Swollen or bloated female

Talishan
You can quote me

Post   » Sat Jul 24, 2010 9:48 pm


Did Soda have any of the same romaine Popcorn did?

Popcorn's waste being very moist is not a problem. The slimy green goopy stuff she's passed is stalled waste material (ileus) and needed to come out. But Soda's really shouldn't be.

Is it soft and moist, or full-on diarrhea? Is there any odor to it?

tiggyswift

Post   » Sat Jul 24, 2010 9:58 pm


Wow, I am so happy Popcorn is doing better! I thought about her all day! You did a great job with her.

User avatar
Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Sat Jul 24, 2010 10:37 pm


I am so glad she seems to be on the mend. Ditto Talishan's advice (she always gives good advice!). I'm so glad she made it through. I am glad some of the advice here helped pull her through though your perseverance and good fortune had a lot to do with it.

As Talishan said, a pig who has had bloat may be more likely to have another episode. Read all the information linked to from the emergency/bloat advice and put together a plan of action with vet numbers if it recurs.

You might also want to read over www.guinealynx.info/.html and www.guinealynx.info/.html because both have to do with elimination and may offer you some insight.

Quinfin

Post   » Sun Jul 25, 2010 1:21 am


Thanks all, but all I did was sit up all night on pogo with Popcorn at me feet and followed the advice given by people who I thought were veterinarians but, who I now think, care more than any vet can. Talishan: Soda did eat the same lettuce, but she's not the pig Popcorn is, she didn't eat near as much. All their food and eating habits will be monitored from now on. I didnt see the green goopy stuff, but thats not saying it didnt happen. I hope it did, seeing from your post, it needed to come out. It was soft and moist, no diarrhea nor odor. Recently Soda's stole has stiffened but not Popcorn's. The vet said their diet, which consisted of carrots, romaime lettuce, celery, timothy hay, and sometimes apples is okay. But the gouging of any isnt. Said to limit Popcorns diet of nothing but hay and pellets for aweek. Wife said he told her to not feed her any lentil or bean products. Talishan thx for your support and advice.
wlua weloveyouall

Quinfin

Post   » Sun Jul 25, 2010 2:48 am


Tracis, your advice of feeding was a turning point in her situation. THANK YOU more than you'll ever know.

User avatar
Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Sun Jul 25, 2010 12:13 pm


No, no vets (who actively post). A few vet techs. One or two veterinarians in training. Lots of people who have handson experience treating ill pigs and a desire to help others.

I would phase out the apples because of the sugar. If you want to see sugar content of various fruits and vegs, you can check:

www.guinealynx.info/chart_sugar.html

Leafy greens are a good choice. Of the vegs, corn is the worst choice (bad everything).

Talishan
You can quote me

Post   » Sun Jul 25, 2010 10:00 pm


Guinea pigs' systems are not designed to process sugars and carbohydrates. Fruits, and vegetables like corn, lentils and beans have very high levels of carbohydrate. These can ferment rapidly and cause bloating.

See if your regular vet (or the vet you saw, he sounds like a keeper) will give you a small amount of Reglan (metoclopramide) to keep on hand at home.

The syrup can be administered orally as well as by injection, and it has a pretty long shelf life. While no med has zero side effects and is 100% safe, as meds go Reglan is fairly benign. If you see Popcorn begin to have difficulty again, a little bit of Reglan right away can help detour and prevent a full-on bloat episode (and you know this will happen at 8:30 on a Saturday night, you just know that).

Having some on hand has helped several of our pigs.

Tracis
Let Sleeping Pigs Lie

Post   » Mon Jul 26, 2010 3:34 am


Yay for Popcorn feeling better! I'm sending more good thoughts for her, and I hope she continues to do well. Bloat is such a scary thing.

Sitting up all night with a very ill pet is not easy, especially night after night. Many of us have been in your situation, and we know how difficult and draining (and lonely) it can be.

You and your wife gave Popcorn the extra help she needed. Popcorn and Soda are fortunate to be a part of your family. :)

User avatar
macepeki

Post   » Mon Jul 26, 2010 6:29 am


Just read your thread, and I must admit I was in tears reading through to Popcorn's recovery. You did an amazing job. I know how hard and heartbreaking it is to help a piggy with bloat. This forum helped us give one of our little girls a chance when she got severely bloated. She wouldn't have made it without them.

Keep a gook eye on her, because she will probably get bloated again at some point. Having simethicone at home will definitely help you if that is the case (hopefully not!).

Lots of piggy hugs and good wishes.

jedifreac

Post   » Mon Jul 26, 2010 2:10 pm


carrots, romaime lettuce, celery, timothy hay, and sometimes apples is okay

I think these are all tolerable foods, but given the episode of bloat (which sounded really scary!) Talishan's retooled diet suggestions are good!

Personally, I would feed unlimited timothy hay and rationed timothy pellets (Oxbow, Kleenmama, or Sweet Meadow Farms brands only.) Then, once or twice a day a plate of either green or red leaf lettuce with cilantro. Things like bell pepper, carrot, or apple slice should be "fixings" and fed in small quantities (like size of your pinky finger.) I would skp the celery since it is harder for pigs to digest.

Talishan
You can quote me

Post   » Mon Jul 26, 2010 10:41 pm


I will say we've never had a problem with carrot. I completely agree otherwise with Jedifreac's comments. While carrot is supposed to be high in sugar and starch (and don't give huge amounts), I've yet to have a GI problem from moderate amounts of carrot. Everything else, occasionally yes but never carrot.

User avatar
Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:59 am


Carrots are actually not that high in sugar, relatively speaking:
https://www.guinealynx.info/chart_sugar.html

Post Reply