My piggie is very ill.

[retro]

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.

But I’m supposed to feed him 60g a day. I was told to do 20g every 3-4 hours....but I also have to sleep if I do the 5ml. So it won’t be enough to retain his weight. Oh my god this is overwhelming.

 

[GPTV]

Sounds like you're doing the best you can at the moment, try feeding him strands of hay /grass to up his fiibre & try to help him grind his teeth down DIY style.

Pain is often one of the causes for loss of appetite, would it be possible to get a local vet to provide some Loxicom/Metacam if your usual vet could prescribe it? To save you travelling the loxicom is a dog&cat painkiller so it's likely to be easily sourced at a general vets. It's not the dearest of medications either so would help him immensely for the cost of it.

If you can syringe feed him as much as you can & as often as you can - the closer to the recommended amount the better, it'll all be a bonus.
Try to think of it as syringe feeding... Not force feeding.
Some of mine have eaten the supreme recovery off of a spoon, could you try that? Or even with his usual nuggets - pour just boiled water on them & allow them to cool to tepid /warm.
He might eat more this way if you're struggling with the syringing

Good luck & fingers crossed you can get him back on track. Look after yourself too though
Xx

 

[retro]

Sounds like you're doing the best you can at the moment, try feeding him strands of hay /grass to up his fiibre & try to help him grind his teeth down DIY style.

Pain is often one of the causes for loss of appetite, would it be possible to get a local vet to provide some Loxicom/Metacam if your usual vet could prescribe it? To save you travelling the loxicom is a dog&cat painkiller so it's likely to be easily sourced at a general vets. It's not the dearest of medications either so would help him immensely for the cost of it.

If you can syringe feed him as much as you can & as often as you can - the closer to the recommended amount the better, it'll all be a bonus.
Try to think of it as syringe feeding... Not force feeding.
Some of mine have eaten the supreme recovery off of a spoon, could you try that? Or even with his usual nuggets - pour just boiled water on them & allow them to cool to tepid /warm.
He might eat more this way if you're struggling with the syringing

Good luck & fingers crossed you can get him back on track. Look after yourself too though
Xx

Thanks. The thread will explain that he is rejecting hay and water. The vet trimmed his teeth too short (they cannot go above his lower lip.) and he also is in pain. He has an eye ulcer. I gave him about 12ccs just now and I’ll just have to come back later. Maybe an hour and give him 10 more. It hurts me because he genuinely is miserable.

 

[GPTV]

Sorry I thought you meant he had treatment for his eye too?
Could you try dissolving a pinch of salt in an egg cup amount of cooled, boiled water & drip into his eye with a clean, kitchen, paper towel (twist into a wick) ?

This would help reduce infection & also flush out any debris if there's any bits of hay/foreign body in his eye?
Its not ideal, but it's cheap & effective in an emergency.

The arrival of the pain meds will improve his appetite & quality of life immensely, if he can eat without pain, he'll eat more & things will spiral upwards in your favour generally pretty quickly xx

 

[retro]

Sorry I thought you meant he had treatment for his eye too?
Could you try dissolving a pinch of salt in an egg cup amount of cooled, boiled water & drip into his eye with a clean, kitchen, paper towel (twist into a wick) ?

This would help reduce infection & also flush out any debris if there's any bits of hay/foreign body in his eye?
Its not ideal, but it's cheap & effective in an emergency.

The arrival of the pain meds will improve his appetite & quality of life immensely, if he can eat without pain, he'll eat more & things will spiral upwards in your favour generally pretty quickly xx

No he has ointment, 3x a day for his eye. And I’m trying to get pain meds, it’s Sunday here, so the vet is not open.

 

[GPTV]

I thought I'd read you had his eye treatment

Try to keep him warm & draught free, this should help him keep more comfortable until you can get pain meds, try massaging his stomach & bum to encourage him to poop & disperse any gas he may get building up from eating less. This would also make him uncomfortable & hunch up if he starts to get bloaty.

Keep going though, you're doing the best you can. It's not easy keeping them going... Especially when they always decide to be grotty at the weekends! Darn it!

Big hug & healing vibes being sent your way
Xx

 

[retro]

I thought I'd read you had his eye treatment

Try to keep him warm & draught free, this should help him keep more comfortable until you can get pain meds, try massaging his stomach & bum to encourage him to poop & disperse any gas he may get building up from eating less. This would also make him uncomfortable & hunch up if he starts to get bloaty.

Keep going though, you're doing the best you can. It's not easy keeping them going... Especially when they always decide to be grotty at the weekends! Darn it!

Big hug & healing vibes being sent your way
Xx

Hah yes. They are sneaky and bad with timing. I gave him some simethicone for his gas. He is a plump little fellow, but he’s pooping just fine, luckily! I cannot wait until I get pain meds so I can help him.

 

[Siikibam]

I would feed 5ml every 2 hours, you may find it easier.

 

[Bill & Ted]

When I was feeding my dental piggie Ted when his incisors were cut too short I would just try and get as much into him at each session as I could and offer tiny bits of grass, thinly cut strips of veggies etc too. Think very carefully about night feeds and how sustainable they are for you too. I did it for 6 weeks and once the critical stage was over then I used to give a last feed just before I went to bed around 11.00 and set the alarm for 6 and start the first feed again. I agree during the day get as much into him as possible. Work out by dividing it into workable feeds if you can. Keep a record how many mls you manage at each feed
Good luck, I know how exhausting and upsetting it all is x

 

[Free Ranger]

I know some folks syringe feed round the clock if they are fighting gut-stasis but when I asked my vet what they do at the surgery she said they leave a gap at night which is usually 11-ish till 6-ish because "they have to sleep". I thought she meant the nurse but she meant the animals. The nurse is there all night! If he's pooping OK and you're happy his guts are working you would both get a much-needed break at night.
I hope and pray he makes it, but bear in mind that sometimes they get something wrong with them and they don't get better. Some illness they can get through and the support feeding keeps them strong and prevents gut stasis (once those guts stop they don't start again and the pig will pass even if he's got over his original problem). But sometimes it is just their time. I support fed a sow for a long time last year - the one whose teeth were ground back down - but I was warned by the vet when I took her in that the overgrown teeth might be a secondary issue. We kept her going a while but couldn't save her. We did 50 - 60ml for a few days but she was exhausted by the whole thing and I dropped down to 40ml -ish. I was happy to do that as she was still a decent weight. She was hungry and sniffing at food but she just couldn't eat (we think there was some problem with swallowing) so she also fought the syringe and we had to go really slowly. It's great you can work with a rescue to get advice and a second opinion on how things are going. I hope the pain meds can help him x

 

[retro]

I feel like I’ll have some hope once he gets pain meds. If he doesn’t improve by then....I...I don’t know what to do.

 

[Free Ranger]

One step at a time
It's hard trying to guess how things are going to go but piggies just live in the present so all he's bothered about is being comfortable now and happy with his friend. Are you getting advice as to dose and how many times a day to give the pain meds?

 

[Little Ones]

If incisors are too short then he won’t be able to pick up food, as people have said. When this happened to one of mine, the only thing he could manage to eat was grass that we had picked, he would sort of be able to lick it with his tongue to manoeuvre it into his mouth. We were picking and feeding grass at least every 2 hours, along with syringe feeding.
It can take them sometime to figure out how best to eat when their incisors aren’t right. My Little has had no bottom incisors since July last year, he was able to eat his hay fine but it’s only been in the last few months where he’s mastered the art of eating with no bottom teeth. He can even use hay racks now, he’s learned how to tug on hay without relying on his teeth alone.
Hopefully your piggy’s teeth don’t take long to grow back, just make sure you’re syringe feeding him. This might include water too, Little couldn’t drink for himself when his teeth had been trimmed too short (but he also had a dental root abscess which could’ve been why due to the pain). Hopefully the pain meds make a difference, too.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

I know some folks syringe feed round the clock if they are fighting gut-stasis but when I asked my vet what they do at the surgery she said they leave a gap at night which is usually 11-ish till 6-ish because "they have to sleep". I thought she meant the nurse but she meant the animals. The nurse is there all night! If he's pooping OK and you're happy his guts are working you would both get a much-needed break at night.
I hope and pray he makes it, but bear in mind that sometimes they get something wrong with them and they don't get better. Some illness they can get through and the support feeding keeps them strong and prevents gut stasis (once those guts stop they don't start again and the pig will pass even if he's got over his original problem). But sometimes it is just their time. I support fed a sow for a long time last year - the one whose teeth were ground back down - but I was warned by the vet when I took her in that the overgrown teeth might be a secondary issue. We kept her going a while but couldn't save her. We did 50 - 60ml for a few days but she was exhausted by the whole thing and I dropped down to 40ml -ish. I was happy to do that as she was still a decent weight. She was hungry and sniffing at food but she just couldn't eat (we think there was some problem with swallowing) so she also fought the syringe and we had to go really slowly. It's great you can work with a rescue to get advice and a second opinion on how things are going. I hope the pain meds can help him x

Guinea pigs don't sleep for 7 hours at night! What the hell is your vet on about? However, in saying that, I don't syringe feed overnight. I used to, but it got to a point where I was starting to feel totally exhausted and I couldn't risk becoming ill myself. Nowadays, if I have a very poorly piggy, I give a last feed around 11pm and then start again next morning, around 6am.

 

[Hath]

I usually feed around the clock, but never had to do it long term. You can only support them if you're resting as well. In a long run, it's not sustainable, unless you have a support.
Anythime my pigs were at hospital they were fed around the clock, too. I've also never witnessed any of my boys to sleep for such extended amount of time. They eat more in the evening and at night, in fact.
Hope the pain meds will help!

 

[Free Ranger]

I fed Ivy for over a month and part of that was around-the-clock but only for a few days to make sure her guts were really working. It took at least 6 hours out of every 24 for 40-50 ml (8 for 60ml) and I was grateful I didn't have to go out to work at that time. Now, they're not nocturnal but it was typically her habit to be more active at night than the others, she was still bopping about after they had settled down... usually until about midnight. But the feeds at around 6 AM and 4 PM were the most 'successful' - and this fitted in with her foraging times when she was well. The syringing was a strain for her and 'uncomfortable compromise' was the best we achieved, so although she might not have slept all night she sure did benefit from a break from the stress of syringing as her 'late feed' was always the lowest volume she took and the one she had the least patience with. I miss her so much, but there, we'll never know why she had to go when she did

 

[retro]

I caught Robbie trying to eat hay this morning, I could’ve cried. He can’t pick it up but I walked in and he was out of his hidey!! Ahhhh! He’s coming around I hope. So much more active and his eye looks a little better! Vet visit today for pain meds and check up! I think he might pull through.

 

[retro]

One step at a time
It's hard trying to guess how things are going to go but piggies just live in the present so all he's bothered about is being comfortable now and happy with his friend. Are you getting advice as to dose and how many times a day to give the pain meds?

I’m going to the vet today

 

[retro]

If incisors are too short then he won’t be able to pick up food, as people have said. When this happened to one of mine, the only thing he could manage to eat was grass that we had picked, he would sort of be able to lick it with his tongue to manoeuvre it into his mouth. We were picking and feeding grass at least every 2 hours, along with syringe feeding.
It can take them sometime to figure out how best to eat when their incisors aren’t right. My Little has had no bottom incisors since July last year, he was able to eat his hay fine but it’s only been in the last few months where he’s mastered the art of eating with no bottom teeth. He can even use hay racks now, he’s learned how to tug on hay without relying on his teeth alone.
Hopefully your piggy’s teeth don’t take long to grow back, just make sure you’re syringe feeding him. This might include water too, Little couldn’t drink for himself when his teeth had been trimmed too short (but he also had a dental root abscess which could’ve been why due to the pain). Hopefully the pain meds make a difference, too.

Yeah he’s trying to yank hay now. Guinea pigs are learning creatures and Robin is smart.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Yeah he’s trying to yank hay now. Guinea pigs are learning creatures and Robin is smart.

Can you cut some hay that’s about 1 inch long for him, he may manage to get that into the back of his mouth to chew?

 

[retro]

Update. Robin’s back teeth are what’s bothering him.I’m at the vet. They are overgrown. I might have to surrender him to a rescue due to the costs. But a surrender might not be an option due to the distance. I will have to see what’s going on.

 

[Swissgreys]

Update. Robin’s back teeth are what’s bothering him.I’m at the vet. They are overgrown. I might have to surrender him to a rescue due to the costs. But a surrender might not be an option due to the distance. I will have to see what’s going on.

Well done for trying to do the best for your boy.
I know a surrender is a hard thing to consider, but if it allows him to get the treatment he needs then it really is in his best interests.

 

[retro]

Well done for trying to do the best for your boy.
I know a surrender is a hard thing to consider, but if it allows him to get the treatment he needs then it really is in his best interests.

Yeah. It is...hard. So hard. I...I’m giving it my best. I feel like it’s not enough. Because if I give up Robin I have to give up his mate. Ziggy is...my baby. He is why I have guinea pigs. I could just give Robin to the rescue but Ziggy would be so lost. And if he got sick...I...I’m so tired and broken right now

 

[Free Ranger]

I do feel so sorry for you. And I was wondering last night about Ziggy because you are so right - he would not understand anything more than that his life's friend had gone. And Robin has a battle to face whether with you or with the rescue and if he moved homes his only comfort and familiarity would be Ziggy. Without him Robin's chances would be much less. What a hard choice you have to make . Is the rescue happy to take both pigs on while they see if they can help Robbie?

This next bit is not me trying to be gloomy but being honest. Sometimes it is not a tooth problem, it is a 'something-else' problem which stops them eating and the teeth then overgrow. You pay a lot to have the surgery and realise then that the original problem is still there and maybe needs further treatment or maybe is untreatable and will eventually finish the poor piggy. Sometimes the piggy has the surgery and can get back on track with a little help and some pain meds - and that's great! But there are some 'dental' pigs that need repeated dental surgeries: literally every few weeks as the teeth overgrow constantly and need to be trimmed or ground down which is obviously expensive but also - if your vet gives a GA every time - stressful on poor piggy. I'm not sure even a vet could tell you which way yours is going to go. If you could say "Yes a one-off dental and then we're back to good health" that'd be great, but no-one can know for sure. Even if you had all the money in the world you still couldn't know... it's always just one step at a time.

Anyone here who disagrees with any of this and might be able to offer something more hopeful to @retro please step in - these pigs are so loved

 

[Bill & Ted]

Such an awful situation you are in, I feel for you x
My rainbow piggie Ted was a dental piggie and I know the huge commitment it is looking after a piggie with back teeth spur problems which are usually ongoing. It is emotionally and financially draining, we were driving 600 mile round trips every fortnight (shared with someone in the same situation 100 mile away) but it was exhausting. We were really lucky that we found an amazing vet who specialised in giving conscious dentals so no nasty general anaesthesia worries and was cheaper too. If you can get your boy at a rescue then you may find it is the best solution for you both
Good luck

 

[retro]

I do feel so sorry for you. And I was wondering last night about Ziggy because you are so right - he would not understand anything more than that his life's friend had gone. And Robin has a battle to face whether with you or with the rescue and if he moved homes his only comfort and familiarity would be Ziggy. Without him Robin's chances would be much less. What a hard choice you have to make . Is the rescue happy to take both pigs on while they see if they can help Robbie?

This next bit is not me trying to be gloomy but being honest. Sometimes it is not a tooth problem, it is a 'something-else' problem which stops them eating and the teeth then overgrow. You pay a lot to have the surgery and realise then that the original problem is still there and maybe needs further treatment or maybe is untreatable and will eventually finish the poor piggy. Sometimes the piggy has the surgery and can get back on track with a little help and some pain meds - and that's great! But there are some 'dental' pigs that need repeated dental surgeries: literally every few weeks as the teeth overgrow constantly and need to be trimmed or ground down which is obviously expensive but also - if your vet gives a GA every time - stressful on poor piggy. I'm not sure even a vet could tell you which way yours is going to go. If you could say "Yes a one-off dental and then we're back to good health" that'd be great, but no-one can know for sure. Even if you had all the money in the world you still couldn't know... it's always just one step at a time.

Anyone here who disagrees with any of this and might be able to offer something more hopeful to @retro please step in - these pigs are so loved

Thank you so much for your honest words. This is why I am giving him up. Though he his actually starting to improve a little each day, which today his new thing is not fighting me on the syringe anymore. He’s not biting at it but he is accepting it, I think he understands why I’m doing it. But he’s active a little more. And he tried to eat and is curious and moving around. However that doesn’t distract me from the fact that he is indeed sick. The rescue is taking both piggies together, on Sunday. I at trying to keep him alive until then.

 

[retro]

Such an awful situation you are in, I feel for you x
My rainbow piggie Ted was a dental piggie and I know the huge commitment it is looking after a piggie with back teeth spur problems which are usually ongoing. It is emotionally and financially draining, we were driving 600 mile round trips every fortnight (shared with someone in the same situation 100 mile away) but it was exhausting. We were really lucky that we found an amazing vet who specialised in giving conscious dentals so no nasty general anaesthesia worries and was cheaper too. If you can get your boy at a rescue then you may find it is the best solution for you both
Good luck

it is the best option. I love them enough to get them the help and future they need and deserve. Like I said, life has taken such a toll on me. I will probably end up not getting guinea pigs again. I really hate that fact but Honestly, I might just down grade to a hamster, mouse or little rat at this point. I always like taking care of some small animal. I hate to see them in pet stores, though I never bought my Guinea pigs, they were all rescued. Guinea pigs are amazing, but I think I’m just gonna call it. I’ve gone through 5. 3 have passed (one cremated) and the rest are Robin and Ziggy. I just...can’t. I’m burnt out. I hope that doesn’t give me a bad look or make me seem like a careless owner but, I am really...just....I have to tap out. At least for now. Maybe when I get straight financially I’ll adopt again but not any time soon. I’m sorry if that makes me a bad person.

 

[Claire W]

Such a sad situation you’re in and I’m so sorry but if it gets your boy the correct treatment, it’s the right decision to make. It will probably be best to surrender Ziggy too so they can stay together (((hugs))) x

 

[Siikibam]

I’m sorry you’ve had to do this. But think of it this way - you’re doing what is right for your boy and not you. Of course you want to keep them. It’s a very selfless act which is borne out of your love for them and wanting them to have their needs properly met.

It’s going to be some difficult days but I think you will keep him alive until Sunday. Enjoy every day with them. Maybe some extra cuddles (only if they like being cuddled) and spend time with them as you can outside of work and sleep.

All the best and feel free to come back and talk about them. and hugs

 

[Zanzan]

I'm so sorry for you in this awful situation. My heart goes out to you and your boys, sometimes doing the right thing is the very hardest. You are in my thoughts