On and off diarrhea for my one year old-please help!! please

Post Reply
User avatar
Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Tue Sep 06, 2011 10:20 pm


I currently have info that covers the important points, including a link to the manufacturer's site:

BIO-SPONGE
Equine Bio-Sponge, which contains Di-tri-octahedral smectite, is reasonably priced and very effective.

"Bio-Sponge is an intestinal protectant designed to help support healthy intestinal function. Bio-Sponge has substantial capacity to adsorb and absorb toxins, viruses, bacteria and free radicals. A university study showed that Bio-Sponge™ adsorbed 99% of clostridium difficile and clostridium perfringens toxins in vitro."

Dosage information received via email from Allyson at Platinum Performance, Inc. who consulted their staff nutritionist:
Guinea Pigs 600-900 grams administer between 0.4cc-0.6cc total daily, split into 2-4 feedings.
Guinea Pigs 950-1400 grams administer between 0.7cc-1.0cc total daily, split into 2-4 feedings.

Josephine
Little Jo Wheek

Post   » Tue Sep 06, 2011 10:39 pm


Yeah, that looks good to me. I guess gvstate should have checked out the manufacturer's website! It's been so long since I looked at that info.

Thanks, Lynxie!

User avatar
gvstate01

Post   » Wed Sep 07, 2011 12:04 am


I did check that out! It doesn't mean much to me. I guess I don't have as good understanding as everyone else :-/ lol

Momof4littlepigs

Post   » Thu Sep 08, 2011 12:16 pm


First and foremost I want to thank you all for your informative answers! It seems as though the help and resources for guinea pigs is scarce and I am so glad to have found this page & forum!

We have PROGRESS!! After being on the metacam and Flagyl for a few days we are back to almost normal poops! I have not gotten the bio sponge yet, still waiting on the delivery.

While I am so excited that we can finally throw my boy his 1st birthday party...and soon he can be reunited with his BFF Elvis (that has been a whole other sad situation, Elvis sits outside of his pigloo staring at Sonic all day :-() I am still baffled by what the cause of his diarrhea has been. Food? antibiotic?

I am thinking along the lines of gvstate01 and maybe the antibiotic ruined his gut flora so much that he has was not on medication long enough to return it to it's normal state and therefore the diarrhea came back?

The vet I am seeing in NYC specializes in exotics, that is all they see, they do not even see a dog or cat, just guinea pigs and so on, seems to think that the first course of Flagyl, just might not have been enough.........

I am keeping optimistic, I don't want to get too ahead of myself because I was here once before and then back to square one.

When I get the bio sponge, should I still attempt it? Even if the diarrhea is gone? I know it was posted earlier that I can give bio sponge with the Flagyl, can it hurt? Even if the diarrhea is clearing up?

Thanks everyone! I wish I could post a pic of him, but I don't have one small enough! He is a violet peruvian,,,,with a buzz cut and a mohawk lol....I cut all his hair off due to this episode because he was getting himself quite messy. I am happy I can now let his gorgeous locks grow back lol!

User avatar
Bytxlaura
Remembering Nemo

Post   » Thu Sep 08, 2011 2:43 pm


I am so happy you are seeing progress.

I live in Brooklyn as well :)

Which vet are you guys seeing?

User avatar
gvstate01

Post   » Thu Sep 08, 2011 3:48 pm


How exciting!!! I'm so happy for you and Sonic :) I am also very glad you could find such a great vet, it's hard, but in such a big city you really are lucky. As Josephine said above about the bio-sponge, it's also a great preventative tool, so I'm looking to order it as well :) I'd still give it.

Can you post a pic on Flickr and then paste a link? I'd love to see him! :)

Josephine
Little Jo Wheek

Post   » Thu Sep 08, 2011 4:05 pm


Until you find the cause, I'm a bit leery of just giving the Biosponge to just give it. I don't believe in overmedication.

If this is an antibiotic issue, you should be good to go. If not, it may be an irritable bowel-type thing related to diet or something like stress.

Momof4littlepigs

Post   » Thu Sep 08, 2011 11:25 pm


I am taking them to the center for Exotic and Avian medicine, it is on Columbus Avenue In Manhattan. http://avianandexoticvets.com/ here is the link to the website, great place and I have had much success with them. Its a little far, but so worth it! I'd go to the moon and back for these little guys!

Is it too soon to introduce a little veggies? He's back to almost normal stools.

I will certainly try to do the picture through Flickr and then post thanks for the tip! gvstate!

At least I will have the bio sponge on hand in case I need it!

Momof4littlepigs

Post   » Thu Sep 08, 2011 11:27 pm


I also started a resource page on facebook, it really is such a shame that there isn't much help around for these little guys, but its giving me some fuel and I have gotten so much knowledge that I am trying to develop some more help for all of us cavy owners!

I am also currently taking a course online for animal care specialist and I am thinking about getting into the exotic field...it will be one more person here on the east coast that can help!

User avatar
Bytxlaura
Remembering Nemo

Post   » Fri Sep 09, 2011 1:47 am


Well, we might have crossed paths, as I use the same vet practice :) Dr. Wilson saved many of my piggies!

YAY for almost normal stools!

Momof4littlepigs

Post   » Fri Sep 09, 2011 8:50 am


@ Bytxlaura, thats who I saw as well Dr. Wilson. She is great......

Yesterday, I reintroduced Elvis and Sonic for a bit, they were doing the dominance thing and some teeth chattering, I let it go to let them work it out but kept them supervised.

On one occasion I gently threw a towel on them to get them to stop and they did and went about their business, before I could stop it however, bratty Sonic bit Elvis and did some harm to him, broke the skin, ripped out hair.....

I have a spray that I used which is mostly made up of water to treat skin ailments on Guinea pigs. I was wondering if I could use a little neosporin or just leave it alone.

Needless to say they will be separated when I am at work. It is really sad and unexpected because they were the best of friends and I know that since they have been seperated for a while I would have to go through the whole introduction thing again....I never imagined one of them would get so hurt though! this is a first :-(

Sonic is the youngest of them all and Elvis kind of took him under his wing, but I had also read that as an adolescent GP grows into an adult they will fight for dominance over the older one. I am guessing this is what has now happened, they have also been pretty much separated on and off since JUly.

If I can't get them to work it out I have a divider that I can put in the middle of the cage this way they can at least still see each other and neither of them gets lonely.

Does anyone have any advice for treating the wound? I looked on here but didnt really see anything.

Im keeping my fingers crossed that these boys to get back to being bffs again........

User avatar
gvstate01

Post   » Fri Sep 09, 2011 12:29 pm


Neosporin is toxic, I'm not sure on any other treatments but I know it's either on GL or the forums. A reintroduction with a clean cage and new smells might be in order :-/ It sucks, but it's worth a try!

Post Reply