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Spine & bladder issues

weepweeps said:
I had a piggy who completely stopped eat while he was on antibiotics. I syringe fed him for about 6 weeks. Once the antibiotics stopped he felt well enough to eat for himself. It’s not easy syringe feeding a piggy. It can be quite stressful. You’re doing a great job.
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Oh wow, that sounds very tiring syringe feeding for 6 weeks straight. It really isn’t easy at all, I had completely underestimated how draining it is when they fully stop eating. At least he cooperates reasonably well and it isn’t a huge fight every time. But he definitely has a very upset belly that’s gurgling super loudly as soon as I feed him. Talked to the vet and we are to come in again tonight. He wants to check his belly to make sure it‘s not bloat or GI Stasis that‘s waiting for us around the next corner.

Also going to try some poop soup tonight, maybe that‘ll help him too. Poor little monkey has to fight one thing after next at the minute.
 
stef.trg said:
Oh wow, that sounds very tiring syringe feeding for 6 weeks straight. It really isn’t easy at all, I had completely underestimated how draining it is when they fully stop eating. At least he cooperates reasonably well and it isn’t a huge fight every time. But he definitely has a very upset belly that’s gurgling super loudly as soon as I feed him. Talked to the vet and we are to come in again tonight. He wants to check his belly to make sure it‘s not bloat or GI Stasis that‘s waiting for us around the next corner.

Also going to try some poop soup tonight, maybe that‘ll help him too. Poor little monkey has to fight one thing after next at the minute.
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Good luck at the vets. I really hope he turns a corner soon.
 
You are doing really well, it is exhausting syringe feeding for any length of time but worth it if we can keep them going until they are better. When I look back at how ill Brillo was for months last year it's amazing to see him running around and tucking into piles of hay now.
 
Little boy has been slowly going into the right direction. His belly seems much better than yesterday and the day before and his appetite is gradually coming back. He even abandoned the syringe feed after 5ml today to go eat hay from the pile I put right next to us. He‘s been sat in it munching for the last 10 minutes. I don‘t want to call it too early but I think we might be turning the corner on whatever this mystery illness was/is. I will still top him up with as much critical care as he‘ll take and he also gets poop soup - Buttons & Cornelius looked like they were questioning their whole existence when I started picking up their poops as soon as they dropped them 😂 I really hope we made it through the worst of it!

Cute pigture of tonight‘s hay munch attached. He says thank you for all the healing wheeks and well wishes! ❤️
 

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Benito has been improving every day and seems to be getting over the antibiotics injection. His appetite has been increasing every day but I‘m still syringe feeding him 2-3x a day. When I had him out tonight, I noticed that his manly bits were super red and quite swollen. He has been leaking urine on and off for the past 2 weeks so the antibiotics really didn’t help with the symptoms there. We have ruled out stones and sludge with an x-ray and an ultrasound of his bladder was done too which came back clear. His urine was tested, also came back clear - not a single trace of infection or blood. I am really at a loss what is wrong with my little man. I will call the vet tomorrow morning to see if we can come in to get the swelling checked out.

I will also have his teeth checked again as I‘ve seen him chew a bit weirdly every now and again the last 2 days. His teeth were perfect at our last vet visit a week ago but I’m rather safe than sorry.
 
Sorry to hear his bits and bobs are swollen. Hopefully the vet can give you some answers. Sending healing wheeks.
 
I am sorry to hear Benito is still having problems. A few months ago when Red was having a lot of issues I noticed he was eating a bit strangely at times and took him to have his teeth checked twice. The vet couldn't find anything wrong with his teeth, a few days after the second visit he was still making funny mouth movements so I checked him and discovered he had food stuck around the top of his top front teeth and onto his gums making them sore. This happened a second time with hay wrapped round his bottom teeth, he's been fine since! Probably not Benito's problem with his mouth but it's worth a look!
 
Glad Benito is improving! I wonder if he's dribbling urine it's made his bits and bobs sore and swollen?
Hopefully he continues to improve, you're doing a fabulous job with him. He's a very handsome boy 😍
Good luck at the vets! 🤞❤️
 
Well, we‘ve been to the vets and, unfortunately, she couldn’t really help us at all as she‘d never seen anything like this before. She referred us to a different specialist but, unfortunately, the earliest we can get to her is tomorrow late afternoon.

Benito is not doing well, he‘s really deteriorated over the last 24 hours. He‘s very tired, lethargic and weak and at this point, I‘m really not sure if he’ll make it through the night. I just had him out for a long cuddle in case we don’t get to see each other again and he slept on me with closed eyes for most of it - something he usually never does.

So that’s a rather sad update from us this evening. I will keep you posted.
 

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Thank you all for your support & hugs ❤️

He is still here this morning but he‘s lost another 30g since yesterday’s weigh in. That‘s an overall weight loss of 110g in the span of 3 days despite my best efforts of syringe feeding him and him actually eating a lot more for himself than he was all of last week. I have the feeling there‘s something really sinister going on in his little body that we can‘t seem to find 😔
 
I’m so sorry 😞 are you managing to get a decent amount into him? If he’s then there is definitely something going on. And you know your piggy best. Is there an option for a third opinion elsewhere? So sorry you’re in this difficult position. Sending lots of hugs.
 
Siikibam said:
I’m so sorry 😞 are you managing to get a decent amount into him? If he’s then there is definitely something going on. And you know your piggy best. Is there an option for a third opinion elsewhere? So sorry you’re in this difficult position. Sending lots of hugs.
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Thank you. I usually manage to get anywhere between 45ml and 60ml into him in a day & on top of that he eats a fair bit of hay and veg himself and yet he‘s dropping 20-40g each day. He was never a chonky boy but he’s down to 880g now and he really looks and feels like a bag of bones.

We have one more vet appointment this evening at a different vet to get another opinion.
 
All the best for this evening. Maybe another pair of eyes may think of or find something.
 
Good luck for this evening. Sending healing vibes ❤️
 
So sorry Benito is so poorly, I hope you find out what the matter is with your poor little man x
 
I am very sad to report that I had to take the tough decision to have my little man put to sleep tonight. On top of the issue with his bladder he had also developed necrosis on his bits and teeth problems from not eating properly for a couple of weeks. The necrosis and his body shutting down was likely caused by the antibiotics he got injected by the second vet we visited 2 weeks ago as they aren‘t meant to be used in guinea pigs at all because they‘re known to be deadly in many cases. Why he gave him this injection without speaking to me about any possible side effects is absolutely beyond me. And it hurts even more to know that he might not have needed to die if it wasn’t for that injection.

I have taken my little man home and he is now in with Pewter so she can say her goodbyes. Currently she‘s frozen right next to the hidey he‘s in, poor girl. I will bury him behind my dad‘s house tomorrow as he will have a nice and peaceful resting place there.

Thank you all for your healing wheeks and support, I‘m very sad that this story has such a tragic ending and will allow myself to cry as much as I need to tonight. 😔
 
I’m so sorry you had to make that decision. Just know he passed away knowing how much he was loved. Lots of hugs for you and Pewter.
 
Oh what an awful thing to have happened. I'm so sorry for you all. He had a good life and knew he was well cared for right up to the end. Rest in Peace Benito x
 
So sorry.
I posted well wishes at the same time as you posted the decision to pts.
I am so sorry that you had to make that decision but it was the last gift of love we can give.
Cry yourself to sleep and be gentle with yourself as you grieve
Hugs 🤗
 
I’m so sorry you had to make this decision for Benito. It’s was made with love at the heart of it. He’s popcorning over the bridge pain free now munching on the grass. Take care ❤️
 
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