I have a 3 yr old female who is not pregnant but in about 6 hours swelled to at least another 50% of her size. I cant get her to our vet for about 12 hours. Does anyone know how I can keep her alive till then? She will not eat nor drink, but I am giving her water with vitamin C through a syringe. Someone suggested she may have Bloat. How can I treat that for 12 hours? Any sugestions?
Thanks,
Quinfin
Swollen or bloated female
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Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
I'm so sorry she's ill.
Yes, she may have bloat. This is a life threatening emergency and I don't think you can wait 12 hours. See more: emergency.html#bloat
For moderate cases simethicone and perhaps massage can help but for true bloat, you really need a veterinarian. Home remedies will not work.
Yes, she may have bloat. This is a life threatening emergency and I don't think you can wait 12 hours. See more: emergency.html#bloat
For moderate cases simethicone and perhaps massage can help but for true bloat, you really need a veterinarian. Home remedies will not work.
She is not eating, nor passing any stole or urine. She will drink when I use the syringe. The emergancy vet in our area says they dont see guinea pigs and referred me to an emergancy vet 2 counties away. I called that ofice and got a voicemail. I am waiting for her to call me back. I can tell by her actions, she wont make it 12 hrs. Our other pig knows something is wrong with her and strangely doesnt want to be away from her. Should I seperate them anyway?
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Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
If she is in terrible pain, you might consider having her euthanized if you are unable to find a vet who can treat her condition.
Some vets will use a syringe to draw air from a cavity that is filled with gas. An xray can show where it is located and if there is any blockage. If there is no blockage, motility drugs and pain medication can help. Much more in the link I provided.
Some vets will use a syringe to draw air from a cavity that is filled with gas. An xray can show where it is located and if there is any blockage. If there is no blockage, motility drugs and pain medication can help. Much more in the link I provided.
Shes on a mild vibrating pad, she's not laboring to breath but is very lethargic. After lightly rubbing her, she'll walk around a minute but soon curls in a corner. I live in St. Lucie Co. Fl. and it's about 11pm. The vet I was told to call is two counties south of me. I have called her again and brieflt explained my pig's condition. Our vet will be in his office in about 9 hours. What is a motility drug? Is there anything I can get over the counter that will act as a motiltiy drug? What could have caused this?
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Talishan
- You can quote me
Over the counter, no, not safely.
A motility drug is a medication to make the GI move. A laxative is a motility agent, but what you will want is not that strong. A drug like Reglan (metoclopramide) works on the upper GI to move stalled fecal material through the GI. The gas moves along with it; that is, think of a bunch of grass clippings or paper in the street, and how it moves when fast traffic runs through it.
Cause: this simply happens to some pigs. Certain vegetables, or too much of certain vegetables at one time, can start the process, but it's not consistent from pig to pig.
Once a pig has experienced a bout of bloat, however, they tend to be predisposed to suffering it again. Once your pig is well, review her diet and see if there are any gas producing vegetables you are giving her. If so, eliminate those from her diet or give them in very small quantities, infrequently.
Finding the cause can be essentially a process of elimination exercise.
A motility drug is a medication to make the GI move. A laxative is a motility agent, but what you will want is not that strong. A drug like Reglan (metoclopramide) works on the upper GI to move stalled fecal material through the GI. The gas moves along with it; that is, think of a bunch of grass clippings or paper in the street, and how it moves when fast traffic runs through it.
Cause: this simply happens to some pigs. Certain vegetables, or too much of certain vegetables at one time, can start the process, but it's not consistent from pig to pig.
Once a pig has experienced a bout of bloat, however, they tend to be predisposed to suffering it again. Once your pig is well, review her diet and see if there are any gas producing vegetables you are giving her. If so, eliminate those from her diet or give them in very small quantities, infrequently.
Finding the cause can be essentially a process of elimination exercise.
I will probably not hear from that vet in Palm Bch. Should I keep my pig up and active all night or let her go to sleep? I can not get her to pass any gas from rubbing her and dont know if the pad is vibtating any out. The pad automaticly turns off after about 10 minutes, but my wife and I dont mind pulling shifts on her to keep it going. She did gourge herself on a pretty good bit of romain lettuce today. Would it have this effect so quickly?
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Talishan
- You can quote me
Yes. Their gut transit time is somewhere between 16 and 36 hours IIRC. Romaine in and of itself doesn't usually cause a problem, but gorging on more than a usual amount might.
The pad may be helping more than you realize. I don't know that I'd leave her on it all night in shifts, but if you possibly can, put her on it every, oh, 15-20 minutes to half hour or so if she'll tolerate it.
Is there ANY other ER vet you can call? I know we have several members here in your area and they've had emergency situations with their pigs. The problem is that bloat as severe as this can cause gastric torsion, an extremely painful and nearly always immediately fatal condition.
Take a look at this list and see if any of these vets are close to you:
https://www.guinealynx.info/records/viewforum.php?f=97
(I know the Coral Springs one is used by more than one member here, but that might be a little far.) Call them and see if they recommend an ER on their recordings.
The pad may be helping more than you realize. I don't know that I'd leave her on it all night in shifts, but if you possibly can, put her on it every, oh, 15-20 minutes to half hour or so if she'll tolerate it.
Is there ANY other ER vet you can call? I know we have several members here in your area and they've had emergency situations with their pigs. The problem is that bloat as severe as this can cause gastric torsion, an extremely painful and nearly always immediately fatal condition.
Take a look at this list and see if any of these vets are close to you:
https://www.guinealynx.info/records/viewforum.php?f=97
(I know the Coral Springs one is used by more than one member here, but that might be a little far.) Call them and see if they recommend an ER on their recordings.
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Talishan
- You can quote me
Too late to edit: also keep her as well hydrated if you can. Continue to offer her fluids by syringe.
What happens is when the waste material stalls the body continues to leach fluid out of it. It gets dry and hard and ironically, even harder to pass, so then you have a snowball effect.
There's someone on here nearly 24-7. Please let us know how she's doing.
What happens is when the waste material stalls the body continues to leach fluid out of it. It gets dry and hard and ironically, even harder to pass, so then you have a snowball effect.
There's someone on here nearly 24-7. Please let us know how she's doing.
Thankyou VERYMUCH Talishan. I will keep her hydrated and vibrated until we get to the vet. But that wont be until 7:30 tomorrow morning. I called Dr. Katz office in Stuart and his recording referred me to same Martin County er that does not see cavies. And they again referred me to the vet in Palm Bch. County who I left the messages on her voicemail. The pad must be working some cause when I just picked her up to rub her she made a little chirp and thats the first noise shes made in about 6 hours. THANKS again and I'll keep posting as long as Im awake.
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