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Is my piggy dying? :(

P

Pixiedumpling

New Born Pup
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Hi there,

So my 3.5 year old piggy lost his best friend 2.5 weeks ago :( and as expected he stopped eating and drinking and following a visit to the vet, I have been syringe feeding ever since with critical care. I got him a new friend (a baby about 5 weeks old) last week and they have bonded straight away with no problems.
I am worried that despite my efforts, my piggy is slipping away from me 😢 He weighed 1150 grams on the day his friend went and his weight is deteriorating every day, today he weighs 935 grams. His faeces is extremely smelly, his fur is dry and eyes crusty, he seems to be wincing from pain in his tummy (and when being picked up) and seems lethargic. I do sometimes see him eating the fruit and veg I provide but have not seen him drinking unless I syringe feed it. I carry him around with me as I'm scared I'm going to lose him and I won't be there. He has already been on a course of antibiotics the first week but the vet feels giving him another dose would not be helpful as it could potentially kill whatever good bacteria is left. Does it sound like I'm fighting a losing battle? I'm doing my absolute best in keeping him alive but am worried he is constant pain 😢 Has anyone else had any piggies bounce back from bereavement after being this poorly? Thank youx
 
That is a lot of weight to lose in a weeks' time. I would see about getting him seen by a vet as soon as possible. If he's losing weight then he's not eating enough hay. Fruit is a treat and veg is more of a snack. You will have to step up the syringe feeding and do it every hour for now. need to aim for 60-90ml in a 24 hour period. Weigh him daily at the same time and adjust the syringe feeding amount accordingly. Take him off veg (and fruit) completely as well.

What was the antibiotics given for before? If he's given them again then you will have to give him probiotics either 2 hours before or 2 hours after you give him the antibiotic.
 
Siikibam said:
That is a lot of weight to lose in a weeks' time. I would see about getting him seen by a vet as soon as possible. If he's losing weight then he's not eating enough hay. Fruit is a treat and veg is more of a snack. You will have to step up the syringe feeding and do it every hour for now. need to aim for 60-90ml in a 24 hour period. Weigh him daily at the same time and adjust the syringe feeding amount accordingly. Take him off veg (and fruit) completely as well.

What was the antibiotics given for before? If he's given them again then you will have to give him probiotics either 2 hours before or 2 hours after you give him the antibiotic.
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Thank you, there is alot of hay in his cage which I do also see him eat on occasion, the syringe feeding seemed to go well at first but it seems he is really struggling with it now :( like he is finding it hard to swallow. I won't give up on him and will up the syringe feeding as suggested if I can get it into him. He was given co-amoxiclav. I'll ask about the probiotics too, thank you x
 
Claire W said:
I agree with the above. Please have your boy checked by a vet ASAP as that is a huge weight loss. He could have an underlying condition causing him to lose weight especially if he seems to be in pain
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Thank you, I did read about gutstasis after refusal to eat for periods of time, is this something he can bounce back from? x
 
Piggies&buns said:
:agr:

you need to get a lot more syringe feed into him per 24 hours to stop the weight loss. Weigh him every day so you can monitor that you are feeding him enough. But definitely have him seen by a vet.

Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
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Piggies&buns said:
Co-amoxiclav active ingredient is amoxicilin which cannot be given to guinea pigs. Please see a vet right away. Guinea Lynx :: Dangerous Medications
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Oh my goodness I didn't know this! I thought it was strange that I had to pay £18 for a prescription certificate from the vet to then take the medication to a human pharmacy and pay another £10! They said as it was liquid form I had to obtain the prescription from a pharmacy! And it's not even suitable for guinea pigs!
 
I think you need to call a different vet straight away - it may well be out of hours now - but you need to check this.
But also if he is struggling to swallow then he needs help.
 
All the best and I hope you can get your boy seen as soon as possible. Have a look at the vet locator link below and just find an emergency (out-of-hours) vet you can get him to.
Vet Locator
 
Yes, poop soup is a good idea for piggies who are suffering with digestive upset caused by antibiotics.
Do make seeing the vet ASAP the first step though. I’m not sure what would normally happen now - whether it is a case of support until the amoxicillin is out of the system and treat like any other digestive upset (support feed, probiotic/poop soup and being taken off of veg) or whether there are any other steps which need to be taken in relation to the amoxicillin .
 
Bill & Ted said:
What about poo soup from this young pup? Would this help counteract the amoxicillin. I’m so sorry for you, your vet should have known better🤬
@Piggies&buns ?
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Unfortunately, 'poo soup' is simply transfer of healthy live guinea pig gut microbiome from a healthy companion but it won't do anything about poisoning. Since guinea pigs like all rodents don't have a vomit reflex, what as gone down has to come out at the other end and run through the gut. :(

Please see a vet asap.
Here is our emergency care advice and resources access link, including lists of safe and unsafe medications, accessing vet care, vital support feeding and how to improvise in an emergency etc: Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

Fingers VERY firmly crossed!
 
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