Gut stasis

[gunieapigmumma]

Hi all
I’m just after some reassurance really. My gorgeous 4 year old gunieapig went in to surgery on Friday to have his eye removed and they found a massive abscess behind it. On Monday my baby boy was showing all the signs of gut stasis so he was rushed to vets. So far he has had to stay in overnight and has to stay again tonight..they are giving him syringe feeds, pain relief, critical care etc and keeping an eye on any poops. They updated me today and said he has only managed one small poop and he is struggling to eat due to his face being sore. Myself and family are very upset and anxious so I was just seeing if anyone had any success stories please?

 

[VickiA]

I’ve had several piggies recover from stasis, but I’ve also lost one (only 2 weeks ago). Your vets are no doubt doing all they can to keep the guts moving until he is able to eat for himself again. I hope that in their capable hands he will make good progress.

 

[gunieapigmumma]

So sorry for your loss, when are their bowels meant to open?

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear your boy is unwell.

Piggies poop all the time but their poop output is delayed behind food intake by 1-2 days. So, that means that you won’t see poop until 1-2 days after he starts eating enough. This is why daily weight checks are so important for knowing whether enough syringe feed/independent hay eating is going in.

This guide explains stasis a bit further
Digestive Disorders: Not Eating - Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement)

Best wishes to you and him.

 

[gunieapigmumma]

Thanks for your reply, he is not eating but the vets are syringe feeding him critical care, they are also giving him gut stimulants. I was really wanting to know when they should start pooping during this treatment. He has been in the vet hospital since Monday night

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thanks for your reply, he is not eating but the vets are syringe feeding him critical care, they are also giving him gut stimulants. I was really wanting to know when they should start pooping during this treatment. He has been in the vet hospital since Monday night

He won’t start pooping until 1-2 days after his system is working properly and enough food is going in. It’s not something that is a definite answer, it just depends on his recovery and they are all different.

 

[gunieapigmumma]

He won’t start pooping until 1-2 days after his system is working properly and enough food is going in. It’s not something that is a definite answer, it just depends on his recovery and they are all different.

I’m sorry to ask this but with your piggy who crossed the rainbow bridge, how long did he have the stasis for?

 

[VickiA]

I’m sorry to ask this but with your piggy who crossed the rainbow bridge, how long did he have the stasis for?

I lost Evie to a sudden onset unexplained bloating episode. It was brewing on the Sunday, she was admitted on the Monday morning and put to sleep on the Tuesday afternoon. The big issue is not knowing what caused it.
When piggies go into stasis after surgery/illness it’s usually because they’ve not eaten enough to keep their guts moving sufficiently, so you know there’s no underlying problem with the guts. Your vets are doing the right thing with syringe feeding pain relief & supportive gut medication. Poop output can take a few days to catch up again. But even 1 poop as output is positive.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks for your reply, he is not eating but the vets are syringe feeding him critical care, they are also giving him gut stimulants. I was really wanting to know when they should start pooping during this treatment. He has been in the vet hospital since Monday night

Hi and welcome

Imagine the gut as a very long conveyor belt that suddenly stops or partially stops for a while. You have firstly the gap from the operation/recovery during which your piggy is not eating and then the stasis gap, after which you are going to see mis-shapen and small poos reflecting the syringe feeding period.

Please do not panic - the first poos you are going to see are normal pre-op, indicating that the internal conveyor belt has started up again; then you will see in due course the operation and stasis gap and the gradual recovery. It all runs about 1-4 days behind; depending on the severity and duration of the stasis.

You can find a link to a thread about my Pili Pala's quite severe GI stasis in the stasis chapter in our digestion problems guide as a first hand account. Pili made it through and lived for another year until shortly before her 6th birthday, by the way. It depends what has caused the GI stasis and how fit/frail your piggy is.
Here is the link to our Care guide with all the information (and Pili's story) again: Digestive Disorders: Not Eating - Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement)

Here is our practical post-op care guide and our syringe feeding guide with all the how-to tips should you need them:
Tips For Post-operative Care
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Fingers firmly crossed!

 

[gunieapigmumma]

Hi and welcome

Imagine the gut as a very long conveyor belt that suddenly stops or partially stops for a while. You have firstly the gap from the operation/recovery during which your piggy is not eating and then the stasis gap, after which you are going to see mis-shapen and small poos reflecting the syringe feeding period.

Please do not panic - the first poos you are going to see are normal pre-op, indicating that the internal conveyor belt has started up again; then you will see in due course the operation and stasis gap and the gradual recovery. It all runs about 1-4 days behind; depending on the severity and duration of the stasis.

You can find a link to a thread about my Pili Pala's quite severe GI stasis in the stasis chapter in our digestion problems guide as a first hand account. Pili made it through and lived for another year until shortly before her 6th birthday, by the way. It depends what has caused the GI stasis and how fit/frail your piggy is.
Here is the link to our Care guide with all the information (and Pili's story) again: Digestive Disorders: Not Eating - Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement)

Here is our practical post-op care guide and our syringe feeding guide with all the how-to tips should you need them:
Tips For Post-operative Care
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Fingers firmly crossed!

Thanks so much for that, you explained it well, I’m just petrified about losing him and the vets make it sound so severe ( I know they have to tell me the worst case scenario)my baby has been in since Monday and has only pooped one today which apparently was dry. He got the stasis post eye removal last Friday. I’m so anxious about him every day and I miss him so much. I’m glad your Pili survived and lived another happy year Today, the nurse phoned with an update and said about the one poop but she also said his tummy was “very tight)

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum.
Just offering support for you and your boy

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks so much for that, you explained it well, I’m just petrified about losing him and the vets make it sound so severe ( I know they have to tell me the worst case scenario)my baby has been in since Monday and has only pooped one today which apparently was dry. He got the stasis post eye removal last Friday. I’m so anxious about him every day and I miss him so much. I’m glad your Pili survived and lived another happy year Today, the nurse phoned with an update and said about the one poop but she also said his tummy was “very tight)

HUGS
I am very sorry; it is a tiger that we all have to ride wherever it takes us when one of our piggies has a potentially life threating condition or illness. All you can do is try to hang on and do your best; the outcome is out of your own control. All we can ever do is buy our piggies the best chance for a good future.

A 'tight' tummy means that there is a lot of gassing.
A dry poo signals some more serious dehydration at the time the poo was formed but at least the gut has started to work again, if only slowly.
It still sounds very much like it is on knife's edge. I truly wish I had better news.

If your anxiety and fears are taking over, try to transmute the energy of your emotions into gentle green healing vibes you can send your beloved one.