Vet Talwar's Medical thread

[ItsaZoo]

If you think veggies are triggering this, maybe take him out and give the others veggies. Then give him something like his vitamin C or a hay-based treat like Oxbow Simple Rewards. That way he still gets something special and a little extra attention.

 

[4boipigs]

Yes that's what I'm going to have to do for now. He is doing much better today and begging for food. Unfortunately he is so skinny and was 830 grams at the vet. She officially said he is underweight. I can feel his ribs and hips. He is not very fond of Critical Care so we'll have to find another way to fatten him up. Would alfafa hay or young guinea pig pellets help?

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

They would, but at the risk of excess urinary calcium. A better alternative to fatten him up would be putting steel cut rolled oats in his pellets. He'll probably like them so much that he picks them out of the pellets.

 

[bpatters]

Give him a little extra vitamin C, too. That might help with his appetite.

 

[4boipigs]

He does get extra Oxbow vitamin c cookies. I'm wondering if liquid kid's vitamin c is a good idea and what brand.

It's been exhausting. We have another 2.5 weeks of meds, then a recheck visit w/ xrays to see how things have progressed.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

He does get extra Oxbow vitamin c cookies. I'm wondering if liquid kid's vitamin c is a good idea and what brand.

It's been exhausting. We have another 2.5 weeks of meds, then a recheck visit w/ xrays to see how things have progressed.

I feel your pain. When Punkin and Scooter got sick at the same time, we had to do round the clock feedings, every four hours for two solid months. After Punkin passed away we still had to do the same.for Scooter off and on for another 7 months. exhausting is a good term.

 

[4boipigs]

Well Talwar got stasis/bloat. Again. I'm not sure if it's from veggies or not. I gave them cilantro and the next day he was having trouble. It's gas/bloat that is causing the stasis. His tummy gets firm, he hunches up, sleeps more, and he bites me when I touch his stomach.

He is improving this morning. Am I not to give him any veggies at all? I have reduced their veggie amount considerably and try to keep his to a minimum.

He has a follow up next week to see if his pneumonia has improved enough to finally get him off meds.

 

[4boipigs]

I noticed he has sores on his back feet. Probably a combo of when he felt unwell, he would stay in one spot and not move. And he has periods during this illness where he seems to pee nonstop. For a while I thought the bottle was leaking, but he goes thru periods of drinking/peeing a lot. So the bedding gets extra wet. I'm going to start changing it twice a day, along with layering more fleece in those areas to try to keep it dry.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

I noticed he has sores on his back feet. Probably a combo of when he felt unwell, he would stay in one spot and not move. And he has periods during this illness where he seems to pee nonstop. For a while I thought the bottle was leaking, but he goes thru periods of drinking/peeing a lot. So the bedding gets extra wet. I'm going to start changing it twice a day, along with layering more fleece in those areas to try to keep it dry.

You could also try putting some cold pressed extra virgin coconut oil on his feet. It will help keep them moist and will help soothe the irritation, as well as the benefit of natural antifungal properties associated with coconut oil. Just make sure its the cold pressed variety.

 

[4boipigs]

I thought about that but worried he will lick it off or something. It isn’t horrible, just two spots on either foot that is a borderline sore.

 

[4boipigs]

We had the follow up and his lungs are improving. He still needs to be on his doxy and enro. Yippie. He is down to 800 grams (lost 50ish since Oct). The vet recommended Science Selective pellets for him for now, to get some weight back on.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

You can try the steel cut oats trick too. Might think theyre candy though and pick them out around his pellets.
Seriously, I've heard they are good for getting weight back on pigs.

 

[4boipigs]

You can try the steel cut oats trick too. Might think theyre candy though and pick them out around his pellets.
Seriously, I've heard they are good for getting weight back on pigs.

I forgot about that. I'll order some today w/ our groceries.

 

[4boipigs]

I finally got around to giving him the oats I bought.

I got steel cut but didn't realize they were quick oats. Will this still be okay for him?

I've been giving him the Science Selective food in the mean time. I guess the manufacturer treats it as an all-life stages food from the look of it. The main ingredient is alfafa meal. I give the others a piece when I feed Talwar. He's been doing okay still, has a bit more loud breathing and coughing.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

Quick oats should be ok, for a temporary thing. They're not really a great food for guinea pigs but they are good for helping regain lost weight.

That's oats in general, not just quick oats.