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Sick Piggy Support

piggycuddler_44

piggycuddler_44

New Born Pup
Joined
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Hi Everyone, sorry if this is the wrong place for the question, and sorry for the length.

I have had my guinea pig Pork Chop for a year now, I rescued him and his friend from an abusive situation. He has had a lot of minor-ish health issues because of the 'care' he recieved as a baby, but he's gotten through it all fairly easily.

I noticed yesterday that he was breathing faster than normal, and less active and friendly, and rushed him to the vet. They did an x ray and everything looked fairly good, no problems. They have kept him overnight at the hospital, and had him on oxygen therapy, antibiotics and pain meds (possible URI). They are going to make a decision this afternoon about what to do, but he is apparently pooping less and still drowsy.

I lost my last pig (his friend) to similar symptoms 6 months ago. I didn't take him to the vet at all soon enough, and pretended everything was fine, so I know I have caught whatever Pork Chop has much much earlier.

It was really hard losing my piggies not too long ago, and I am so worried and scared. I would be heart broken if anything happened to him, and his new friend Benji is only one.

I'd like to ask for some support, and any advice would be more than welcome.

Does anyone know if Benji is in danger of caught it?


Thank you ❤️❤️❤️❤️
 
Please check Wiebke's Guide to Poops and Wiebke's Guide to Pees and Stones and maybe also Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

I know it's a lot to read but that's the compiled and most up to date information from the forum.

A lot of forum mbrs are in the UK, it's almost 3am and they're in bed, where I should be too and my brain is mush. So I'm sorry, I can't help you any better, except to say, maybe start syringe feeding Benji? Check the appropriate parts of the links I put in. You could also take him to the vet's when you check about Pork Chop later?

Good luck.
 
Thank you. Benji is still eating and drinking, I'm just panicked that he has what Pork Chop has. When we (fingers crossed) pick Pork Chop up, we'll take Benji in if he doesn't come right soon.
 
I’m sorry to hear this

Our advice is to immediately switch from the routine weekly weight checks and instead weigh him daily. You cannot gauge hay intake by eye so seeing them eat is never a reliable gauge that they actually are. Still eating veg but a reduction in hay intake means they are not eating anywhere near enough.
Poop output is 1-2 days behind hay/food intake so by the time you see reduced poop output then it means they haven’t been eating enough (even if they are still eating some hay) for a day or so.
At 50g of weight loss is when you need to step in with syringe feeding

I hope he is ok

Wiebke

Thread 'Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support'

1 Weight and Weight Loss
- Why regular weight monitoring matters
- How weight changes over a lifetime
- How to weigh on your kitchen scales (with video)
- The weight loss rules
- How critical is the weight loss for my piggy?
- Possible causes for weight loss
2 Body Mass Index (BMI) or 'Heft'
- Why is understanding your piggy's weight so important?
- 'Average' weight vs. individual weight - the big trip up
- How to check for the BMI...
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Wiebke

Thread 'All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures'

Introduction
1 Choosing the right place to medicate/feed your piggy
2 Guinea pig whispering and asserting your authority
3 Recovery products and emergency improvisation
4 Syringe recommendations
5 Weight monitoring: your biggest ally
6 Weight loss guidelines and when to step in with feeding
7 Syringe feeding amounts/frequency advice
8 Practical medication and syringing tips
9 Medicating and feeding cooperative guinea pigs (videos)
10 Medicating and feeding uncooperative guinea pigs (hold pictures and tips)
11 The line between life and...
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Hi, Benji hasn't lost any weight, and did have his veggies this morning. He's a very perceptive pig, and I think maybe he has just been eating less hay because Pork Chop has been gone for a few days now, and unfortunately does have to stay another night. I've given him some oaten (his favourite) and will keep monitoring his weight
 
Definitely keep up with the weight checks.

A healthy immune system will help fend off any bugs. By far when one is ill the other(s) doesn’t necessarily get it too but obviously we can’t know if any immune suppression any other pig may have and thus you would monitor any other pigs for symptoms and by increasing weight checks
 
The vet called again with an update. Pork Chop is not strong enough to breathe on his own yet. If he doesn't improve over tonight the will have to attempt to drain the fluid in his lungs.

This is so, so hard. If something happens to PC, I'll have to surrender Benji to a rescue so that he can have other pig friends, as I don't feel I could get more guinea pigs.

It feels like my whole little family could just fall apart. My pigs mean the world to me and I just feel so heartbroken
 
Prayers and healing vibes to Pork Chop!

Good thoughts to you to shoo away the dark "What ifs"!

Try and focus your love and care on Benji, I think you'll both feel better that way. Some guineas like to be fed hay blade after hay blade by hand, so if you have time for that, it would keep you focussed on Benji. I mean guinea faces are so sweet! Of course this is not to ensure he eats enough, it's just affectionate interaction.
 
The vets said Pork Chop is stable, but still needs oxygen. They did an ultrasound and found fluid in his lungs, so they will likely need to operate to drain the fluid. Hopefully it's pneumonia and not something terrible like heart disease or cancer 🤞

Benjamin is well, normal and healthy this morning.

Thank you all for your thoughts and support. Please continue to send healing vibes to Pork Chop, and I will keep you posted ❤️
 
It is confirmed that Pork Chop is going to have surgery in the next few hours. There are risks involved, but no other option from here.

I am so worried about my sweet little man. Please keep him in your thoughts, and pray that he wakes up
 
I don't even know what to say. They found blood in his lungs. They will do a blood test tomorrow, but if nothing shows up there that is treable, we will have to let him go.

This is just the hardest thing. I can't even understand why this has happened. If we do have to saya goodbye, I'll have to find a new home for Benjamin so he can have a friend.

My world is just falling apart
 
I am so sorry your little guy is going through this have they given any idea why there is blood on his lungs? 😢
 
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