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Ricky won't eat or poop

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Annie59

Here I go again. Little Ricky has been sick for over 2 months with abscesses. Some of you may know him. He's been through a lot. Two surgeries and it finally looks like he's just about healed. One more visit should do it. He's still a baby and he's been through a tough time and has never been down. He's so full of energy. But yesterday morning I noticed he didn't eat his dry food or veggies. He normally eats at least 3 huge bowls of veggies a day. Also, there has not been one poop since yesterdy morning. It's well over 24 hours. And very little pee. I syringed fed him and gave him water also through a syringe today. Finally, I see he's starting to eat a little. And he's also playing with his chew stick. But most of the time I see him backing his little butt in a corner like he always does when he poops. But nothing comes out. It's been going on all day. I called the vet, but after the surgeries, it's cost me well over 1400 american dollars. I'm so broke. I told them on the phone that I can only come up with $50 dollars. And after all the money I spent, I thought they would tell me to come in. to see the doctor. Instead, I'm going in to see a tech who is just going to give me something for dehydration. That will only be $15. It's all I can do. I'm sick right now, but there is nothing more I can do. Has anyone experience this before. I'm thinking he may be constipated. He's on an anitbiotic, but he's been on it for two months! He's also on Rimadyl. He's been taking that as well for the past two months. I'm very worried. It's been a long two months and he's been to the vet at least 15 times now. I finally get him well and now he looks sick again. Any advice? Thanks!
 
I think guineas can get dodgy tummies from too much anti biotic and not enough pro biotic? Sure someone will put me right... Ricky should be having bio lapis or equvilent as a pro biotic
 
I'd say get him some pro-biotic and could you maybe get him some metatone tonic? 0.5mls once a day of this will help boost his apetite, it tastes horrible but pigs seem to like it, hope he's feeling better soon x
 
Thank you both for the advice. I saw a pro-biotic in the pet shop. I'm going to go pick it up. I have not yet heard of metatone tonic but I will ask them when I go to the store. I just came from the vet. They gave him a shot for dehydration and they said he should start pooping. I'm not sure what else they gave him. They wouldn't let the vet see him since I didn't have enough money. I was so angry at that. They were telling me that the vet should really see him and I'm trying to tell them I won't have the money until tomorrow and that wasn't good enough. I just want him well. He's such a wonderful little guniea pig. I'll let you know if there's any improvement. Thank you so much again for the advice.
 
i am really hoping poor little ricky gets better soon, he has been through so much in his short little life. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: i know what you mean about vets, when zoe took sick bad it was a wednesday, pension came in on a friday, not one vet would see her except the one where she had the surgery. and they said vet will see her but give no treatment. :tickedoff: :tickedoff: :tickedoff: i know they are there to make money but what ever happened to being a vet for the love of an animal? and you have spent so much money there, you'd think they'd cut you some slack! :tickedoff: :tickedoff: :tickedoff: really hoping ricky gets better, perhaps gently massage his tummy and private part-surrounds, don't know whether this helps but our zoe loves it, she goes to sleep. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: sending hugs, cuddles and prayers to you and ricky. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
metatone tonic is for humans :) are you in the UK? if so tesco's definately do it, its in a big bottle x
 
I'm actualy in America, but I'm sure the pet shop may know the equivalent here. (hopefully!) I'm going to go in a little while. Ricky is better today, but not nearly back to normal. I've been hand feeding him the stuff the vet gave me. It's like a pasty substance, green in color. It actually smells really good. Like fennel. He doesn't want to take it but I try to give him as much as I can. He's been eating a little. Although he's eating a lot of hay. And a little dry food. Today he ate some peppers. Which is good because they have the most water. He doesn't seem like he's in any pain. A little quiet, but he seems perky when I take him out. He also pooped a little. Smaller poop than normal, and probably about 15 poops today. He should have about 50 by now! But at least I know there's no blockage since it's coming out. He hadn't pooped in almost 2 days. I worried about that. His poops were dark green, but that's the color of the food I hand fed him. He nibbles at his veggie bowl and then walks away. The vet also said to give him infant gas drops. She thinks that will help him. That's how it stands so far. Hopefully he'll continue to get better. I just wish his pooping would return to normal. That worries me the most. Well, thanks again for the advice. It really does help me!
 
wondering how sweet little ricky is today? hoping he has pooped more for you and is eating and popcorning around for you. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: hugs and cuddles to you both :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: and ricky my girls send you some :-* :-* :-* so get well soon!
 
It's been a rough few days. He still does not want to eat. He nibbles here and there. Mostly on the dry food. It's weird not hearing him wheek when I walk in to see an empty food dish. It's still full. I take him out. I give him everything he needs. I try to hand feed him, but he fights me. He's pooping a little. Maybe one or two poops here and there. Still very small and green. I have been giving him the gas drops. I was just reading on a website that guineas do tend to get bloated with gas, so I guess why she said give him gas drops. I take him out and try to feed him veggies. He'll eat a little then stop. But he does not seem in any distress. He's still attacking his chew sticks. I put his little edible shack back in. (it's like a little house he goes in). And he kept running in and out of it. He seems perfectly happy. No popcorning, but he wheeked a little today when he saw me. But still really not eating or pooping properly. I can understand not to much poop because he's not eating right. His appointment is on Monday for his followup with the abscess. The only thing I noticed is that he ripped off the scab again the other day and it's really deep. I've been cleaning it and putting the cream in it, but I see him constantly trying to get at it. I gave him the stronger pain killer in case he is in pain. (he doesn't seem like he is). The only other thing I did was switch the brand of Timothy Hay. Ironically, he stopped eating right after that. Maybe today I'll go get the old brand. Maybe something in the new one bothers his tummy? Maybe I'm grasping at straws! I find myself in the middle of the night going up to check on him. In the meantime, my little girl is sick with a virus and she tells me I care more about the guinea pig! Of course that's not true, but he can't tell me what he feels. I try to tell her that, but it's kind of funny. They are in the same room, so I check them both at once! It's not possible for a human to spread a sickness to an animal is it? I'm told that's impossible. You never know! I had a terrible virus last week, which my daughter got now! Oh well....I want them both well! That's the latest! I'll update again later.
 
really hoping your two patients get better soon,perhaps when you switched hay you should have done it slowly over a period of time. as for your daughter giving ricky anything i am not sure i know animals can get things to humans. really hoping ricky gets better soon. sending you hugs and cuddles :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: come on ricky boy you can do it! :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: hoping your daughter gets better soon too. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
Just a quick note before I have to run....Ricky started eating, but just his cucumbers. Don't know why. I see them missing out of his veggie dish. So I went and cut up a half of a cucumber and he's eating it. But just the pieces I cut in circles. I cut different shapes, just for variety! So now I'll cut the other half in circles if that will make him eat! I wonder why he's picking out the cucumbers. His favorite is parsley, and he's not eating it. Well, cross your fingers that this is the start of something good!
 
glad ricky is eating, though wonder why he only goes for the round ones? :o :o :o will keep everything crossed and pray ricky is on the mend. sending hugs and prayers and will follow ricky's thread closely. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: come on mate you can do it! :-* :-* :-*
 
Ok, I'm at my wits end. Please if anyone is reading this that has a male guinea, can I bother you to do something for me? Ricky just won't eat...other than a nibble here and there. It's been 4 days and the vet is in tomorrow. So, he's going in. I've tried everything to figure out why he won't eat or drink. I'm feeding him by hand with the stuff I got from the vet last time. He did this once before but only for 1 day. The reason I'm asking about a male is because I noticed something and I don't know if I'm imagining it. Around his little private area, should there be a little swolleness on both sides of his....manhood? (don't know how else to phrase it) It almost looks like it's hanging to the ground around that area. It may have always been like that, but I've been checking him for everything and I noticed that. I hadn't noticed it before, but then again, I never really looked. I'm wondering if that's normal. Also he keeps making a constant noise with his mouth. It almost sounds like he's making a slight crunching noise. But it's constant. Even when he's not eating. (he's still eating hay) I'm going crazy. I went through almost 3 months of abscesses and operations and he was almost back to normal and now this. I've been crying all morning because after all that he's been through, I can't bear to lose him now. I can't seem to stop crying. He seems perfectly normal as far as his personality. And he's pooping about 10 little poops a day. They look exactly like tiny cucumbers. Same color as well. But the consistency is normal. I don't know what to do for him until tomorrow. I can see he lost weight. My heart is broken. Well, if anyone reading this can check their male bits....I would appreciate it. (sorry to be so blunt!)
 
ive been giving cookie 0.5mls of metatone and thats really helped her and shes starting to eat again now :)

really hope he picks up for you :smitten:
 
Thank you Maisy...I'm going to try to go find it. I wonder if they call it the same thing in the States. I found the probiotic here but I've never heard of Metatone. I'm sure I can find it. Is it something I would find in the pet store? Thanks again for the help. I'm willing to try anything.
 
What you describe sounds as if it might be a prolapse.It is not normal.The testicles should be the same size each side.This needs to be checked by a vet.
 
His testicles are actually the same size, it's just that I don't remember them being so big. They actually touch the ground when he's walking. I was hoping it is because he is growing. He will see the vet tomorrow. Please wish us the best! Thanks for all the advice.
 
wishing you and little ricky luck at the vet and hoping the poor little mite gets a clean bill of health. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: sending you hugs and cuddles and the gir;s send ricky :-* :-* :-* poor little mite deserves some good health. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
Oh love i've only just caught up with this thread :'( :'( :'( :'(
Poor little Ricky :'( :'( :'( just how much more does this little guy have to go thru :'( :'( :'(
Sending healing wheeks and heaps of piggie kisses to help Ricky and lots of ((((((((((HUGS)))))))))) for you too :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
Paws crossed for your vets visit O0 O0 O0 O0 O0
 
Thank you all. I just got back from the vets. I cried all morning. I just felt so blah, but after the visit, I feel much better. She must have thought I was crazy when I asked her to check his testicles. They just seemed to grow. But she said he's growing fast now and they look very normal. She said males guineas do have large testicles. She said they are the right size. Ricky will have a lot of lady guinea friends if he keeps this up! Anyway, she found nothing wrong with him other then a very bad case of gas and an upset tummy. She said it is not that abnormal for a guinea to go this long with an upset tummy, especially since he's been on a lot of medication from the operation. She gave him a thorough checkup. Poor Ricky got about 4 shots! I know one was for dehydration, one was an antibiotic and one was for his tummy and to help get his poops out. By the time I got home, his carry cage was full of poops! I think she gave him a poop shot! I can't remember what the other shot was for. But he seems better already. Now I just wish he'd eat normally. She said it may take a few more days, but he's starting to eat slowly. I went to the petstore yesterday to get Metatone. No one knew what it was. Not even the manager. I wonder if it's called something else here. I did buy a little bottle of acidophilus. It's a digestive tract conditioner. It's got the same cultures like they have in yogurt. A lot of people here give it to their children. This is made just for small animals. I haven't given it to him yet. The vets never recommend anything, so I'm not sure what to do. I guess it can't hurt to give him a little! As far as his abscess. It's just about healed. She said one more visit should do it. I'm going to do a happy dance when this is over. It's been since December and just about every week I've gone to the vet! I want to enjoy my little baby! Thanks again for the help you all have given me! Ricky should know how many people have helped me and him! :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
awww thats great glad it's nothing too serious and that he's doing lots of poops for you LOL :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
My pansy's prone to gas and it's so worrying :'( sounds like your little guy's been through a lot bless him :smitten:
you're doing a great job, and he'll get there :-* shall be thinking of you and praying for his full recovery, bless him :smitten:
(((HUGE HUGGLES))) sounds like mummy (you) need a rest, try not too worry, he'll get there, he's a fighter :smitten: :smitten:
We'll all be doing happy dances me thinks! :-* well done you, we all know how hard it is to have a piggie suffering, it's tough and it feels like suuuch a long time. try to relax :-*
 
so glad ricky is doing better! :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: so the vet turned him into a pooping machine? hoping the little mite continues to improve and you get to just enjoy him and have fun. hugs and cuddles :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: girls send :-* :-* :-*
 
how's your little one today? Hoping he's still pooping away :D bless him, and hoping he's getting back to normal :smitten:
(((hugs and kisses to you and him))) :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
Thanks for asking! Ricky seems better, but still doesn't want to eat much. He takes like 1 or 2 slices of cucumber or a little bit of parsley and eats it. I seen him eat a little more of the dry mix. But he has not stopped eating his hay. I've been giving him his "critical care" food mix through a syringe, just for the vitamin C. The vet gave it to me. She said it will also give him the water he needs. I don't give him much because he is eating a little. He gets excited when I bring food in now, but he just picks. He's going to the bathroom ok now, still green. Today he was popcorning when I cleaned his cage and put more hay in. Just for a minute, but it was good to see him jumping around. It's the cutest thing to me! I can't wait to see him eat normally again. It's kind of frightening, but since the vet said it takes time, I guess I'll have to wait! Yesterday I got such a horrible scare. When Ricky sleeps, he goes completely flat on his side. Head down and everything! So I went to check on him and there he is, flat as a board, with his head down on it's side, but his eyes were wide open and I could see the whites of his eyes at the bottom, so it looked like he ws staring up in the air. He looked dead and I went "Ricky" (no response) and then louder, "Ricky?" My heart was really racing. Then his head went up and he looked at me. I sware that guinea is going to give me a heart attack! Does anyone else's piggie sleep completely on their side with their heads down and eyes closed? I read they normally don't, but Ricky does. It can be frightening when you see that and they are sick! Well, I'll update again soon! Hopefully he will be a little better next time!
 
am so glad ricky is getting better and starting to popcorn around. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: most of my piggies have slept in a C shape though have noticed that zoe will sometimes lay flat and yes it can put your heart in your mouth when they do that. :o :o :o :tickedoff: :tickedoff: :tickedoff: i bet when you woke ricky and he looked up at you bet he was thinking yeah what do you want? was in a nice sleep and your making all this noise! :tickedoff: :tickedoff: :tickedoff: sending you both hugs and cuddles :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: hoping ricky continues to improve and the girls send ricky :-* :-* :-*
 
just wondering how ricky is going/ haven't read anything about him for a while. hoping no news is good news! sending hugs and cuddles :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: and the girls send :-* :-* :-* hoping ricky is still popcorning around for you and his health is improving. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: he deserves some good health. :-* :-* :-*
 
how is the little guy? (((HUGGLES))) :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :-* :-* thinking of you and praying for you :smitten:
 
Unbelievable recovery! Lets just say that my grocery bills will be maxed out this week! He has not stopped eating. He was eating more and more each day and then all of a sudden, boom, his head hasn't left the veggie bowl! He's popcorning all over the place! He's eating hay and pellets like it's his last meal! I was so happy, that I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. His wheeking is louder then ever. What a beautiful sound to hear it again! It was so scary to see him not eat at all. I think the Propulsid is what helped his belly. He ate right after I started giving it to him. The doctor said he would eat after he took this medicine. It is specifically for his belly. (bellies...I've now learned they have two stomachs!) He looks good and happy. I really thought I was going to lose him. And as far as his abscess cut, it's just about healed. He goes in on Monday and it may be his last visit. As long as no pus has accumulated in it again. I'm crossing my fingers. It feels a little bumpy, but it could be scar tissue. It's pretty much closed up. It will be such a happy day when I don't have to go back! I got him in November and by early December he was sick and has not been normal since. It's 4 months now. And he's only 6 months. I just hope nothing else grows again. Well, thanks again for asking. When my last visit is over, I will be on line, posting my great news! :D :D :D :D :D
 
YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY RICKY :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
Gosh you've had us worried to love :( :( :( :(
This is so great i know what it's like when these little furbabies get sick it tears us apart :( :(

More good news ? ? ? ok spill the beans :D :D :D :D :D
 
Big hugs to you and Ricky, Jumbo and I have been gong through the same thing so glad to hear Ricky is feeling better O0 :smitten:
 
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