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Post by 3piggles on Oct 11, 2015 19:34:03 GMT
Keep the Bene-bac going. He's not eating hay. Pigs need a lot of hay to push the food through their digestive tract, or they can get impacted, which is constipation, and he can get bloat, which is gas. Guinea pig innards are designed to graze most of the day/night, with short naps in between. Food in one end means food out the other end. Roughage prevents blockages and gas, so the pigs can continue the process.The Critical Care gives him the nutrients he needs, and he likes the taste of veggies, but neither gives him the hay roughage to force the food through. Check his sides. If they are hard and/or distended, he has gas/bloat. Check this: www.guinealynx.info/motility.htmlSimethicone is readily available at pharmacies, in anti-gas products. Since Guinealynx is a UK entity, we sometimes have to google the medicine names to know what they're called in the US. Definitely check with your vet, if he's not eating by today. He really needs to eat some hay.
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Post by bazookagoof on Oct 11, 2015 21:41:16 GMT
Keep the Bene-bac going. Check his sides. If they are hard and/or distended, he has gas/bloat. Check this: www.guinealynx.info/motility.htmlSimethicone is readily available at pharmacies, in anti-gas products. Since Guinealynx is a UK entity, we sometimes have to google the medicine names to know what they're called in the US. Definitely check with your vet, if he's not eating by today. He really needs to eat some hay. Took your advice, got him back on the Bene-bac... I had slacked off for a few days because I thought he was getting better and I didn't want to overdose him. I checked his sides, and he doesn't seem hard or distended, but I'm keeping an eye on him. He IS pooping, just not much as he usually does. He does try to munch some hay, but not enough to convince me that he's alright. He'll stand for short periods, and then flop down and stay there and eat while prone. I just brought them outside for 45 minutes today, as it was unseasonably warm (75 degrees Fahrenheit) here and he ate lots of grass while lying there.
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Post by irina13 on Oct 12, 2015 10:46:25 GMT
Well we all have been there,and knock on wood don't want to be there again.In my country we don't or I can't find critical care I usually blend pellets.What is critical care composed of ? Try giving him poop from a health pig,mushed all together or probiotic .The probiotic usually contains b complex it will boost his desire to eat.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Oct 12, 2015 15:28:59 GMT
Great post Irina love. Top up vibes on their way sweetie
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by Bean on Oct 12, 2015 20:03:51 GMT
Sorry to hear Deo's still not right. How's his weight? The grass chomping session sounds great, but if his appetite is still not up to much on his own and he's inactive for much of the time, I'd think he definitely needs to see the vet again as something is bothering the poor chap. Hope your daughter is managing okay with him not being well.
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Post by bazookagoof on Oct 13, 2015 1:41:47 GMT
Okay, got Deo back from the vet again, and the most important news is, he's not dying- which is a TREMENDOUS relief to me. However, he's got some gastrointestinal issues, so we have a long road to travel. I'm still giving him eye drops for his cold, I've been given a new medicine, and since he's been lying still for so long, he's suffered some burns from his own urine. They gave him a bath in the other room, and you would have thought they were killing him from the loud wheeking he was doing, but it was all for the best. They also gave me some spray for his skin to treat the burns. Deo's resting comfortably in his cage, out of his pigloo, occasionally letting out a little tired whine (he had an EXHAUSTING ordeal this evening) and we've got a medicinal schedule to stick to, but again, he should pull through... it's just going to take more time than I thought. Thanks everyone for the well-wishes. (It was more than what my wife could say, who was of the opinion that Deo was not going to make it.)
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Post by Bean on Oct 13, 2015 12:29:42 GMT
Does the vet think the stomach problems may be the cause of his illness or that they've developed as a result of him being unwell? Poor chap with the urine scald, I helped treat a rabbit with that and it looked so sore. Glad you have something to put on it to protect the skin and hope it heals up. I can't recall what bedding you use, but something like fleece or vetbed that can wick away the urine might work better than something that leaves moisture next to his skin.
You must be doing an awful lot of nursing if he needs help eating, all those meds and now skin care too. Really hope it all pays off and you have a perky little boy very soon.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Oct 13, 2015 17:45:06 GMT
Lots of healing vibes and cuddles on their way love, please keep us posted.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Oct 13, 2015 19:18:02 GMT
Excellent news, despite the prolonged meds schedule Since he already has urine scald, roll up a piece of absorbent fabric, thin wash cloth, dish towel or whatever you have, and put the rolled towel around the inside if his pigloo. They pee against the hard plastic sides, and it comes back onto them, causing the scald. This will help absorb the urine, instead of letting it go back onto him. Keep using the Bene-bac, especially if he's not eating much hay. Grass isn't the same as hay, which is dry grass, and has a lot of roughage. If possible, keep enough clean hay near him that he can eat it without having to go to much trouble to eat it. You will know when he's eating enough, as the poos will go back to the right shape, size and color. Irina is right about using a vitapoo from a healthy pig. Is his pal still on the meds, or is he off. If he's off, look for the biggest, darkest of his poos, and add that to the Critical Care of pellet mash you're feeding Deo. It has a lot of extra nutrients, and will help him get better
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Post by bazookagoof on Oct 14, 2015 2:07:47 GMT
We've doubled the bedding in his cage to help wick away the urine, and my wife has even picked him up and put him on his feet to get him moving again (kind of a physical therapy session) and he's been munching some hay. He's also whining a little less. He still needs more hay and he needs to get back drinking water, but I'm giving him plenty of cucumbers and fresh lettuce. I'm also still doing baby food and the Critical Care smeared on lettuce. (Also keeping up with the Bene-bac as well!) The little guy's trying; he's certainly got spirit! Here is a pic I took of him tonight resting in my daughter's arms. He already had his medicine and was cooing softly. The orange stain on his beard is the baby food and the orange on his claws are carrots. I know they can eat the poos of healthy pigs, it's just the thought of doing it myself grosses me out. I'll see about mixing in something for him, if I can get past the thought of gagging. (Oscar is doing fine, he's just wondering what all the fuss is about.)
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Post by Bean on Oct 14, 2015 9:42:15 GMT
Aww bless him - still very handsome but he doesn't look his usual self.
Is the hair loss on his stomach related to the urine scald or has that happened independently? It could be an indicator or what else may be going on - there are several potential causes (and one is related to an infection) but I had a guinea pig with liver failure who presented with hair loss on the stomach and weight loss. She was diagnosed via bloodwork, and although unforunately in her case, it was clear that she wasn't going to get better, there are many other outcomes where the results can lead to a more targeted treatment plan.
I've never made poop soup either - sounds delish though, so good luck in the kitchen!
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Post by maxiemojo on Oct 14, 2015 19:46:55 GMT
I hope he gets better soon, sorry to hear he has been so unwell. It must be heartbreaking to have a sick piggie. I'm only a newbie to GPs (we have had our boys 3 weeks this week) so I can't imagine what it must be like.
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Post by 3piggles on Oct 14, 2015 19:49:34 GMT
I haven't done poop soup either, just the Critical Care, but I'm definitely better about dealing with the poos than I was last time I needed to do Critical Care. After 10 years of poos, I'm not very squeamish about them anymore If he's on fleece, the urine is being wicked away anyway. It's when he's in the pigloo that he sprays the urine out, and it bounces off the walls of the pigloos back onto him. I use rolled up washcloths to make sausages to go around the inside of the pigloo. That's what needs to be stopped. Some extra absorbency under the pigloo is also good, as that's where he spends most of his time. I can see his illness in his eyes, that watery look. I hope to see those eyes sparkling again, soon
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Post by irina13 on Oct 14, 2015 20:18:50 GMT
Massage his tommy gently,a couple a months ago my Miha had cramps in his stomach.So while I off to the store to buy the probiotic(The probiotic I used was Pro Life,the vet told me that it was all natural)my mum stared to gently massage his stomach, he instantly poooooped.Maybe it will help him. Hmm to piggies on antibiotics isn't it better to stick to hay and pellets,small amounts of carrots and cucumber? I was asking the vet what should I feed my pig while on antibiotics she said the don't feed lettuce or peppers as it can upset the stomach. She also recommended in the mornings to give him the medicine then the probiotic in the evenings the other way around.
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Post by bazookagoof on Oct 15, 2015 2:19:14 GMT
I've never noticed if the hair on his stomach was thin originally, or if it was lost during this sickness. As we all know, guinea pigs tend to stay low to the ground, so we don't really get a good view of their bellies! He still whines, so recovery will be a long process, but he's trying. Several days ago, he would just stay in one area all day. Now, I've noticed that he will get up and move around occasionally. He won't be in the same spot when I left for work, so that's a good sign. He doesn't like to move, but he's dealing with it. Also, he'll try to play with a toy (I bought one of those hollow balls made of twigs that are popular now) so very slowly, his energy levels are climbing. He doesn't like to be picked up or put down, but we only do it to administer medicine. If he cries, we stroke his fur/tummy to soothe him, which seems to work. Every day is a step.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Oct 15, 2015 17:21:00 GMT
Oh bless him, I have gone all gooey looking at that photo, the poor little love. I am glad he is getting more playful, that is a really good sign. Top up loves on their way sweetie.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Oct 15, 2015 20:46:55 GMT
When they're babies, their mothers lick the sides of their tummies to get them to poo, get rid of gas, etc. It not only helps relax the muscles so they can pass the gas or blockage, but stroking their sides is very calming to them. It will help him feel a bit better, even if he doesn't have gas. Pulling for him
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Post by shades on Oct 16, 2015 0:50:15 GMT
That's excellent advice. I'll try that technique next time our pigs appear stressed.
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Post by bazookagoof on Oct 16, 2015 2:19:16 GMT
Thanks for the support, everyone. A tiny update- we took him out of his cage (he whined a bit) and put him on his feet for awhile. He managed to stand without pain and ate a little hay. Although he's been ignoring his pellets, the food mix has some hardened veggies in them and we hand-fed them to him, so he's eating a little more. Even better, we offered him his water bottle and he drank! I'm still giving him veggies with water, but to know he'll use his bottle if offered means he's getting more hydration. I don't think he uses it when I'm at work, so we'll just keep at it. Again, no real progress, but small steps every day. The weekend should be good; I can spend part of Saturday and Sunday keeping an eye on him.
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Post by 3piggles on Oct 16, 2015 14:20:31 GMT
He'll also appreciate the extra attention Remember not to pick him up by his tummy, as that could be very tender. Scoop him up under his hands and feet, especially since you aren't taking him very far. Pulling for him to start making some bigger recovery steps, but for now, he's getting the hay and liquid he needs. Give him the Critical Care, and he's getting the nutrients from the pellets. He really doesn't need the pellets as much as he needs the hay.
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