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Trudy is not feeling well

S

Sparklepetal

Teenage Guinea Pig
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I went to put the piggies into their garden run at lunch time and could tell something was up with Trudy. She just sat looking dazed instead of tucking into the grass in approved my-slave-starves-me style. So I got her back out and gave her a check over. She doesn't have any outward obvious problems, but the very fact of letting me examine her without much protest speaks volumes! I decided to take her into the kitchen to mix up some critical care. She did a big wee, cleverly projecting most of it into the sink, which had some creamy/cloudy content but mostly clear. She wolfed down all the critical care I had mixed up and did a few poos on my lap. They were slightly tear-drop shaped but firm. She didn't squeak for either poo or pee. Her abdomen feels soft and no particular areas cause her to protest to gentle prods. She sat on my lap for a long time after eating and was making little twitchy movements from time to time. When she tried to move off my arm I put her back into the run. She went straight over to Hazelnut as though for reassurance. Nutty was not very sympathetic I'm sorry to say! (They don't have a very cuddly bond). I watched Trudy do a couple of poos and eat them. She had to turn around rather than tuck her head under to get them as she normally would. She still hasn't eaten a blade of grass. She had a half hearted attempt at cleaning herself. She's now just sitting.

I made her a vet's appointment while she was sitting on my lap, they will see her tomorrow at 11. I'm trying to think what I need to tell them/ask them and what could be the trouble. Trudy seems to be in pain or discomfort of some sort. If we had metacam in the house I'd be giving her some, but neither piggy has ever needed to be prescribed pain meds. Trudy is a 1kg piggy - what range of doses would be prescribed normally? I know sometimes people come on the forum after the vet has given metacam and are told it's a very low dose.

With the not eating, I would think her molars should be checked? Incisors seem fine to me, but can't get any look at further back. Maybe she needs some gut stimulant meds? Poor little girl.

I'm extra anxious about this because Trudy is my 12-year-old daughter's very special precious pig 🥺
 
Sparklepetal said:
I went to put the piggies into their garden run at lunch time and could tell something was up with Trudy. She just sat looking dazed instead of tucking into the grass in approved my-slave-starves-me style. So I got her back out and gave her a check over. She doesn't have any outward obvious problems, but the very fact of letting me examine her without much protest speaks volumes! I decided to take her into the kitchen to mix up some critical care. She did a big wee, cleverly projecting most of it into the sink, which had some creamy/cloudy content but mostly clear. She wolfed down all the critical care I had mixed up and did a few poos on my lap. They were slightly tear-drop shaped but firm. She didn't squeak for either poo or pee. Her abdomen feels soft and no particular areas cause her to protest to gentle prods. She sat on my lap for a long time after eating and was making little twitchy movements from time to time. When she tried to move off my arm I put her back into the run. She went straight over to Hazelnut as though for reassurance. Nutty was not very sympathetic I'm sorry to say! (They don't have a very cuddly bond). I watched Trudy do a couple of poos and eat them. She had to turn around rather than tuck her head under to get them as she normally would. She still hasn't eaten a blade of grass. She had a half hearted attempt at cleaning herself. She's now just sitting.

I made her a vet's appointment while she was sitting on my lap, they will see her tomorrow at 11. I'm trying to think what I need to tell them/ask them and what could be the trouble. Trudy seems to be in pain or discomfort of some sort. If we had metacam in the house I'd be giving her some, but neither piggy has ever needed to be prescribed pain meds. Trudy is a 1kg piggy - what range of doses would be prescribed normally? I know sometimes people come on the forum after the vet has given metacam and are told it's a very low dose.

With the not eating, I would think her molars should be checked? Incisors seem fine to me, but can't get any look at further back. Maybe she needs some gut stimulant meds? Poor little girl.

I'm extra anxious about this because Trudy is my 12-year-old daughter's very special precious pig 🥺
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Hi!

Please take a deep breath.

It could be just something that has frightened her or she may have been stung/bitten while outside but it is good that you are having her vet checked promptly, as you should with any lethargic piggy.

Please take into consideration that the poo output generally runs a day (or two if it is really sluggish) behind the food input. It takes time for the gut to digest all the fibre in two runs through a much longer and thinner gut that that of predators or omnivores. At the worst, she has a very mild tummy upset, whioch a day off any fresh food should take care off if necessary.
The fact that she is still very willing to tuck into your support feed means that the problem (whatever it is) is not all that severe and she is by no means off her food and the fact that she is still eating her caecotrophs is also a very good sign.

Whiteish pees are the normal way of excreting excess calcium; that is not worrying in itself. The difference between a full and an empty bladder is about 10g; a full bladder can result in a much bigger pee than most people would expect. But nothing wrong with that, either! It can come as a bit of a shock the first time you witness it.

Also take into consideration that while guinea pigs have some of the fastest rodent teeth, it still takes weeks and not days for them to overgrow. There is hay fibre in Critical Care, too; don't forget that. ;)
 
Thank you Wiebke, I appreciate your reply. I will take Trudy out for a syringe feed when Hazelnut has her evening veg - don't want grumpy stares from Hazelnut! Should I stop Trudy having grass too? She just allowed me to hand feed her a few very fine grass blades. She looks a little brighter now. Going to be keeping a very close eye until the vet sees her tomorrow. When her special slave has come home from her piano lesson I'll get her to sit with Trudy for a while and see what her expert assessment is too!
 
Sparklepetal said:
Thank you Wiebke, I appreciate your reply. I will take Trudy out for a syringe feed when Hazelnut has her evening veg - don't want grumpy stares from Hazelnut! Should I stop Trudy having grass too? She just allowed me to hand feed her a few very fine grass blades. She looks a little brighter now. Going to be keeping a very close eye until the vet sees her tomorrow. When her special slave has come home from her piano lesson I'll get her to sit with Trudy for a while and see what her expert assessment is too!
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If you are worried about her poos, I would just leave her to eat as much hay as possible and leave off any fresh food. Don't overdo the syringe feeding unless she is really not eating and her weight is going down over 50g from one day to the next.
Weight - Monitoring and Management
 
Bill & Ted said:
Sending little Trudy lots of healing vibes and I hope whatever is wrong is quickly sorted x
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Thank you. Trudy had a nice cuddle and some critical care with her special slave and then asked to go back in the hutch where she started eating some hay.

I would be very happy if she wants to show me up as a neurotic owner by being in top health by the time she sees the vet!
 
Waiting in the car park for a vet to come and take the carrier. Always an anxious moment!

Trudy was very eager for her critical care last night and this morning. She took a few oats from my daughter too. She is not herself but not at death's door. Hope the vet can find an easily treatable reason for it.
 
Good luck. Always an anxious wait for vet appointments and any results. Good luck. ❤️
 
I feel terrible - the vet thinks Trudy is sad and in pain because of mites. My daughter said a few weeks ago that Tru seemed itchy. I wish I'd made an appointment then. Both girls have had an injection and they have appointments for a 2nd and 3rd a week apart.

So now just down to me to do some thorough cage cleaning and bedding washing. I think I'll switch to disposable puppy pads under the fleece until the mites are dealt with as the washing machine is already on full time duty!

I hope there's nothing else hidden wrong with Trudy. I will keep a close eye on her and continue to offer critical care until she is feeding happily on her own again. I gave them some pea flakes as an apology for the injections and Tru was happy to accept those 😊
 
That’s good news then. Nothing too serious. My boys had mites at the end of last year. Took 6 weeks to clear up. But all fine now. 😃
 
That's good news, mites are a nuisance but not a serious health issue now they are being treated.
 
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