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Specialist heaveing & vomits

PennyCopper

PennyCopper

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jun 12, 2019
Messages
210
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128
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330
Location
Boynton Beach, Florida, US
Penny is just over a year old. Last Friday night I noticed her heave and then a mucus come out of her mouth. We went to the vet but the vet is only guessing how to treat her. Penny was 'dying' over the weekend, barely moving, heaving up water, medicines, just really sick. Monday and today she is up and eats, plays, and then will heave and vomit again. Then sleep and wake up hungry and thirsty- do the eat, play, get sick, sleep cycle all day yesterday and today. Saturday she started anti nausea med which clearly does nothing, Pepcid antaccid over the counter, and an antibiotic 'in case there is an infection at the esophagus sphincter area. What is happening? Yesterday by email vet said maybe a twisted stomach and needs surgery because guinea pigs are not 'suppose to be able to vomit'. I have made peace with her every night and after every episode of vomiting because she is so sad and pathetic but then she gets up and wants to 'normal' but it never lasts. Any advice at all? My vet did an xray as well and there is no obstruction, no bloating, or lumps. Does she forget she gets sick and then eats? First-time piggie mom. Please if you know or think of anything let us know.
Thank you,
Colleen and Penny
 
PennyCopper said:
Penny is just over a year old. Last Friday night I noticed her heave and then a mucus come out of her mouth. We went to the vet but the vet is only guessing how to treat her. Penny was 'dying' over the weekend, barely moving, heaving up water, medicines, just really sick. Monday and today she is up and eats, plays, and then will heave and vomit again. Then sleep and wake up hungry and thirsty- do the eat, play, get sick, sleep cycle all day yesterday and today. Saturday she started anti nausea med which clearly does nothing, Pepcid antaccid over the counter, and an antibiotic 'in case there is an infection at the esophagus sphincter area. What is happening? Yesterday by email vet said maybe a twisted stomach and needs surgery because guinea pigs are not 'suppose to be able to vomit'. I have made peace with her every night and after every episode of vomiting because she is so sad and pathetic but then she gets up and wants to 'normal' but it never lasts. Any advice at all? My vet did an xray as well and there is no obstruction, no bloating, or lumps. Does she forget she gets sick and then eats? First-time piggie mom. Please if you know or think of anything let us know.
Thank you,
Colleen and Penny
Click to expand...

Hi!

Rodents (which guinea pigs are) don't have a vomiting reflex and can't get nauseous.

If food is coming up, then because it cannot go down for some reason. has your vet checked the back teeth for overgrowth or something stuck in them?

Has your vet checked for oral thrush (fungal infection in the mouth and throat area)?
 
Wiebke said:
Hi!

Rodents (which guinea pigs are) don't have a vomiting reflex and can't get nauseous.

If food is coming up, then because it cannot go down for some reason. has your vet checked the back teeth for overgrowth or something stuck in them?

Has your vet checked for oral thrush (fungal infection in the mouth and throat area)?
Click to expand...

The vet did a mouth rinse/flush and looked in her mouth and throat. I assume she would have seen the teeth overgrown. I do not think oral thrush was checked. I was given antibiotic enrofloxin susp 22,7 mg/ml told twice a day for 7 days. Would that help the oral infection?
I really appreciate you taking time to reply with such thoughtful comments.
 
PennyCopper said:
The vet did a mouth rinse/flush and looked in her mouth and throat. I assume she would have seen the teeth overgrown. I do not think oral thrush was checked. I was given antibiotic enrofloxin susp 22,7 mg/ml told twice a day for 7 days. Would that help the oral infection?
I really appreciate you taking time to reply with such thoughtful comments.
Click to expand...

Enrofloxin is another brand name for baytril (whose active ingredient is enroflaxacin). Antibiotics can at best temporarily suppress but not heal fungal.

However, I can only guess; I don't have any formal medical training. I hope that the other medically more experienced members I have tagged in will be able to find the time to have a look in. They are very busy.

It would help us if you please told us what angles have already been checked and discounted by your vet.
 
Wiebke said:
Enrofloxin is another brand name for baytril (whose active ingredient is enroflaxacin). Antibiotics can at best temporarily suppress but not heal fungal.

However, I can only guess; I don't have any formal medical training. I hope that the other medically more experienced members I have tagged in will be able to find the time to have a look in. They are very busy.

It would help us if you please told us what angles have already been checked and discounted by your vet.
Click to expand...

not sure what you mean by 'angles' but the vet did an xray, mouth rinse, feeling for bloating/hardness. Put her on pepcid, anti nausea, and enrofloxin.
 
PennyCopper said:
not sure what you mean by 'angles' but the vet did an xray, mouth rinse, feeling for bloating/hardness. Put her on pepcid, anti nausea, and enrofloxin.
Click to expand...

Angles mean checking all potential areas and vectors where the problem could come from.
 
PennyCopper said:
Is there a holistic anti fungal?
Click to expand...

not quite sure what you mean. Do you mean a systemic anti fungal? If so then yes there is oral treatment that will treat fungal wherever it is (sporanox or itrafungol).
 
VickiA said:
not quite sure what you mean. Do you mean a systemic anti fungal? If so then yes there is oral treatment that will treat fungal wherever it is (sporanox or itrafungol).
Click to expand...

However, you will need to discuss this with your vet as your specific problem is that food is being brought up again, and that will also affect any oral medication.
 
Hi Penny, How is your pig doing now?

The only time i have seen guinea pigs heaving and what we class as regurgitating is in guinea pigs with a twisted stomach - which as your vet described is a life threatening thing. Is she still heaving or not now?

x
 
No, I started juicing and little by little she held down water, and juice. Next hay then mushed food. Now she is back and happy, playful and eats everything. We went for a recheck and still the vet is not sure what happened to Penny. Mayne she ate something poisonous, maybe one of my students gave her a germ/virus... honestly the vet, who use to raise guinea pigs is not sure what happened. I'm grateful my Penny-poo is back. Thank you for checking.
 
i m so happy she is doing well now🤗🤗
 
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