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Unexplained Illness

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Fairly

Junior Guinea Pig
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Can anyone help? Female pig age 3.5years. Has been loosing a little bit of weight, very gradually, over time. She is now underweight. 2/3 weeks ago, she got diarrhea, which she recovered from the next day. But I took her to the vet, who agreed she was underweight. He thought it was her teeth, as dirty under hr chin, but couldn't see anything wrong. He gave her baytrill. But she is no better. Desperate for food, despite having grass/ hay/ pellets all day, regular veg. Took her back and asked fir a dewormer injection incase its that. She seems very agitated, keeps crying. She now has looser/ wetter poo (am giving her probiotic). She isn't putting on weight. Our other pig is absolutely fine. Booking her in to see a different vet, but there's no guarantee they will know. Help please! X
 
@Fairly Could you update your profile with your location so we can tailor any advice for your area?

How did your vet rule out a teeth issue? There are very few vets who are good dentists for guinea pig teeth so it could be possible that your vet has missed out on a problem.

Have you stopped the fresh food, as that is usually recommended with a pig with a stomach upset?

I would ask the vet if you can stop the Baytril as there doesn't seem to be any sign of infection and Baytril can be an appetite suppressor.

Has your vet checked her for a fungal issue? Weight loss can be a sign of an internal fungal problem, and Itrafungal can be prescribed to try.
 
Hi, thanks, she seems to be eating ok, I did stop her veg when she had diarrhea but she is on it now (she is so desperate for food). He hasn't checked her for a fungal infection. He just looked in her mouth re teeth and said they looked ok (no discolouration or overgrown teeth etc). I have only just joined the forum, but will update my profile, based in near Barnsley. It seems the hunger is the main issue andthe weight loss. Importantly tho, I forgot to write that I did find some blood in her bedding, I think it was from her not Pinny. The vet didn't seem to have an answer for what that could be.
 
@Fairly If you check the Vet Locator at the top of the page it brings up a vet about 24mins away from Barnsley. Apologies but I'm on my mobile at the moment so I can't paste the details.

It sounds like your vet isn't very specialised in pigs. A dental exam would need to be in a bit more depth than that for them to check her back teeth.

It might also be worth asking for a poo sample to be tested to see if there are any fungal issues. You can always send a sample yourself if your vet is unable to do it in house.

Ask your vet but I would think the fresh green food needs to stop until her loose stools have been stopped
 
Hi there, you seem to have done all the right things ! As Jaycey said , ask the new vet to do a broad spectrum poo analysis (not a poo float )
Colect poo over a 3 day period will give a more acreate result!

This should give your vet a better idea of what is going on in your pigs tummy!

Question are you still feeding green veg, and do you feed fruit ?

Personaly I would stop all fruit and veg untill this problem has stoped for at least 4 to 6 weeks
Please let us know how you get on!
 
Thanks foks. Yes, do seed fruit. She's been having salad leaves with litle strands of beetroot and she's been on grass. The loose poo was only really yesreray, I think the baytrill may be causing that (its clumpy probably more than loose, sticks together). I feel the weight loss is the bigger issue, and I am very nervous about stopping the veg atm, my gut instinct is that I need to get as much food down her as possible. I think the baytrill finishes today. I had managed to get her in a vets in Dronfield for a 2bd opinion, called Ark or something, they say they do exotics - any experience with this vets? Are those on the list here the only ones you would recommend? Thanks! X
 
Which probiotic is she on? Fibreflex is one of the recommended ones.

If you reduce the veg you could offer her more hay, pellets and maybe even try porridge oats. They're less likely to interfere and make the loose poop worse.
 
She's eating hay and pellets, she has also been on grass a lot as usual (her fave). Thinking I may keep her inside for a bit tho, she won't like that tho! Probiotic is one the vet gave, Il check. Thanks so much x
 
Here's the list from the Vet Locator on the forum. They all seem pretty close. The only one that I have knowledge of is Alfreton Park Veterinary Hospital as I know of someone who uses them, and is happy with the service they provide.

Springfield Vet Group
William Taylor
39 Moorgate Road

Rotheram, Yorkshire S602AD
01709 377241
10.22 miles
Directions
  • C
    Chapel House Vets
    Kathryn Reed
    Hady Hill

    Chesterfield, Derbyshire S410DZ
    01246 222232
    22.18 miles
    Directions
  • D
    Alfreton Park Veterinary Hospital
    Ellie Whitehead
    216 King Street
    Alfreton
    , Derbyshire DE55 7DF
    01773 832218
    31.92 miles
    Directions
 
@pig in the city - hi, don't you use A vet at Alfreton?
@Fairly i have tagged someone who is based near you and fosters for BARC (Barnsley based rescue) so has lots of vet visits and may know what is near you. all the vets Jaycey has listed will have been recommended by forum members. Hope u get some answers from vet visit
 
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lauraboara said:
@pig in the city - hi, don't you use A vet at Alfreton?
@Fairly i have tagged someone who is based near you and fosters for BARC (Barnsley based rescue) so has lots of vet visits and may know what is near you. all the vets Jaycey has listed will have been recommended by forum members. Hope you get some answers from vet visit
Click to expand...
Yes, l see Ellie whitehead at Alfreton. Excellent practice and just off the M1
 
it could be worms. My piggie showed similar signs and the vet did nothing. It eventually paralyzed him and he passed away :( make sure to use some spot on treatment. You can get it from most pet stores!
 
Try to keep her off the veg and try and get as much food other than that down her. You can get powdered food from most vets (pets at home stock it for sure) and you can just mix it with water and syringe feed it them. If you are worried about her not eating enough, this supplies her with anything she needs: water, food, vitamins etc. You can give this to her up to 5 times a day x
 
Thanks fir your help everyone- she has been to a different vet today. He is going to test her poo to see if a fungal infection. If it isn't, xray and bloods to check if bladder stones (he thinks that is unlikely). Possible thyroid issue. He's taken her off baytrill which the other vet put her on. She is eating well. He says keep feeding her what she wants and not to take her ff greens (he suspects the baytrill was giving her toilet trouble)- the main issue is the weight loss. I'm on poo collection duty now! Thanks again folks xx
 
KaitlinH said:
it could be worms. My piggie showed similar signs and the vet did nothing. It eventually paralyzed him and he passed away :( make sure to use some spot on treatment. You can get it from most pet stores!
Click to expand...


That's awful, your poor piggy, sorry to hear this. The other vet gave her a deworm injection - at my request incase. We shall see eh x
 
thank you <3 it's always best to be on the the safe side. The vet gave my piggie the injection once the paralysis had taken over half of his body which was too late. It's good to take precautions and the injection has no other effect on the body other than killing any worms or parasites so, even if your piggie doesn't have worms, it won't have any bad effects xx
 
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