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Guinea Pig Gut Stasis?

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thmsd

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Hi, last week my guinea pig had a very wheezy chest and was breathing irregularly and so we took her to the vets to be treated for a URI. The vet gave her a week long course of antibiotics which we completed at the weekend.

We were not prescribed antibiotics and she had diarrhoea for a couple of days. We cut down her vegetables and provided her with extra hay to try and increase fibre intake. It was over this time that she stopped pooping entirely so we took her to the vet again where they injected her with gut motility drugs.

These didn't work so we returned yesterday and they said she lost 1/4 of her body weight over the past 5 or so days. She was given another injection as well as Metacam and Zantac Syrup. We're feeding her 45mg of critical care per day as regularly as we can. She seems even more lethargic today however and still isn't pooping. We are returning to the vets tomorrow for another check up to see if this is working.

I was wondering whether the URI may not have gone completely or if this is an unrelated issue? Also am I expecting results too quickly? I'm just worried that it may be too late if we wait around too long as this is what killed our previous guinea pig.

Thanks in advance for any responses
 
@thmsd When you see the vet ask them for gut motility drugs to bring home with you as they need to be given multiple times a day. There are also a few more that can be given at the same time as Zantac so mention that also.

It's hard work but it sounds like you need to feed more tham 45g of Critical Care a day. Pigs digestive system needs to keep moving otherwise it can shut down. If there is no poo output then digestion isn't working properly.
 
Thank you so much for your reply. I will increase the amount of critical care we are giving her. Are there any motility drugs you recommend that we ask for?
I was wondering if the digestion problems are at all related to the URI she had? Like if the antibiotics didn't fully cure it?
She has also been sat for long periods today hunched up and I have read that this is also a symptom?
I can't hear anymore wheeziness and we assumed the antibiotics worked after she finished the course.
 
We're really desperate for some help before we go to the vets tomorrow evening so if anyone has any more advice it'd be much appreciated
 
@thmsd It depends on where in the digestive system the issue is to which drugs will help. Whenever one of my pigs has issues then I usually end up with Metoclopromide (Emeprid) to bring home and give them orally.

I also have a pig who is currently on Cisapride because of a lower digestive issue.

The vet should be able to work out which one(s) would help.

It could be due to the URI, especially if the antibiotics caused an intolerance.

But it may not have been a URI at all and a digestive upset or mild bloat that caused it. I have a pig who suffers from mild bloat which causes his breathing to get snuffly and his poops to soften alot. Once he gets over it he's all okay again.

Fingers crossed that once your pigs stomach is settled then she's start to eat on her own again.

Let us know how she is.
 
@thmsd I just had a thought that a good probiotic can sometimes aid recovery. When my boy gets a bit bloated I start him on Fibreplex.

You can get that online or your vet may have some.
 
Jaycey said:
@thmsd It depends on where in the digestive system the issue is to which drugs will help. Whenever one of my pigs has issues then I usually end up with Metoclopromide (Emeprid) to bring home and give them orally.

I also have a pig who is currently on Cisapride because of a lower digestive issue.

The vet should be able to work out which one(s) would help.
Click to expand...

The past two times we visited the vet she's been given metoclopromide injections. Hopefully tomorrow they'll try something different and/or give us medication to administer orally. The vets are not an exotic vet, however she has been in contact with an experienced vet regarding what drugs to administer so I'm hoping she knows what to prescribe for this situation.

Jaycey said:
It could be due to the URI, especially if the antibiotics caused an intolerance.

But it may not have been a URI at all and a digestive upset or mild bloat that caused it. I have a pig who suffers from mild bloat which causes his breathing to get snuffly and his poops to soften alot. Once he gets over it he's all okay again.
Click to expand...

I just wanted to rule out the possibility of the URI persisting as this causes guinea pigs to deteriorate more quickly? Especially if shes not currently being treated for it. And I'm not sure this is bloat, the vet checked her stomach as said she couldnt find swelling. She's become quite lethargic as I mentioned and this was well after her URI symptoms cleared up.

Jaycey said:
@thmsd I just had a thought that a good probiotic can sometimes aid recovery. When my boy gets a bit bloated I start him on Fibreplex.

You can get that online or your vet may have some.
Click to expand...

Yes in my original post i meant to say that the vet prescribed antibiotics for the uri last week but did not mention probiotics. it wasn't until much later i read to find that guinea pigs need them. I think it was probably this that caused the intitial diarrhoea, and possibly could be linked to the GI at the minute? I'll try her with probiotics tomorrow.

Thank you so much for your help; we're not very esperienced with guinea pigs and have been a bit panicky since she got ill, especially after our other pig died a couple of months ago, so it's helpful to hear some advice from an experienced owner
 
@thmsd How is her breathing now? If she seems to be okay and there is no discharge from her nose then I would suspect that the URI has cleared up. But the vet could give you some more, or different antibiotics to try just in case something is still lurking.

It definitely could be the antibiotics that caused the GI upset. I've generally been very lucky and not had it happen but there is always a chance that medicine can upset them.

Sometimes the syringe food can make their poop a bit softer so I'l still try to offer her hay and pellets to try to tempt her to eat for herself. She may not want them still but if there are some in her cage then she might have a try when she's feeling better.

You're very welcome for the advice. I understand completely how stressful it can be when they're ill. We just want them better again! Ask anything you want, the forum is great for information and general support when we're feeling overwhelmed!
 
Welcome to the forum and so sorry you’re having such an anxious time.
I can’t add to the advice but just wanted to offer support
 
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