Guinea Pig Home

Sakantha · 06-30-2008, 04:07 PM

My pig is sick and I haven't found help anywhere! Spritzer is my 3 1/2 year old boar. He lives alone, but gets plenty of attention from me and time to run around. For the past months or so he has not been eating well, refusing his pellet food and hay (same as he has always had). He will eat some fruits and veggies but much pickier than normal. I took him to the vet last week when he started having diarhhea. They put him on antibiotics which I have been giving him twice daily since then, and did some fecal matter tests for microorganisms. I just found out the tests came back negative, and the diahhrea is getting worse (becuase of the antibiotics?). He doesn't look good, had little energy, and eyes look watery and glazed. He also has more than normal nasal discharge. He is not wheezing, but sneezing more often then normal as well. He has had a problem with anal impaction for several months now that I have been treating him for by clearing the impaction. Oh, the vet also has me force feeding "critical care" food becuase he won't eat normally and has been losing weight. Please Help!!

Foggycreek · 06-30-2008, 04:23 PM

It sounds very serious. He is probably intolerant to the antibiotic, and needs a different one prescribed. What's the name of the one he's been on? Diarrhea can be fatal in guinea pigs, so the sooner you get that under control the better. You'll need to aggressively handfeed him, and weigh him daily to make sure he's not losing any more weight. He could use some subcues from the vet, and maybe the vet can teach you how to give them as well. In the meantime syringe some pedialyte to him, or mix it in with his Critical Care.

You might want to post your question at Guinea Lynx :: A Medical and Care Guide for Your Guinea Pig forums. There are many more people on there that can help with your question.

Guinea Lynx :: Hand Feeding for handfeeding information

piggieluver101 · 06-30-2008, 04:43 PM

I'm sorry I can't help you. As foggy said you should post at guinea lynx, they can help.

I hope your piggie gets well soon. Stay strong and brave and do everything you can.

Kittykatt180 · 06-30-2008, 05:51 PM

Go back to the vet.....and do exactly as foggy said!!

good luck

Sakantha · 06-30-2008, 09:21 PM

Thank you all, it helps so feel that I have some support in this. I will give him pedialyte, and should be hearing back from the vet tomorrow. His antibiotic is Septra.....what are subcues? I was concerned that the critical care food might be giving him diahhrea because it is mostly liquid...but I know he has to eat something. What would stop the diahhrea and has anyone had a pig sick like this and if so what was the root cause?

Pennsylvania Pigger · 06-30-2008, 09:45 PM

Ohhh, I'll send good thoughts. Keep us updated.

Foggycreek · 06-30-2008, 10:33 PM

Critical care won't cause diarrhea. The liquid in it is actually good for helping to keep him hydrated right now.

It would be unusual for him to be intolerant to the Septra (which is trimeth sulfa). I wonder if he needs a different antibiotic, though, one that would address the diarrhea as well--I believe Flagyl is one. Definitely call your vet tomorrow and let them know he's not doing so well. Subcues are subcutaneous fluids--the vet injects the fluid (sometimes saline, usually lactated ringers) underneath the skin with a very fine needle.

emily111897 · 07-01-2008, 03:53 PM

Do whatever Foggycreek says, and he will probably be fine.

good luck and keep us updated!

Sakantha · 07-01-2008, 08:28 PM

Ok, the vet wants to refer me to an exotic specialist, who I tried to get in touch with and found out is no longer working at the location in my area. I will look for another: I am in Nyack, NY if anyone knows of a good vet in the area. He is much better today...I stopped giving him the antibiotics yesterday. The diahrrea is gone too. Now we are back to square one: he's not eating his hay or pellets and pooping is still not quite right; not diahrrea but not properly formed pellets either. He is drinking his supplemented water fine, so I'm not too worried about dehydration. I can't give him just fruits and veggies though becuase I think that might be contributing to the diahrrea. I will continue to force feed critical care, and try to get in touch with a good vet in my area. Thank you all so much!!

Pennsylvania Pigger · 07-02-2008, 10:44 AM

Yeah, an exotics specialist sounds like your best plan of action. I'm glad he's doing some better.

At one point my Liebchen was prescribed a medication to encourage her digestive track to work properly. She had been on antibiotics and probiotics for a possible URI and afterwards her poops were tiny, like half-pellets. The vet listened to her belly and said her digestive contractions were too slow, and she was redigesting too much of the liquid in them. Guinea pig constipation, I guess? The medication sped up the contractions and got her back to her normal pooping habits. Of course, I have no idea if that's what's up with your pig, but perhaps when you find a better vet, that's something you could ask them to look at?