Bill & Ted
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Poor Sandy, it’s hard when you are working. Hoping her tummy is better very soon x
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Sandy has diarrhea
- Thread starter Hope4gem
- Start date
. So stressful when piggies are poorly. 
And sending you hugs 
Hope4gem
Forum Buddy
I was off from work with Sandy for four days and able to syringe feed her every 2 to 3 hours during the day. Her weight is stable, but she continues to have diarrhea. We've continued to use probiotic and poo soup. Just today my vet recommended Kaopectate, but when looking it up on guinea lynx I read that it's no longer recommended since they changed the ingredients so now I'm afraid to give it to her. Has anyone used Kaopectate before?
I’m sorry I’ve no experience of that.
One of our members Adelle used slippery elm bark powder successfully with diarrhoea. If you search for it you should find her precious threads.
One of our members Adelle used slippery elm bark powder successfully with diarrhoea. If you search for it you should find her precious threads.
Hope4gem
Forum Buddy
I will definitely look that up. Thank you.
Apologies my phone corrected previous to precious. It’s been used by a couple of members of the forum over the years so may be worth a try. I’m on my phone or I’d look out some for you
Hope4gem
Forum Buddy
On a lighter (and perhaps more humorous note) Sandy has "accidentally" peed in my direction twice today while trying to syringe feed her. She's a very slow eater compared to my other pigs. Always has been. She'll even poke around with veggies. So getting 10 ml's (or so) of CC into her can take the better part of an hour. So I totally get it that she has to potty. That's why I keep piddle pads underneath her while I feed her. If picking her up out of the cage wasn't more difficult than herding cats I'd certainly put her back down to potty, but she is impossible to catch. So she has to use a piddle pad, but doesn't seem content with peeing where she's supposed to. Instead of aiming down at the fleece liner, puppy pad, or towel she aims at me. 
Fun times.
Fun times.
Sandy is just showing you her indignation of having to use a piddle pad. Bless her. Hope she’s soon on the mend. It must be very tiring for you too. Remember to take care of yourself. 
Hope4gem
Forum Buddy
I'm going to try Pet Pectillin. It's one of the things that's recommended for diarrhea on guinea lynx website. It seems to have better supportive research behind it than the Kaopectate (new formula) that my vet recommended. I looked into Slippery Elm but I can't get the brand recommended as I live "over the pond" and don't want to pick a random brand in the US as I don't know if I can trust the brand, if there would be any added ingredients that may or may not be safe for piggies, or how to calculate the dose. My vet has been wrong about things before so doing my own research is nothing new, but it is frustrating. Unfortunately, we don't have nearby access to a really knowledgeable exotic vet and have to make do with supplementing via our own research (from reputable sites like TGPF and guinea lynx, of course). If Sandy continues to have issues I will certainly make an appointment for her at a vet farther afield. There's an exotic vet about 2 hours away in another state that I think is more knowledgeable. The toll roads and gas costs make the trip itself cost about $100 before we even get to the vet fees and such so I can't make this our regular vet but will certainly seek out their services in this case for Sandy if needed.
Hope4gem
Forum Buddy
I think the Pectillin helped. 
The poos that I could see in the cage this morning looked nornal. Here's hoping we've turned a corner. (But I will definitely keep meds, recovery food, and everything we've been doing the same for now until we see at least a couple days of consistent progress). Her metacam dose (for her arthritis) was increased as well and she's definitely been moving around more and seems to feel better.
The poos that I could see in the cage this morning looked nornal. Here's hoping we've turned a corner. (But I will definitely keep meds, recovery food, and everything we've been doing the same for now until we see at least a couple days of consistent progress). Her metacam dose (for her arthritis) was increased as well and she's definitely been moving around more and seems to feel better.
I think the Pectillin helped.
The poos that I could see in the cage this morning looked nornal. Here's hoping we've turned a corner. (But I will definitely keep meds, recovery food, and everything we've been doing the same for now until we see at least a couple days of consistent progress). Her metacam dose (for her arthritis) was increased as well and she's definitely been moving around more and seems to feel better.
Fingers very firmly crossed. Cases of persistent diarrhea/tummy upsets can be difficult to deal with.
Merab
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What a relief for you.
Hope things remain good.
Hope things remain good.
Hope4gem
Forum Buddy
Sandy's weight dropped 45 grams over the past two days. I think it's because I've been back at work since Tuesday and consequently I can't feed her every 2 hours during the day. I will have to start doing overnight feedings. At least until I have off from work again. I also have a call into the vet to see if subq fluid is needed or if she would recommend anything else.
All the best! Caring for such a high needs piggy is hard and draining. Sadny couldn't have found a more dedicated Piggy Slave!
Bill & Ted
Forum Buddy
Aw, hope Sandy is better soon, you must be exhausted x
Hope4gem
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Thank you, Wiebke. I appreciate that.
Merab
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Hope all goes well for Sandy.
She’s a lucky piggy having such a caring and dedicated owner.
Look after yourself as well
She’s a lucky piggy having such a caring and dedicated owner.
Look after yourself as well
Hope4gem
Forum Buddy
Hope4gem
Forum Buddy
Sandy had her first fluids treatment on Thursday. There was bad weather yesterday so the vet couldn't schedule. She'll have her second fluid treatment today. I'm keeping her on the Pectillin for now. Luckily I have off yet tomorrow so I have a bit more time to feed her every 2 hours during the day. With the extra feedings and fluids her weight has stopped going down. I am worried that when I go back to work on Monday she will start losing weight again. I will certainly feed her during the night to the best of my ability, but I know that if I get sleep deprived I run the risk of making a medication mistake or falling asleep while driving so I have to make sure I get enough sleep. It will be a bit of a juggling act this coming week, for sure.
Bill & Ted
Forum Buddy
I used to give Ted a feed last thing at night before bedtime (this was when Ted was struggling after post op dental problems ) and then around 6 am, you need your sleep to function and ultimately take care of them, look after yourself x
BIG HUGS
You are already doing more for Sandy than most owners are doing or can provide. Try to rearrange your feeds with a big one before you go to sleep and then after you get up after a 6 hours gap in order to have time for yourself to and be able to reduce the feeding sessions to just 3-4 larger amounts sessions throughout the day.
I know that it is really tough for you, but you need to start asking yourself how sustainable your current level of care to keep Sandy going for the long term is for both you and her. It is a very hard and heart-breaking question for you to ask yourself and answer honestly.
It is OK to do go all out for the short term - a matter of days or a couple of weeks to get a piggy through a crisis (which you have done); but are you fit and able to provide that much care around all your other life commitments indefinitely as Sandy is obviously not able to keep herself fed and is totally dependent on your round the clock care?
It is very easy to fall into the Care Trap; very often it happens without you realising through a life-threatening emergency but it is emotionally extremely hard to get out of it again as it wakes up all your fears of loss and comes with a huge dollop of feelings of guilt and betrayal - and this emotional baggage is only getting heavier the longer you run on.
But I think it is a question you need to ask yourself now that you have been able to stabilise Sandy only so much. Especially when you are unable to keep her stable over the coming week. You also have to ask yourself just how much and how long is it fair to put Sandy through it if you are unable to keep her stable with your normal work-life-sleep balance?
I am not raising this point with any pleasure; I want to make that very clear. But I know the longer term consequences this has not just for the cared but also for the carer first-hand, both with piggies of mine and with seriously or terminally ill humans. There is a point where the balance starts to tip, and I feel that you have reached this point now where you have to put on your hard head and reassess how this coming week is going and whether you can get Sandy onto sustainable less but larger feeds or not.
The problem is that if she doesn't, then it is going to be even more devastating on you when you are sliding into losing her gradually from a point very low down the well where it is really difficult to work your way back from over a surprisingly long period due to the growing exhaustion causing increasing problems at work and to your own health and the emotional wreck that you are when you still lose that battle after giving more than your all.
Hope4gem
Forum Buddy
I'm sure that was a difficult post to write, but I appreciate you writing it as I feel like I am still relatively new to piggy care. I will try to keep everything you said in mind. I will also go back to 3 or 4 larger feedings per day on Monday. Perhaps 15 mL's at a time, if she will take it. She's gone through about a month of this before (late last Spring, very early Summer I think it was) and pulled through. I'm hopeful that will happen again. My vet never hinted last time that it may be time to help her over the Rainbow Bridge and she didn't mention it yet this time either, but I think that's what you're hinting at. (Please forgive me if I'm misunderstanding what you mean).BIG HUGS
You are already doing more for Sandy than most owners are doing or can provide. Try to rearrange your feeds with a big one before you go to sleep and then after you get up after a 6 hours gap to have time for yourself to and be able to reduce the feeding sessions to just 3-4 larger amounts sessions throughout the day.
I know that it is so very tough and extremely hear-breaking for you, but you need to start asking yourself how sustainable your current level of care to keep Sandy going for the long term is for you and her. It is a very hard and heart-breaking question for you to ask yourself and answer honestly. It is OK to do this for the short term - a matter of days or a couple of weeks to get a piggy through a crisis (which you have done) - but are you fit and able to provide that much care around all your other life commitments indefinitely as Sandy is obviously not able to keep herself fed and is totally dependent on your round the clock care?
It is very easy to fall into the Care Trap; very often it happens without you realising through a life-threatening emergency but it is emotionally very difficult to get out of it again as it wakes up all your fears of loss and comes with a huge dollop of feelings of guilt and betrayal. But I think it is a question you need to ask yourself now that you have been able to stabilise Sandy only so much. Especially when you are unable to keep her stable over the coming week.
I am not raising this point with any pleasure; I want to make that very clear. But I know the longer term consequences this has not just for the cared but also for the carer first-hand, both with piggies of mine and with seriously or terminally ill humans. There is a point where the balance starts to tip, and I feel that you have reached this point now where you have to put your hard head on and reassess how this coming week is going and whether you can get Sandy onto sustainable less but larger feeds or not.
The problem is that if she doesn't then it is going to be evenmore devastating on you when you are sliding into losing her gradually from a point where it is really difficult to work your way back from over a surprisingly long period due to the growing exhaustion causing increasing problems at work and to your own health and the emotional wreck that you are when you still lose that battle after giving more than your all.
I lost my mother very suddenly a few weeks ago. She went missing and was found deceased. I don't usually share this openly about personal things, but I'm mentioning it because I feel like it helps explain my difficulty with the topic of death right now. I will do my best to keep an open mind about whether or not it is time to help Sandy over the RB, but the timing could not be worse.
BIG HUGS
What a horrible time you are having with so much to cope with and process! It must be such a nightmare for somebody who is very obviously feeling so deeply and is emotionally extremely aware of other people's needs and mental state. No, it is never easy for me to be a warner in the desert.
It is certainly not yet the time right now to put Sandy to sleep but it is time to re-evaluate whether Sandy is fit enough to cope with you going back to a more sustainable work-life-sleep load. This will give you a basis from which it is easier to make any future decisions whenever they come up and work out where you stand on certain aspects like letting her go if she ultimately doesn't hack it this time despite your best efforts and at which point would you consider it? I have found it much easier to confront my biggest fears of loss head-on and be honest on how far I was able to take things for myself. It has given me an emotionally firmer and stronger basis to stand on and be able to come to terms with in the long term. It is one of these ethical dilemmas that you do not have to work out from scratch every single time you come up against them repeatedly as a pet owner once you have done the basics, so at least it is worth being open-minded about it and having a bit of an easier ride in future times.
It is totally understandable that even considering doing this for Sandy when you are left with so many conflicting emotions, especially of failure, guilt and raw pain over your mother's death is a huge ask and likely means ripping open barely scabbed over wounds. I totally feel for you and I sincerely hope that I haven't made things much worse for you with my attempt to help you over Sandy.
We have sadly seen it repeatedly in years gone by when members were unable to let go well beyond what they were putting their pets through in order to keep them alive and what unreflected support by other well-meaning members with similar fears has done to make it ultimately much worse for them to come back from. It would like to spare you ending up on spiral into a very dark well by making you aware that it is there and that it could become a major concern for you. At the moment, you are at a potential tipping point but it is more in the way of an amber light than a red light alert.
Merab
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So sorry that you lost your mother in such difficult circumstances.
It’s perfectly understandable that talking about death is such a strain.
Grief is exhausting.
Holding you in my heart
It’s perfectly understandable that talking about death is such a strain.
Grief is exhausting.
Holding you in my heart
Hope4gem
Forum Buddy
Sandy's weight has been in the 890's yesterday and today so that's a good sign. However, her poos have started to look a bit softer again so that's not good. I was able to get 20 mls of CC recovery food into her this morning so hopefully that will tide her over until I get home from work. Taking her for subq fluids after work as well. She was running around yesterday during floor time so I do believe that her quality of life is still good, but I will be keeping a close eye on that as I want her to get better and if she can't get better then I at least want her to be comfortable, but I also don't want to push her past what is fair to ask of her to do, if that makes sense.
It is always a very stressful and draining time when it is touch and go because of the constant ups and downs.
All the best. We are all rooting for Sandy and for you!
Oh my. I’ve just caught up. I’m so sorry to hear about your dreadful loss. Please accept my heartfelt condolences for you & your family as you process your loss.
I’m rooting for you & Sandy. Big hugs x
I’m rooting for you & Sandy. Big hugs x
Hope4gem
Forum Buddy
The vet recommended bloodwork for Sandy. I guess to see if there are any other identifiable causes (for the diarrhea and not eating much) other than the antibiotics she finished in February. I'm not sure how I feel about putting her through that. For now, I scheduled another fluids appointment for Wednesday while I think about the bloodwork.