Whimsy
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Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Mar 19, 2015 13:53:42 GMT
So, the eye drops seem to have helped the crustiness, but she's still not eating a lot of hay. I bought the Oxbow, but it hasn't made a difference. She really likes the hay cakes, so that's great - I would prefer she would eat regular hay, because those hay cakes make a mess!! Wow. She hasn't gained any weight, but she's not losing weight either, so I take that as a good sign. Maybe she is ok at this weight - and was just chubby before. It's hard to say, but over all she seems to be doing quite well.
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Post by 3piggles on Mar 19, 2015 20:28:11 GMT
Does she eat pellets but not hay? Does she eat enough to put on weight? If not, could she have an upset stomach or gas/bloat? Pigs have very weak intestinal muscles, so they have to eat hay almost constantly, to keep the food moving through their intestinal tract. If she's not eating much hay, she may have bloat due to the food not moving through and out the other end. The full pieces of hay let them eat more at a time, but the hay cakes are better than nothing.
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Whimsy
Bronze Member
Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Mar 19, 2015 22:17:52 GMT
The vet said to cut back on pellets, so she would eat more hay. Not sure that makes sense. How will I know if she is bloated or has an upset stomach? She is eating quite a bit of the hay cake, but I would of course prefer she ate more normal hay.
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Post by Bean on Mar 20, 2015 10:36:24 GMT
Pellets are a higher calorie food than hay, so they'll fill the pig up more meaning it doesn't feel the need to eat as much hay. Digestive and teeth problems are much more common in pigs that get lots of pellets, as both the intestines and teeth are designed to have an almost constant source of high fibre/ low calorie food, and if they don't get that workout because the pig is eating less of a more calorific food, things don't function as well. Eating a few less pellets should mean they'll need to eat quite a bit more hay to fill up. Symptoms of bloat include a swollen hollow sounding stomach and not passing poos. There are a few information links here. It's good her eyes are looking better with the drops and that her weight is stable. Keep a close eye on that, especially if you try any dietary tweaks. It's good she likes the hay cakes but hope you find another sort she likes too! Fingers crossed she continues not to give you any more cause for concern.
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Post by 3piggles on Mar 20, 2015 14:31:11 GMT
Perhaps take away the hay cake for part of each day, and see if she'll eat the regular hay instead? I wish I had a good answer for you, but every pig is different. If she's really eating a lot of the hay cake, she doesn't have bloat. Pigs don't eat when they have bloat.
I understand why the vet said to cut back on the pellets. Pigs usually get 1/8-1/4 cup of pellets per day. Are you still giving her the 1/8 cup?
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Whimsy
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Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Mar 20, 2015 21:41:49 GMT
She definitely eats, but maybe not enough hay. I still feed them pellets, but not as much as before. I'm actually not sure how much, maybe a little less than 1/4 cup, but I have two pigs, so it's hard to say who eats what. I have three different kinds of hay going now + hay cakes, so she definitely has options. I hope she gets back to normal soon.
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Post by 3piggles on Mar 21, 2015 14:40:49 GMT
Timothy is the most efficient mover of food for their digestive tract, and it has a lot of good nutrients they need, but any hay they will eat in quantity is better than a great one they won't eat. As long as her teeth and innards have all be checked and are in fine working order, giving her a lot of choices sounds like a great idea
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Whimsy
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Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Mar 21, 2015 15:44:49 GMT
Her teeth are fine. The vet checked them and she's eating veggies fine too. I have two different brands of timothy hay going, hay cakes and some Oxbow orchard grass hay (not a big hit).
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Post by 3piggles on Mar 21, 2015 17:35:45 GMT
There are many different hays available, and many in smaller bags. Perhaps trying a bunch of different ones, see if she prefers some to the others, and mixing those in with the Timothy, would help.
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Post by cookie72 on Mar 29, 2015 18:53:46 GMT
Sounds like you're doing everything you can to get her to eat more hay...with the smorgasbord of different hays. My piggie doesn't eat much hay either, but she seems perfectly healthy and she certainly poos alot. I use Oxbow timothy hay. She only seems to eat any when I first put in a handful of fresh hay, she will nibble at it a bit, but then the rest sits there uneated. Maybe I should try giving a different hay or cut back on the pellets too. I don't measure out the pellets, but I just put in enough to barely cover the bottom of a bowl that's about 3 inches diameter (2x a day). I think I will start measuring it out so I know how much she's eating. I hope your piggie is doing better now.
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Post by 3piggles on Mar 29, 2015 19:50:58 GMT
See how much the pellet bowl holds, and go from there. Mine holds about a cup, but the pigs don't eat it fast enough to not have the nutrients seep out into the air. I give my two about half a cup every couple of days, so they eat about 1/8 cup a day each. Momo gets a bit less, as she's alone, but she doesn't eat a lot of pellets. No problems with them eating too much. I give my pigs a lot more hay than they eat, but as long as their poos are the right size, color and consistency, I know they are eating enough.
I was also wondering if putting small pieces of her favorite veg in with the hay, would get her eating more hay?
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Whimsy
Bronze Member
Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Apr 6, 2015 16:26:45 GMT
So I have decided to take Mila to the vet again. This time I'm trying a different vet, who's supposedly more of an expert in guinea pigs. I guess we will see. I've never been there before. She stayed at the same weight for a while, but now she's lost some more and her poop is kind of mushy (like they stick together). She loves her veggies still and she eats some pellets, but not very much hay, so I'm worried about her. I'm taking her in on Wednesday, so I'll update you all on what's happening with her, when I get back from the vet.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Apr 6, 2015 18:50:47 GMT
Oh sweets, I hope everything goes well for you. I am sending loads of healing vibes and love.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Apr 6, 2015 20:09:46 GMT
I'll watch for updates. I've just been through a lot my one of my girls, so I wish you the best of luck!
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Post by Bean on Apr 7, 2015 8:22:27 GMT
I'm sorry Mila's taken a turn for the worse after seeming to stabilise. Really hope the new vet has some ideas and solutions to offer so you can get your girl back to full health. Will keep everything crossed.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Apr 7, 2015 18:25:10 GMT
Everything crossed for tomorrow love, I hope all is going to be OK. Lots of healing vibes are floating to you.
Hugs JO xx
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Whimsy
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Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Apr 9, 2015 0:14:12 GMT
I just came back from the vet and I'm really discouraged. I didn't feel like he did a thorough exam of her and he even kept calling her "him", which annoyed me. He basically pulled out a book and told me the different diseases guinea pigs can have and said he can do some blood work, maybe x rays etc. but she will have to be sedated. I didn't have a good feeling about him. He told me to give her vitamin c drops, but Mila and Melvin eat so many fresh veggies and Melvin is fine, so I really don't think that's the problem. He did give me some Baytril for her. I just feel really helpless now. I am wondering what you all think? It's expensive to go to different vets all the time without really getting any answers. I don't mind paying for her treatment, but all this guessing just seems like it's going no where. I guess I will try giving her the antibiotic, but other than that, the only choice I have, is seeing a third vet, who is supposed to be good, but it's a bit of a drive to get there and it's hard for me to get there with work and stuff. I will of course work it out somehow if necessary.....and maybe it is necessary. It's so frustrating and it just breaks my heart to see her this skinny, I want to help her, but I don't know what to do.
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Post by cookie72 on Apr 9, 2015 4:37:41 GMT
So much for the 'expert in guinea pigs', if he had to pull out a book, and called her a 'him'!! Ugh...that has to be so frustrating. I don't really have any helpful advice to offer you, but just wanted to say I'm sorry you're dealing with that. It must be so discouraging when you have a feeling something is wrong, and you're trying to get help, and no one has the proper experience or knowledge to help If they eat plenty of fresh veggies, you're right, that doesn't make sense that vit c is the problem. Good luck, and I'm sure one of our other piggie forum friends will have some more useful advice to offer you.
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Whimsy
Bronze Member
Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Apr 9, 2015 13:17:43 GMT
How long does it take before you can see if the Baytril is making a difference?
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Post by jolovespiggies on Apr 9, 2015 18:52:38 GMT
I am so sorry hunny, what a frustrating dilemma. Do you have a third vet in mind? If so give them a call and tell them of the naff advice you have had so far and stress that you want a proper diagnoses. That way i think they will be more honest with your abut the vet's capabilities. It is only an idea hun and I am sorry I cannot be more help.
Hugs Jo xx
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