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What Would You Do?

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piggie smitten

piggie smitten

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi, our beautiful boy Squeak is currently staying at the vets after going off his veg on Thursday. We just two weeks ago lost our other boy Bubble after he'd seemingly got over an extremely bad case of bloat, then come home only to have to go back after two weeks because he'd gone off his food again. He died at the vets. Since then Squeak has been quite subdued and only really eating his veg and a little hay, not wanting his nuggets. Anyway I took him in on Friday morning and the vet couldn't actually find anything wrong as such, just concluded that he was pining for Bubs. She gave gut stimulants and painkiller to hopefully get him eating again. I gave him this when we got home and a little while later it was coming out of his nose. I rushed him back to the vet which is an hour and twenty minutes away and she did a conscious x-ray. This showed he was badly bloated. She thought that because it was pressing on his diaphragm could be why it was coming out his nose. She didn't want to wait for meds to clear the bloat so gave him a whiff of gas and punctured his side to release the air.He woke ok from this but he keeps bloating again and has had to have this done twice more. We went to visit him today and asked her if Gripe Water might be a good idea but she said he was on Infacol and that would do the same thing but I thought Infacol made the gas into a big bubble unlike Gripe Water which makes it into small bubbles. We noticed when we held him that he had a couple of poos stuck in his bum which he wanted to eat. What if that's happening a lot and they're not checking his bum. No wonder they said he's not been pooing much. He was visibly scared when they first brought him out but relaxed and looked so much happier when he was in our arms. Sarah the vet said if he bloats again it would be kinder to let him go. Do you think we should leave him where he is or do you think he would have a better chance at home where we could keep massaging him and keep him moving about and checking his bum for poos. Its just a worry that if he was in pain we are a long way from the vets and don't know of a good vet any nearer. Thanks if you've managed to get this far!.
 
Bloat is a nasty condition and can be very painful. have you taken him off fresh veg? That is the the first thing to do with bloat - hay and nuggets only. You are right in thinking that Gripe Water would be much better than Infacol, and massage and close nursing may just get him through it. I think I would bring him home with pain meds and gut stimulants from the vet had put him on Gripe Water. Eating the soft poos will probably help too. Another thing that might help with his appetite is Metatone, which is a vitamin tonic for humans that you can get from the chemist. Give him 0.5 ml daily for the first week and then 0.3 ml daily for the next week. I have seen it work really well for piggies that have lost their appetite. Keep us posted. Wishing Squeak a speedy recovery. x
 
Elwickcavies said:
Bloat is a nasty condition and can be very painful. have you taken him off fresh veg? That is the the first thing to do with bloat - hay and nuggets only. You are right in thinking that Gripe Water would be much better than Infacol, and massage and close nursing may just get him through it. I think I would bring him home with pain meds and gut stimulants from the vet had put him on Gripe Water. Eating the soft poos will probably help too. Another thing that might help with his appetite is Metatone, which is a vitamin tonic for humans that you can get from the chemist. Give him 0.5 ml daily for the first week and then 0.3 ml daily for the next week. I have seen it work really well for piggies that have lost their appetite. Keep us posted. Wishing Squeak a speedy recovery. x
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Thanks, I phoned the vets tonight and said to withhold all veg and asked if they could keep checking his bum for poos. I have some Metatone from when I was nursing Bubs.
 
I would be asking the vet for emeprid (metachlopromide) and Zantac to give at home. I would be asking to use this instead of infacol. They are both gut stims that stimulate different parts of the gut. Infacol makes a huge gas bubble and normally is only used sparingly.
Regular massage with something that gently vibrates on their tummy also. Some people use a massage pad.
I am tagging in @helen105281 and @Stewybus as he got a piggy through severe bloat. Also tagging in @Beans&Toast as I know they had a bloaty piggŷ not so long ago.

Sending lots of love.
 
As well as the meds mentioned by sport_billy I would also ask for Cisapride. Gripe Water such as Woodwards or Boots own are the types I would use in 1ml doses 4 or 5 times a day. Massage to the tummy is also recommended. You can either sit him on a massage pad or use an electric toothbrush to gently massage his tummy with the vibrations helping him to get rid of the gas.
 
Thanks everyone, will definitely be taking all the advice on board when I get him home. Sarah the vet is supposed to be ringing with a plan of action for today but at this rate today will be best part over!. Still no news is good news.
 
So sorry to hear all the troubles your piggy is having.

My Toast has been dealing with bloat for over a year now. Both myself and the vet have no idea why it keeps happening, she's had several x-ray's and tests. It gets so bad that she also goes off her food which causes dental issues resulting in anesthetic to burr her teeth down.


We've tried several different meds and I've found the best at getting rid of/managing bloat is;

0.2 ml Cisapride
0.3 ml Ranitadine given within 20 minutes of each other.
Both 3x daily if the bloat is particularly bad, if it's mild then 2x daily

As well as this I use Gripe Water, 0.3 ml a few times a day. I've found this works far better than Infacol. I also use a heat pad and massage her tummy, after about 5-10 minutes of this I'll hear gurgling and running sounds coming from her tummy, then she usually lets out a lot of gas and poos...

It's tiring work, sometimes I've had to do that every few hours all thorough the night but I definitely helps ease the gassiness.

I also give Fibreplex 1ml 2x a day, it's helped to keep her bloat at bay.

Unfortunately due to Toasts dental issues she has severe bloat quite often but she manages it really well and using all the above meds/massaging I've found its made a massive difference.
 
Hi, Squeaks still at the vets for now as I've now got bronchitis. His immune system is low so its probably not a good idea for him to come home till I'm at least a little better. The vets have said Squeaks not eating on his own yet but taking syringe food well and eating some dried dandelion forage that we took in but only if they hand feed it to him. He's not had any nuggets at all but then he's not a massive nugget eater anyway. At home he picks them out one by one and puts them on the floor till he finds the right one that's good enough to eat! He also likes them best when its a fresh bag lol! I wonder if he's from the same gene pool as @Adelle 's Fudge with this diva behaviour. The thing is when I get over the bronchitis I'll be back to work full time so its a bit of a worry. Thanks everyone for all the advice.
 
piggie smitten said:
Hi, Squeaks still at the vets for now as I've now got bronchitis. His immune system is low so its probably not a good idea for him to come home till I'm at least a little better. The vets have said Squeaks not eating on his own yet but taking syringe food well and eating some dried dandelion forage that we took in but only if they hand feed it to him. He's not had any nuggets at all but then he's not a massive nugget eater anyway. At home he picks them out one by one and puts them on the floor till he finds the right one that's good enough to eat! He also likes them best when its a fresh bag lol! I wonder if he's from the same gene pool as @Adelle 's Fudge with this diva behaviour. The thing is when I get over the bronchitis I'll be back to work full time so its a bit of a worry. Thanks everyone for all the advice.
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Being a little diva shows he still has some "fuss" about him and isn't giving up! I don't have anything else to add but I really hope he gets over this soon x
 
Hi, Squeak has been home since yesterday but is surviving solely on syringe feed. I've tried him with pepper and carrot and he has nuggets and of course hay, both meadow and timothy. At first we thought he wasn't interested but now it looks as though he probably is but I'm wondering if his mouth is sore as you have to be quite forceful with him to get the syringe in his mouth. It doesn't matter how you hold him he struggles like mad. I'm thinking of phoning to get an appointment with Simon. Its a shame I can't lay off the syringe for a day to let his mouth heal but that means his gut will shut down. I think he might try lettuce as he was enjoying that before he got ill but don't want the dreaded bloat to come back. He's already been decompressed three times.
 
What pain relief is he on? I know Sarah is pretty good at giving appropriate pain relief. What are you syringe feeding him? Pellets or Critical Care? x
 
I'm surprised he's not taking them then as most like them. What about Critical Care or the Supreme Science one? Does he like those? I used to use a clean coffee grinder & whizz the pellets up, I mixed them with some Critical Care & then a little water to mix then I syringed using a 1 ml syringe with the end cut off. Mine always liked it. I would sit him on your lap & stroke him firmly from his head right down his back, do that whilst offering the syringe. I never needed to wrap or force any of mine whilst using this technique. Try to offer him the softer bits of hay whilst he sits on your lap; it will take a while to do this but you may find he starts to nibble bits of hay more readily if you hand feed him. If you were a bit nearer I would gladly come & show you how I do it x
 
Does anyone know what veg are safe to try if a pig has had bloat? He was last bloated last Sunday. He just looks so fed up when he's in the cage. I have cut up some pepper into small slivers but he doesn't seem able to manage it even if I hand feed it. Can I give herbs? I've got to ring Simon's on Tuesday and try to get an emergency appointment. He hasn't had any veg since Sunday now. Is it safe to go without for that long?
 
Yes I don't think restricting veg is harmful, just supplement his diet with Pro C (Unless that triggers his bloat?) So be careful if he hasn't had it before. As long as you are syringe feeding him he is getting food topped up; veg has very little calorific value as opposed to pellets/hay x
 
Hi you shouldn't give any type of veg until the bloat has gone I know it makes you feel mean but it's for the best. So long as he has plenty of hay, he'll be fine. I'd probably try & get him in to see Simon as soon as possible. I hope he gets better soon. I'm so sorry you lost bubble,
Sleep tight little Bubble.
 
Have you got time between the bloat & medicines to give lots of cuddles, I suspect with all the health worries, he is missing Bubbles as well.
 
Tiamolly123 said:
Have you got time between the bloat & medicines to give lots of cuddles, I suspect with all the health worries, he is missing Bubbles as well.
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Thank you, yes he's getting lots of cuddles. I'm really missing Bubs as well. Still cant believe he's gone. Can't think about him without getting teary.
 
It really is heartbreaking at the beginning but there comes a time that all you can remember are the funny things. I think one of the worst things are the guilt should I have done this or that. You know that you did all you could though, but the sneaky thought keeps coming back.
I'm lucky, one of my sows had mild bloat, but just the once.
If you have loads of photos, when you feel like it put them in a little album, it's nice. To look back.
Are you off to the Easter tea party?
 
He shouldn't have a sore mouth from syringe feeding. I am thinking that this is a dental issue and that he is bloating because he isn't able to eat well, which causes him to get gassy and then he doesn't want to eat because he is in pain from the bloat and it just goes on and on. I think you need to see Simon asap. He is back on Tuesday, but I know they are really booked up next week.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
He shouldn't have a sore mouth from syringe feeding. I am thinking that this is a dental issue and that he is bloating because he isn't able to eat well, which causes him to get gassy and then he doesn't want to eat because he is in pain from the bloat and it just goes on and on. I think you need to see Simon asap. He is back on Tuesday, but I know they are really booked up next week.
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I too think he bloated cause he wasn't eating well after losing Bubs. He was eating veg but went off nuggets and was only nibbling a little bit of hay. He hasn't now bloated for a week but has only been on syringe food since sunday when I asked the vet not to give any more veg. Now its been so long since he's actually eaten anything that his teeth have probably overgrown. I phoned Simons yesterday but they said to phone on Tuesday to try to get an emergency appointment. Really hope they can fit him in.
 
Sorry I haven't updated this thread. I haven't been able to bring myself to come back to it. Sadly we lost our gorgeous Squeak on the 18th march, the day on which Simon came back from holiday and I was going to ring and try to get an emergency appointment. If only he could have hung on a bit longer. I'd syringe fed him in the night at 4.30 am and all seemed well, got up to do it again at 6.30 am and was concerned he wasn't moving so picked him up and diarrhoea was literally running out of him and he was so weak. I managed to get a little water in him and I rushed him to Sarah's and she put him on fluids and pain relief and I left him there hoping for a miracle. We got a call in the afternoon asking us to come in and when we got there it was clear that there was no improvement. We made the heartbreaking decision to let our little man go. I just can't come to terms with losing them both within a month of each other. They were only four for gods sake! Sadly it has to be the end of pet ownership for us also as if I hadn't been off sick as well I honestly don't know what I would have done re syringe feeding and medicating. How do others manage when they're at work? Two weeks later and we're both still devastated and crying. I can't imagine ever feeling complete again without our boys.
 
I'm sorry for your devastating loss,love hurts,you loved your boys unconditionally.
you did your best and thats all you can do.
Hugs to you.x
 
piggie smitten said:
Sorry I haven't updated this thread. I haven't been able to bring myself to come back to it. Sadly we lost our gorgeous Squeak on the 18th march, the day on which Simon came back from holiday and I was going to ring and try to get an emergency appointment. If only he could have hung on a bit longer. I'd syringe fed him in the night at 4.30 am and all seemed well, got up to do it again at 6.30 am and was concerned he wasn't moving so picked him up and diarrhoea was literally running out of him and he was so weak. I managed to get a little water in him and I rushed him to Sarah's and she put him on fluids and pain relief and I left him there hoping for a miracle. We got a call in the afternoon asking us to come in and when we got there it was clear that there was no improvement. We made the heartbreaking decision to let our little man go. I just can't come to terms with losing them both within a month of each other. They were only four for gods sake! Sadly it has to be the end of pet ownership for us also as if I hadn't been off sick as well I honestly don't know what I would have done re syringe feeding and medicating. How do others manage when they're at work? Two weeks later and we're both still devastated and crying. I can't imagine ever feeling complete again without our boys.
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Awww I know how your feeling we had to have our little fudge PTS yesterday we had her sister PTS a year ago so we're so lucky to have had her for another year but like you we are devastated. They were indoor piggies and now the house is so empty. You did your best for your little ones but it's so so hard. Like you we have said no more pets for us either. Sending you hugs xx
 
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