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Rapid weight fluctuations

ChznPickz

ChznPickz

New Born Pup
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Dec 22, 2021
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My 5yo neutered boar has been very unwell recently with a colic-type episode just over a month ago. Since then his weight has been massively fluctuating between 720g and 900g. His previous bodyweight was around 1kg and he definitely looks/ feels very underweight. His daily fluctuations at the moment can be anything from 20 to 100g and obviously gain is great but recently he's been losing this too. He's currently on BioLapis, critical care and DualCare recovery food and was eating well until this evening but the room he's in is also a bit colder this evening so we're hoping warming up a bit helps. He's still been pooping fine. His FS cagemate is also absolutely fine. Just wondering if anyone has had anything similar in the past and if there were any recommendations/ ideas to help him improve. He is under veterinary care and will be taking him to the vets in the morning for a check up anyway. Thanks in advance, sincerely a worried pig mum.
 
Thanks for the reply, his appetite for hay has been pretty much normal (like before he was unwell anyway) but again reduced today. He's having 1 tablespoon of critical care daily but is also having a pelleted recovery food alongside this, which he's started intermittently turning his nose up at in favour of normal Burgess pellets. We have been weighing him daily every evening before bed since he was at the emergency vets with suspected colic but he's just so up and down at the moment. The vets weren't 100% sure what the issue actually is but they're not exotics specialists by any stretch. Thinking of possibly ultrasounding/ xraying tomorrow and getting my vets to have a good look in his mouth as the emergency vets struggled to due to food being in there (typically 🙄). Will update as we progress and hopefully some extra feeds tomorrow will help him pick up. Thanks again for the reply, really appreciate it 😊
 
unfortunately you can’t gauge hay intake by eye. I think you will also need to increase how much critical care you are giving him. Try him on 5ml every two hours. If he takes it from a spoon then even better as it’s easier for you.

I’ll link to recommended vets below. I would try and see if you can get him an appointment before Christmas. I know this may be difficult though.
Recommended Guinea Pig Vets
 
I'm hoping to be able to do more regular feeds with him over the Christmas period so fingers crossed that will help. He's been a bit funny with the critical care recently but we'll persevere with it. We've been to one of the vets listed there who was great with our sow so will try and see if he's available over the next week or so. Thank you so much for your help ☺️
 
Just an update, we've x-rayed this morning and his stomach is bloated again. He's eaten a little bit and is pooping amazingly. We've started meds again and looking to add in a couple of extras too. He's very reluctant to being syringe fed today but we'll persevere. Hoping to x-ray again this afternoon to see if anything changes.
 
Repeated xrays showed gas had moved down the digestive tract, he is still pooping very well and much brighter than last night. Current meds are metacam, metoclopramide, cimetidine and bio lapis. I've also been massaging him this afternoon to try and help things move down and he's definitely been comfier with all the above. I'm thinking of switching to fibreplex though as I feel that'll be more beneficial to him. I'll be taking him back tomorrow so I can medicate him and syringe feed as necessary but I'm definitely already happier with how he's doing. Will repeat weight check tonight just for a baseline 🤞🤞
 
Another update on the gas situation. Pickle had a good day yesterday, ate some pepper in the morning, but no other veg, and lots of hay. Is taking his meds well and even let out two long farts yesterday afternoon! His weight is coming back up now and he's starting to be less fussy with his food. His tummy also feels less tense so I think we're heading in the right direction.
 
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