Question about prescription

[basicpiggies]

Hi all!

My guinea pig has been refusing hay and chewing very oddly. For a day, she actually had a head tilt and then the next day it was gone and hadn’t returned. We concluded that she was definitely bothered by something in her mouth and either in pain or very uncomfortable. She went to an exotics urgent care today, and they couldn’t spot anything wrong with her other than that her back molars were “worn down”, and other than that she was perfectly healthy.

Because she hasn’t been eating much hay, she’s been having pretty mushy poops. We’ve been giving her some critical care in the mean time.

With all of that information the vet prescribed her meloxicam and metoclopramide — does this sound right to you guys? I’m just always wary of new vets as I do not have any experience with her, although she is specialized in exotics.

Based on what I’ve said about my piggie’s condition, would you give her the recommended medications? I definitely don’t want her to be in pain.

Also — are either of those medications known to cause a loss in appetite? She eats perfectly fine other than the issue with hay, so I’m concerned about if the medication is over-kill and ends up making her lose her appetite completely.

Thanks!

 

[Siikibam]

Neither of those medicines should kill her appetite. Meloxicam is a pain killer and metoclopramide is a gut stimulant if I remember correctly.

Poo output is 1-2 days behind so not the best indicator. I would switch to weighing her once daily in the morning. You can then adjust the amount of topup according to that. What you want is for her to maintain her weight. If she’s losing every day then you need to increase the amount you’re giving her.

Perhaps try her every 2-3 hours, aiming for 60ml in a 24 hour period. You could do one last feed at 11 and start again at 6-7, after weighing her. Try offering it in a bowl as well during the day.

Hopefully she picks up soon.