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Emergency Opioids in piggies

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TreacleAndRuby

New Born Pup
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Hi, just a quick question. One of my guinea pigs is very unwell and refusing to eat anything. The vet gave her a very low dose of some sort of opioid as a painkiller at about 9:30 this morning and warned that it might make her sleepy. She's been lethargic all day. It's now 17:45 and she's still really tired. I was just wondering if anyone happens to know how long it might take for this effect to ware off. Or should it have worn off already? Thanks.
p.s - I'm syringe feeding her regularly so I know she's getting enough food and water.
 
I think if you are worried at all, call the vet. We've had 2 piggies who have had opioid buprenorphine injections as out patients, and they had very different reactions- Puggle had buprenorphine for acute bloat as she was screaming in pain, and she was zonked for pretty much 24 hours, just weeing where she was sat and very groggy. And our skinny pig Tallullah had daily buprenorphine injections when her abscess surgery wound went weird so she would keep still for it cleaning out and wouldnt scratch at it, but having a weird hyped up skinny pig metabolism it wore off in about 6 hours.
It all depends on the dose given, the piggy's metabolism, and what illness it is being used for. What is wrong with your poor piggy that they need opioids? The underlying illness may of course also affect their ability to metabolise it and how alert they are. Healing wheeks anyway!
 
TreacleAndRuby said:
Hi, just a quick question. One of my guinea pigs is very unwell and refusing to eat anything. The vet gave her a very low dose of some sort of opioid as a painkiller at about 9:30 this morning and warned that it might make her sleepy. She's been lethargic all day. It's now 17:45 and she's still really tired. I was just wondering if anyone happens to know how long it might take for this effect to ware off. Or should it have worn off already? Thanks.
p.s - I'm syringe feeding her regularly so I know she's getting enough food and water.
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Hi!

Please contact the vet asap. Do you know why they have opted for an opioid and not metacam, which is the normally used analgesic?
Have your vets done a scan as to the reason why?
 
PigglePuggle said:
I think if you are worried at all, call the vet. We've had 2 piggies who have had opioid buprenorphine injections as out patients, and they had very different reactions- Puggle had buprenorphine for acute bloat as she was screaming in pain, and she was zonked for pretty much 24 hours, just weeing where she was sat and very groggy. And our skinny pig Tallullah had daily buprenorphine injections when her abscess surgery wound went weird so she would keep still for it cleaning out and wouldnt scratch at it, but having a weird hyped up skinny pig metabolism it wore off in about 6 hours.
It all depends on the dose given, the piggy's metabolism, and what illness it is being used for. What is wrong with your poor piggy that they need opioids? The underlying illness may of course also affect their ability to metabolise it and how alert they are. Healing wheeks anyway!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply! I noticed on Thursday night that she was very wet around the bottom and not moving or eating. She was also passing diarrhoea which had some blood in it . I gave her a wash and phoned the vet who said to bring her in in the morning. He said it was most likely a GI infection and gave her antibiotics with some fluids, glucose etc... . She's been back twice since then getting more antibiotics. She's also started wheezing intermittently which the vet said may be a URI but the antibiotics will combat that. Today the vet discovered what looks like a mouth ulcer in her throat which is probably putting her off her food and since she had diarrhoea, she wasn't keen to give her a regular anti-inflammatory pain killer incase it upset her stomach all over again. It's hard to tell wether her lethargy is due to the opioids or not since she's just lying in her cage feeling miserable anyway. I've been giving her dissolved pellets with guinea pig friendly baby food, vitamin C drops, and critical care every two hours as well as plenty of water. It's such a shame to see her like this as she's usually such a happy lively girl! I considered wether it would be kinder to have her put to sleep but she's only three and has so much life left in her!
 
Wiebke said:
Hi!

Please contact the vet asap. Do you know why they have opted for an opioid and not metacam, which is the normally used analgesic?
Have your vets done a scan as to the reason why?
Click to expand...

Since she's had a badly upset stomach, the vet gave an opioid as it's less likely to cause stomach problems than metacam.
 
TreacleAndRuby said:
Thanks for the reply! I noticed on Thursday night that she was very wet around the bottom and not moving or eating. She was also passing diarrhoea which had some blood in it . I gave her a wash and phoned the vet who said to bring her in in the morning. He said it was most likely a GI infection and gave her antibiotics with some fluids, glucose etc... . She's been back twice since then getting more antibiotics. She's also started wheezing intermittently which the vet said may be a URI but the antibiotics will combat that. Today the vet discovered what looks like a mouth ulcer in her throat which is probably putting her off her food and since she had diarrhoea, she wasn't keen to give her a regular anti-inflammatory pain killer incase it upset her stomach all over again. It's hard to tell wether her lethargy is due to the opioids or not since she's just lying in her cage feeling miserable anyway. I've been giving her dissolved pellets with guinea pig friendly baby food, vitamin C drops, and critical care every two hours as well as plenty of water. It's such a shame to see her like this as she's usually such a happy lively girl! I considered wether it would be kinder to have her put to sleep but she's only three and has so much life left in her!
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Poor girl!

The lethargy is most likely due to not eating and feeling very poorly rather than the painkiller.
You are doing all the right things.
Here are our crisis care tips: Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

Fingers very firmly crossed for her!
 
Drugs can slow them down a bit but also agree wire Wiebke here, often more so them being ill makes them like this than the painkillers. I've had some of the girls home on strong injectable painkillers and much prefer it. Much nicer they are not sore in any way hopefully.
Metacam does not really cause any stomach issues in guinea pigs like it does so in cats and dogs so wouldn't worry about giving it.
Hope she starts to improve soon.
Abi
 
Abi_nurse said:
Drugs can slow them down a bit but also agree wire Wiebke here, often more so them being ill makes them like this than the painkillers. I've had some of the girls home on strong injectable painkillers and much prefer it. Much nicer they are not sore in any way hopefully.
Metacam does not really cause any stomach issues in guinea pigs like it does so in cats and dogs so wouldn't worry about giving it.
Hope she starts to improve soon.
Abi
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Thank you!
 
Here's an update for those who's like to know.
Phoned the emergency vet because Ruby started gagging up the food I was giving her. The vet said just keep her warm and bring her in first thing in the morning. Then my lunatic dog managed to eat two pairs of underpants so we had to take her down anyway so we just brought ruby along too. She's been given a different pain killer now and I'm taking her back down in the morning. If she's not better then she'll need anaesthetic so the vet can get a proper look at her throat.
P.S - Dog is absolutely fine. Threw up about a foot square of fabric and is now very drowsy but overall ok.
 
Hi. Sadly we had to have Ruby put down this evening. There was no curable cause of her symptoms and her breathing was just getting too bad. At least there's no more pain for her now xx
 
So sad to hear this terrible news You did all you could for her. Sometimes the call to go to The Bridge is so strong they just have to go. You helped her on her final journey as she was asking you to do. It is the final act of love we can give our beloved pets. Have fun little one.
 
So sorry to hear this, at least she went peacefully and has no more pain x
 
Ruby lived a very happy life because of YOU. You did all you could to help her, you cared for her, and you loved her. At the end you made the right decision to put her down so that she could still live a happy live on the Rainbow Bridge. You ended her suffering, and I bet she still remembers you right on the Rainbow Bridge.

RIP Ruby

xx
 
Thank you everyone for all the kind replies. Ruby will take a long time to get over - she was so special! She had a great life and a peaceful death and that's all I could hope for x
 
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