Boo
New Born Pup
Hello, I am new to the forum, and the main reason I joined is because we have just said goodbye to our guinea pig Boo. We think he was four years old. We took him to the emergency vet last weekend as I noticed he was off his food, sitting in the corner of his hutch. His droppings were not formed and were offensive smelling. He was however still eating a little food and drinking. The vet checked him over thoroughly and agreed it was a gastric upset. He was given a pain relief injection.
The next day Boo seemed quieter, eating and drinking less. His head was tilted to one side and he was walking with difficulty. We took him to our usual vet who examined him and suspected that there was a neurological problem. Boo was given a further pain relief injection and an injection to soothe and stimulate the gut. We were also given critical care/build up to administer in a syringe. We were advised to come back in 24 hours.
Well, sadly Boo's condition became worse. He was very poorly and unable to walk by the next morning, and I was sure that he would have to be put to sleep, which was the case. Such a sad day, arriving at the vets with ones guinea pig and leaving carrying a little lump wrapped in a towel.
What I am really struggling with, as well as missing my greedy, chatty little guinea pig is why the emergency vet did not administer the gastric injection as well as the pain relief injection last weekend. I appreciate that if someone told me that the vet should have given him the gut medication, it would still be a series of what ifs, perhaps, and maybes as we will never know whether Boo would have recovered from his gastric upset and would still be with us.
We have only owned guinea pigs for around two years so I am still learning, but I do know that for a guinea pig to stay healthy and for their general wellbeing is vital for peristalsis in the gut to be working at 100%. I just wonder if anyone else has had a similar experience with their guinea pig? Our usual vet thought that the issue with the gut and the stress which that caused Boo may have subsequently led to the neurological issue. I am kicking myself for not asking the vet at the time whether there was anything she could give Boo to 'stabilise' his gut.
The next day Boo seemed quieter, eating and drinking less. His head was tilted to one side and he was walking with difficulty. We took him to our usual vet who examined him and suspected that there was a neurological problem. Boo was given a further pain relief injection and an injection to soothe and stimulate the gut. We were also given critical care/build up to administer in a syringe. We were advised to come back in 24 hours.
Well, sadly Boo's condition became worse. He was very poorly and unable to walk by the next morning, and I was sure that he would have to be put to sleep, which was the case. Such a sad day, arriving at the vets with ones guinea pig and leaving carrying a little lump wrapped in a towel.
What I am really struggling with, as well as missing my greedy, chatty little guinea pig is why the emergency vet did not administer the gastric injection as well as the pain relief injection last weekend. I appreciate that if someone told me that the vet should have given him the gut medication, it would still be a series of what ifs, perhaps, and maybes as we will never know whether Boo would have recovered from his gastric upset and would still be with us.
We have only owned guinea pigs for around two years so I am still learning, but I do know that for a guinea pig to stay healthy and for their general wellbeing is vital for peristalsis in the gut to be working at 100%. I just wonder if anyone else has had a similar experience with their guinea pig? Our usual vet thought that the issue with the gut and the stress which that caused Boo may have subsequently led to the neurological issue. I am kicking myself for not asking the vet at the time whether there was anything she could give Boo to 'stabilise' his gut.
