• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Harry has severe, sudden onset diarrhoea

Swissgreys

Swissgreys

Moderator
Senior Guinea Pig
Joined
Mar 15, 2016
Messages
11,370
Reaction score
27,224
Points
2,165
Location
Zürich, Switzerland
Harry was fine last night. Eating and shrieking for treats as usual.

Today, mid morning I put his fresh in, and rushed straight into a meeting.
When I came upstairs again and checked I noticed Harry hadn't eaten his veggies - this is unheard of.
He was in his tunnel, fluffed up and looking very unwell.
I got him out, and his back end is covered in very smelly, mucous like diarrhoea :no:

I called the vet and have an appointment in 20 minutes.
He is cool to the touch and fairly listless, so he is now in a carrier filled with fleece and hay and a heat pad (but with space to move away from the heat pad if needed).
Is there anything I should specifically request?
I have Metacam, syringes, multiple formulas to feed, and probiotics.
We are seeing a specialist (not the local vet - he just seems to ill) but she is always happy to take my suggestions on board.

I have never seen a pig go downhill so fast and am really worried about our silly, scaredy boy.
 
Swissgreys said:
Harry was fine last night. Eating and shrieking for treats as usual.

Today, mid morning I put his fresh in, and rushed straight into a meeting.
When I came upstairs again and checked I noticed Harry hadn't eaten his veggies - this is unheard of.
He was in his tunnel, fluffed up and looking very unwell.
I got him out, and his back end is covered in very smelly, mucous like diarrhoea :no:

I called the vet and have an appointment in 20 minutes.
He is cool to the touch and fairly listless, so he is now in a carrier filled with fleece and hay and a heat pad (but with space to move away from the heat pad if needed).
Is there anything I should specifically request?
I have Metacam, syringes, multiple formulas to feed, and probiotics.
We are seeing a specialist (not the local vet - he just seems to ill) but she is always happy to take my suggestions on board.

I have never seen a pig go downhill so fast and am really worried about our silly, scaredy boy.
Click to expand...

Here is our diarrhea avice. Severe diarrhea is a serious illness, so good that you have him seen as an emergency. the fact that he is feeling cool is a bit worrying.
Digestive Disorders: Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement) And Not Eating

All the best for your vet trip and fingers very firmly cross for poor Henry!
 
Thanks dear @Wiebke
The first thing I did was come on here to check the guide. It is so reassuring to have somewhere with sensible, factual advice to refer to when you are covered in piggy poop, holding a pig wrapped in a blanket under one arm, and calling the vet with your other hand.
Thankfully our vet is amazing, and will always make time to see a poorly piggy as they fully appreciate how quickly they can go downhill.

Off to the vet now - will update later with hopefully some good news.
 
Swissgreys said:
Thanks dear @Wiebke
The first thing I did was come on here to check the guide. It is so reassuring to have somewhere with sensible, factual advice to refer to when you are covered in piggy poop, holding a pig wrapped in a blanket under one arm, and calling the vet with your other hand.
Thankfully our vet is amazing, and will always make time to see a poorly piggy as they fully appreciate how quickly they can go downhill.

Off to the vet now - will update later with hopefully some good news.
Click to expand...

I would mention that Harry has been feeling cool when you picked him up; he won't show that with a snugglesafe in his carrier.
 
Oh no. Sending best wishes for the appointment. How worrying.
 
Oh how alarming, hope all goes well at the vets. Keeping my fingers firmly crossed for Harry.xx
 
Well spotted so quick . . and getting Harry to vets asap.
Sending you tons tlc. :hug:
Come on little Harry. x
 
Poor Harry.
Hope the vet was able to work out the problem and he can be easily treated.
Holding you in my heart
 
i hope Harry is ok.when i have a pig with diarrohea,i start oral fluids with electolytes added as diarrohea can rapidly cause dehydration.Emergency vet is always best.thinking of you at this crucial time.
 
I hope you're both OK. They can go down the hill quickly with severe diahhorhea like that. Fingers crossed x
 
Thank you for all of your good wishes, and sorry I didn't come back to update sooner.
Sadly Harry didn't make it.

Actually in the end we didn't even make it to the vet.
I was getting ready to leave and he was in his carrier on the chest in the hallway.
I went to check on hime one last time to make sure he was comfortable before putting him in the car, and it was obvious he was already fairly far gone.
I picked him up and he was floppy and unresponsive, so I sat down and held him wrapped in his blanket.
Less than 5 minutes later he squeaked, shuddered a couple of times, and passed away in my arms.

I am in absolute pieces about it.
He was only 3 years old, and went from eating, popcorning and wheeking to dying in less than 6 hours.

I took him to the vet this morning for them to arrange cremation, and the vet was kind enough to come and have a chat with me.
She suspects it was some form of serious underlying issue that cause major multiple organ failure, and that in turn caused his whole system to simply shut down. She did say that given how quickly he deteriorated despite clearly being in good condition, she doubts we could have saved him.

Sleep tight Harry 😢
1606910717303.webp
 
Oh I am so sorry to hear that Harry didn’t make it :( be gentle with yourself as you grieve. Holding you in my thoughts today. Popcorn free, sweet boy 🌈 xx
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top