Someone please help me with advice, I’m feeling so desperate…😭😭

[ahnguyen]

Hello everyone,
Back in January, I posted about one of my piggies who had bloat and sadly passed away. Then, two weeks ago, another one of mine started showing signs of passing fewer droppings, though he was still eating normally. Despite that, I decided to take him to the vet for peace of mind, and it turned out he had quite severe bloat (though not as bad as the one who passed away). The vet prescribed medication and told me to monitor and care for him at home.


For the first four days, he showed significant improvement after taking the medication. On the first day, he only passed 30 droppings, but by the fourth day, that number had increased to 150. Seeing his improvement, I let him stay in the same cage with another guinea pig to keep him happy. However, after just one day of being housed together, he started passing fewer droppings again—only 37 in a day, and they were much shorter and smaller than usual.

I continued giving him his medication as prescribed and syringe-fed him Critical Care every 2–3 hours, but his condition didn’t improve much. So I decided to have him hospitalized so the vet could monitor and take care of him. However, after a week of hospitalization, there was still not much improvement. He continued to pass droppings—his droppings were consistent and well-formed—but he ate all of them. Occasionally, he would eat a few strands of timothy hay and some pellets, but most of the time, the vet had to hand-feed him. Over the past week, he has lost around 30 grams (there was one day he gained weight, but the next day he lost it again).

Today, when I visited him, I noticed he seemed lethargic. He tried to chew on a strand of hay but couldn’t swallow it and appeared to struggle while eating. His left eye was red around the edges (possibly due to a corneal scratch from hay dust), while his right eye looked normal, though he occasionally squinted. I stayed with him for an hour, and during that time, he passed 17 droppings—all of which he ate again.

I don’t know what to do anymore. I’m exhausted and unsure how much longer he can hold on or if he will recover. I’m terrified that he will leave me just like my previous guinea pig did… and I’ll be left behind all over again. Please, if anyone has knowledge or experience, kindly give me some advice. Should I change to a different vet? In my country and city, there aren’t many vets specialized in piggies. Also, someone I know had a guinea pig with severe bloat just like mine, and she was successfully treated at this clinic. But why is my guinea pig struggling to recover?

 

[Mikatelyn]

I'm so sorry to hear about your sick piggy. I have no experience with this but just wanted to offer support. Having recently cared for a sick piggy myself I can relate to how stressful this situation must be for you. Hugs.

 

[ahnguyen]

I'm so sorry to hear about your sick piggy. I have no experience with this but just wanted to offer support. Having recently cared for a sick piggy myself I can relate to how stressful this situation must be for you. Hugs.

This has been a very difficult time for me, but I still want to keep trying until the very last moment. I’ve also prepared myself for the worst-case scenario, but I still want to hold onto a little hope that a miracle might happen. Either way, I really appreciate your kind words of encouragement. Thank you so much

 

[CTWC]

I am so sorry you are going through this after your loss.
Have you remembered all of the advice regarding bloat from last time? Or do you want the links again?,

 

[CTWC]

Wiebke's Guide to Tummy Trouble

 

[Wiebke]

Hello everyone,
Back in January, I posted about one of my piggies who had bloat and sadly passed away. Then, two weeks ago, another one of mine started showing signs of passing fewer droppings, though he was still eating normally. Despite that, I decided to take him to the vet for peace of mind, and it turned out he had quite severe bloat (though not as bad as the one who passed away). The vet prescribed medication and told me to monitor and care for him at home.


For the first four days, he showed significant improvement after taking the medication. On the first day, he only passed 30 droppings, but by the fourth day, that number had increased to 150. Seeing his improvement, I let him stay in the same cage with another guinea pig to keep him happy. However, after just one day of being housed together, he started passing fewer droppings again—only 37 in a day, and they were much shorter and smaller than usual.

I continued giving him his medication as prescribed and syringe-fed him Critical Care every 2–3 hours, but his condition didn’t improve much. So I decided to have him hospitalized so the vet could monitor and take care of him. However, after a week of hospitalization, there was still not much improvement. He continued to pass droppings—his droppings were consistent and well-formed—but he ate all of them. Occasionally, he would eat a few strands of timothy hay and some pellets, but most of the time, the vet had to hand-feed him. Over the past week, he has lost around 30 grams (there was one day he gained weight, but the next day he lost it again).

Today, when I visited him, I noticed he seemed lethargic. He tried to chew on a strand of hay but couldn’t swallow it and appeared to struggle while eating. His left eye was red around the edges (possibly due to a corneal scratch from hay dust), while his right eye looked normal, though he occasionally squinted. I stayed with him for an hour, and during that time, he passed 17 droppings—all of which he ate again.

I don’t know what to do anymore. I’m exhausted and unsure how much longer he can hold on or if he will recover. I’m terrified that he will leave me just like my previous guinea pig did… and I’ll be left behind all over again. Please, if anyone has knowledge or experience, kindly give me some advice. Should I change to a different vet? In my country and city, there aren’t many vets specialized in piggies. Also, someone I know had a guinea pig with severe bloat just like mine, and she was successfully treated at this clinic. But why is my guinea pig struggling to recover?

BIG HUGS

I am ever so sorry about it. You and your vet are really doing your very best.

Bloat in guinea pigs can be very difficult to treat since the most effective gut drugs - based on steroids - are big no no with guinea pigs and since their very long but thin gut makes moving any gas very difficult.

It is always extremely difficult when you are coming very close to the line but any decision is not yet clear cut, as while he is increasingly lethargic he is still exhibiting normal behaviour. I doubt that another vet can make any difference because there is quite simply no magic wand, I extremely sorry to say.

This link here doesn't make for easy reading but it can hopefully help you make any necessary decisions with a clearer head if still no less aching heart.
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

My thoughts are with you and your boy in this most difficult and heartbreaking of times.

 

[munchmonster]

I am sending you hugs as you go through this worrying time. I am not in a position to give any advice but just want you to know I am thinking of you as I have had a number of sick piggies in the past.

 

[Truffolo]

Wishing you strength at this difficult time

 

[ahnguyen]

I am so sorry you are going through this after your loss.
Have you remembered all of the advice regarding bloat from last time? Or do you want the links again?,

Actually, his case and symptoms are somewhat different from other bloat cases, and despite trying everything, there hasn’t been much improvement. That’s why I feel really exhausted. But anyway, thank you for guiding me to read that link

 

[Wiebke]

Actually, his case and symptoms are somewhat different from other bloat cases, and despite trying everything, there hasn’t been much improvement. That’s why I feel really exhausted. But anyway, thank you for guiding me to read that link

It has rather sounded to me like there is something underlying going on but it can be extremely difficult to find out what that could be and even more difficult or impossible to cure it in the case of secondary bloat (i.e. the bloating is just a side effect and not the primary illness).
It is all so tightly packed in there that any pain or pressure radiating or pushing into the gut can cause the bloating but without impacting on the gut microbiome (as in the primary severe bloat); but secondary bloating can cover as wide a field as the lower spine, any major organs including the urinary and reproductive tracts etc plus any internal cancerous growths, which are usually inoperable.

I so wish I had better news.

 

[Merab]

Holding you in my heart

 

[ahnguyen]

It has rather sounded to me like there is something underlying going on but it can be extremely difficult to find out what that could be and even more difficult or impossible to cure it in the case of secondary bloat (i.e. the bloating is just a side effect and not the primary illness).
It is all so tightly packed in there that any pain or pressure radiating or pushing into the gut can cause the bloating but without impacting on the gut microbiome (as in the primary severe bloat); but secondary bloating can cover as wide a field as the lower spine, any major organs including the urinary and reproductive tracts etc plus any internal cancerous growths, which are usually inoperable.

I so wish I had better news.

Thank you. I know this illness is difficult to treat and monitor. Honestly, my piggy’s condition is getting worse. After two weeks of not eating hay, his teeth have overgrown, affecting the nerves in his left eye, causing swelling, redness, and preventing him from closing it.

Today, the vet took another X-ray and found that the gas in his stomach hasn’t decreased—in fact, it has increased compared to last week. The vet said they can’t trim his teeth right now because he is too weak and still suffering from bloat. They need to fully treat the bloat first before addressing his teeth.

As for his eye, there is a high risk that he will go blind, and it may not be possible to save it. I feel devastated and overwhelmed. The vet said he is still passing stool regularly, eating some pellets, and re-eating his cecotropes, so there is still hope. But I don’t know if I am being selfish by trying to keep him alive when he is already in so much pain. I don’t know what to do anymore…

 

[CTWC]

This sounds heartbreaking we will all support you in any decision but your decision has to made with his well being at the heart of it not what we as their carers want/need emotionally.
I am sending you our best look into your heart and your boys eyes and you will know what is best for him

 

[Wiebke]

BIG HUGS

If you and your vet feel that you have tried and done anything you could but it is not getting any better nor is there any magic last minute miracle cure, then it may be kinder to let him go.

Having had to make that decision myself more than once, it is totally heartbreaking and gutting; and it is the kind of decision you never want to be called to make but on the other hand it can be also the most loving gift you can ever make somebody you deeply care but cannot help because you do not want them to suffer. Would we not all rather bear the emotional burden for those we love rather than letting them bear the burden of our fears and doubts when the chips are down?

We are here to help you talk things through so you can make any decision as to how you want to go on with a clearer mind - your heart is sadly not going to hurt any less, whichever way you decide. Unfortunately, it is your both privilege and burden as an owner to be the only one who can make that decision.

You are also within your rights to ask your vet for an open talk about the prospects, the various pros and cons, and - if you do it respectfully and politely - for their personal opinion.

I cannot express just how sad I am to write these kinds of posts when there is little or no prospect for a turn for the better. It never gets any easier.

 

[Merab]

Hugs

 

[CTWC]