inability to swallow, drooling, stillness, very ill pig

[Skippie]

Thank you. He was eating until I started him on the Metacam. He is also on Baytril. Now he is fighting big-time. He can only have a little bit or he will choke or spit up. Also, when feeding him, I cannot touch his throat or he chokes. This is very difficult! I have tried mixing some baby food but he will not eat it. I have gotten very little it. I haven't tried pumpkin yet but will get some in the morning and hopefully he will take it. I am also seeing a 3rd veterinarian in the morning.
I have used Bene-bac in the past. Can I get that at a human drug store? Vitamin shop?

[ellisa]

I think you can only get Bene-Bac at pet supply stores since it is intended for animals. You can get acidophilus capsules at a drugstore. You could also use the cecal poop of a healthy guinea pig. Just dissolve it in water and then syringe it.

[CavyMama]

He shouldn't be choking with the Critical Care syring feeding. I wouldn't shoot it directly into his mouth or anywhere near his throat or he COULD aspirate on it. Try shooting it between his teeth and cheek so he can swallow it down at his own pace.

[Paula]

Your vet should have provided a probiotic when they prescribed the Baytril. An antibiotic without a probiotic can cause big problems, not the least of which is a lack of appetite.

Yes, the vet should have, but s/he didn't. I don't see how scolding the member, who has come here for help, is beneficial.

@Skippie - I don't think you can bet BeneBac at a human drug store, but you might be able to find it at a feed store. Otherwise, a human probiotic like acidophilus, which you would be able to find at a drug store, should suffice. Definitely get him going on something soon, though. Vitamin C, you can also get from a drug store - just make sure it is pure Vitamin C and nothing else and remember that the dose for a guinea pig who is ill is between 30-50 mg.

Also, what is the reason for the antibiotic and pain med?

[Skippie]

Thank you. I did post there as well. I hope someone can help!

[CavyMama]

@Paula , was not scolding. She said he wasn't eating so I was suggesting a reason that might be.

[Skippie]

@CavyMama ..I should clarify the choking is the big health issue. He cannot swallow and anything that goes in makes him choke if its not watery or if done too quickly. He also cannot have more than half a syringe-full or so at a time.

[PiBee]

Oh wow, I can imagine how he has a lot of the same symptoms as Pika did. Again, I hope he's okay and you figure out exactly what's wrong!

[Skippie]

Thank you for your help so far. What is the dosage for the acidophilus? Also, how often are both the vitamin c and acidophilus given?
His main issue is he cannot swallow. He chokes violently on food and even on water here and there. So far, everything we have tried and tests done are inconclusive. It seems something is lodged in throat but nothing comes up on x-rays. He has been to an e.r. vet, exotic vet, and off to another vet tomorrow. He was having excessive drooling as well. Last night he developed a fever that went away but today is perkier in spirit but with no appetite.

[ellisa]

That is frustrating!
If you look at the links I provided it tells you how much/how often. You can give the Vitamin C in one dose, or you could give it throughout the day. It may be easier just to do it once a day and get it over with. For the probiotic, it is best to give 1-2 hrs after the antibiotic.
Best wishes at the vet tomorrow! Please keep us updated and give him a hug from me, Penny and Sheldon!

[Paula]

This seems like something that would have been done already, but has your vet done a thorough dental exam? Possibly under sedation? Choking/drooling are a dead giveaway for dental problems, often.

Dosage for acidophilus - isn't really specific. I would give a full capsule by syringe (mixed with water). Give it 45 minutes to an hour before the baytril dose.

[pinky]

What size syringe are you using? I prefer the 1 ml syringes. I buy my Benebac at Petco and prefer the gel form. I give about a pea sized dose with a syringe about an hour after the Baytril once a day. I agree with @CavyMama that you need to be careful to place the syringe between the gum and teeth. I never feed a whole syringe full at a time. I probably do a half or third and give them a chance to swallow. With water, I do even less so they don't aspirate any of the liquid. I hope he starts showing some improvement soon. Positive thoughts coming your way.....

[Skippie]

My pig has been in and out of vet offices all week. The latest vet wants to do injectables of Reglan, Baytril, and Metacam. I am only familiar with Baytril and Metacam as orals but the concern is they may be causing his loss of appetite. He has lost a significant amount of weight. Are injectables safe? Are they "doable" for me to do on my own?

[Skippie]

Thank you everyone. I just spent an hour with the newest vet. The other two left town. He is considering it may be a stricture, which if so, I don't think theres much we can do. However, he did find something on the x-ray that may be a spot of inflammation. He isn't sure though. He currently is keeping him for a couple hours to try feeding him and seeing what I am talking about with the choking. In two days his weight has gone from 670 to 615. I am worried sick. I actually have a whole bag of syringes but am feeding him literally just a drop of Critical Care at a time. If his throat is touched, he even starts coughing and choking. He did have a full dental exam done with sedation. The sedation was incredibly hard on him though which was when his weight really dropped. The current vet is trying injectables of Reglan, Baytril, and Metacam to try reducing the likelihood of decreased appetite. Before the sedation and meds, he wanted to eat but couldn't. After sedation and meds he did not want to eat and could not eat. I am very nervous about the injectables because I have heard bad stories about Baytril injectables but I'm not sure how accurate they are. Thank you for the thoughts and prayers.

[Paula]

670 is a fairly low weight for an adult male. How old is he, again? Had you been weighing him regularly prior to this issue? Was 670 normal for him?

Injectables are manageable at home, but not ideal. Guinea pig skin is very thick and takes some practice.

[Momma2000]

@Skippie , I have been following your thread and praying that your little guy will be OK. Please, keep us updated.

[Skippie]

I just wanted to give a quick update after todays visit. He has been taking off the Baytril and is instead on oral Reglan, oral Mylanta, and an injection of Metacam. This vet is leaning towards the issue being a vascular ring anomaly. If that is the case, he has had it for a long time and has been dealing with that but its possible something like a piece of hay actually injured the area. Of course, that is the shortened version. The goal right now is to help him gain weight. At 615 grams, he is absolutly tiny. He has been needing fluids every other day as well. The vet says its still possible its a tumor or something else. It's still touch-and-go right now but I hope and pray he will get better. I also bought a nice scale to weigh him and am adding vitamin c powder to his diet. (mixed with water).
He is normally a thinner pig but weight about 690. He is about 3.5 years old. If anyone else has any suggestions for weight gain, diagnosis, or anything input please share!
Thank you everyone.

[coconutty78]

We are trying to figure out the strange illness that is taking over my guinea pig. The vet mentioned the possibility of it being a stricture. I have been looking it up online and he has the symptoms of one but so far, tests have been inconclusive as to what is going on exactly. Is there anyone on here that can tell me more about strictures in the esophagus, specifically in guinea pigs? Have anyone had experience with this? I would greatly appreciate your help as my little boy needs help fast.

Thank you.

I read the stricture esophagus and its pretty much in line with tightening of the esophagus which is similar to what i spoke of the other day when i suggested that he may be having Esophageal Spasms which because it keeps happening is not allowing him to keep anything down and just that may be whats killing him no proper food or liquid getting into the system fast enough. However as a last ditch effort if you can some how get access to chamomile you can steep it in warm water like a tea and try to syringe feed a bit to him. Chamomile is an anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic so its worth a try. I hope you might be able to save him.
A simple thing to try that could really help

[Skippie]

Thank you coconutty78! I am looking into and trying a lot of different things to see what helps. He at least wants to eat again now that he is off of Baytril. Now, of course, its back to helping so that he actually can eat. We are taking it one step at a time. I'll update again when I can.

[mufasa]

Saying a prayer for you and your piggy. I know how distressing it is to see our little friends in pain and to not be able to do anything to relieve it. Is your vet an exotic specialist? When we were trying to figure out what was wrong with Borat, it took a referral to another vet to finally get to the bottom of it. I hope you find out what's going on so you can attack the problem and get your piggy better again.