Post-bloat. I don't know what to do

[Dwarfpotato]

On Saturday I fed Jyn some Bramley apple, not realising it was a no-no. On Monday she was looking a bit off colour and doing squishy poops, so I cut out her veg. She was still eating hay and wheeked for nuggets, so I thought it was ok. Late Monday evening she was refusing even nuggets. She also had a bit of an air bubble in her side. I gave her lots of stomach massages and some loxicom. At midnight she had perked up a bit and at 3am she was herself, scoffing hay etc. She also did lots of poos - small ones, but definitely pooping. I weighed her before she had nuggets yesterday evening, and this morning, and she had only lost 5g. But this morning she was back off her food and looking miserable. I tried to syringe feed her some nuggets, and booked a vet appointment. At 12 he said she had no bloat left, but injected her with metacam and metaclopramide. I also got some science selective recovery food. I've been feeding her little bits all afternoon but honestly every time she looks worse. At lunch she ate some bean and some lettuce (vet said with no bloat left, the most important thing was to get her stomach moving again) but now she's refusing lettuce and even pepper. She can't wheek, her eyes look sunken, she's lying down when I try to feed her and she just looks so unhappy.

I honestly feel like I'm not going to still have her tomorrow morning. Is there anything anyone can suggest? I just feel like I've failed her at every turn

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!

Severe bloat comes in waves unfortunately; and the worst one is not necessarily the last. It always happens out of the blue and it is unfortunately a potential killer. A large amount of a new food to which the gut microbiome is not accustomed to yet can unfortunately upset it really badly.

Please stop any veg asap; as that makes the dysbiosis (the overgrowth of the wrong kind of bacteria in the gut) worse and step in with syringe feeding and watering support. If you haven't got recovery formula at home, you can mush up pellets in an emergency but in this case you need cut off the syringe tip with scissors just below where it widens to allow the much rougher pellet fibre to pass through.
Please keep in mind that veg and pellets only replace the role of wild forage with which guinea pigs supplement their main diet of unlimited hay and fresh grass for those minerals and trace elements they are not getting from the tough but highly nutritious grass fibre that their body is laid out to break down in two runs through the gut.

If necessary, see an out-of-hours vet. You can get the contact number from your regular vet's answering machine or by googling.

You may find the information and practical support care tips in these guides here helpful.
The guides will also help you to assess whether your girl has crossed the line of no return and when you need to see a vet for pts to spare her any further unnecessary suffering:
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Digestive Disorders: Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement) And Not Eating

A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

Fingers firmly crossed!

 

[Dwarfpotato]

I'm giving her recovery food and water but she isn't interested. How long would it take for her gut to stop hurting and start processing properly again?

 

[miowmix]

I don't know the answer to your question but just wanted to say that you and your pig are in my thoughts. It's so worrying and upsetting when your pig is unwell, and it sounds like you have been doing everything you can for her. x

 

[Wiebke]

I'm giving her recovery food and water but she isn't interested. How long would it take for her gut to stop hurting and start processing properly again?

Hi!

There is no fixed rule to when and whether your piggy will recover. You have to hang on in there and ride the tiger wherever it goes and for as long as it runs. Severe bloat is unfortunately not a give some medication-and-your piggy-will-recover-in-a-few-days illness. It can take days to get through a bloating episode and it can flare up again at any time in the coming days or weeks. It can also be fatal. All you can do is try your best for as long as it takes.

PLEASE take the time to read the green information links in my previous post, including massaging, how much/how often to syringe feed at which stage and how to spot when your piggy has lost the battle. At the moment, you are balancing rather close to the edge. The guides should answer many of your practical questions.

I wish I had more comforting news for you, having been through it with piggies of mine a few times as have many of our long term owners.

 

[Dwarfpotato]

Jyn deteriorated overnight. I fed her at 12.30 and she wasn't very happy. At 3.30 she wouldn't chew or swallow, she was staggering and a bit confused. She squeaked if I touched her tummy. I had her put to sleep at 5am. I'm sorry, Jyn

 

[Betsy]

I'm so sorry you lost Jyn. Sometimes no matter what we do the call of The Rainbow Bridge is just too strong. Pleased you managed to get her to the Emergency Vet to end her suffering. Sleep well Jyn and have fun at The Rainbow Bridge.

 

[Wiebke]

Jyn deteriorated overnight. I fed her at 12.30 and she wasn't very happy. At 3.30 she wouldn't chew or swallow, she was staggering and a bit confused. She squeaked if I touched her tummy. I had her put to sleep at 5am. I'm sorry, Jyn

BIG HUGS

I have been afraid that your girl's body may have already started to close down. Killing bloat is just such a nasty thing, as I know from my own desperate battles with it. You can get through the first or the second wave, but like with a tsunami, the biggest waves may only be coming later on. Severe bloat is in its own way as much of a devastating force of nature. I am so very sorry that you and your poor girl have been up against it.

Please don't blame yourself; it is one of these things that you can never anticipate. You have certainly done your best against the hard odds. Sadly the tools and medication we have for it are all only very limited and are unfortunately very often not enough. Even if you do all the right things straight from the start, the outcome would have likely been the same.

Please take the time to read the information in these links, so you can look after the companion and yourself as much as possible. Make sure that you get some sleep and be kind with yourself as you go through the grieving process.
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

 

[weepweeps]

I’m so sorry for your loss. You did all you could. Take care of yourself.