poorly Guinea pig, stomach bug and ovarian cyst....

[MillyMoo1113]

Just looking for tips or advice really, especially syringe feeding her!

She's about 18 months old, I knew she wasn't right so been to vets. She's full of gas and has the runs, so on antibiotics plus a fibre food powder that we mix with water and feed her every 3-4 hours.

However vet also suspects an ovarian cyst, she's going to scan her once her stomachs settled, and she recommended spaying as best way forward rather than drugs.

Anyone any experience of this? Hopefully positive stories? Vet did warn me they plummet fast, I see lots of tlc this weekend. Once she's forgiven me for syringe feeding of course....

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Oh poor thing, she's got a shed load going on hasn't she?



Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
The runs in pigs (as in proper liquid, not just transitory soft pooh because they've eaten too much veg) is bad news.
It can be a stomach upset , yeast over taking the gut, or even a bacteria carried by wild rodents (who knew? I didn't until I googled. And when piggies graze you have no control over whats been on the grass)

Gas can be bloat- has she eaten alot of greens or grass? Some of the brassicas (cabbage, green veg like spinach,brocilli, and lush grass) can cause this.

You will need to keep her intestines flowing so yes, syringe feeding (she'll be resistant, they don't enjoy it. Make sure you put the syringe just behind the teeth, squirt a little, let her chew. Then you know it's been swallowed not gone in her windpipe )

We had Fibreplex for GP3 but it's difficult to hold in place and push the syringe while holding a piggie. It's a two person job.
We put piggie on DD lap with it's bum against her tummy then she held the muzzle while I fed.

Spaying for a sow is a big operation, the scan will be the only way to see what's happening. Has she had any other symptoms like hair loss?

18 months is young , you need to weigh up her life expectancy (can be 8+ years) her quality of life (more important than length of life IMO) and the risks of surgery.

But for now, keep her comfy, keep her fed,keep her hydrated.
My lardy 18 month old boar had soft pooh , we took him twice to the vets , he had antibiotics and saline infusions (within 8 hours of us noticing his soft pooh had turned to liquid).
Sadly all our efforts were in vain.

Give it all your best shots and crossing fingers for her and you -clover.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Keep a close check on her droppings, they are a good indication of what's going on.

Hopefully she'll continue to pooh eat her first passing.

There might be something like a tiny piece of plastic blocking - like you find on prewrapped veg (cucumber in particular)
You might see something pass?

Our boar-no idea what he was suffering from, our two sows ate the same. He was a big (3lb Rex) boar.
Looking back, he might've scoffed too much apple (which ferments)

Keep us posted .

[MillyMoo1113]

Thank you, you always give such good advice.

DD and I have been feeding her, we are getting some into her, she is resisting and trying to bite down on the syringe Tho. Bath time soon to clean up her bum. She does eat a lot of kale and spinach, with peppers, and anything else they can have thrown in.

This evening going to lay several towels on me and keep her snuggled so I can monitor her poo (easier than when she's in with the other four GPs). I'll try feed her through the evening too, is a good job she's generally placid and calm.

Fingers crossed. She could have so many more years ahead of her.

[MillyMoo1113]

Sorry, she's had no other symptoms such as hair loss, she has been making some bizarre wheeking noises Tho, just now and again, but they aren't happy sounds

[FernieB]

Hope it's going well Milly. Poor little pig - she's so young. Keep trying with the syringe. I found little and often was the best way to go. Keep her warm and cosy and keep an eye on her poop - that's the best indication of health.

[MillyMoo1113]

Well I think we are managing with the syringe just about, I spoon fed her some from small side of medicine spoon too.

She has eaten some parsley and peppers when I've fed them all just now, which is an improvement on her turning down the parsley this morning.

[fortifiedwithtea]

I've been reading on Guinea Lyinx that very gentle massage or sitting bloated piggy on a massage cushion (the ones that gently vibrate) help get the gas out.

Sorry I can't give you a happy story My Fatimus had a hysterectomy at the age of 2 and didn't survive. It's a huge operation. Fatimus was complicated by having a mastectomy at the same time and she pulled her stitches out meaning she needed more surgery to repair the damage.

It's a hard choice to make. Either surgery she may not survive but if successful she will go on to lead a full life. Or no surgery and she will definitely have a short lifespan but you can control when it ends and is pain free.

for you OP

[MillyMoo1113]

Thank you. So sorry things didn't work out for Fatimus.

She's bathed and cleaned and snuggled on my knee for the evening so I can try massage her stomach whilst she's on me. Will let her recover from the bath then try syringe feed some more

[PurpleDaisies]

Just a bit of moral support from me rather than any particular expert knowledge. It is horrible when they're not right. We had a mild case of bloat with one of our piggies last year (too many dandelions when he was in the garden we think) and he came through it with the massage and a lot of tlc. In fact, he is currently running around the living room like a little lunatic.

Wishing your piggy a speedy recovery.

[MillyMoo1113]

Thank you. We've managed to get a fair bit syringed into her I think and she's eaten some hay and drunk from her water bottle, so I'm taking those as good signs.

Her pooh looks normal Tho maybe a bit wet, but she's been eating it as normal so again, I'm thinking another good sign.

I tried the massage, and got bitten for my troubles, but have tried again a couple of times.

Will see how she is in the morning, we're booked in Monday evening at the vets for a follow up and to talk about scanning the cyst, but my vets is two minutes away and they are open Sunday's so I can always pop her up if need be.

[PurpleDaisies]

All those things sound tentatively positive. They can go off quickly (and it is really obvious when they do) so keep your bet on speed dial but it sounds like you're doing all the right things. Really hope things carry on improving.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

The first indications of GP2 and GP3 being ill was the way they sat.
It's a funny, tucked up, paws together, nodding backwards and forwards stance.
And their eyes.
Sunken, (even before they were weepy) like they'd lost that popping glossy look that guinea pigs eyes have.
And floppy rubbery bodies when you lift them. Normally they curl themselves (except GP6 who straightens out like a toddler who doesn't want to go in the buggy). But an ill guinea hasn't got the strength.

Is she snuffly at all? Raspy?

The fact she's eating and drinking is good, and even the fact she's fighting the syringe means she's still got spirit

You'll need to feed through the night, they can't have more than seven hours without food (and when they are eating normally, dawn and dusk are prime eating times)

Good luck little piggie, keep eating.

[MillyMoo1113]

She's not snuffly or raspy, she does the toddler straight body move when picked up!

I do think her eyes have lost her sheen Tho.

Dh will be up til at least two, he's a complete night owl and is going to do some night feeds( love how he does this for GP but never did for out DC!)

I'll be up at seven anyway, can get some work done in peace at that time of a morning.

Fingers crossed, I'll keep you posted

[fortifiedwithtea]

Sounds encouraging If she gets cold put her on a wheaty bag or warm not hot hot water bottle wrapped in a towel.

[MillyMoo1113]

Morning all

She's done ok through the night, and she's eaten some kale for breakfast.

DD will be up soon so can do antibiotics and some more syringe feeding, but so far so good

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Good news

Keep up the good work and keep eating MooPig

(She can't be MillyPig on MN , that name's taken . MooPig sings that song from the online card company )

[MillyMoo1113]

Made me laugh, I like MooPig!

She nibbling hay at the minute, so all good signs. Let's hope the cyst is as easily dealt with!

[FernieB]

Well done Moopig! It's great that she's eating herself. My boys have their paws crossed that she makes a full recovery.

[MillyMoo1113]

Thank you. She still seems to be doing ok, taking syringe food but eating whatever we've fed the others too.

I've tried gently massaging her stomach and she isn't complaining when I do it like she was yesterday. I feel happier now about the fact that we'll all be out at work/school tomoro too

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

She's really tried Bless Her

You can give her a syringe feed tonight and before you go to work maybe then leave her with a huge pile of hay to pick at as well as some fresh veg.
Is she with the other piggies?
Make sure she has enough to go round them all + spare.
Mine will take the food out of each others mouths. Until it;s gone past the epiglottis, it's viable .

Good Luck

[MillyMoo1113]

She is with the other piggies and they do take food from each other's mouths! DH is going to syringe feed her before he comes up to bed and I'll definitely feed her in morning and leave more food than normal so they all get some. DH might be able to nip home at lunchtime too, he sometimes can.

She has tried so hard bless her, hopefully we caught it early enough

[MillyMoo1113]

Just to update, she seems fully recovered from the stomach bug Tho we still have a couple of days of antibiotics left.

Vet now says she can't find the ovarian cyst, it could have burst, but as its only sterile fluid that's ok, but we've to keep checking her(she showed me how and where to feel) and we can book her in for a scan at any point.

Part of me feels relieved she doesn't have to go through with the op but then part of me is not convinced the cyst hasn't gone, which is mad because I do trust our vet.

She did say I could have her scanned to double check, am wondering if this might be the best option really

[PurpleDaisies]

That's great news. Fingers crossed that's the last you hear of the ovarian cyst. Really glad your piggy is doing so well.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Brilliant news that she's over the hurdle of of her stomach bug.

Ovarian cysts though (like any cyst) they can go through a cycle of refilling and rupturing.
In humans they cause pain and bloating, your guinea has had similar .

Your guinea pig is still a young girl, so you could play it by ear and if the symptoms recur or you find something when you examine her, then you could have her scanned.
If she needs to be sedated then you could ask for surgery, but cross fingers it won't come to that.

[MillyMoo1113]

Thanks. I think I am just going to keep an eye, keep checking her and get her scanned if I find anything.

Now she's on the mend, I can tackle her claws this weekend, a clip is long overdue!