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Unable to swallow

piggl

piggl

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Hi, I’ve been trying to feed my 5 year old boar Winston this morning and he seems unable to swallow. He has been struggling with gut stasis on and off and he’s been having syringe feed for over three weeks now.

He also seems incredibly uncomfortable and almost like he’s choking on something. He keeps making a weird sound and I don’t know what to do.

It’s like he’s gagging/trying to throw up but obviously they can’t.

Edit - I’ve emptied his mouth now and he seems a bit less distressed. He’s managing to groom himself and he doesn’t seem particularly on deaths door, but he can’t swallow so?

I’m too scared to try anything more in his mouth.
He keeps readjusting himself and seems uncomfortable but he’s not lethargic or drowsy.
 
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Do guinea pigs come back from not being able to swallow?

He has a vet appointment this afternoon, we were supposed to be discussing what gut meds he should go on now but every post on here that mentions the inability to swallow also includes PTS.
 
piggl said:
Hi, I’ve been trying to feed my 5 year old boar Winston this morning and he seems unable to swallow. He has been struggling with gut stasis on and off and he’s been having syringe feed for over three weeks now.

He also seems incredibly uncomfortable and almost like he’s choking on something. He keeps making a weird sound and I don’t know what to do.

It’s like he’s gagging/trying to throw up but obviously they can’t.

Edit - I’ve emptied his mouth now and he seems a bit less distressed. He’s managing to groom himself and he doesn’t seem particularly on deaths door, but he can’t swallow so?

I’m too scared to try anything more in his mouth.
He keeps readjusting himself and seems uncomfortable but he’s not lethargic or drowsy.
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Good that your boy is already booked in as an emergency. It really depends on what is causing it; you have to take it from the vet's findings.

It can range from something stuck at the back of the mouth, a blockage/swelling/infection/lump in the throat or inside the gut to losing the ability to swallow neurologically. I've had all of that over the years with piggies of mine.

All the best!
 
Wiebke said:
Please see a vet as an emergency.
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Can guinea pigs come back from not being able to swallow?

Will he make it to 4:30pm? Or like 1 o’clock (when my mum gets back from work).
 
The earliest they can squeeze me in is 12:50.
He’s drooling everywhere, my poor baby.

Should I keep emptying his mouth since it seems he can’t swallow at all.
 
piggl said:
The earliest they can squeeze me in is 12:50.
He’s drooling everywhere, my poor baby.

Should I keep emptying his mouth since it seems he can’t swallow at all.
Click to expand...

Ouch! That sounds like a blockage somewhere with the constantly produced saliva no longer able to pass through the digestive system. Please have him seen as soon as you/your mum can get him to the vets. I am really sorry. It is very upsetting for an owner.
 
Wiebke said:
Ouch! That sounds like a blockage somewhere with the constantly produced saliva no longer able to pass through the digestive system. Please have him seen as soon as you/your mum can get him to the vets. I am really sorry. It is very upsetting for an owner.
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Thanks for your response/kindness.

Would I be able to hold him on my lap on the way to the vet? I just don’t want him to be alone (he is a single pig) if he passes away in the carrier. I also am aware he is distressed enough right now let alone being in a moving car on his own.

Or is it safer/better to just put him in the case for his safety. I would be taking the carrier anyway to go into the vets.
 
piggl said:
Thanks for your response/kindness.

Would I be able to hold him on my lap on the way to the vet? I just don’t want him to be alone (he is a single pig) if he passes away in the carrier. I also am aware he is distressed enough right now let alone being in a moving car on his own.

Or is it safer/better to just put him in the case for his safety. I would be taking the carrier anyway to go into the vets.
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Yes, you can hold in him in his favourite cosy or snuggle bag on the way to the vet if you have somebody to drive you and - if he really needs to be pts (which I still hope not) - you can then also ask your vet whether he can go into the sedation chamber in it if that is how it goes. ;)

I do that with my own very ill life and death emergency and booked pts piggies to help keep the stress down while hub is driving. Just done it with Tudur and a cosy that was smelling of him and his wives.

Thinking of both of you!
 
Thank you all for your replies.

Winston was put to sleep due to his complete inability to swallow. She had a listen to his lungs and heard some fluid so she suspects he had been struggling to swallow since at least last night.

I am heartbroken, the past 5 years have been the most amazing. We have been closer the past year due to his arthritis (needing life-long painkiller) and then his stasis, as he went from pal to pal after losing his lifelong friend Digby, the adventures and silly-ness he got up to never failed to make me laugh.
I can't believe I have to say goodbye to him, I still imagined at least one more year with him. Seeing him choking and uncomfortable was so heart-breaking, and I just hope he can rest easy from now.
 
I'm so sorry 😢
He is at peace now and no longer suffering 😔
RIP Winston, over the Rainbow Bridge and reunited with Digby and his pals 🌈❤️
 
I am so sorry to hear that you had to say goodbye to Winston. You gave him a wonderful life full of love. Sending you my very best wishes at such a difficult time.
 
I'm really sorry about Winston- you did the kindest thing for him, even though it could not have been easy for you. ❤
Please look after yourself Xx
 
Sorry to read about Winston. Popcorn away over the rainbow bridge handsome boy. 🌈
 
BIG HUGS

Sometimes the end comes as a big shock right out of the blue and the kindest thing is to cut short any suffering. It is never down to any mistake or shortcoming of yours; these things just happen. You have not failed Winston in any way and done your best to having him seen as quickly as possibly. You have done your best in horrible circumstances.

Please be kind with yourself as you grapple with both the shock and loss at the same time, which means that you have a lot more to work through; especially when you hit the adrenaline hangover blues in a few days and you have to painfully retrain yourself to no longer include Winston in your daily life with all the little unthinking ways that connect you.

Try to picture Winston and Digby back together again; that will hopefully help you find a small measure of consolation to hang onto when you are tossed around in the high sea of pain and loss.
 
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