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Extreme Ongoing Bloat

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chesca_27 said:
I really hope Toast feel better soon!

Could you try just giving small handfuls of softer, smaller hay every hour or so. Even if she's ignored the rest of her hay, she might be interested if it's just been put in the cage. You could also try mixing in some forage or another type of hay. Have you also tried softened/mashed nuggets. They go down well with Oreo, especially when they're warm. I mix in Pro-C and Infacol (my vet recommended it) as well, to help him.

I'm doing a lot of this with Oreo at the moment, as his tummy is being very sensitive and he keeps betting a bit bloated. His teeth are also a problem so I need to encourage him to eat. It's like a less extreme version of what Toast has, except without cystitis. I am constantly doubting myself about what is right for Oreo, too, and my family aren't being very supportive anymore and keep telling me I'm doing too much and that I need to leave Oreo alone. Beforehand, I was told I didn't take enough responsibility, apparently I now take too much. My vets also don't want Oreo to have another consultation for a week and a half, so I am driving to Northampton later on, to take Oreo to The Cat and Rabbit Clinic to have his teeth checked, as I can't wait until he's well enough for a GA at any other local vets (there are so many in my area, three on the high street alone!).
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Thanks :) yeah she's managing softer hay, but the crunchy hay that she loves and needs for her teeth, she isn't quite managing so I think her teeth need done again. The thing with Toast is she's very inconsistent. She's never consistently well or consistently ill. Even when she hadn't ate anything for 12 hours and seemed like she wasn't going to make it, she had moments of perking up and seeming fine. It's so strange.

I sympathise about family not understanding. My mum is amazing and will look after them when I'm at work and will syringe feed Toast when she needs it, but no one else gets it, why put so much effort into a small replaceable animal?

It's hard but I don't care what anyone else thinks, I love them as much as people love their children and I'd do anything for them. That's why I like this forum because everyone gets it. We all sacrifice a lot to be able to care for our pigs and make sure they get the best treatment. I do hope your little Oreo gets better, you're a very loving slave!
 
Toast is doing okay thanks :)

She's back to eating and drinking for herself, she's still bloated but not as bad as she had been last week.

She's was due to start a new medication, Amitriptyline, last week but it was put on hold due to her being so unwell then not eating for herself but now that she's better we'll be starting it tomorrow. Hoping it helps with her pain which will hopefully deal with the bloat and dental issues :blink:
 
Toast has had a set back today.

After doing really well the past week, her weight was down to a stable 1155g. she hasn't been bloated, has been eating fine and hasn't been squealing whilst peeing for a while.

Last night I noticed she started to squeal slightly when peeing and towards 10pm she was back to getting bloated and her weight crept up to 1180g.

This morning she's 1215g, is bloated and is doing very small poos, some of which are very soft. she's now back to being not very active and not really wanting to eat hay.

The only thing I have done differently in the last week which could be the cause of this latest episode is I gave her some chicory and dill yesterday. Could this be the reason for her bloating? and if so how long should she remain bloated if it was the chicory/dill? I'm praying this isn't going to be a full on issue leading to gut stasis again, and it will ease later in the day/night.

I've also now noticed that the cystitis/squealing when doing the toilet and bloating come on at the same time.. so one is causing the other.. bloat causing painful cystitis or other way around?

So disheartened after she was doing so well for the first time in months. :(
 
Beans&Toast said:
Toast has had a set back today.

After doing really well the past week, her weight was down to a stable 1155g. she hasn't been bloated, has been eating fine and hasn't been squealing whilst peeing for a while.

Last night I noticed she started to squeal slightly when peeing and towards 10pm she was back to getting bloated and her weight crept up to 1180g.

This morning she's 1215g, is bloated and is doing very small poos, some of which are very soft. she's now back to being not very active and not really wanting to eat hay.

The only thing I have done differently in the last week which could be the cause of this latest episode is I gave her some chicory and dill yesterday. Could this be the reason for her bloating? and if so how long should she remain bloated if it was the chicory/dill? I'm praying this isn't going to be a full on issue leading to gut stasis again, and it will ease later in the day/night.

I've also now noticed that the cystitis/squealing when doing the toilet and bloating come on at the same time.. so one is causing the other.. bloat causing painful cystitis or other way around?

So disheartened after she was doing so well for the first time in months. :(
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I am very sorry; I would recommend to stick strictly to the veg she is used to and to keep her on as regular a diet as possible with ideally no changes; new things can unbalance a very fragile digestive system. The guts take up most of the lower body; if they swell up, they press on the bladder and can make peeing more painful. Vice versa, guinea pigs with urinary tract problems can squeal when pooing.
Fingers firmly crossed that this bout is passing comparatively easily and quickly.
 
Beans&Toast said:
Toast has had a set back today.

After doing really well the past week, her weight was down to a stable 1155g. she hasn't been bloated, has been eating fine and hasn't been squealing whilst peeing for a while.

Last night I noticed she started to squeal slightly when peeing and towards 10pm she was back to getting bloated and her weight crept up to 1180g.

This morning she's 1215g, is bloated and is doing very small poos, some of which are very soft. she's now back to being not very active and not really wanting to eat hay.

The only thing I have done differently in the last week which could be the cause of this latest episode is I gave her some chicory and dill yesterday. Could this be the reason for her bloating? and if so how long should she remain bloated if it was the chicory/dill? I'm praying this isn't going to be a full on issue leading to gut stasis again, and it will ease later in the day/night.

I've also now noticed that the cystitis/squealing when doing the toilet and bloating come on at the same time.. so one is causing the other.. bloat causing painful cystitis or other way around?

So disheartened after she was doing so well for the first time in months. :(
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Don't let it get you down! Once a pig has had bloat they can become quite susceptible to it. Would it be worth trying grain free food with her?
Our sanctuary pig Tina had very stubborn bloat. We tried everything - Metoclopramide, simethicone, Buscopan, massage, vibrating massage pads... nothing worked and the vets were stumped. Somone here on the forum suggested grain free, which we tried and Tina has never looked back!
She has Rosewood Meadow Menus grain free, with grain free treats too.
 
Ditto to the specific diet. I have a boar prone to bloat and he has a very specific diet, no extras.

I have a boar with piggy IBS and if he manages to grab a bit of dill from my other pig it sets his tummy off rumbling.
 
Wiebke said:
I am very sorry; I would recommend to stick strictly to the veg she is used to and to keep her on as regular a diet as possible with ideally no changes; new things can unbalance a very fragile digestive system. The guts take up most of the lower body; if they swell up, they press on the bladder and can make peeing more painful. Vice versa, guinea pigs with urinary tract problems can squeal when pooing.
Fingers firmly crossed that this bout is passing comparatively easily and quickly.
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Thank you. I had been sticking to a diet of coriander, green beans, cucumber, chard and pepper and she was doing great. I don't know what I was thinking adding in new veg knowing how sensitive she is to almost everything. I just thought she deserved a little treat, stupid mistake to make! she's taking nuggets from my hand and I'm syringing as much water as she'll take with probiotics, trying to keep her exercising and running about as much as she'll tolerate. It's going to be a long day!
 
Merrypigs Sanctuary said:
Don't let it get you down! Once a pig has had bloat they can become quite susceptible to it. Would it be worth trying grain free food with her?
Our sanctuary pig Tina had very stubborn bloat. We tried everything - Metoclopramide, simethicone, Buscopan, massage, vibrating massage pads... nothing worked and the vets were stumped. Somone here on the forum suggested grain free, which we tried and Tina has never looked back!
She has Rosewood Meadow Menus grain free, with grain free treats too.
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Jaycey said:
Ditto to the specific diet. I have a boar prone to bloat and he has a very specific diet, no extras.

I have a boar with piggy IBS and if he manages to grab a bit of dill from my other pig it sets his tummy off rumbling.
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Thank you both. I have them both on a grain free pellet and they get limited pellets as it is. Toast just has so many issues going on that it's a constant struggle to keep her well. The slightest things set her off. I'm annoyed at myself for giving her the new veg as a treat. I think I was just hopeful that she was doing so well that she'd be okay with it. I'm really hoping this isn't a 5 day issue again and it eases off soon!
 
From Personal experience id say the cystitis is slowing down her guts causing bloat- I thought from the beginning there was a secondary issue with her as this is usually the case for chronic bloating issues. The only thing I can suggest is trying to get on top of her cystitis and the guts should start working normally again. Dill is particularly high in calcium, id say it's more than likely to be what's set her bladder off. Crunchie couldn't cope with any dietry changes either.

Crunchie has had several dentals due to her cystitis pain, if it's any help I think her cystitis is now going away on its own, 16 months after it started. She is now back to her pre cystitis weight which she hasn't reached this full time, is back on pellets with no problems and can now have coriander without it setting blood in urine off. Small steps but I think she's coming out of it. This is the longest she's went without a dental too.
 
Adelle said:
From Personal experience id say the cystitis is slowing down her guts causing bloat- I thought from the beginning there was a secondary issue with her as this is usually the case for chronic bloating issues. The only thing I can suggest is trying to get on top of her cystitis and the guts should start working normally again. Dill is particularly high in calcium, id say it's more than likely to be what's set her bladder off. Crunchie couldn't cope with any dietry changes either.

Crunchie has had several dentals due to her cystitis pain, if it's any help I think her cystitis is now going away on its own, 16 months after it started. She is now back to her pre cystitis weight which she hasn't reached this full time, is back on pellets with no problems and can now have coriander without it setting blood in urine off. Small steps but I think she's coming out of it. This is the longest she's went without a dental too.
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Thanks. I can't work out if it's the cystitis causing the bloat or the other way around, both would make sense really.

Can I just ask, when you used Ranitadine for bloat, how much did you give daily?
 
Beans&Toast said:
Thanks. I can't work out if it's the cystitis causing the bloat or the other way around, both would make sense really.

Can I just ask, when you used Ranitadine for bloat, how much did you give daily?
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The dose I'm advised is always 0.3ml twice a day. Just be careful though if she already has soft stools.. I know you need to shift the gas but Zantac makes things move quicker (as do all Motility drugs) and this can make diarrhoea worse.

This is the problem
I have with fudge; she is prone to bloat although it is mild, and gut motility drugs usually cause her to have diarrohea so I use fibreplex with her and it helps. I have ordered the protexin pro fibre for rabbits .. It's little fibre pellets for gut health. I'm trying her on these when they arrive and see how we go x
 
Adelle said:
The dose I'm advised is always 0.3ml twice a day. Just be careful though if she already has soft stools.. I know you need to shift the gas but Zantac makes things move quicker (as do all Motility drugs) and this can make diarrhoea worse.

This is the problem
I have with fudge; she is prone to bloat although it is mild, and gut motility drugs usually cause her to have diarrohea so I use fibreplex with her and it helps. I have ordered the protexin pro fibre for rabbits .. It's little fibre pellets for gut health. I'm trying her on these when they arrive and see how we go x
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That is the same with Toast. She gets bloaty then her poos go small and infrequent so I use Ranitadine then they can go soft so I use Fibreplex.
They're a bit more normal looking now, not soft anymore but still small ish.

Ooh I've not heard of that.. is it like Fibreplex in pellet form?
 
I'm so sorry to hear that Toast isn't doing so well today :(. Really hoping she feels better soon.

I understand your struggle with the bloat - Oreo had a very good week two weeks ago and I thought he was well enough to stop all his medication about 9-10 days ago (just Metacam and Infacol) but a day later, he was back to being bloated. I managed to clear it up last week and rewarded him with a piece of broccoli on Saturday, which is one of his favourites. It made him bloated again, but he's been ok yesterday and today. Oreo has completely emptied his waterbottle today (don't know how) and is doing soft poops so he's had too much water. My dad took him to Simon Maddock yesterday for another dental. Oreo is apparently now completely healthy apart from very mild oral thrush :(, so now I'm giving him something I can't remember the name of and Fibreplex. I am also putting Pro-C on all veggies. I am planning on switching to a grain-free diet when Oreo gets a companion, which probably won't be until the new year as I need to put Oreo's health first AND see if any local rescues have single boars.

Regards to Ranitidine/Zantac - Oreo had 0.3ml three times a day, which seemed to work. I have all of Oreo's meds still, so if he flares up, I can give him his medicine without having to go to the vet, Simon said this was ok a couple of weeks ago, when Oreo had his first dental.

I know that Oreo's poops are smaller for a small period in the day, I think it is because he doesn't eat as much at night, when he is sleeping. Try to not give her anything she isn't used to.
 
chesca_27 said:
I'm so sorry to hear that Toast isn't doing so well today :(. Really hoping she feels better soon.

I understand your struggle with the bloat - Oreo had a very good week two weeks ago and I thought he was well enough to stop all his medication about 9-10 days ago (just Metacam and Infacol) but a day later, he was back to being bloated. I managed to clear it up last week and rewarded him with a piece of broccoli on Saturday, which is one of his favourites. It made him bloated again, but he's been ok yesterday and today. Oreo has completely emptied his waterbottle today (don't know how) and is doing soft poops so he's had too much water. My dad took him to Simon Maddock yesterday for another dental. Oreo is apparently now completely healthy apart from very mild oral thrush :(, so now I'm giving him something I can't remember the name of and Fibreplex. I am also putting Pro-C on all veggies. I am planning on switching to a grain-free diet when Oreo gets a companion, which probably won't be until the new year as I need to put Oreo's health first AND see if any local rescues have single boars.

Regards to Ranitidine/Zantac - Oreo had 0.3ml three times a day, which seemed to work. I have all of Oreo's meds still, so if he flares up, I can give him his medicine without having to go to the vet, Simon said this was ok a couple of weeks ago, when Oreo had his first dental.

I know that Oreo's poops are smaller for a small period in the day, I think it is because he doesn't eat as much at night, when he is sleeping. Try to not give her anything she isn't used to.
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Thanks :) sounds very similar to Toast's situation! it's so hard isn't it. I won't be making that mistake again, giving her veg she isn't used to when she's such a sensitive pig. I hope Oreo's doing better x
 
Pro-Fibre for Rabbits - Protexin

So it's like a probiotic but its main ingredients are soluble and insoluble fibres. It's basically to increase their fibre intake which is a great solution to gassy problems. The only thing I'd say about toast is its dandelion flavoured, so not sure how it's calcium levels are but you can start small and see how she goes.

It's abou £12 but a big tub of tiny pellets, much more cost efficient than fibreplex and seems to more specific to what I'm looking for for fudge. Xx
 
Adelle said:
Pro-Fibre for Rabbits - Protexin

So it's like a probiotic but its main ingredients are soluble and insoluble fibres. It's basically to increase their fibre intake which is a great solution to gassy problems. The only thing I'd say about toast is its dandelion flavoured, so not sure how it's calcium levels are but you can start small and see how she goes.

It's abou £12 but a big tub of tiny pellets, much more cost efficient than fibreplex and seems to more specific to what I'm looking for for fudge. Xx
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So use them instead of other nuggets?
I'm going to look into them, especially the calcium content.. Fibreplex is so expensive but I've found a vets that sells it for a fiver.. my own vets is £11 :eek:
 
I've got a feeling I have a tub of this somewhere, we tried it for Petal's soft poops post spay when I ended up syringe feeding her for nearly 12 weeks :( Let me have a look for you, if I have a tub I can send you some in a bag. Is Toast on a daily dose of Metacam? Petal was on a small daily dose twice a day until she passed away; adequate pain relief is essential for managing chronic cystitis or bladder sludge x
 
Poppy'sMum said:
I've got a feeling I have a tub of this somewhere, we tried it for Petal's soft poops post spay when I ended up syringe feeding her for nearly 12 weeks :( Let me have a look for you, if I have a tub I can send you some in a bag. Is Toast on a daily dose of Metacam? Petal was on a small daily dose twice a day until she passed away; adequate pain relief is essential for managing chronic cystitis or bladder sludge x
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Did you find they worked for Petal?
Yes she's on 0.4 - 0.5 a day. usually split in the morning then evening.

As the night is going on the squeaking is becoming a bit less intense. She's more active now than she was this morning and has passed a fair bit of gas. She's still quite fluffed up though. Going to be another night of checking her every few hours :doh:
 
No it's just a supplement, not a pellet replacement. My vet is £14 for fibreplex, I buy it online now but cheapest I can get is £10!
 
Well not really :( Not what you want to hear, I know. Unfortunately both Petal & her daughter had on off problems with their guts, I would find every now & then they would have bouts of soft stools, not diahrrea but quite soft, so I would stop veggies for a few days, re-introduce slowly then a few days later we would be back to square one. Tests at Chester Zoo on both of their stools showed levels of Sacchromyces which could have caused it. Petal's started after her spay, the GA messed her tummy up badly, I had to syringe feed her post op for about 12 weeks on & off, it was exhausting. Daisy died just after her 4th Birthday, I was so upset & the vet seemed to think it was liver cancer & they probably both had something similar x
 
Adelle said:
No it's just a supplement, not a pellet replacement. My vet is £14 for fibreplex, I buy it online now but cheapest I can get is £10!
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Vets for pets in Stirling is £5.04p for the 15ml tube.... The one in Falkirk is a tenner for some reason. My jaw hit the floor when they said it was a fiver! I know you're not exactly that close to Stirling but just in case you are at any point, it's the one in P@H in Springkerse retail park.
 
ive ordered fibreplex from vet uk at £7.60 for 15 mls,if that helps anyone.but you need an order of 29 pounds to get free delivery.i did order some burgess pellets at £16.00 for 10kg bag,in pets at home it retails at £23.99,but mine do not have any health issues at present.:)
 
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