Not Eating Friar Tuck's medical thread

[MerryFriarTuck]

...and we've gone backwards again. The only normal food Friar Tuck would eat yesterday was a couple tiny bites of celery. He hasn't eaten any normal food yet today. His weight dropped from between 1170-1165 to 1152 and then 1144 this morning.

The day before yesterday he was eating so good! I even cut back his critical care to 3 times a day instead of 4. Went back to 4 yesterday and I'll try to get some extra in today. Could cutting back the critical care have triggered this?

If he doesn't turn around sooner than later we'll be back at the vet. He was doing so good, and he's still interested in and wants normal food SO bad...but he just won't eat it. I can't make sense of it.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

...and we've gone backwards again. The only normal food Friar Tuck would eat yesterday was a couple tiny bites of celery. He hasn't eaten any normal food yet today. His weight dropped from between 1170-1165 to 1152 and then 1144 this morning.

The day before yesterday he was eating so good! I even cut back his critical care to 3 times a day instead of 4. Went back to 4 yesterday and I'll try to get some extra in today. Could cutting back the critical care have triggered this?

If he doesn't turn around sooner than later we'll be back at the vet. He was doing so good, and he's still interested in and wants normal food SO bad...but he just won't eat it. I can't make sense of it.

Aw, man. I had some really high hopes. It sounds so, so much like Punkin and Scooter, they way their illness started. It REALLY sounds like something in his mouth is causing him pain. I hope very, very much they find it and quickly.

 

[MerryFriarTuck]

We have an opportunity to get an appointment with a third exotic vet this afternoon. If Friar Tuck was your piggy, would you take it?

Friar Tuck is still the same. He won't eat ANY normal food, though he desperately wants it. He was slightly quivering this morning when we first got up, but once we got critical care and pedialyte in him it stopped. The house was slightly cold this morning, I hope it was just cold.

He's had his teeth examined. He's he had x-rays. Both vets so far just can't figure out anything. I just don't want to put him through another entire vet trip, exam, anesthesia etc if we're going to get the same non answers...I just don't know what to do.

Is filing his molars worth the risk even if it doesn't *look* like there's anything wrong with them?

 

[MerryFriarTuck]

Friar Tuck has improved a little since this morning, looking better and a little more active. No more quivering at all! We talked to the vet we were going to see. He said he would gladly see us, but was not sure he could do much more than we've already had done. He (as well as the previous vet we saw) recommended another vet and veterinary clinic that is known to be the best of the best and an exotic specialist. We plan to make an appointment there. It is also an emergency vet, so if we need to get there before our appointment we can.

After the conversation with the vet we could've gone to today (added to the fact he was 1.5 hours away and the stress that would put Friar Tuck through---he's not happy travelling in the car) we decided to go with an appointment for the recommended exotic specialist. They're also only about 16 miles away, much closer.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

Friar Tuck has improved a little since this morning, looking better and a little more active. No more quivering at all! We talked to the vet we were going to see. He said he would gladly see us, but was not sure he could do much more than we've already had done. He (as well as the previous vet we saw) recommended another vet and veterinary clinic that is known to be the best of the best and an exotic specialist. We plan to make an appointment there. It is also an emergency vet, so if we need to get there before our appointment we can.

After the conversation with the vet we could've gone to today (added to the fact he was 1.5 hours away and the stress that would put Friar Tuck through---he's not happy travelling in the car) we decided to go with an appointment for the recommended exotic specialist. They're also only about 16 miles away, much closer.

In answer to your previous question.........yes. And I may have taken it out of context here but I would continue to either keep seeing vets until I got an answer, or until the ultimate answer is.......well, I don't want to talk about that.

I can imagine how frustrating it is for you with Friar Tuck. You just want him to be well and happy. I know that feeling and frustration far too well.

If I have the answers to any questions, I'll gladly give you whatever I have. Other than that, just please know that my household is holding out hope for Friar Tuck to be well as soon as possible, and that we are thinking about him and you. I come in here every day, whether it be early or late depending on how my day looks work wise, and the first thing I do is look for news on how the ill piggies are doing.

My fingers are crossed for Friar Tuck. Hopefully this new vet will provide some insight where others have not.

Thinking of you, little Friar Tuck!

 

[MerryFriarTuck]

Thank you so much, @Guinea Pig Papa, for your advice and support and everyone else on this forum <3

Friar Tuck is doing better today than yesterday, he's a lot more active and even ate one piece of cilantro. We're getting in with the new vet soon as possible, and if for any reason I feel the need to go before then we can during emergency hours.

I took a current picture of his front teeth just out of curiosity what you guys think. Just curious because of his bottom pair, he'd had the one that was slightly longer than the other, which was dremelled even during our last vet visit. I thought they looked maybe a little long, but otherwise normal?

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

I'm very happy he's doing a little better today. I don't know why, but I just have the feeling he's eaten one of the little thorn thingies I've seen in my Oxbow. I've no idea what they're called but I've had them lance my finger a few times. It may be stuck in there and it'll be a bugger to find.

That said, I don't really see anything amiss with his incisors. All in all they look pretty good to me. They're not angled at all, which indicates he doesn't seem to be chewing only on one side or the other.

 

[MerryFriarTuck]

I'm very happy he's doing a little better today. I don't know why, but I just have the feeling he's eaten one of the little thorn thingies I've seen in my Oxbow. I've no idea what they're called but I've had them lance my finger a few times. It may be stuck in there and it'll be a bugger to find.

That said, I don't really see anything amiss with his incisors. All in all they look pretty good to me. They're not angled at all, which indicates he doesn't seem to be chewing only on one side or the other.

Thank you!!! That's what I keep coming back to thinking, too...

 

[MerryFriarTuck]

Here's a full view of my brave little friar <3 he wasn't especially pleased in this picture because it was after his tooth pic and critcal care, lol.

 

[bpatters]

The teeth look fine to me, too.

 

[MerryFriarTuck]

The teeth look fine to me, too.

Thank you!!

 

[MerryFriarTuck]

So sorry I haven't updated. It's been an extremely stressful week with my grandpa in and out of the hospital 3.5 hours away, on top of Friar Tuck. There hadn't been any real changes to report for Friar Tuck until today, and now I really need advice...

Since I last updated, Friar Tuck had been the same and then slightly better. In the last 3 days, he's been active, picking at his hay and tiny bits of veggies, and he's been eating lettuce and corn husks/silk--- about two handfuls of lettuce and 5+ strips of corn husks a day. He'd been pooping and peeing more and both were normal. Until this morning--- he has diarrhea. I know this can get serious fast in guinea pigs.

Did the lettuce etc cause it? Thoughts/concerns? TIA, I'm worried...

 

[MerryFriarTuck]

Also, he's still eating good this morning, 6 strips of corn husks and some lettuce. I gave him the lettuce before checking the cage and finding the diarrhea.... otherwise, he's not acting any different as of now.

 

[JenMorri88]

Be sure to go to the veterinarian, as it may be something ordinary, and maybe something serious .. I would not joke with that!

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

So sorry I haven't updated. It's been an extremely stressful week with my grandpa in and out of the hospital 3.5 hours away, on top of Friar Tuck. There hadn't been any real changes to report for Friar Tuck until today, and now I really need advice...

Since I last updated, Friar Tuck had been the same and then slightly better. In the last 3 days, he's been active, picking at his hay and tiny bits of veggies, and he's been eating lettuce and corn husks/silk--- about two handfuls of lettuce and 5+ strips of corn husks a day. He'd been pooping and peeing more and both were normal. Until this morning--- he has diarrhea. I know this can get serious fast in guinea pigs.

Did the lettuce etc cause it? Thoughts/concerns? TIA, I'm worried...

Is he still on antibiotics? And if he is, he's still getting the probiotic correct?

First thing I would do is stop the veggies. If you don't have any Pedialyte or the generic stuff, get some. It won't necessarily stop the diarrhea but it WILL help with the dehydration.

If he's not on antibiotics or probiotics any more, I would give him some probiotic perhaps twice a day for now, and stick to just the critical care and whatever hay and pellets he'll eat on his own. If that clears up the diarrhea, ease back slowly into the veggies.

 

[bpatters]

I'd stop all veggies, and if he's still on an antibiotic, I'd stop that too. Diarrhea is very dangerous in guinea pigs, and you need to get it cleared up quickly. If it continues this afternoon, I'd call the vet for an emergency appointment.

Is he on any motility meds?

 

[MerryFriarTuck]

Is he still on antibiotics? And if he is, he's still getting the probiotic correct?

First thing I would do is stop the veggies. If you don't have any Pedialyte or the generic stuff, get some. It won't necessarily stop the diarrhea but it WILL help with the dehydration.

If he's not on antibiotics or probiotics any more, I would give him some probiotic perhaps twice a day for now, and stick to just the critical care and whatever hay and pellets he'll eat on his own. If that clears up the diarrhea, ease back slowly into the veggies.

He's no longer on antibiotics; his last dose of baytril was exactly 2 weeks ago today. He was on bene bac the whole time with antibiotics, and I gave it to him three days after the antibiotic finished for a boost. Today I gave him bene bac this morning, and again about an hour ago.

He's still not drinking out of his water bottle very well, so I've been giving him pedialyte with every critical care meal (about 10 ccs 4 times a day). It's generic brand and strawberry flavored, but it says dye/sugar/artificial flavor/allergen free. (He LOVES it) They were out of the normal unflavored pedialyte at the store, or I would have gotten that.

He did eat a lot of lettuce and not much hay, and it was red leaf and a little romaine instead of his usual greenleaf. He dropped nearly 40 kg. But there hasn't been any more diarrhea since this morning, and he isn't acting differently.

 

[MerryFriarTuck]

I'd stop all veggies, and if he's still on an antibiotic, I'd stop that too. Diarrhea is very dangerous in guinea pigs, and you need to get it cleared up quickly. If it continues this afternoon, I'd call the vet for an emergency appointment.

Is he on any motility meds?

He's not on motility, antibiotic or any other meds presently. There hasn't been anymore diarrhea since this morning, and he's not acting any differently. Right now it really seems like he overindulged on the lettuce, but there's more diarrhea or changes for the worse tomorrow I'll get him to the vet.

Thank you @bpatters and @Guinea Pig Papa

 

[MerryFriarTuck]

Ok, big update today--- here's a quick rundown to bring everything up to speed before I get to the newer news and questions:

Friar Tuck hasn't had any more diarrhea since that morning the day before yesterday. He's picking at his hay still, and today I let him have some tiny cilantro and celery leaves, which he ate. For the last week or so, his weight has been dropping ( he's currently 1004kg) and he's been thirsty, though not drinking from his water bottle he guzzles pedialyte when I offer it. He's been fighting the critcal care more. He's been up and about and active, standing up at the bars and for the most definitely picking at food pretty frequently, but not eating much.

Today was Friar Tuck's appointment with the more experienced/specialist exotic vet. (The previous two were also exotic vets, but didn't exclusively see small mammals. This one sees a couple piggies a week on average and has a lot of small mammal dentistry experience) Friar Tuck did really good, and so had a very thorough (though non sedated) oral exam.

The doctor said he truly does not believe it's teeth. Nothing is overgrown or abnormally worn, and there's no sign of abcesses, injury, or anything causing pain. He thinks it's all coming down to and has something to do/something caused by the GI track and stomach area.

We did more x-rays. No signs of tumours or anything obviously bad again. But there is a pretty significant amount of gas/bloating. To me it explains a lot about how he's been acting plus the fluctuating appetite.

Friar Tuck got two prescriptions, Metoclopramide (0.1 mL every 12 hours, mostly to help with motility and GI stress) and Prednisolone ( 0.3 mL every 24 hours, mostly to help with appetite and to get his GI moving better again).

I have simethicone infant gas drops. How often/how much should I give him to help the gas? I've heard a vibration through a towel can help, like an electric toothbrush. Tips?

Thoughts and experiences on everything?

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

A vibrating pillow is best, if you have one. If you don't, not to worry.

When Scooter was dealing with bloat, I didn't have a vibrating pillow nor could I find one. A cordless toothbrush will work, but what I used was one of those battery powered razors. I just took the blade off and Voila! I laid a fleece throw down, rolled Scooter up in it, and then placed the razor under it. Either that, or I held him on my chest and out the razor between us.

He REALLY didn't like it, but it helped. I had no choice but to wrap him up or he was gone in a flash.

Scooter was getting, I believe it was 1ml of simethicone every 12 hours and when it was really bad every 8 hours.