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Gut Stasis and work

A

Agashe

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Oct 12, 2020
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Location
Georgia,USA
Hello,my Guinea pig Hazel (5) was at my grandmas for 3 days while I was on vacation,apparently after the 1st day he wasn’t eating much. Then when I returned he was 750grams out of the usual 900. I took him to the vet ASAP and that was on Monday,she wasn’t sure the cause. His teeth were fine,he had a runny nose though with crusts so she gave him antibiotics,painkillers and fluids. I was also instructed 10-15 of critical care every 8 hours. When I got home the poor guy passed 3 bladder stones but has since had normal pee. It’s now Wednesday he’s 650grams and I have upped that dose of critical care because I know it’s not enough for a piggie not eating on his own. I’m wondering if he will be okay while I am at work for 8 hours on Thursday and Friday? The smallest gap I could manage would be him not eating from 1-7 because my partner would be home. Should I teach my partners sister how to feed him? I don’t want him to choke or aspirate on his food but she’s also never handled a Guinea before. It’s also harder for my partner to feed him since he doesn’t know know her. Also he is shaking and not very willing to move but IS accepting critical care. If at any point he stops willingly taking it I will have him PTS sadly. I don’t want him to suffer because I’m being selfish. Any advice would be much appreciated! Thank you!
 
The vet is aware of the bladder stones and I have an X-ray appointment on Friday morning before work.
 
Agashe said:
Hello,my Guinea pig Hazel (5) was at my grandmas for 3 days while I was on vacation,apparently after the 1st day he wasn’t eating much. Then when I returned he was 750grams out of the usual 900. I took him to the vet ASAP and that was on Monday,she wasn’t sure the cause. His teeth were fine,he had a runny nose though with crusts so she gave him antibiotics,painkillers and fluids. I was also instructed 10-15 of critical care every 8 hours. When I got home the poor guy passed 3 bladder stones but has since had normal pee. It’s now Wednesday he’s 650grams and I have upped that dose of critical care because I know it’s not enough for a piggie not eating on his own. I’m wondering if he will be okay while I am at work for 8 hours on Thursday and Friday? The smallest gap I could manage would be him not eating from 1-7 because my partner would be home. Should I teach my partners sister how to feed him? I don’t want him to choke or aspirate on his food but she’s also never handled a Guinea before. It’s also harder for my partner to feed him since he doesn’t know know her. Also he is shaking and not very willing to move but IS accepting critical care. If at any point he stops willingly taking it I will have him PTS sadly. I don’t want him to suffer because I’m being selfish. Any advice would be much appreciated! Thank you!
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Hi

Please up the syringe feed to ideally 60 ml over the course of 20 hours but a minimum of 40 ml for bare survival. Your vet's recommendation is too low, as the weight loss is clearly indicating. You can spread the feeds around the 8 hours of work needed; the feeding frequency depends on how much you can get into him in one go.

Please take the time to read our very comprehensive and very practical syringe feeding guide and the other links: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Digestive Disorders: Not Eating - Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement)

Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment


Please also keep him warm but not hot (with the option to move away if he is overheating) if he is shivering. Be aware that there could be further stones in the pipeline from the kidneys downwards.
 
Is 20ml every 2 hours too much? That’s what I was aiming for. So he can go 8 hours without eating at a time?
 
Agashe said:
Is 20ml every 2 hours too much? That’s what I was aiming for. So he can go 8 hours without eating at a time?
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Most piggies will stop at 15 ml in one go until the appetite kicks in but it is worth trying to get as close as possible. :tu:
 
Just sending you big hugs- I know how physically and emotionally draining syringe feeding is. You're doing an amazing job. 🥰
 
Hello,I want to thank everyone for their responses. Sadly Hazel has passed,my partner was trying to feed him while I was at work and he just let the food sit in his mouth. At some point he laid on his side and that was the point I determined it was time for euthanasia. He passed in my arms in a blanket before the vet could even get the medicine ready to administer. He was a good boy and he lived a decently long life. I will dearly miss him and I’m sure his cagemate will as well. I will be either getting another cagemate for J-Rod (cagemate) or I will be making a difficult choice to give J-Rod to a loving home with another Guinea pig but I’m not sure if I will make that choice just from some random Joe telling me they will take good care of him. I will most likely be keeping J-Rod unless they have a rep with my vet taking care of current guineas in their home.
 
Oh I’m so sorry. Popcorn high over the bridge Hazel.
 
Agashe said:
Hello,I want to thank everyone for their responses. Sadly Hazel has passed,my partner was trying to feed him while I was at work and he just let the food sit in his mouth. At some point he laid on his side and that was the point I determined it was time for euthanasia. He passed in my arms in a blanket before the vet could even get the medicine ready to administer. He was a good boy and he lived a decently long life. I will dearly miss him and I’m sure his cagemate will as well. I will be either getting another cagemate for J-Rod (cagemate) or I will be making a difficult choice to give J-Rod to a loving home with another Guinea pig but I’m not sure if I will make that choice just from some random Joe telling me they will take good care of him. I will most likely be keeping J-Rod unless they have a rep with my vet taking care of current guineas in their home.
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BIG HUGS

I am so sorry. It sounds like the bloating/GI stasis symptoms were more likely secondary to another growing internal problem that caused Hazel to go into multiple organ failure; working out what is going on can be very difficult when things are masked, as I know from piggies of mine. There is nothing you have done wrong - you have truly done all you could and were told to do; it's just one of the short straws in the cosmic lottery. :( :( :(

Please be kind with yourself and give yourself time to grieve.

You may find the very practical guides in this link here helpful in making sense of what has happened (including symptoms of multiple organ failure) and what you can do for J-Rod right now and in the coming days. There is also a human grieving guide with further helpful links.
Death, Dying, Terminal Illness; Human Grieving and Bereaved Companions: Information and Support for Owners and Their Children
 
I'm really sorry. Sometimes life just seems so cruel. Xx
Please do read through the guides above- they're tough, but infinitely helpful with the grieving process. ❤
 
I have one final question. Hazel passed without J-Rod around. I have buried Hazel,will J-Rod understand that his friend is gone gone? Hazel was clearly unwell but I’m not sure if this will affect his grieving process now or not? I would have shown J-Rod Hazel “asleep” but where I stay is different than where Hazel is buried and it felt wrong toting him to and from place to place.
 
I mean in the sense like…do they understand? I read that it doesn’t affect either way but does he know he wasn’t just abandoned?
 
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