hayroque
Junior Guinea Pig
I've ordered cystease to start him on, it'll arrive by the time his gas meds are done.
Metacam they were giving us 10ml but it was running out fast with two 0.73 doses a day, so I got a 32ml bottle this time.
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Squeaking and straining again.
- Thread starter hayroque
- Start date
Metacam they were giving us 10ml but it was running out fast with two 0.73 doses a day, so I got a 32ml bottle this time.
Spaniel
Teenage Guinea Pig
If he stays on metacam you can ask your vet for a prescription and buy online cheaper (vet uk)
hayroque
Junior Guinea Pig
I've noticed cleaning just now he's been making some weird shaped squishy poops, could this be the cisapride?
I've seen a course of action is to remove veg from the diet for a bit, does this sound OK? I can't make a vet visit for tommorow as I have an interview, he seems fine otherwise; only a little squeaky this morning.
I've seen a course of action is to remove veg from the diet for a bit, does this sound OK? I can't make a vet visit for tommorow as I have an interview, he seems fine otherwise; only a little squeaky this morning.
hayroque
Junior Guinea Pig
Or at least reduce veg, I'll a bit worried I'd be taking away one of his favourite things when he's already alone so entertainment is limited
hayroque
Junior Guinea Pig
Also would it make sense to ask the vet to take a sample of urine to test? It would completely rule out infection and I'm not sure what else they could check for.
Sorry for all the posts I'm just so stressed trying to figure out what's happening, posting here helps a little. Ozzy's poop got quite soft like this towards the end and it's scaring me.
Isn't 0.73 meant to be a significant dose of metacam (dogs) ? The fact he's still squeaking so much on it, the pain has to be really severe. But he's otherwise acting normal and his weight is being maintained daily.
Sorry for all the posts I'm just so stressed trying to figure out what's happening, posting here helps a little. Ozzy's poop got quite soft like this towards the end and it's scaring me.
Isn't 0.73 meant to be a significant dose of metacam (dogs) ? The fact he's still squeaking so much on it, the pain has to be really severe. But he's otherwise acting normal and his weight is being maintained daily.
hayroque
Junior Guinea Pig
Haven't heard squeaking this morning yet but his poop is still soft
Piggies2023
Teenage Guinea Pig
If it's dog metacam then yes 0.73 if it's twice a day is a high dose. Nancy is on 0.4 twice a day but she is also on Gabapentin and she will still squeak at times. Does Ozzy have a friend?
You could ask the vet to check urine. Dip sticks aren't expensive & they may agree to look under microscope for you. But once you go to cultures it's expensive. It cost me over £100 for it but it ruled that out.
hayroque
Junior Guinea Pig
Ozzy (Oscar) is my guinea pig who passed away from bladder stone complications in January, Wilbur was his cagemate and developed these symptoms a week afterwards. The plan was to get him bonded through rescue dating but I'm so unsure if I can while he's sick, the rescue is wary of anything contagious or Wilbur refusing to bond because he's not feeling good. If I was just certain of what was going on then I could know what to do for him, I hate leaving him on his own. The rescues said to contact them when we think he's ready and it'll be only waiting a few days after that to take him.
I'll have to think about the urine test, money is really running short but the poop is worrying, it's more formed today but still squishy. I will probably ask for a culture just to know I'm doing everything possible if it's something I can budget into it.
The metacam is twice a day yes, the vet had us sign a form to let them use unlicensed meds and doses but I trust them, they're on the list on the forum.
Piggies2023
Teenage Guinea Pig
You've had such a stressful time.
It is possible that Wilbur is stressed from loosing his mate and being alone- and if it's IC it can make this worse. So if you get the tests done & try cystease it maybe worth going ahead with seeing if the rescue can bond him, it may help.
He isn't on antibiotics is he? As that can make poop squishy too.
hayroque
Junior Guinea Pig
It's been horrible, every time Wilbur makes that sound its like hearing and losing Ozzy all over again.
Cystease (FELIWAY) should arrive in the next couple days, I've asked my mum to grab me some dip sticks tests on her way home later too so I can test today for blood in case it's just pigment. You're right, I'll probably get the tests done at the vet and then see what the rescue says if it's not an infection.
He had a course of Marbocyl for 7 days last week but has been off them since Thursday, his gut handled it well at the time. He then started Cisapride which he finished yesterday as she felt he was a bit bloated, which is when the poop changed. He's been on metacam for about 2-3 weeks now twice daily too.
He's currently teeth chattering at me for not getting him his veggies and very cross, but as far as I've read I should leave his gut to regulate, he has lots of hay. Would a little dry forage still be okay to occupy him? I have dried rose petals, dill stalks and dandelion leaves. The dill and dandelion are only weekly treats because of the calcium.
Yes dried forage would still be ok if he is used to it.
(As I say, if he has IC then it’s changes to the diet which can set off flares rather than the diet itself)
(As I say, if he has IC then it’s changes to the diet which can set off flares rather than the diet itself)
hayroque
Junior Guinea Pig
Thanks, I'll keep that for him.
I did drastically change his diet after Oscar died to reduce calcium levels, which could have set this off if its IC, I cut out pellets and quite a lot of dark leafy greens so I could introduce smaller amounts of herbs later, as well as filtering water. Along with the loss it could be the reason why it's so bad. In the future I'll be far more careful, it was a knee jerk reaction to try and prevent the same thing twice.
Got him a vet appointment for Wednesday morning, it's with a different vet so maybe a new perspective on things. I'll be testing his urine this evening with test strips for blood.
Thanks so much for all the advice on both this thread and Ozzys one in January, it's been a huge support.
hayroque
Junior Guinea Pig
Saw the vet yesterday and they prescribed more cisapride, annoyingly I couldn't get a urine sample from him in time for the appt and the stores are out of stock on strips, but his wee isn't coppery like the vet said when I later got a look at it, of course it can be invisible but it's reassuring I can't see what they did anymore. His weight is maintaining and I've got him on only a couple small lettuce leaves so that he'll take his cystease capsule with less stress (he's not a fan of being held, so I'm reducing that stress where I can only for daily weigh ins and medication he won't take in the cage, he loves metacam so he'll take that happily through the bars) but otherwise less veggies until his tummy settles
They've suggested an ultrasound to check again for stones or anything else if nothing improves next week, terrifying to me because i don't want to see if there actually is one if that makes sense? Of course I 100% will get him one for his sake, its just my fear talking there after thinking its was an impossiblity after the xray. I think they're looking at IC now because they seemed happy I was giving cystease and they mentioned metacam long term. They think the big dose of metacam over so much time may have contributed to his poo changing, so after the cisapride course she wants me to half the dosage and only go up again if he's in more pain that way.
Photo of the little man, hes so rude about his metacam, ran off with the syringe the other day. I didn't expect him to be so strong he could snatch it!
They've suggested an ultrasound to check again for stones or anything else if nothing improves next week, terrifying to me because i don't want to see if there actually is one if that makes sense? Of course I 100% will get him one for his sake, its just my fear talking there after thinking its was an impossiblity after the xray. I think they're looking at IC now because they seemed happy I was giving cystease and they mentioned metacam long term. They think the big dose of metacam over so much time may have contributed to his poo changing, so after the cisapride course she wants me to half the dosage and only go up again if he's in more pain that way.
Photo of the little man, hes so rude about his metacam, ran off with the syringe the other day. I didn't expect him to be so strong he could snatch it!
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fluffysal
Forum Donator 2024/25
Just reading through your thread. Hope everything is ok at the vets. My boy Dignified Sir George has been suffering with UTIs recently. I found out that piggy parcels do a urinary support pack of forage if you're interested.
He loves metacam too!
He loves metacam too!
hayroque
Junior Guinea Pig
Oh I might look into that! What's the package called exactly? I want to keep his diet kinda interesting for him still while being safe, feel so mean giving him boring veggies because he always looks at me for something else when he sees them before going to eat, he's sick of lettuce right now even if he eats it, so been giving him little bits of forage to have something fun to snack on
fluffysal
Forum Donator 2024/25
It's exactly that, urinary support pack. Last time I ordered it was out of stock so I ordered a medium parcel (you choose your own items) and got everything it contains except raspberry leaves. So far he and his boisterous companion are enjoying everything they got. I also now have them on the piggy parcels pellets.
hayroque
Junior Guinea Pig
Still no improvements, no massive declines either but going to have another vet trip this week.
Piggies2023
Teenage Guinea Pig
Has he started the cystease?
hayroque
Junior Guinea Pig
Yep, I've been giving a full capsule a day since last Tuesday
Piggies2023
Teenage Guinea Pig
It can take a little while to work. For one of my pigs it took a few weeks. So hopefully it will help. I give half a capsule in the morning, half at night. Though one pig is almost off it now.
hayroque
Junior Guinea Pig
Yeah I've heard it can take ages to do anything, vet mentioned an ultrasound so I think they'll have me book one next appointment, if we missed a stone I can't afford surgery anymore, I had a fund of about 2000 at the start of 2024 for the vet but it's all gone. It's rare for xrays to miss a stone though right? They did it with sedation so its not like he was moving about
Piggies2023
Teenage Guinea Pig
If they did it with sedation it's unlikely to miss it. There is always a chance of one growing since but it's unlikely when he had the same symptoms and didn't have one earlier. My Nancy had two x-rays because of her symptoms and an ultrasound and while she has been squeaking when weeing they never showed stones.
hayroque
Junior Guinea Pig
Mum had to take him today as I had college but they've said to stop metacam completely as vet thinks it's stress? They'll do an ultrasound if i want but that wasn't the answer I expected
hayroque
Junior Guinea Pig
Not even sure the ultrasound will show anything now , they don't seem to see it as needed it's just an option.
Might be time to contact the rescue and see if he improves with a friend, going to continue cystease at least
Might be time to contact the rescue and see if he improves with a friend, going to continue cystease at least
Piggies2023
Teenage Guinea Pig
hayroque
Junior Guinea Pig
Had no metacam for nearly a week and squealing is less/the same. Heard none Friday to Saturday, once yesterday but only once. Contacted the rescue now we're sure he's not declining, just wanted to update on how he's doing, he's getting very playful lately with is cute for him who's normally skittish, maybe because he has more time with me as I give more attention while he's solo. He's getting cystease daily and I'm gonna ask the rescue to continue it while he's off dating
Piggies2023
Teenage Guinea Pig
That's great that he's doing better
hayroque
Junior Guinea Pig
Wilburs found a friend at the rescue! Last update here I'll make a new one to show him off, hes 2 years old and we're naming him Zuko and we pick them up next Thursday! (Only day I have free to go by train) They joked that the piggie is basically a duplicate Wilbur which is typical for him, loves himself too much.
I'll use a different post in the right area to show him off when we get to meet the little guy, I wasn't picky but this was the piggie me and mum were obsessed with on the website, it feels right. Been missing Wilbur so much this week but he was so excited when he heard piggies at the rescue that it's worth it, he lit up despite the long train journey and kept looking around while having cuddles from the volunteers. Used lancashire rescue who aren't on the recommended but they've been brilliant so far, Wilburs been in good hands and they all seem to really love the animals, i made sure he's got metacam if needed and daily cytease handy + provided his hay and veggies to make it a little easier. They made sure not to bond him with babies which was a green flag to me since I didn't want a fallout when baby got to adolescence, I remember Wil and Ozzy being very moody with each other at that age which back then I wasn't sure why, fixed by upgrading to 5x3 though. Only annoying thing is I can't find any new correx bases in that size, need a replacement since ours is chewed but I have tourettes so cutting it myself is very hard to do safely. If anyone knows any sites which do custom sizes I'd really appreciate it.
Also Piggies are fine having cystease in general as preventative right? I hide wilburs in veggies but with two piggies I figured I should use two capsules to be safe, everything I've seen says zuko should be fine taking them this way so that Wilbur gets a full dose.
Thankyou so much for all the support, losing Oscar's been so difficult and Wilburs health was bringing it back up but we get to rescue another piggie in need out of it all, I'm excited to hear Wilbur chatting to another piggie again
I'll use a different post in the right area to show him off when we get to meet the little guy, I wasn't picky but this was the piggie me and mum were obsessed with on the website, it feels right. Been missing Wilbur so much this week but he was so excited when he heard piggies at the rescue that it's worth it, he lit up despite the long train journey and kept looking around while having cuddles from the volunteers. Used lancashire rescue who aren't on the recommended but they've been brilliant so far, Wilburs been in good hands and they all seem to really love the animals, i made sure he's got metacam if needed and daily cytease handy + provided his hay and veggies to make it a little easier. They made sure not to bond him with babies which was a green flag to me since I didn't want a fallout when baby got to adolescence, I remember Wil and Ozzy being very moody with each other at that age which back then I wasn't sure why, fixed by upgrading to 5x3 though. Only annoying thing is I can't find any new correx bases in that size, need a replacement since ours is chewed but I have tourettes so cutting it myself is very hard to do safely. If anyone knows any sites which do custom sizes I'd really appreciate it.
Also Piggies are fine having cystease in general as preventative right? I hide wilburs in veggies but with two piggies I figured I should use two capsules to be safe, everything I've seen says zuko should be fine taking them this way so that Wilbur gets a full dose.
Thankyou so much for all the support, losing Oscar's been so difficult and Wilburs health was bringing it back up but we get to rescue another piggie in need out of it all, I'm excited to hear Wilbur chatting to another piggie again
Piggies2023
Teenage Guinea Pig
Aw that's fab he's got a friendWilburs found a friend at the rescue! Last update here I'll make a new one to show him off, hes 2 years old and we're naming him Zuko and we pick them up next Thursday! (Only day I have free to go by train) They joked that the piggie is basically a duplicate Wilbur which is typical for him, loves himself too much.
I'll use a different post in the right area to show him off when we get to meet the little guy, I wasn't picky but this was the piggie me and mum were obsessed with on the website, it feels right. Been missing Wilbur so much this week but he was so excited when he heard piggies at the rescue that it's worth it, he lit up despite the long train journey and kept looking around while having cuddles from the volunteers. Used lancashire rescue who aren't on the recommended but they've been brilliant so far, Wilburs been in good hands and they all seem to really love the animals, i made sure he's got metacam if needed and daily cytease handy + provided his hay and veggies to make it a little easier. They made sure not to bond him with babies which was a green flag to me since I didn't want a fallout when baby got to adolescence, I remember Wil and Ozzy being very moody with each other at that age which back then I wasn't sure why, fixed by upgrading to 5x3 though. Only annoying thing is I can't find any new correx bases in that size, need a replacement since ours is chewed but I have tourettes so cutting it myself is very hard to do safely. If anyone knows any sites which do custom sizes I'd really appreciate it.
Also Piggies are fine having cystease in general as preventative right? I hide wilburs in veggies but with two piggies I figured I should use two capsules to be safe, everything I've seen says zuko should be fine taking them this way so that Wilbur gets a full dose.
Thankyou so much for all the support, losing Oscar's been so difficult and Wilburs health was bringing it back up but we get to rescue another piggie in need out of it all, I'm excited to hear Wilbur chatting to another piggie again
. And the fact he was excited when he heard the other pigs is just adorable.Cystease- can you give some just on his veg? I open the capsule and put some on a piece of lettuce and put it in front of Pumpkin and my other pig a piece of lettuce without it at the same time. Means I know exactly how much she is getting.