Completely Confused, Poorly Piggy?

[Bethika]

Hey all.
So I posted about my little Daisy making wheezing noises a few weeks ago. It seems it was behavioural after all and she's stopped.

She now seems to have lost weight, bony spine etc. We're weighing her. She's been pulling fur our a little from her tummy and I'm worried now she might be bloated, her tummy sounds a little hollow when I tap it.

She's eating normally and drinking normally although maybe making more poos than usual.

Any ideas? She's still squeaky but a little less animated.

We've had such a bad run with pets this last 6 months! Really hope she's ok. Any help would be amazing. I'm trying to get into the exotic specialists near me.

Thanks. Beth

 

[Wiebke]

Hey all.
So I posted about my little Daisy making wheezing noises a few weeks ago. It seems it was behavioural after all and she's stopped.

She now seems to have lost weight, bony spine etc. We're weighing her. She's been pulling fur our a little from her tummy and I'm worried now she might be bloated, her tummy sounds a little hollow when I tap it.

She's eating normally and drinking normally although maybe making more poos than usual.

Any ideas? She's still squeaky but a little less animated.

We've had such a bad run with pets this last 6 months! Really hope she's ok. Any help would be amazing. I'm trying to get into the exotic specialists near me.

Thanks. Beth

Please have her seen asap, especially if you suspect bloat, and switch to weighing her daily (instead of the usual weekly weigh-in) at the same time in the feeding cycle, like before or after her dinner.The biting/self-barbering indicates pain in the belly area.

Start offering syringe feeding her whenever there is a weight loss over 50g in a short amount of time. Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

We have members from all over the world and find it very helpful if you please added your country, state/province or UK county, so we can tailor any advice more efficiently to what is available and possible where you are. medical brands and vet access vary quite a lot across the globe. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location.

 

[Bethika]

Thanks for your reply. I've updated my location.
I'm waiting for the vets to call me back although one of their vets is off sick so she wasn't sure when we would get seen!

I've read online to try infacol and tummy massages to get gas out, is this a good idea?
Thanks
Beth

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks for your reply. I've updated my location.
I'm waiting for the vets to call me back although one of their vets is off sick so she wasn't sure when we would get seen!

I've read online to try infacol and tummy massages to get gas out, is this a good idea?
Thanks
Beth

Gentle tummy massages/vibrating yes, as often as you can!
Infacol tends to gather the gas into one large bubble that can be hard to shift. I have made better experiences with trying gripe water (baby section in a supermarket), as that tends to disperse the gas bubbles, but the sooner your girl gets some Zantac/ranitidine and some emeprid or metoclopramide (gut stimulant), the better!

You can use a cheap electric tooth brush for vibrating the tummy.

 

[Bethika]

Thank you so much.
So even if they're still pooping it can still be bloat? Poor little lady.

Beth

 

[sport_billy]

Thank you so much.
So even if they're still pooping it can still be bloat? Poor little lady.

Beth

I would doubt it. Poo stops with bloat as the digestive system slows right down.

Worth getting her checked over, the vet can have a good feel of her tummy. Let us know how you get on

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much.
So even if they're still pooping it can still be bloat? Poor little lady.

Beth

Yes, bloating doesn't necessarily mean gut stasis (the guts stopping to work); in fact, you need to do your utmost to keep them going even through the bloat. The poos reflect what has happened about 1-2 days ago, as depending on how good the guts are working and how much food has gone in the meantime, you will see a sudden drop in size and number in the next few days.

There may be another reason that causes the symptoms/bloating, which only a vet can diagnose.

 

[Bethika]

Thanks. Just weighed Daisy and she's lost 60 grams in 2 days. Managed to see a recommended vet at 2.45.
Her cage buddy Penny seems to have lost 40 grams too so have added her on to the appointment to take her along too.

Will let you all know, thanks for the help

Beth x

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks. Just weighed Daisy and she's lost 60 grams in 2 days. Managed to see a recommended vet at 2.45.
Her cage buddy Penny seems to have lost 40 grams too so have added her on to the appointment to take her along too.

Will let you all know, thanks for the help

Beth x

Best of luck! The weight loss is not yet critical and only minor, but it is in the range where you want to check whether there is a problem or not. We can only judge from what you are telling us without see and handling a piggy.

 

[Bethika]

Back home finally! Daisy ended up having an x ray and she had a very bloated tummy on one side. Luckily just gas and not water. They've given her two injections and some medication give her at home.

The vet thinks it's down to bullying from her new cage mate. Done everything to bond them and they get on fine when we're there. We've been recommended to separate them.

Thanks for your help.
Beth

 

[Claire W]

Aw, I hope you don't have to separate I've never heard of bloat / gas being caused by stress of a cage mate before especially if they get on well together?

 

[Wiebke]

Back home finally! Daisy ended up having an x ray and she had a very bloated tummy on one side. Luckily just gas and not water. They've given her two injections and some medication give her at home.

The vet thinks it's down to bullying from her new cage mate. Done everything to bond them and they get on fine when we're there. We've been recommended to separate them.

Thanks for your help.
Beth

As long as they are fine together, I would honestly not separate newly bonded piggies. How long have they been together?

Bloating can have many reasons, and often no obvious reason at all.

What medication have you been given? I would strongly recommend to continue with the vibrating. Bloat can take quite some time to bring down and under control. The digestive system tends to stay tender for several weeks afterwards and can flare up again.

 

[Bethika]

I'll comment the meds soon as I get home.

Apparently because she sounded gaspy too the vet thought that she was literally swallowing air from being chased around so much. Seemed odd to me.

They've only been in the same cage 4 days but have been separated by wire mesh before that for a week and out running freely together the rest of the time. Penny chases Daisy around a lot still, they definitely haven't worked it out. Daisy jumps up on the platform that Penny refuses to get on to and stays up there for hours.

Do you think I should leave them together then?

 

[Wiebke]

I'll comment the meds soon as I get home.

Apparently because she sounded gaspy too the vet thought that she was literally swallowing air from being chased around so much. Seemed odd to me.

They've only been in the same cage 4 days but have been separated by wire mesh before that for a week and out running freely together the rest of the time. Penny chases Daisy around a lot still, they definitely haven't worked it out. Daisy jumps up on the platform that Penny refuses to get on to and stays up there for hours.

Do you think I should leave them together then?

No, if it is that recent, I think that the stress of a not quite happy bond and some major dominance/suddenly increased physical activity can have been a trigger factor.
However, there is a certain risk that they may not go back together well when you separate, which is way we generally recommend to keep piggies together if possible. But the constant chasing etc. can make things worse for Daisy in your particular case.

 

[Bethika]

Thank you for all your help. We've put her in another cage in the other room so we can keep an eye on her. She's eating hay constantly and drinking lots of water.

She was injected with Emeprid and Zamadol.

We've been given Metoclopramide and Ranitidine to administer once a day.

Thanks

Beth

 

[Bethika]

Just had the toothbrush on her tummy and some massaging. She took it for a few minutes then started making pained noises. Poor little lady. Did it gently a little longer now she's back in her cage gobbling down more hay.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for all your help. We've put her in another cage in the other room so we can keep an eye on her. She's eating hay constantly and drinking lots of water.

She was injected with Emeprid and Zamadol.

We've been given Metoclopramide and Ranitidine to administer once a day.

Thanks

Beth

It is great that she is still eating lots of fibre and is drinking. Go lightly on the veg or cut it out completely while she is still bloated.

The drugs you have been given are standard ones for treating bloat.

 

[Bethika]

She's eating a lot this morning and bouncing around. She seems a little brighter. Just given her meds so see how she does! Still very bloated but I know it takes a few days.

Will let you know how she is in a couple of days.
Thanks again.
Beth

 

[my4piggies]

keep a close eye on her and weigh her daily, if she goes down, see a vet asap

 

[Bethika]

Thanks! Keeping a very close eye. She's up 50g from yesterday morning and 10g from last night. Fingers crossed. Her tummy feels more squishy too and not firm which I think is a good sign?

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks! Keeping a very close eye. She's up 50g from yesterday morning and 10g from last night. Fingers crossed. Her tummy feels more squishy too and not firm which I think is a good sign?

It is a good sign that her tummy is no longer so tight! All the best that you are getting on top of the bloat.

 

[Bethika]

So we thought Daisy was on the mend but she seems to be back to not moving around much, laying on her platform on the hay which is unusual behaviour for her. She's still eating loads and loads though and not losing weight. She's still pulling her hair out and seems tender on her tummy. Trying to get into vets tomorrow, any advice in the meantime?

Thanks,
Beth

 

[Teddybear22]

Sorry I can't help, but I really hope she gets better soon

 

[eileen]

try and get her to the vets as soon as possible.continue with the meds as prescribed and if you can use the vibrating toothbrush.weight daily,give syringe feeding if weight drops below 50 grams.i believe some from health and illness should advise you,as i have not seen your piggie and i would not want to give inflicting information.i really hope she gets better soon.hugs to you.xx

 

[eileen]

thats meant to say conflicting!

 

[Bethika]

Thanks! She was done with her meds but I'm going to start her on them again tonight and see if they help. Have done some more tummy massaging and toothbrush action and will do some more tonight. Poor little lady xx

 

[Wiebke]

So we thought Daisy was on the mend but she seems to be back to not moving around much, laying on her platform on the hay which is unusual behaviour for her. She's still eating loads and loads though and not losing weight. She's still pulling her hair out and seems tender on her tummy. Trying to get into vets tomorrow, any advice in the meantime?

Thanks,
Beth

If her tummy feels tight again and you have got some of her bloating meds left, put her back on them and go back to the old drill. I am very sorry. Bloat often makes a comeback.

 

[eileen]

I'm doing the same with Jerry,he saw the vet in northampton,since he has started eating he is having bloat on and off.giving ranitidine twice daily,to give metoclopromide if extreme bloat and metacame for pain.ive given gripe water as this seems to help jerry.its taking a while to resolve.I'm feeding 3 hourly syringe feeds,as i found 45mls twice aday made it worse.he is eating hay inbetween,want him start diet so he wears his teeth down.I'm sorry your cavy is poorly. to you.xx

 

[Bethika]

If her tummy feels tight again and you have got some of her bloating meds left, put her back on them and go back to the old drill. I am very sorry. Bloat often makes a comeback.

Thank you, I'll see how she does. She's currently going nuts on a carrot so she's eating fine, she's been nomming hay all day too and drinking.
She hasn't dropped any weight, but keeping a very close eye.

 

[Bethika]

I'm doing the same with Jerry,he saw the vet in northampton,since he has started eating he is having bloat on and off.giving ranitidine twice daily,to give metoclopromide if extreme bloat and metacame for pain.ive given gripe water as this seems to help jerry.its taking a while to resolve.I'm feeding 3 hourly syringe feeds,as i found 45mls twice aday made it worse.he is eating hay inbetween,want him start diet so he wears his teeth down.I'm sorry your cavy is poorly. to you.xx

Thank you, she's eating fine so no syringe food at the moment luckily. I hope Jerry is much better soon!