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Guinea Pig Gas - Help Please

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caseypig

caseypig

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Hello! I've been lurking on this forum for a while and would very much appreciate some advice.

My 3yr old boar has been having teeth problems recently, but has been on the mend since seeing Simon the vet in Northampton. He's been on a strong antibiotic for a month, finished yesterday, plus .25 of meta am twice a day. Because of he lost a bit of weight I've been given him unlimited grass to help him put it back on, or at least keep him stable.

Since yesterday I noticed he's doing very very soft, smelly poos, not normal looking and he's got a very loud frequent gurgling belly (I think he's farting). He's still eating, still running around, and is pooping so I hope it's not bloat? His weight has dropped since yesterday so should I start syringe feeding him just in case? How serious is gas? Should I give him something to settle his stomach? He must be feeling very uncomfortable. I'm seeing Simon the vet on Thursday to check in his teeth but should I get him in sooner? I don't want him to go downhill again :-(

Advice greatly appreciated.
 
Great that you are seeing Simon. It may be a slight reaction to the antibiotic as my Barley had soft poos after two rounds of Zithromax. I have had other pigs with no reaction though. I think the grass is most likely what has made him gassy if he is having more than he usually would. You could try gentle massage or put him on something that vibrates. Also gripe water may help. Start at 0.3ml a few times a day but there is scope to go higher. Would be worth emailing Simon too to see what he thinks.
 
Thanks for replying so quickly Helen. That's the same antibiotic Pooky the Guinea pig was on. I thought if he was going to have a reaction it would have been weeks ago, but maybe it's the effect of having been on it so long? I'm going to hold back in the metacam too just in case that's something to do with it. It definitely could be the grass, I'm so worried about his weight dropping I've been giving him whatever he wants! I'll give Simon a call on Monday. Poor pig, he's had a tough month!

I guess I should just watch out for changes - like if he goes off his food or stops pooing then it could be time for a Sunday vet visit? I'll go grab the electric toothbrush ...
 
Casey dunlop said:
Hello! I've been lurking on this forum for a while and would very much appreciate some advice.

My 3yr old boar has been having teeth problems recently, but has been on the mend since seeing Simon the vet in Northampton. He's been on a strong antibiotic for a month, finished yesterday, plus .25 of meta am twice a day. Because of he lost a bit of weight I've been given him unlimited grass to help him put it back on, or at least keep him stable.

Since yesterday I noticed he's doing very very soft, smelly poos, not normal looking and he's got a very loud frequent gurgling belly (I think he's farting). He's still eating, still running around, and is pooping so I hope it's not bloat? His weight has dropped since yesterday so should I start syringe feeding him just in case? How serious is gas? Should I give him something to settle his stomach? He must be feeling very uncomfortable. I'm seeing Simon the vet on Thursday to check in his teeth but should I get him in sooner? I don't want him to go downhill again :-(

Advice greatly appreciated.
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Is he on zithromax? Most piggies do well on zithromax, but those that don't can take some time getting over it. I have just been through that with my Nosgan in the last couple of months; again, he had a very rumbly tummy.

Please put your boy on syringe feed and take him off any fresh veg until his tummy upset has settled down. If you can get some gripe water from the baby section of a supermarket; it can help with milder bloat. Also get a cheap electric tooth brush and use the handle to vibrate the belly and help shift the gas. Don't re-introduce veg until two days after everything has settled down and then by adding only one new veg in a small quantity to the meal. Stop immediately if there are issues again go back to step one. leave the veg that is causing gassiness off for the time being.

See an out-of-hours vet as an emergency if there is any deterioration and if it develops into a full blown colic when the belly is going hard and sounding hollow when you genlty knock against it. Serious acute bloat can kill, but you'll need zantac and a painkiller asap to treat that.

Nosgan kept on having soft poos and gurgly tummy and a low weight for several weeks after his course had finished, but a course of fibreplex finally did the trick.
 
Hi Wiebke, yep that's what's he's been on for the last month, just finished the course yesterday. I just went to the 24hr pharmacy to get the gripe water and gave him 0.3mls. He's eating pellets now, I'll get him out again before I go to bed to give him a massage (plus electric toothbrush). I'll give him critical care for breakfast rather than his veggies.

If it goes to serious bloat, he'll stop eating and pooing won't he?
 
It sounds like your piggy has an upset stomach. An week after I first got my Piggy, I noticed the room smelling of an awful stench.. I thought it was normal, as I'd never owned a Guinea pig before. But, when I had her out for floor time, she did poo a bit on the floor, but it was mushy and almost runny. I hadn't given her anything odd, and after I cleaned her cage I noticed the smell has gone away and her poo was back to normal. She didn't fart, so it was just the poo. I would see a vet if your Boar is losing weight. It might be the grass upsetting his stomach, and maybe you should try feeding him less of it and seeing if there is any difference. Stick with hay and his pellets for a bit, or maybe try feeding him some extra veggies? I am no expert, so this is just my suggestion. Good luck!
 
Follow Wiebke's advice and he should be fine.

You can see serious bloat coming on. He will stop pooping but he's also become very uncomfortable. He'll become less active, possibly standing in one place very uncomfortably. His hair will start to spike and his eyes will become squinty.
 
Casey dunlop said:
Hi Wiebke, yep that's what's he's been on for the last month, just finished the course yesterday. I just went to the 24hr pharmacy to get the gripe water and gave him 0.3mls. He's eating pellets now, I'll get him out again before I go to bed to give him a massage (plus electric toothbrush). I'll give him critical care for breakfast rather than his veggies.

If it goes to serious bloat, he'll stop eating and pooing won't he?
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You can't miss a serious bloat, as he is ballooning, with a very tight tummy, losing his appetite (and through not eating not pooing) and looking very off.

Just hang in there and contact Kim Maddock again if things don't right themselves within a week or so. As long as he just has a rumbly tummy but no other signs of bloat, I would not overdo it.
 
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