had puffed up again this evening when I got home and I think I may have found the reason. I think I have been being too cautious with her. I was so afraid of hurting her I don't think I've been massaging her belly firmly enough. This evening in something of a fit of desperation I really got in there, and within ten minutes she was gifting me with poops and farting really quite loudly >.> Also after I could hear lots of bubbles moving around inside her, which I haven't heard up until this point. And she's now happily stuffing her face with hay, so I don't think I've done any lasting harm. I hope.

I don't know, I am terrified of hurting her as she must already be in so much pain... But I'm also so glad to hear some movement...
 
I hope that you can break up the gas and ease the discomfort. Good luck!
 
Thank you. Sorry for my spamming the board by the way. People around me really don't understand my devotion to my piggles, they think me wandering around in a sleep deprived state over med rounds is mad. It really helps my constant state of freakout right now to have people who feel the same as me about their furbabies to sound off to...
 
You aren't spamming at all @Mishka. We all love our piggies here and know how desperate you can feel at times when they are poorly. With bloat you just have to carry on and do what works for your piggy. You are doing a great job.
 
Mishka said:
Thank you. Sorry for my spamming the board by the way. People around me really don't understand my devotion to my piggles, they think me wandering around in a sleep deprived state over med rounds is mad. It really helps my constant state of freakout right now to have people who feel the same as me about their furbabies to sound off to...
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We understand what you are going through and what an anxious time it is. We are not only here to advise you, but also to support you. You are not spamming! ;)
 
Just an update on Pompom, we're still battling the gas, but she's also still bright, eating and drinking on her own and gifting me with lots of normal looking poops. I got in touch with April Lodge for advice and we've now added the simethicone into her meds rotation. I -think- it's helping as when she does puff up it's not quite as big as it was a couple of days ago or as hard. She's only been on it 24 hours so I'm hoping given a couple more days we'll see more noticeable improvement.

The nice thing is she's not behaving as if she's sick. She's trundling around, nibbling lots and generally looking her usual chirpy self. She doesn't like belly rub time at all but she's tolerating it, I think she's getting used to the routine. Fingers crossed when I am not working over the weekend and give her my complete and undivded attention for 2 days we will get more of a handle on this.
 
Good to hear this :clap:. Well done for persisting and it's good to hear Pompom is happy and eating fine.
 
That is great news! Fingers very firmly crossed!
 
It's really nice to hear. Hope she continues to get better until she's completely recovered!
 
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