Oh, Keith! Impaction in a young boar..

[Two_Wheeks]

Hello, lovely piggy people!

Dear old Keith is having a bit of a bad time. He's two tomorrow, and for the last month or so we have been having daily dealings with impaction (ergh). Now, I'm used to this as Gibson also suffered, but not until he was 5, so Keith's age has surprised me somewhat..

He is still eating, has lots of hay, loves his veg, and no longer gets pellets (much to his dismay!). Drinking normally and has not lost or gained any weight.

So, is this Ok, to be impacted at such a young age? He is a large pig (1.8kg, but also long, so not just fat!). He is already a very grumpy old man, certainly since he lost Gibson (Kingsley doesn't seem to cut it company-wise, he tolerates him, but he misses Gibson still).

I'll keep cleaning daily, of course, but if all other signs are well, am I ok to not drag him to the vet?

Obligatory photos of not-so-little-big-Keith!

 

[Claire W]

Because he’s so young, I’d be inclined to have him checked over by a vet just to make sure all is what it should but it isn’t urgent and can wait until the cold spell is over. Chances are there’s nothing to worry about but I’d just want to make sure x

 

[Piggies&buns]

Poor boy!

I agree - a vet check would be a good idea.

Impaction - How To Help Your Guinea Pig.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Poor Keith, he sound seem a little young to be getting impaction. My Ted got it when he was in his last year but he was 9ver 5 years old. I would pop him along after Christmas just to make sure everything down there is ok

 

[Wiebke]

Hello, lovely piggy people!

Dear old Keith is having a bit of a bad time. He's two tomorrow, and for the last month or so we have been having daily dealings with impaction (ergh). Now, I'm used to this as Gibson also suffered, but not until he was 5, so Keith's age has surprised me somewhat..

He is still eating, has lots of hay, loves his veg, and no longer gets pellets (much to his dismay!). Drinking normally and has not lost or gained any weight.

So, is this Ok, to be impacted at such a young age? He is a large pig (1.8kg, but also long, so not just fat!). He is already a very grumpy old man, certainly since he lost Gibson (Kingsley doesn't seem to cut it company-wise, he tolerates him, but he misses Gibson still).

I'll keep cleaning daily, of course, but if all other signs are well, am I ok to not drag him to the vet?

Obligatory photos of not-so-little-big-Keith!
View attachment 216218View attachment 216219

Hi

I am very sorry about Keith.

Impaction can occasionally happen in younger boars but I would strongly recommend to having him checked out in case there are unlying issues causing it.
It can well be that Gibson's loss has triggered something but whether it is a health issue that is causing him to be quieter than he should be in combination with the impaction or whether that is primary is not something that you or we can judge.

PS: If you aren't doing it yet, I would recommend to add vitamin B complex to his diet. Guinea pigs thankfully use most of the same vitamin B group as us humans, so human vitamin B products are OK. A very regular hay based diet with only a limited amount of veg seems to be working best for milder cases.

All the best.

 

[Two_Wheeks]

Thank you all. I’ll get him booked into C&R as a non-urgent check up.

He has definitely been a different pig since we lost Gibson in April. I feel so sorry for his cage mate Kingsley, who is a spritely piggy who wants to play, he just has to deal with old-before-his-time Keith!

@Wiebke thanks for the vitamin B info. What could I give him?
He has lots of Timothy hay daily and limited leafy veg and cucumber daily, with a treat of carrot or apple twice a week.

Trying to get him more active by having him free range in the kitchen with Kingsley as often as possible, I don’t think he moves enough and that doesn’t help!

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you all. I’ll get him booked into C&R as a non-urgent check up.

He has definitely been a different pig since we lost Gibson in April. I feel so sorry for his cage mate Kingsley, who is a spritely piggy who wants to play, he just has to deal with old-before-his-time Keith!

@Wiebke thanks for the vitamin B info. What could I give him?
He has lots of Timothy hay daily and limited leafy veg and cucumber daily, with a treat of carrot or apple twice a week.

Trying to get him more active by having him free range in the kitchen with Kingsley as often as possible, I don’t think he moves enough and that doesn’t help!

Vitamin B tablets from the supermarket should do (about 1/8-1/4) but I would recommend to discuss it at the vets once you have a better idea as to what is going on.

Here is our own impaction care guide: Impaction - How To Help Your Guinea Pig.