Bloat started again

[08boothc]

My piggy went to the vets 2 weeks ago for bloat, not pooping and low appetite, the exotic vet was fab and prescribed antibiotics, meds to help with the gut and paracetamol. He was responding really well and his pooping and eating was back to normal over Christmas until a few days ago. He’s coming to the end of his meds and suddenly his poops have changed shape, he’s not himself and his tummy is tender Could this be a chronic thing, what else could it be? Any tips in the mean time (and my piggy is very picky so only likes food high in water such as cucumber and lettuce or only eats carrots, parsley, pak choi, and kale) he also has allergies to hay and is on piriton (he is still eating piriton). I have given him a probiotic but this has caused diehorrea, I spoke to the normal vet on the phone (the exotic vet isn’t back until Thursday) she said I gave him too much pro biotic, and to call if there’s any problems but his poops have returned to normal which is good, but are back to being irregular shapes. I have massaged him with an electric toothbrush until he can’t tolerate it due to the pain. Any advice he’s still eating, loving his hay but worried about him

 

[Siikibam]

I don’t think probiotic can cause diarrhoea. You say his po have changed, are they soft or actually runny? In any case you should take him off all veg and only give him pellets (a tablespoon) and hay. Once they’ve been back to normal for 24 hours you can start introducing veg by giving him something mild like 1-2 sprigs of coriander or a small slice of bell pepper.

What antibiotic and gut medicine was he given? You should also weigh him daily to see if he’s losing, maintaining or putting on weight. Have a read of the guide I’ve linked below.

Digestive Disorders: Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement) And Not Eating

What makes you think your guinea pig is allergic to hay? Allergies in piggies are very rare. How did it manifest itself?

 

[08boothc]

I accidentally gave him way too much, but his poops are now solid. In terms of shape some are normal and then others are small and hard. Unfortunately he hates Peppers believe me I’ve tried it being the only food he has in the past and he’ll just not touch it, or check them off his tunnel feeding area in protest! He doesn’t really like coriander but fed him some this morning- but he has nibbled some.
He’s just come to the end of his meds he was on Co-Trim, and Emeprid. I have been weighing him (he lost weight the first instance of bloat but he has since put it back on and his weight is stable atm).
In terms of allergies these were diagnosed by an exotic- he was wheezing, making a clicking sound, and sneezes near his hay (he is much better now with piriton PRN when his breathing is bad and with meadow hay).
My other concern is it may be impaction- his balls are swollen and tender I have tried to check but he wriggles too much and I am on my own.
My exotic vet isn’t available until 7th, does anyone know of a guinea pig savvy vet near Liverpool (the list on here is outdated as a lot of the vets are no longer at where they are listed to be)
And finally I did find your tone quite harsh, I know it is difficult over internet but it felt very patronising when all I want is the best for my piggy (are there members on here who are experts or have experience with bloat?)

 

[Siikibam]

I accidentally gave him way too much, but his poops are now solid. In terms of shape some are normal and then others are small and hard. Unfortunately he hates Peppers believe me I’ve tried it being the only food he has in the past and he’ll just not touch it, or check them off his tunnel feeding area in protest! He doesn’t really like coriander but fed him some this morning- but he has nibbled some.
He’s just come to the end of his meds he was on Co-Trim, and Emeprid. I have been weighing him (he lost weight the first instance of bloat but he has since put it back on and his weight is stable atm).
In terms of allergies these were diagnosed by an exotic- he was wheezing, making a clicking sound, and sneezes near his hay (he is much better now with piriton PRN when his breathing is bad and with meadow hay).
My other concern is it may be impaction- his balls are swollen and tender I have tried to check but he wriggles too much and I am on my own.
My exotic vet isn’t available until 7th, does anyone know of a guinea pig savvy vet near Liverpool (the list on here is outdated as a lot of the vets are no longer at where they are listed to be)
And finally I did find your tone quite harsh, I know it is difficult over internet but it felt very patronising when all I want is the best for my piggy (are there members on here who are experts or have experience with bloat?)

What did I say that made it sound harsh or patronising? I’m genuinely curious.

I’ll tag @VickiA @Piggies&buns @PigglePuggle @Wiebke

 

[VickiA]

There was nothing whatsoever patronising or harsh with @Siikibam ’s post.

We are not vets. We are a public forum manned entirely by volunteers who give up our time for the benefit of guinea pigs and owners. Please feel free to read our helpful guides, including the one linked above about the management of bloat. Many of us have experience of chronic/recurring bloat in piggies and that is how the guide relating to that issue has been prepared. We always refer members to guides as otherwise we would be typing the same information ad nauseam.


Vets of course do move around. If you feel our vet locator is outdated please let us know which vets you have tried and which have moved/are no longer at the practices. As and when we get time we will update the locator. However as we all have our own pets, families, jobs and rescues to run it may take some time.

 

[PigglePuggle]

Very odd, you say Liverpool which is where you are located and our vet is definitely on the list and definitely still there? Vets4Pets Penny Lane. Saved the life of our piggy who had acute bloat and almost died, as did the forum guide on bloat.
So yes we have an expert guide on bloat, an up to date vet recommendation for a specialist vet who can treat severe bloat, and a friendly community of many people here who are experienced with bloat and a wide range of guinea pig health issues who volunteer to help people.
Note the words carefully- friendly community who volunteer to help. Rude people who take offence at well intended voluntary advice they are given by the health and illness experts who are giving up their Sunday to chat to strangers with sick piggies here, may get fewer replies than those who make us feel our time is well spent and appreciated...
Just call Vets4Pets Penny Lane anyway, they see piggies as emergency cases very reliably.

 

[Swissgreys]

Personally I thought @Siikibam offered very sound advice linking to an excellent guide based on many years of experiences from multiple guinea pig owners.

It does sound like your boy has some more complex problems going on and really needs to see a vet sooner rather than later.
Here is a guide to impaction which may help in the short term
Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths

I would also consider stopping all fresh veg for now and sticking to a small amount of pellets and unlimited hay.

 

[08boothc]

What did I say that made it sound harsh or patronising? I’m genuinely curious.

Hey don’t worry I haven’t slept all night worrying about my piggy it was the bit about allergies I know my pig. I am a very anxious at the moment anything can set me off and take things way more personally than I should. In terms of Liverpool vets4pets when I rang said none of the vets were specialists in Guinea Pigs so presumed the vet had left. What’s the name of your vet? Thanks and sorry again

I’ll tag @VickiA @Piggies&buns @PigglePuggle @Wiebke

 

[08boothc]

Very odd, you say Liverpool which is where you are located and our vet is definitely on the list and definitely still there? Vets4Pets Penny Lane. Saved the life of our piggy who had acute bloat and almost died, as did the forum guide on bloat.
So yes we have an expert guide on bloat, an up to date vet recommendation for a specialist vet who can treat severe bloat, and a friendly community of many people here who are experienced with bloat and a wide range of guinea pig health issues who volunteer to help people.
Note the words carefully- friendly community who volunteer to help. Rude people who take offence at well intended voluntary advice they are given by the health and illness experts who are giving up their Sunday to chat to strangers with sick piggies here, may get fewer replies than those who make us feel our time is well spent and appreciated...
Just call Vets4Pets Penny Lane anyway, they see piggies as emergency cases very reliably.

Hey see above my apologies- very anxious and took some of it too personal. I rang them and they said there was no guinea pig specialists. What’s the name of your vet. I don’t want to see a regular vet as have made this mistake before and then things were not noticed. I’m just so worried he seems better, I am going tomorrow (been recommended a vet in Widnes) but if he gets worse I will see my nearest regular vet. He is eating and running around his cage which is good. His poops are not normal shapes and some are small and they really smell

 

[08boothc]

There was nothing whatsoever patronising or harsh with @Siikibam ’s post.

We are not vets. We are a public forum manned entirely by volunteers who give up our time for the benefit of guinea pigs and owners. Please feel free to read our helpful guides, including the one linked above about the management of bloat. Many of us have experience of chronic/recurring bloat in piggies and that is how the guide relating to that issue has been prepared. We always refer members to guides as otherwise we would be typing the same information ad nauseam.


Vets of course do move around. If you feel our vet locator is outdated please let us know which vets you have tried and which have moved/are no longer at the practices. As and when we get time we will update the locator. However as we all have our own pets, families, jobs and rescues to run it may take some time.

Hey don’t worry I haven’t slept all night worrying about my piggy it was the bit about allergies I know my pig. I am a very anxious at the moment anything can set me off and take things way more personally than I should. In terms of Liverpool vets4pets when I rang said none of the vets were specialists in Guinea Pigs so presumed the vet had left. What’s the name of your vet? Thanks and sorry again

 

[VickiA]

Hey don’t worry I haven’t slept all night worrying about my piggy it was the bit about allergies I know my pig. I am a very anxious at the moment anything can set me off and take things way more personally than I should. In terms of Liverpool vets4pets when I rang said none of the vets were specialists in Guinea Pigs so presumed the vet had left. What’s the name of your vet? Thanks and sorry again

@PigglePuggle always takes her piggies to Vets4pets on Penny Lane. I have no idea of the names of the vets there.