Diarrhoea

[Chadmoonshine]

Hi,

I'm hoping someone may be able to help us. We've two lovely boar guineas a 10 week old and a 1 1/2 year old. Previously we had a young boar who developed diarrhoea, we took him to the vet, who gave him fluids. I syringe fed him ever two hours for several days, but he didn't get better and never started eating again. Then he died. We got a new boar is the older one wasn't alone, but the new boar has diarrhoea too now. I am extremely concerned that this one will die too, and don't see how we can get another if it will just die too. Obviously I will be taking him to the vet in Monday. We feed them grass I cut from the lawn, dandelions, straw and guinea pig dried food. I feel we must be doing something wrong, but I can't work out what. My husband and I are wondering if our older boar could have a disease that doesn't affect him, but the younger board can't fight Off? My husband made a Pune hutch, could this be the problem. Many thanks for any advice or suggestions. Warmest wishes Chad

 

[weepweeps]

Oh no. How awful that your new piggy is poorly. If it was me I’d take him to the vets today. As you know they can go down hill very quickly. Is he eating on his own at all? If not I’d start syringe feeding to keep his gut moving until you can get to the vets. I don’t know what could be wrong but do you wash their grass? Fox or other animal urine is harmful to piggies. Also they need to eat hay not straw. Did the new piggy eat a lot of grass? Because they need to start off slowly with grass to get their tummies used to it. I really hope this piggy gets better soon.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry for your loss.

I assume you do in fact mean hay, not straw.

Full liquid diarrhoea cannot wait until tomorrow to see a vet - if it is very runny, then it is an emergency and your piggy will need to be seen by a vet today.

Please remove all fresh food - grass, vegetables and garden weeds from the diet until poops normalise. Dandelions are fairly high in calcium so are more of a treat. Too much rich grass or veg on an unprepared tummy can disrupt the gut microbiome - any grass and new veg needs to be introduced slowly.
During a period of an upset digestive system, feed only unlimited hay and the normal one tablespoon of pellets per day until poops normalise. Once things have normalised you can add grass and vegetables back in slowly. You can give a probiotic every day to help reestablish and settle the gut. Switch from the routine weekly weight checks and instead weigh him daily so you can be sure he is getting enough fibre and eating enough hay and step in with syringe feeding if there is significant weight loss.

Is the grass you feed, hand cut or picked fresh each day ie you don’t use lawn mower clippings ?

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

 

[VickiA]

Diarrhoea does need same day emergency veterinary treatment. You are fortunate in Exeter to have City Vets who are exotics specialists, and who I think do their own emergency cover. Please get him seen today.

 

[Siikibam]

Sorry to hear your boy is unwell. Let us know how you get on. And sorry for your loss.

 

[Chadmoonshine]

Many thanks for the replies. It's really helpful.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!

I am keeping my fingers crossed. Please see an out-of-hours vet for runny diarrhea as soon as you can, ideally on the same day. This is one of the issues that cannot wait because of the risk of dehydration.

Please follow the dietary and the care advice in your diarrhea care and our emergency/crisis support links, which take you through all the practical details step by step:
Digestive Disorders: Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement) And Not Eating
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

 

[VickiA]

How did you get on at the vets?

 

[Swissgreys]

I hope you were able to see a vet and that your boy is doing better now.