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Poorly boy hiding away

Mantha16

Mantha16

Junior Guinea Pig
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Newport, Gwent, UK
So my one remaining boar (his brother passed away in may haven't been able to find a new companion for him yet) has been fairly normal but the past week or so he's gone right down hill. Blood in his urine abnormal poops weight loss slightly curbed appetite. I've managed to get him into a vets on weds ( no vets taking on new piggy patients) the RSPCA are helping (please don't judge our financial situation is difficult at the moment) and they are going to transport him to and from the vets yes that means I won't be there but it's better than him not going.

Anyway my question is this today he's just staying in his house and not coming out at all apart from an occasional foray to pull some food closer. Is it normal for poorly pigs to hide themselves away?

He is a senior pig 5-6 yes old but what bothers me is prey animals so good at hiding illness how am I ever going to know what the right thing to do is like if his quality of life is poor how do I know if I should let him go.

Sorry I'm a total mess at the mo. I don't want to lose him but I need to do what's right
 
I’m sorry your boy isn’t well. It is normal for them to hide when they’re unwell. Being alone could also be a factor in his hiding away.

How much weight has he lost and in what time period? Please switch to weighing him once daily (preferably morning) until the appointment, and afterwards as wellIf he’s on a downward trend then you need to step in and syringe feed him. You can use his pellets soaked in warm water if you don’t have any recovery food to hand.

Does he squeak when toileting? And how long has it been going on? I hope whatever it is is sorted out soon. In any case, it’s always a good idea to have your piggy/piggies registered with a vet. All the best and let us know how you get on.
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
 
He's lost about 200g over about a month he was a chunker before and still looks fat it's only when you handle him you feel how skinny he has got although he does seem to be 25g heavier today.

There does squeak but it's not 100%clear if it's when he's peeing or pooping. I've had a good check around his downstairs areas and it's Def not impaction but he Def doesn't like me touching around the area
 
Lesson learnt about the vet never occurred to me that you couldn't just contact a vet when you need them
 
I forgot to say we didn't notice his weight loss for a while as I'll admit I hadn't been weighing him regularly and he was eating and drinking normally is only the last 4or 5 days it seems to have changed.
 
200g over a month is roughly 25g a week. That in itself wouldn’t be worrying but the downward trend is what causes concern. Make sure you now weigh him once daily at the same time and keep an eye on it. Also make sure to register him with this vet on Wednesday. Are they experienced in treating Guinea pigs?
 
No they are a general vet but the RSPCA did recommend them so one hopes they are semi decent. As he isn't moving around his big cage I've put him in his much smaller hospital cage set up so I can more easily monitor him and sleep right by him.

I'm really hopeful it's a bladder infection not that I want him to have an infection but at least that's easily treatable as anything requiring surgical becomes problematic due to his age
 
I would try and register him with one of the recommended vets on here. Depending on how the general vets go on Wednesday.
 
Non of the small animal vets/exotics specialists in my area are taking on patients unfortunately so will have to make do unfortunately
 
that’s fair. All the best for Wednesday. As an aside, May I ask what avenues you’ve tried to get him a friend? Depending on whether you’re wanting to continue piggy life, you could foster one to keep him company till he passes. You may just have to travel that little bit further to find him a friend. Or, if necessary, you may have to resort to pet shop piggies. How has he been since his friend passed?
 
Siikibam said:
that’s fair. All the best for Wednesday. As an aside, May I ask what avenues you’ve tried to get him a friend? Depending on whether you’re wanting to continue piggy life, you could foster one to keep him company till he passes. You may just have to travel that little bit further to find him a friend. Or, if necessary, you may have to resort to pet shop piggies. How has he been since his friend passed?
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The first couple of days he was a bit mopy but he's actually being mostly ok. I've been trying rescues close to me. Unfortunately due to covid the bonding service in glynneath is on hold. I was really trying to avoid shop pigs but I have looked into it but pets at home only had girls.

I'm very conflicted as I'm not sure I want a revolving door of guinea pigs but also at the same time don't want Ozzy to be lonely. There's possibility of a rescue soon but obvs that might not happen dependent on what's wrong with him and I don't know if introducing him to a new pig right now is a good idea
 
So the vet thinks it's a bladder stone. She doesn't think he would survive surgery cos of his age and unfortunately I can't afford the x-ray and certainly can't afford surgery so he's been sent home with anti-inflammatory to see if it's something else but more likely to give us chance to say goodbye. I feel like the worse person alive and my heart has been ripped out
 
I’m so sorry that you’ve had this bad news. At his age I would also tend to agree with the vet about bladder stone surgery. I hope you can keep him comfortable until it’s time to say goodbye.
 
I’m so sorry.
You have nothing to feel guilty about.

Yes, loxicom for dogs is absolutely fine - its just that its stronger than the cat version (which is also licensed for piggies)
 
You have nothing at all to feel guilty about.
All you can do is exactly what you are already doing for him.
It is clear how much you love him and that you are doing the best you can to take good care of him.
Remember to be kind to yourself too - these things are so hard for everyone involved.
 
I know realistically if I had all the money in the world it wouldn't change that surgery would be too risky but at least I'd know for Def it is a stone it's like how do I know when it's time
 
How do I know when it's time especially as the medication might make him look better as his pain will be reduced. I've never had to deal with making this sort of decision before
 
Mantha16 said:
How do I know when it's time especially as the medication might make him look better as his pain will be reduced. I've never had to deal with making this sort of decision before
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You might find this guide helpful
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

But remember you know your boy best.
If you are honest you will know when it is getting near the end, and I always think better 1 day too soon than a minute too late when it comes to these decisions.

A lot will also depend on your family.
For example if children are involved it can be helpful to have time to talk about things, but also set a date rather than living with the constant worry and uncertainty.
There is no right or wrong answer - just do what you think is best for your boy.
 
I'm so sorry for this news. Sometimes there really is no right decision... you love him and you are doing your best for him and, well, to be very blunt he doesn't know any different so he's not going to be judging you for it. Don't feel guilty x

You are lucky to get the dog loxicom - a lot of vets are now only offering smaller doses of a weaker version for cats, but vets with knowledge of pigs will still offer this. Is he on it once or twice a day? And did they rule out bacterial infection along with a possible stone... did they rule out antibiotics?

I also had a boar with stone (Panda) who was not as old as your boy and my vet gave me some sound and sensitive advice (along with antibiotics and painkiller). She said that if we choose surgery it was high risk for piggy who might pass during or after, and that even if he did survive there was a decent chance of a stone reforming. She'd only recently seen a poor owner who'd gone through the lot with her boar and a new stone formed just 3 weeks after his op - at that point piggy was pts as it had obviously been an ordeal and it was likely to go the same way again. It was just too much. She had her own old boar with a stone and was keeping him comfortable on painkiller until it became too much for him. After much soul searching I chose to have the op for Panda and 'give him a chance' but he came home after surgery, already cooling down, and died in my arms. It's such a big thing for them and I'm still not sure it was the 'best' decision for poor Panda who was actually a big hefty fellow, not at all fragile or elderly. Your boy has reached a good age and knows he is loved 💕
 
Free Ranger said:
I'm so sorry for this news. Sometimes there really is no right decision... you love him and you are doing your best for him and, well, to be very blunt he doesn't know any different so he's not going to be judging you for it. Don't feel guilty x

You are lucky to get the dog loxicom - a lot of vets are now only offering smaller doses of a weaker version for cats, but vets with knowledge of pigs will still offer this. Is he on it once or twice a day? And did they rule out bacterial infection along with a possible stone... did they rule out antibiotics?

I also had a boar with stone (Panda) who was not as old as your boy and my vet gave me some sound and sensitive advice (along with antibiotics and painkiller). She said that if we choose surgery it was high risk for piggy who might pass during or after, and that even if he did survive there was a decent chance of a stone reforming. She'd only recently seen a poor owner who'd gone through the lot with her boar and a new stone formed just 3 weeks after his op - at that point piggy was pts as it had obviously been an ordeal and it was likely to go the same way again. It was just too much. She had her own old boar with a stone and was keeping him comfortable on painkiller until it became too much for him. After much soul searching I chose to have the op for Panda and 'give him a chance' but he came home after surgery, already cooling down, and died in my arms. It's such a big thing for them and I'm still not sure it was the 'best' decision for poor Panda who was actually a big hefty fellow, not at all fragile or elderly. Your boy has reached a good age and knows he is loved 💕
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Once a day but in all the emotions I forgot to ask about antibiotics
 
I’m sorry it’s not the news you wanted. Please try not to feel guilty, you didn’t cause it. All you can do now is just have lots of happy todays and memories. I’d also consider speaking to the vet to change the metacam to twice daily. Piggies have a fast metabolism so one dose won’t cover him for the whole day. Wishing you and your boy all the very best.
 
Ok so the syringe is a bit confusing the vet said dose as you would a 3kg dog which according to the leaflet is 0.3 mg. The scale says 1.5g the thing goes up in whole numbers but would I be assuming where it says 4 this means 0.4 mg this is a much smaller of the two syringes they provided.
 

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So I think I want to do a FATmans final adventure sort of blog post writing as him but I'm not entirely sure where the best place for this is.
 
Double check any dosages with the vet if you aren't sure.
My own vet always removes the syringe measuring per kg and provides a syringe measuring in ml instead
It is usually advised to give piggies their pain meds twice a day as they metabolise them much faster than dogs or cats do. Again though, only the vet can advise on dosage
 
Well I just did a half dose as vet agreed and my concerns about syringe giving meds were foundless turns out Ozzy goes nuts for loxicom wonder what it tastes like
 
Mantha16 said:
Well I just did a half dose as vet agreed and my concerns about syringe giving meds were foundless turns out Ozzy goes nuts for loxicom wonder what it tastes like
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Yes, most rather like it! I know mine have certainly never had problems taking it and actively lick the syringe and look rather dismayed when their dose is gone!
 
I'm not sure what volume you are giving - this is one of those syringes with 'dog units' on rather than mls isn't it. They look similar but they're not quite the same. The last time I discussed pain relief with a vet for my 1.4kg pig we were talking about whether to do 6u once a day or 4u twice a day... does that seem a similar ballpark to your chap? This is not the most I have ever given to a piggy - but that is vet territory. They do love it - my boy runs up for the syringe - apparently it tastes sweet like honey. I was told they made it like this so dogs would eat it. I've seen dogs gobbling up fresh cr*p... I don't know why they bothered!

I would seriously ring back and ask about a course of antibiotics - baytril usually is the most common first choice for piggies but we've also had septrin for stubborn UTIs. At this stage you have nothing to lose - if there's no infection it won't make a difference but if there is he may improve significantly. He may still have a stone - he may still be an old boy on the home stretch - but if he does have a UTI he'll be much more comfortable if he can shift it. They think he has a stone but there is no x-ray to prove it and if he responds to antibiotics within a couple of days, well....
They shouldn't need to see him again - they could write you up a 'script to be collected and brought to you. Worth a shot?
 
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