Post by honeysmom on Mar 6, 2010 12:59:40 GMT
I am new here. I joined so I could ask for help for my darling sweet guinea pig. I have owned many, but have NEVER had a sick one or any other issue so I am at a loss.
2 mornings ago I noticed he didnt eat. hadnt touched his water. or pooped overnight. Age 4 1/2 years. I gave him a couple pieces of fruit watermelon, apple, and a small piece of romain, and a nibble of "spring mix" I came home at my lunch time to check on him and he had eaten a very small amount. he drank water from his bottle if I held it for him. at this point I had hi, run around a bit and he did poop finally. he didnt act in pain. poop normal. no other indication of a problem. active and happy.
yesterday morning (1 morning ago) same thing. he pooped again and still seemed ok except he actually LOOKEd thinner. I came home from work at lunch time again to check and now he seems listless. so while I am holding him trying to convince him to eat something (I had picked up fresh favorite snacks for him) he starts this movement that exactly looks like an animal vomiting. I had read piggies dont vomit, well he certainly was! all this drool came gushing out. I scooped him up and took him to my exotic vet.
this is what she said and did:
looked at him teeth, palpitated his tummy, listened to lungs and tummy. said teeth look good but you can only see 30% of the problem. MAY have a tooth problem and we should perform surgery to check. I balked at that. anesthesia is dangerous in little ones so I asked what else we could do. she said the droolong MAY be from the teeth or some other problem. he may have a respiratory infection although his lungs sound good, alittle noisy but that may be from the extra drool. tummy sounds good, a nit quiet but thats because he's not eating.
gave me a pain killer, antibiotics, and critter care and told me to force feed him.
On that note: ever try to squirt water INTO a hose that is turned on??? Every bit of food that goes into him he vomits back up. and he certainly IS vomiting, I check to make sure his mouth is empty and a few second later...up it comes. he is heaving very hard.
I am scared. he is such a darling piggy and I love him dearly. what should be done at this point? a weekend? God not many vets around here to choose from that I trust. Any practical advice? ideas? help?
IF so...please feel free to call me 732-406-9324
thanks...and pray with me!
2 mornings ago I noticed he didnt eat. hadnt touched his water. or pooped overnight. Age 4 1/2 years. I gave him a couple pieces of fruit watermelon, apple, and a small piece of romain, and a nibble of "spring mix" I came home at my lunch time to check on him and he had eaten a very small amount. he drank water from his bottle if I held it for him. at this point I had hi, run around a bit and he did poop finally. he didnt act in pain. poop normal. no other indication of a problem. active and happy.
yesterday morning (1 morning ago) same thing. he pooped again and still seemed ok except he actually LOOKEd thinner. I came home from work at lunch time again to check and now he seems listless. so while I am holding him trying to convince him to eat something (I had picked up fresh favorite snacks for him) he starts this movement that exactly looks like an animal vomiting. I had read piggies dont vomit, well he certainly was! all this drool came gushing out. I scooped him up and took him to my exotic vet.
this is what she said and did:
looked at him teeth, palpitated his tummy, listened to lungs and tummy. said teeth look good but you can only see 30% of the problem. MAY have a tooth problem and we should perform surgery to check. I balked at that. anesthesia is dangerous in little ones so I asked what else we could do. she said the droolong MAY be from the teeth or some other problem. he may have a respiratory infection although his lungs sound good, alittle noisy but that may be from the extra drool. tummy sounds good, a nit quiet but thats because he's not eating.
gave me a pain killer, antibiotics, and critter care and told me to force feed him.
On that note: ever try to squirt water INTO a hose that is turned on??? Every bit of food that goes into him he vomits back up. and he certainly IS vomiting, I check to make sure his mouth is empty and a few second later...up it comes. he is heaving very hard.
I am scared. he is such a darling piggy and I love him dearly. what should be done at this point? a weekend? God not many vets around here to choose from that I trust. Any practical advice? ideas? help?
IF so...please feel free to call me 732-406-9324
thanks...and pray with me!