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Need Advice For Guinea Pig Post Surgery

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wanderingdove

wanderingdove

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Hello. I am trying not to have an anxiety attack. my three year old male guinea pig Mops had surgery yesterday to remove one large abscess on his back and a much smaller one on his stomach. He ate soon after the surgery and the vet sent him home. It has been just over 24 hours since i picked him up and i he isn't being his usual self I know he has just had surgery but i am worrying. He ate a small amount go fresh veggies a few times today, but no pellets. He hasn't drank any water that i have witnessed.He has been sleeping a lot. he hasn't left the inside of his igloo for most for most of today. I don't know if this is normal or not.i left a message for the vey to call me back but I am still waiting for the return call. Any advice would be appreciated! Thank you
 
The two main issues to deal with post-op that stop a piggie eating are
a) taking longer than usual to recover form the anaesthetic and
b) pain - has he been sent home with adequate pain relief?

You need to address his current behaviour with your vets - and certainly get pain relief if it has not been prescribed. Has your vet prescribed a course of antibiotics?

Aside form the above issues - it is not uncommon for appetites to be suppressed in post-op piggies and supportive care in the form of syringe feeding to top up their food/fluid intake may be necessary if they're not eating their "full quota". You also need to weigh your piggie and keep an eye on his poo output on a daily basis. If, because of lack of adequate food intake, his guts slow down and his poos start to reduce in size/cease, then you may also need gut motility meds (emeprid/metoclopramide, ranitidine/zantac and cisparide) to support him through this recovery phase.

Two guides worth reading:

The syringe feeding guide is here
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/complete-syringe-feeding-guide.115359/

The guide to types of food/probioitics/Vit C when dealing with a poorly pig ios here
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...vitamin-c-overview-with-product-links.115404/

HTH - and that other forum members will be on later this morning.

Please add your location as it helps us tailor our advice - I suspect you are "across the water" given the time of your post?
x
 
hello . thank you for your quick response. i am located just outside philadelphia pennsylvania. The vet did give him metacam 0.24 mls given once a day and Smz/tmp Oralsusp give 0.55 twice a day. He has eaten a little more since i wrote this, some more veggies. Still no pellets or water. I have been watering down the veggies though so that he is getting some water. The vet never called me back and they closed at 8. After shelling out about $640, thats the least that they could have done :(
 
Good - he's got both pain relief and antibiotic (septrin).
Please consider starting to syringe feed mushed pellets/critical care.....also possibly fluids ...... and review after 24hours with your vet. Also weigh him daily to monitor for any weight loss and check his poo output for size/shape/consistency and frequency. Any changes you need to go back to your vet.

Hopefully when you wake up he should have started to show some signs of improvement. If he becomes any more lethargic then please go back to vet as a matter of urgency.
x
 
thats my plan too Pebble. Thank you again for your support. It means to much! Please keep Mops in your prayers. He is a loved piggy so I am doing all that I can to keep him around as long as i can :)
 
Sounds good - all the Pebble piggies are keeping their paws crossed and sending healing vibes.

I'm signing off now-got to do another syringe feed before bed!

Hope all goes well - will check in tomorrow evening (my time!).
x
 
Thank you for caring! It means so much. The vet actually did call back She wants to stop the antibiotic and increase the pain med.. I am to call back friday. He may need to start on some vit c medication too. i am going to call off work tomorrow again to keep an eye on him. Thanks for the happy thoughts :) talk tomorrow. goodnight
 
Healing vibes for Mops, and hugs for you. It is very stressful when they appear to go down-hill after an op, so I'm very glad that he seems to be picking up now.
x
 
Thanks Critter. I have been a NERVOUS WRECK! I don't have any kids and after this experience, i don't plan on it! I saw how i got with my little piggy. he is like a child to me though, just a very furry one! I am staying positive and i am so thankful that I found this site. Thank you for the vibes and hugs :)
 
Lots of love to Mops and hugs to you. Recovery vibes being sent x x
 
I am glad that he is picking up; it can sometimes take a day or two.

Please contact your vets promptly whenever he is not improving or suddenly going downhill again during his recovery. Keep an eye on the operation sites for swellings and also for sudden loss of appetite and/or weight in case the abscess comes back in the next few weeks.Any operation wounds should knit between 10-14 days.
I would recommend that you continue to weigh him daily at the same time in the feeding cycle, as the difference between a full/empty tummy and bladder can be as much as 30g. Contact your vet if the loss is over 50-60g.
 
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