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My piggie is very ill.
- Thread starter retro
- Start date
Okay. I’ll see what I can do tomorrow. Until then, I’m just hoping to get through the night
I’m glad he has been seen.
He definitely needs a painkiller though and I am very concerned to see he’s been given a steroid as they should never be given to piggies.
He definitely needs a painkiller though and I am very concerned to see he’s been given a steroid as they should never be given to piggies.
Injected. However, he’s doing fine. Update post in a sec.
Update on Robbie, just gave him his second dose of medicine. He’s up and active, no longer hunched over, even fighting me during meds (he is VERY much a stubborn boy.) He’s doing good. Still not eating on his own. His bottom teeth were trimmed. But they don’t rise above his lower lip, so when he bites, I think it’s catching his lip. Which...how long does it take for their teeth to grow? I can feed him in the mean time, that’s fine but maybe I’m guessing wrong about the lip thing. Normal or no?
I guess a boost to get him going. I didn’t ask, they don’t usually vet guinea pigs. This was an emergency situation. I get that steroids aren’t usually used. But it’s been done.
get well soon!
Thank you!
If they dont normally treat guinea pigs and have for one given a medication which is not advised for piggies then I would be a bit doubtful they've done a dental properly. Even experienced and cavy savvy vets aren't well versed in properly doing dentals so one who doesn't normally treat piggies at all could be problematic. You will just have to see how things go.
Their teeth do grow fairly quickly but unless he eats hay for himself (unfortunately if the dental hasn't been done properly then he won't be able to do that) then overgrowth at the back teeth will occur
Free Ranger
Forum Donator 2023/24
The teeth grow back: I think people sometimes over-shorten bottom incisors thinking they will grow back anyway. I've seen a post before where a lady was feeding her pig slivers of veg, blades of grass and stalks of hay for about a week until he could pick them up himself (herself?) I think the incisors are for picking up food and for biting into things rather than chewing. There are even pigs on the forum that have no bottom incisors and have adapted well apart from having to have top incisors trimmed regularly. They do look a bit gummy and sad for a while.
Painkiller is important because sometimes the gums or lips are caught and can be sore and swollen which puts them off eating... also if there has been a general anaesthetic and the back teeth have been ground down it's a bigger thing. My girl had that done and they gave us oral painkiller for a week (called metacam or loxicom here - two doses a day). Sometimes the front teeth are done without GA which makes it faster for the pig but probably a shock the first time - I know how I'd feel. I hope he gets his appetite back soon. Pain and trauma can put them off eating. When you give him the slurry can you feel him 'chewing' it? Or if he has bits of veg does he chew easily now? It's good he's perking up! ☺
If I've missed the bit on the thread where you get advised to weigh daily at the same time to see if he's losing/gaining/staying the same over a number of days sorry for repeating!
Painkiller is important because sometimes the gums or lips are caught and can be sore and swollen which puts them off eating... also if there has been a general anaesthetic and the back teeth have been ground down it's a bigger thing. My girl had that done and they gave us oral painkiller for a week (called metacam or loxicom here - two doses a day). Sometimes the front teeth are done without GA which makes it faster for the pig but probably a shock the first time - I know how I'd feel. I hope he gets his appetite back soon. Pain and trauma can put them off eating. When you give him the slurry can you feel him 'chewing' it? Or if he has bits of veg does he chew easily now? It's good he's perking up! ☺
If I've missed the bit on the thread where you get advised to weigh daily at the same time to see if he's losing/gaining/staying the same over a number of days sorry for repeating!
Siikibam
Forum Donator 2022/23
Grass is a good one if you can get some that’s dog pee free. Did you have any luck with getting him some painkiller? I’d try and see if there is an experienced vet who can give him the once over. How is he doing? Have you had a chance to weigh him yet? Has he maintained or lost? I know it may be early morning there.
North Carolina - Guinea Lynx Records
North Carolina - Guinea Lynx Records
Ok, I think you’re misunderstanding my situation here. I’m gonna explain as best as I can and be 100% honest....I can’t do that. I can’t go around taking him to several different and overpriced (yes, overpriced) vets. I took my life’s savings to treat Robin. All of it. I will be lucky if I have enough for food. I have nothing left. They will not give me pain meds for free. I cannot spend hundreds on a vet that’s an hour away. That’s it. That’s all I can do, is try my best. That’s what I can do. There’s no attitude or anything I’m just shooting straight with you here. I’m weighing him, he’s retaining weight. That’s a good sign. He’s fighting me when it comes to having to give him water or food. He’s fussy, so he definitely has some energy back. He’s even starting to rumble strut again. That’s my boy! I had the biggest grin when I heard it this morning. Sometimes he’ll hunch up. He is sore. Again, the aforementioned. So that’s the update.
Free Ranger
Forum Donator 2023/24
You are doing your best and blimey that's more than a lot of people would do! It's great that he's holding his weight - he's doing his best too 
and he's not judging you. I think it's the collective role of the forum to say "This is the ideal, this is what we want to aim for..." but of course none of us get there every time and we all just try and get as far as we can. You have made such sacrifices for your different pet's happiness - sometimes there are circumstances we can't control, but if you are making your decisions with love you can't go far wrong. The truth is sometimes there just isn't a good choice, there is only our best shot. Love to Robin and Ziggy - I'll pray for them because that's all I can do x
and he's not judging you. I think it's the collective role of the forum to say "This is the ideal, this is what we want to aim for..." but of course none of us get there every time and we all just try and get as far as we can. You have made such sacrifices for your different pet's happiness - sometimes there are circumstances we can't control, but if you are making your decisions with love you can't go far wrong. The truth is sometimes there just isn't a good choice, there is only our best shot. Love to Robin and Ziggy - I'll pray for them because that's all I can do xThey didn’t grind his back teeth. Just clipped his bottom incisors a little too short. They didn’t put him to sleep. They couldn’t have, they were gone for like two minutes at most. That’s too fast for them to put him to sleep and then wake him up. And yes he is chewing, I can feel and even see. Just not wanting to take food. He has his energy back so he is being stubborn now! Haha. Poor little guy. I will nurse him as long as it takes. His eye hasn’t really changed yet.
Yes, it’s how I am with all my animals. I have two cats, a dog, and my two guineas. My 3rd cat recently died of old age and I had another dog but I gave her up for rescue, I saved her life by doing that and she is so spoiled by her new owner! What a difficult choice I had to make and it’s about the same as taking a child away. She was with me for 9 years. I thought Robin was dying, I really did. So, I made him as comfortable as possible. But I couldn’t even last that long on letting him die on his own. I said “I am going to the vet. Either he is coming out better, or he won’t come out at all. I will not let him suffer either way.”....and this is how it’s turning out. He’s not out of the woods but I will nurse him for as long as he needs.You are doing your best and blimey that's more than a lot of people would do! It's great that he's holding his weight - he's doing his best too
Update: I got Robbie and Ziggy some chew toys and they are having some fun! Especially Robbie! He is trying so hard to bite the ball haha. His teeth are cut short. I cannot find a syringe that has a wide enough spout to suck up the sludge! Critical care gets here soon, though!
Siikibam
Forum Donator 2022/23
You can cut off the tip if needs be.
I did, but it’s still a super small hole. I have no idea why they make them like this. Link to syringes that actually work? cause I doubt critical care will come with a syringe
Yeah, it’s mainly just green water. I am not sure if that’s even helping. But I fed him it.
piggieminder
Forum Buddy
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
It needs a bit of experimenting to get the consistency right but it can be done!
It needs a bit of experimenting to get the consistency right but it can be done!
Free Ranger
Forum Donator 2023/24
Sometimes they'll just take it from a spoon or your fingers if they're hungry for it. When feeding my poorly sow there was some overflow and spillage. George made sure not a splodge was wasted! He also liked to have a lick at the little bowl I'd mixed it into.
Thank you so much
Oh for sure, Ziggy is so curious about the sludge. I love him so much.
update: Little guy is on critical care. He was retaining weight but has lost 10g in 24 hours. However, I didn’t give him the full 60cc of CC because I didn’t want to over do it on the first day. He is still in pain, hunched up. He doesn’t want me to feed him, he turns his head away. His eye is ok I guess, I wouldn’t know if it’s healing or not. I have a rescue working with me, to make sure he is ok. Pain meds will come soon. I really hope he starts improving. It feels like he won’t. 
I really hope he starts improving. It feels like he won’t.
10g isn’t a great amount. We only talk about weight loss when its at 50g. 10g Is still within normal fluctuations, but I would increase his critical care intake as appropriate if he isn’t eating hay. It’s not a case of overdoing it on the first day, it doesn’t work like that. They need a good amount of fibre intake every day.
when are the pain meds due to come?
when are the pain meds due to come?
Tomorrow hopefully.
he was 800 towards 900g. Then he got sick and now is 620g. I’m really trying but I feel like I’m overwhelming him with food. Like...the worst kind of force feeding. He doesn’t want it. I’m feeding him now. I’m 10cc in out of 20cc.
Right ok, then he has lost a lot of weight.
Its sometimes better to feed smaller amounts more often. He may only be able to take 5ml every couple of hours for example.