The Fluffy Tribe
New Born Pup
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2019
- Messages
- 13
- Reaction score
- 45
- Points
- 175
Hello all. I hope you have had a great Christmas because I have had a terrible one. Also sorry this is a bit long but I wanted to get all the details in.
Yesterday morning I woke up and knew there was something off with Mr Chicken. He was trying to hide in the corner of his hutch and his eyes were squinty. I brought him in and looked online for possible causes. I found out he had an impact so I removed it and abut 10 minutes later he started eating and drinking again as normal. I was relieved. But then a few hours later he was laying on his stomach refusing to move and had no interest in moving and was wheezing heavily and making these very sudden sharp jumping movements (like hiccups). Obviously panicking I managed to find an emergency vet (which I was greatful for on Christmas day) and she did a through examination but was completely stumped.
By the time we got to the vet he had stopped wheezing and making the sharp movements but was reluctant to stand although she got him to.
After examining him she was stumped as to the problem because his poops were normal but guessed it was abdominal pain as he would chatter his teeth when she touched his stomach (which is very rare for him even with the other guinea pigs) so she gave him some IV fluids, pain relief, and a takeaway critical care pouch. I informed her he was already on metacam for his back legs (they were fine before but occasionally he would drag them) so I was allowed to get a prescription which he has had for the past 3 months.
I stayed up with him last night, he was in a terrible mood as he did not like being syringe fed and was uniterested in eating or drinking or taking his metacam (which usually I have to wrestle the syringe away from him, he loves that stuff!)
But about 6 hours later I tried giving him food and water and...success! He was very eager to eat and drink again. This morning I could feed him the critical care solution from a spoon, didnt have to force feed him and hes taking is metacam normally. Am I overreacting in thinking there is still something seriously wrong or do I just need to give him time or should I rush him back to the vet?
He is 5 years old, I know this is old for a guinea pig but my oldest lived to 8yrs. He seems more lively and alert this morning, he is not longer chatting his teeth or making signs he is in discomfort as I have been checking his belly to see if it is tight which is it not. Hes always had a big belly, but it doesnt seem bloated and I'm sure when the vet was checking last night she would have told me. His eyes are now occasionally getting watery so I have been giving him more water.
My last solution was to get some gripe water for slight bloat. I'm not sure whether to take him down to the vet again today-because I know guinea pigs health turns so fast but also not sure if I have given him enough time to recover as it was a huge turnaround that he is eating, drinking and taking his meds again.
Please find attached videos, any thoughts or advice is greatly appreciated!
Yesterday morning I woke up and knew there was something off with Mr Chicken. He was trying to hide in the corner of his hutch and his eyes were squinty. I brought him in and looked online for possible causes. I found out he had an impact so I removed it and abut 10 minutes later he started eating and drinking again as normal. I was relieved. But then a few hours later he was laying on his stomach refusing to move and had no interest in moving and was wheezing heavily and making these very sudden sharp jumping movements (like hiccups). Obviously panicking I managed to find an emergency vet (which I was greatful for on Christmas day) and she did a through examination but was completely stumped.
By the time we got to the vet he had stopped wheezing and making the sharp movements but was reluctant to stand although she got him to.
After examining him she was stumped as to the problem because his poops were normal but guessed it was abdominal pain as he would chatter his teeth when she touched his stomach (which is very rare for him even with the other guinea pigs) so she gave him some IV fluids, pain relief, and a takeaway critical care pouch. I informed her he was already on metacam for his back legs (they were fine before but occasionally he would drag them) so I was allowed to get a prescription which he has had for the past 3 months.
I stayed up with him last night, he was in a terrible mood as he did not like being syringe fed and was uniterested in eating or drinking or taking his metacam (which usually I have to wrestle the syringe away from him, he loves that stuff!)
But about 6 hours later I tried giving him food and water and...success! He was very eager to eat and drink again. This morning I could feed him the critical care solution from a spoon, didnt have to force feed him and hes taking is metacam normally. Am I overreacting in thinking there is still something seriously wrong or do I just need to give him time or should I rush him back to the vet?
He is 5 years old, I know this is old for a guinea pig but my oldest lived to 8yrs. He seems more lively and alert this morning, he is not longer chatting his teeth or making signs he is in discomfort as I have been checking his belly to see if it is tight which is it not. Hes always had a big belly, but it doesnt seem bloated and I'm sure when the vet was checking last night she would have told me. His eyes are now occasionally getting watery so I have been giving him more water.
My last solution was to get some gripe water for slight bloat. I'm not sure whether to take him down to the vet again today-because I know guinea pigs health turns so fast but also not sure if I have given him enough time to recover as it was a huge turnaround that he is eating, drinking and taking his meds again.
Please find attached videos, any thoughts or advice is greatly appreciated!
