Sick pig - help! - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**Ferdypig** · #1 02-28-05, 01:38 am

I should say first that I'm taking my pig to the vet in about 30min when they open.

I've only had pigs for about 2 years and they've never been sick before so I'm really panicing. I was away for the weekend and my boyfriend looked after them (which I know he does really well because he adores them) and when I got back last night I took them out for floor-time and noticed that one of them was doing really large, soft, mushy droppings. I couldn't figure out which one it was. I noticed that there wasn't a lot of hay in their cage so I put plenty in and put them to bed for the night. This morning the eldest didn't run out for his breakfast like he normally does and although he's taking a few green beans from my hand, he's really struggling to eat them (he was eating OK and behaving normally last night). I've isolated him from the other pig and I'm getting him to the vet asap but is there anything else I can do? Should I bring both pigs to the vet? Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

Gillian

**dagwellismypigy** · #2 02-28-05, 01:41 am

I'm not sure what is wrong, but take them both to the vet.

**Ferdypig** · #3 02-28-05, 01:47 am

Thanks dagwellismypigy

**dagwellismypigy** · #4 02-28-05, 01:49 am

NO problem, I wish I could help more though.

Try reading this http://guinealynx.info/emergencymedicalguide.html

**Ferdypig** · #5 02-28-05, 01:53 am

I had a look at that. Maybe I'm just overreacting but my piggies are like my babies and I'd never forgive myself if I didn't look after them right.

P.S. Got an appointment at the vet at 9.30 (it's 9 now). He wants to see them both anyway. I'll let you know how it goes.

**Teria** · #6 02-28-05, 02:25 am

Good luck!!

**Ferdypig** · #7 02-28-05, 03:22 am

Thanks Teria - the vet gave him an injection of antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory and I have to come back tomorrow morning. He also told me to stick to dry food and hay for a couple of days and to syringe-feed him with some probiotic yogurt. Unfortunately I've had to leave him now to go to work so I hope he's better when I get home (might get away early!).

**Teria** · #8 02-28-05, 03:57 am

What did your boyfriend feed him? Maybe he gave him some green stuff that wasn't good anymore. I hope the little guy gets better soon.

**citronsoul** · #9 02-28-05, 04:07 am

I hope he gets better soon!

**Ferdypig** · #10 02-28-05, 04:14 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teria

What did your boyfriend feed him? Maybe he gave him some green stuff that wasn't good anymore. I hope the little guy gets better soon.

No, I was only away one night and I know the greens were all OK when I left. My boyfriend feeds them exactly the same stuff that I do - I have him well trained!

I'll keep you guys updated. Right now it's killing me being at work and not knowing how he is :-(

**Ly&Pigs** · #11 02-28-05, 10:50 pm

Get rid of the yogurt. Not a really good probiotic choice. The best probiotics are Acidophilus capsules that you can break open and add to water and syringe feed or poos from a healthy pig mashed with water added.

**Ferdypig** · #12 03-01-05, 01:39 am

Thanks Ly&pigs - he hates the yogurt anyway so I'll try that instead.

I couldn't post last night because the site was down but he seemed a bit better when I got home from work yesterday. He's still doing soft poops but he's eating again and he's a little more lively. He was even looking for his breakfast this morning although I felt so bad that I could only give him dry food!

I have to take him back to the vet in about 20min but hopefully he's going to be OK.

Thanks for the support.

**ChadWPB** · #13 03-01-05, 12:41 pm

Did your vet give you AB's to take home and medicate your pig? An AB course of treatment is typically two weeks.

**Ferdypig** · #14 03-02-05, 01:53 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChadWPB

Did your vet give you AB's to take home and medicate your pig? An AB course of treatment is typically two weeks.

No, he just gave him an injection each day. He said oral antibiotics weren't usually very effective.

He seems almost 100% better this morning - poops back to normal and running out looking for his breakfast - but I'll keep a close eye on him.

**Ferdypig** · #15 03-17-05, 10:49 am

I've just noticed today that the same pig has a crusty nose so now I'm worried that he has a URI. I'm taking him to the vet tomorrow (they're closed today) but does anyone know if these two illnesses are likely to be connected? In other words, what am I doing wrong?! I had hamsters for years and never had to visit a vet so I'm really concerned that I'm not looking after my piggies properly :-(

**pennick** · #16 03-17-05, 10:54 am

Its possible that the first illness was not 100 percent gone. Maybe he wasnt treated long enough or the antibiotics didnt kill the infection completely and he had a relapse. I know sometimes when we are sick and are taking mediciation lets say for 5 days, we can feel better then 2 weeks later we get sick again probably because we should have had the medication for 10 days. This has happened to my family a few times.

Discuss this with the vet. Maybe he can give you medication for a longer period of time or change the medication.

**Ferdypig** · #17 03-17-05, 11:07 am

Thanks Pennick - that's what I was thinking too but the first illness seemed to be some sort of gastroenteritis and this appears to be a URI so I wasn't sure they could be connected. Maybe he's just a bit rundown after the first illness although I was just saying to my boyfriend last night that he seemed really healthy again (glossy coat, bright eyes and running around as usual). <sigh>