Inguinal Hernia -- prognosis/complications

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DMac
Supporter in '10, '11, & '12

Post   » Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:46 am


Wow, that is good news!

Charybdis

Post   » Thu Jan 26, 2012 6:11 pm


They stitches are out but Simon still has a hole which the foster is flushing. The new issue is, yesterday he seemed to be bloating up and has diarrhea. The foster called the vet (Dr. R) who said to give him Reglan and that the diarrhea is most likely caused by stress.

I am not sure about that idea. Wouldn't he have contracted stress-related diarrhea sooner, earlier in his ordeal?

I am worried about an ascending abdominal infection. Is Reglan a good idea if there is diarrhea?

Josephine
Little Jo Wheek

Post   » Thu Jan 26, 2012 6:20 pm


Hmmm... I was taught NOT to use Reglan with diarrhea. Is he on metronidazole?

Charybdis

Post   » Thu Jan 26, 2012 6:35 pm


Yes. He has been on Flagyl for 9 days.

She says the diarrhea is brown, the color of toothpaste, and stinks. No blood or mucus in the stool.

I asked her what she does with the flushing syringe in between flushings. She washes it out with hot water and leaves it out to air dry.

Josephine
Little Jo Wheek

Post   » Thu Jan 26, 2012 7:42 pm


And you [or the foster] are flushing with sterile saline?

Well, then, Biosponge is my cure for the diarrhea.

Charybdis

Post   » Thu Jan 26, 2012 7:59 pm


She is flushing (as per Dr. R) with a peroxide/water mixture. I will send her the Biosponge right away, think I might have to order it online.

And no Reglan, right? I think the vet was thinking it might get rid of the gas. She was already giving charcoal.

Josephine
Little Jo Wheek

Post   » Thu Jan 26, 2012 8:15 pm


AAAAAAKKKK. You know how peroxide sets me off!!!!
EEEEEEK!

Yeah, not a fan of charcoal. Um, if she is giving charcoal, that would actually be a HUGE rule-out as to the CAUSE of the diarrhea. Why the heck is she giving charcoal? I only EVER, EVER use it in specific toxin injestions. I have NEVER, EVER wanted to give it to a cavy. It is notorious for causing "charcoal-diarrhea."

And the charcoal could easily cause gas, too. Personally, I wouldn't give the Reglan unless you needed to treat nausea or GI stasis.

Charybdis

Post   » Thu Jan 26, 2012 9:21 pm


She is giving the charcoal for the gas and just started giving it.

Normally I'm right with you on everything but I do give activated charcoal for gas because it absorbs toxins and I have found it to be effective for bloat in guinea pigs when simethicone was not. It is a gas treatment (sold over the counter as Charcocaps), so it seems odd to me that it could cause gas, is this related to over-dosing? I have only ever given a small amount, have used it for the past ten years and never had diarrhea result in guinea pigs.

Josephine
Little Jo Wheek

Post   » Thu Jan 26, 2012 10:23 pm


So weird.

Well, the kaolin/charcoal we give 100% of the time causes soft stool at the least. Runny and dark is normal.

Not sure what toxins the charcoal is supposed to absorb? Do you have some literature on that? It's a gas treatment for humans? But like some anti-heartburn remedies (Ca Carbonate comes to mind), they often can contribute to that which they are supposed to "cure." Do you have a vet that is recommending charcoal for gas? I've never heard that recommended in a veterinary setting.

Josephine
Little Jo Wheek

Post   » Thu Jan 26, 2012 10:32 pm


Doing some googling, several sites list activated charcoal as a "laxative."

Also, finding out that it is indicated for gas (flatulence) in the colon. Not sure cavies suffer from that. Doesn't the reason we give Reglan is that it works on gastric emptying and upper GI motility?

Mechanisms of action:
"Binding of the toxin to prevent stomach and intestinal absorption. Binding is reversible so a cathartic such as sorbitol may be added as well.
It interrupts the enterohepatic and enteroenteric circulation of some drugs/toxins and their metabolites."

"reversible?" Interesting.

Also, noted it is very toxic (fatal) if aspirated. Crap. That's great.

Josephine
Little Jo Wheek

Post   » Thu Jan 26, 2012 10:43 pm


I also found a few sites that warn of bowel obstruction caused by charcoal if patient is not adequately hydrated. So odd.

Apparently, it cures every illness known to man on one site or another, also. :) Sounds great to me! Not.

Charybdis

Post   » Thu Jan 26, 2012 11:01 pm


Yes a lot of homeopathic treatments get people claiming they cure everything.

Both of my exotics vets support the use of small amounts of charcoal, dissolved in water, to treat a gassy pig. And I always advise to syringe some water afterwards. And not give it within several hours of administering other medications, so that it doesn't interfere with them.

I've never researched it and I'm not sure if I first read about using it on here (probably) or from Dr. R. I have been recommending it on here for years, but maybe you missed those threads for some reason? I definitely have not been told by anyone before that it could be harmful, you know how careful I am with that.

Activated charcoal is sold as a gas remedy in the drugstores. It is kept next to the Beano and the main brand I see is Charcocaps. I tried it myself once after a bad taco shop experience and it works amazingly well and quickly. I wish I could give you more information on how exactly it works. If a pig has gas, that is what I give them. But maybe the tiny amount I give isn't enough to cause a reaction?

The reason I recommend it over the Simethicone is because it is supposed to work on lower G.I. gas. The ER vet at PESC told me (after we had to euthanize Scratchy for Torsion) that simethicone works well on the upper G.I. but usually guinea pigs get severe gas in their lower G.I.

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