Constipation in my grieving pig

[BortusandPump]

I lost one of my pigs this on Tuesday this week, and pumpernickel got quite depressed and wasn't eating as much and barely drinking, his veggies went down fine and he'd still have some hay and and I started offering mushed pellets that day to make up the difference in food and fluids and avoid gi stasis. It still I don't think was quite enough but as much as he would get down. He's always ate very socially with Bort, the boar I lost, so I think it was scary for him alone. I've been sitting next to the cage while he could eat to make him more comfortable.

Usually I wait a bit for them to grieve to introduce a new pig, but I decided it would help him out because he was so upset. I started them side by side in seperate cages and they were so sweet to eachother through the barsI decided to introduce them yeserday and they instantly love eachother. No rumbling other than when they get a little too in eachothers space, grooming eachothers ears, Pumpernickel even perked up enough to eat and drink pellets on his own for the first time now that he had a friend with him, and was so energetic and seemed a lot happier.

Later last night, he started to have a bit of discomfort pooping, as far as I can tell due to the dehydration from not drinking enough. He was still eating his mushed pellets and a bit of hay, and some of his veggies. No bloat or anything, and he is an older pig so I checked and no signs of prolapse or impaction either. No sign of any mouth discomfort as a reason for not eating. And no other signs of illness outside of this.

I stayed up with him all of the night, gave him tummy massages to help when he was uncomfortable and got a little more food in him. He has been pooping, started his normal healthy texture but now a bit drier and harder due to the dehydration.

This morning he ate some hay on his own, and got down some cucumber for me so he has been peeing and getting fluids in which should help. He wouldn't eat much CC or pellet mush. He hasn't eaten much hay since then. Still discomfort, but he's still passing poop and peeing for me. I don't have any syringes to feed with on hand at the moment, I've tried at a few pharmacies and none had any so I'm going to try again first thing in the morning. I did get him to eat a few bites by taking a small mouth sized amount on my finger tip and holding it up to his lips, but he doesn't have that much interest in it.

He does have enough energy to be scurrying around with the new pig a bit, and he seems to be in less pain than he was and it seems the worst of it has passed so I'm hopeful, but obviously I need to get more food into him to keep his digestive system going so he can get better.

None of the vets around me are able to take him any time soon, and I don't drive so I'm trying to arrange someone to help me get to a vet a few towns over ASAP. (Before anyone asks to suggest clinics I'm not in the UK)

I was wondering if there is anything I can do in the meantime before I can get him to the vet outside of the hand feeding I can do to make him more comfortable or help him out?



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[Bill & Ted]

I’m so sorry you have lost one of your piggies.

Ideally he needs to see a vet asap. Please step in and syringe feed your remaining piggie if he is losing weight. Have you tried having a look for syringes in over the counter children meds, they often have a syringe for measuring childrens paracetamol etc. Otherwise call at any vets and ask to buy a few, they will only cost a very small amount.They do have syringes on eBay too
Weigh your piggie daily at the same time and record his weight, this will help you assess if he is losing weight and by how much
Being active often help the gut get moving so encourage floortime if you can.

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

 

[BortusandPump]

I’m so sorry you have lost one of your piggies.

Ideally he needs to see a vet asap. Please step in and syringe feed your remaining piggie if he is losing weight. Have you tried having a look for syringes in over the counter children meds, they often have a syringe for measuring childrens paracetamol etc. Otherwise call at any vets and ask to buy a few, they will only cost a very small amount.They do have syringes on eBay too
Weigh your piggie daily at the same time and record his weight, this will help you assess if he is losing weight and by how much
Being active often help the gut get moving so encourage floortime if you can.

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

I'm in Canada and we've had a shortage on children's meds so I couldnt find any that way. I have some I ordered online just incase coming, but in the meantime I'll be calling around a few more stores and offices as soon as they open (very very early morning for me)

I've managed to get a bit more food in him just gently with my fingertips, right now he's been snuggled on my lap and I'm giving him a few bites at a time every few minutes so he's had maybe 6-8ml over the last hour. Not the best but it's something. Since I've been giving him some extra liquid food he hasn't lost too much weight luckily but he's already a thinner piggy so I'm very concerned about him loosing much more.

He isn't moving a lot a lot, but his new cagemates is encouraging him to keep a bit active so hopefully that helps too

 

[Bill & Ted]

All the very best, just keep doing what you are doing the more food goes in the more it should push through and clear that bloat Do weigh daily, it will give you an idea as to how much food he is actually eating

 

[BortusandPump]

All the very best, just keep doing what you are doing the more food goes in the more it should push through and clear that bloat Do weigh daily, it will give you an idea as to how much food he is actually eating

I'll keep it up then! Hehe seems to be fighting for me I'm so proud of him. He's almost 6 so an older piggy, so I'm not sure how much he can push but I can tell he's trying. The bit of food he's had today seems to have perked him up a bit, he was a bit lethargic earlier and seems a bit more energetic now

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome

Please keep feeding him with hay based feed; he still needs the constant grass fibre supply for which the whole digestive process is laid for. Guinea pigs can't fast.
Please take the time to read our bloat guide link in the first answer.

Here is our updated comprehensive support feeding guide with all the necessary how-to tips re. frequency and amounts and other practical tips, which you will find very helpful: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

All the best. Bloat is a vicious enemy to fight, unfortunately. The loss of a companion can majorly impact on health, especially in a frailer older guinea pig. What we cannot tell you is whether the bloat is primary or secondary (caused by another underlying problem).