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Guinea pig not well

Kmm399

Kmm399

New Born Pup
Joined
Mar 3, 2023
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Location
Warrington, United Kingdom
Hi ,
My guinea pig Cookie is 2 years old. He was fine few days ago and yesterday i have noticed he makes a noise like he is in pain when be poops and has crusty eye. So i have rung the vets and brought him. They have heard his lungs etc and said he has a fluid in his abdomen. Done an ultra sound to double check and its definitely a fluid buildup in his abdomen. They are not sure what it causes it thinking about a heart problem or abdominal. Gave him an injection to get rid of the liquid see if it works and a metacam. He is still running, eating, pooping and drinking water just breathing a bit heav. So i wonder if someone had a similar problem or any advice?
Thanks.
M
 
Were you also given antibiotics in case it is a respiratory infection?

You did the right thing getting him to a vet quickly and hopefully he will start to feel better soon.
 
Swissgreys said:
Were you also given antibiotics in case it is a respiratory infection?

You did the right thing getting him to a vet quickly and hopefully he will start to feel better soon.
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The vet never mentioned an URI and didn't prescribe any antibiotics i was thinking about UTI but if the vet never mentioned it I thought its just me. I just worry if its his heart i really dont wanna loose my boy so young. Thinking of maybe checking him with another vet for a second opinion i just dont know
 
Welcome to the forum.
If you are still worried ask for a referral to Rutland House which isn’t too far from you in St Helen’s.
Molly Varga is an exotic specialist.
They are more expensive than a general vet but if your piggy doesn’t start getting better you can ask your vet for a second opinion or a referral.

It’s good you were able to get Cookie to a vet so promptly and hopefully he will recover quickly
 
My boy Kip had fluid in his abdomen, they said it’s pretty much always either from heart or liver failure/scarring, and he was PTS after that diagnosis. He did also have very bad bloating however, and was nearly 7 years old and had stopped eating normally and seemed very uncomfortable the days prior so PTS seemed kindest based on all of that and his age. Your boy is so young and everything else you said seems positive, and I think in a lot of cases even heart or liver damage can be treated over their lives and their life can be extended and they can live comfortably, *if* that is the reason. It’s the only experience I have with abdominal fluid in piggies. Try not to panic if you can, Cookie seems like he’s doing really well for the most part by the sounds of it, that’s a very good sign ☺️

If it’s paining him to poop, did they check his urine? Sometimes pain that seems like it comes from pooping is actually from their peeing. You could be right about a URI though! Good luck to you both, you got this Cookie! 🥰
 
Merab's Slave said:
Welcome to the forum.
If you are still worried ask for a referral to Rutland House which isn’t too far from you in St Helen’s.
Molly Varga is an exotic specialist.
They are more expensive than a general vet but if your piggy doesn’t start getting better you can ask your vet for a second opinion or a referral.

It’s good you were able to get Cookie to a vet so promptly and hopefully he will recover quickly
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Thank you very much for the info i was looking for a exotic specialist in Warrington but didnt find any so thank you. I will wait another day or two and if he doesn't get better i would try the one in st healens. 😊
 
lauryn1289 said:
My boy Kip had fluid in his abdomen, they said it’s pretty much always either from heart or liver failure/scarring, and he was PTS after that diagnosis. He did also have very bad bloating however, and was nearly 7 years old and had stopped eating normally and seemed very uncomfortable the days prior so PTS seemed kindest based on all of that and his age. Your boy is so young and everything else you said seems positive, and I think in a lot of cases even heart or liver damage can be treated over their lives and their life can be extended and they can live comfortably, *if* that is the reason. It’s the only experience I have with abdominal fluid in piggies. Try not to panic if you can, Cookie seems like he’s doing really well for the most part by the sounds of it, that’s a very good sign ☺️

If it’s paining him to poop, did they check his urine? Sometimes pain that seems like it comes from pooping is actually from their peeing. You could be right about a URI though! Good luck to you both, you got this Cookie! 🥰
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Thank you for your help! I hope he gets better and its not from his heart. The doctor said the same there is a little information and not much about fluid in guinea pigs. She also said if its the heart they cant do anything about it and there are no medicine which i doubt that. I will wait couple of more days see if he gets better😊🤞🏼
 
Kmm399 said:
Thank you for your help! I hope he gets better and its not from his heart. The doctor said the same there is a little information and not much about fluid in guinea pigs. She also said if its the heart they cant do anything about it and there are no medicine which i doubt that. I will wait couple of more days see if he gets better😊🤞🏼
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Fluid does seem pretty complex and hard to pinpoint a cause for in piggies unfortunately, I think vets go mainly off the causes in other animals which nearly always seems to be liver or heart in most other species and more rarely cancer. (From what I know)
I don’t really know anything about heart specifically, but I have seen in cases of fluid caused by liver disease medication did extend their life and made them more comfortable. I do think your piggy eating and pooping and behaving normally otherwise is a good sign! I’ll be thinking of you both ❤️
 
Kmm399 said:
Thank you for your help! I hope he gets better and its not from his heart. The doctor said the same there is a little information and not much about fluid in guinea pigs. She also said if its the heart they cant do anything about it and there are no medicine which i doubt that. I will wait couple of more days see if he gets better😊🤞🏼
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It's great you are thinking of going elsewhere as we definitely have some members whose piggies are on heart meds and coping very well.
So if your vet says it can't be treated then they might not see a lot of piggies on a regular basis (most vets don't).
I would definitely ask for a referral to Rutland House.
For example here is a thread which talks about treatment for fluid build up for heart issues.
Fluid buildup
 
Thank you i will check it now and def ask for referral. He seems better today eating a lot and doesn't have crusty eyes. So hopefully is getting better🤞🏼Although i need to find the problem causing the fluid build up as it would probably happen again.
 
Hi guys,
The vet said he looks less bloated but still monitor him this week and bring him back in a week. He is still the same running around, eating a lot, drinking everything seems normal. The only thing still worries me if its his heart and his eye is still crusty its been 2 weeks now🤔i also bought a pet cam so i can monitor him from work😂
 
Kmm399 said:
Hi guys,
The vet said he looks less bloated but still monitor him this week and bring him back in a week. He is still the same running around, eating a lot, drinking everything seems normal. The only thing still worries me if its his heart and his eye is still crusty its been 2 weeks now🤔i also bought a pet cam so i can monitor him from work😂
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Thanks for the update.
Was he given any medication at all, and did you manage to get a referral for him for a more experienced vet?
 
Swissgreys said:
Thanks for the update.
Was he given any medication at all, and did you manage to get a referral for him for a more experienced vet?
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No she didn't mention any medication at all.I have mentioned it and she said she will check him next week and give me want if I want to. Its just very weird as he seems absolutely fine but they never found the source of the liquid and I think it might happen again it doesn't matter that he is less bloated now . And the crusty eye i dont know why she never mentioned anything about it only checked his eyes for cuts🤔
 
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