Soft Stool/Squeaking and Straining While Pooing
Ech - i wonder if, in the meantime, you could gently wrap her in a towel and put her on her back. On your lap.
If the vet said that is how a long string of poop came out, maybe you could relieve some of the back-up that way?
I'm out of ideas
If the vet said that is how a long string of poop came out, maybe you could relieve some of the back-up that way?
I'm out of ideas
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Ech90
- Supporter in '13
Okay, so Buttercup basically has three main things: pain, soft stools, and cataracts. While we are pretty much still at square one and don't know what is causing all of her issues, what today accomplished is that we now know that it is not structural and it is not associated with any bladder stones. We also found out that she has cataracts. Apparently Buttercup is an extremely unique and unusual case, and her vet wants to talk to some other vets and get their opinions.
Pain:
The ultrasound did not show a mass or anything constricting Buttercup’s colon, and what they saw in the radiographs was likely just a lot of feces in her colon. They don’t see anything structurally or mechanically that is causing an issue; it is possible that it is something in the nerves or some sort of inflammation that is causing her pain when going to the bathroom.
So, the current plan is to start her on pain medication and see if that helps at all. If not, when she goes in for a recheck next week, we will do bloodwork to see if we can start her on an anti-inflammatory medication.
Soft stools:
It’s possible that there is something farther up in her GI tract that is causing her to not really absorb a lot of the food and nutrients that she is taking in. There could be a genetic reason that she is not producing a lot of the enzymes and other things needed to absorb vitamins in her GI tract appropriately, and it could be some sort of endocrine issue where she’s not processing everything correctly, which would make sense with her being smaller and her growth stunted compared to other pigs.
They see something similar to that a lot of times in cats – where they have a B12 deficiency because their body is not able to absorb it completely, and they start having softer stools, diarrhea, etc. So, he has given her a shot of vitamin B12, which will last in her system for about 2 weeks. If we see her responding a little bit over the next week with improvement in her stools, then we will continue it for another cycle to see if it is really helping.
Cataracts:
They had the ophthalmologist look at Buttercup’s eyes and found that she has cataracts growing in both eyes. There are only a few things that really cause cataracts in younger animals: endocrine diseases, such as diabetes, or some sort of congenital issue. Given her age, he is leaning more towards some sort of congenital or genetic component that she has had since birth, but it is hard to piece out exactly what is going on. For now the cataracts don’t seem to be affecting her vision or causing any other issues, but it is something we should keep an eye on in the future.
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I have extremely bad news about Piggy. She is now having soft stools as well. Seriously. I had suspicions that she was having them yesterday but I couldn't be sure and wanted *so* badly for them to be Buttercup's. Well, Buttercup was at the vet all day and there were still fresh, mushy poos being laid in the cage, so I know 100% that they are Piggy's. I don't know why this is happening. There have been no new changes to the diet, no excess veggies, no changes at all. It is like someone is playing a sick joke on me. Ugh.
Pain:
The ultrasound did not show a mass or anything constricting Buttercup’s colon, and what they saw in the radiographs was likely just a lot of feces in her colon. They don’t see anything structurally or mechanically that is causing an issue; it is possible that it is something in the nerves or some sort of inflammation that is causing her pain when going to the bathroom.
So, the current plan is to start her on pain medication and see if that helps at all. If not, when she goes in for a recheck next week, we will do bloodwork to see if we can start her on an anti-inflammatory medication.
Soft stools:
It’s possible that there is something farther up in her GI tract that is causing her to not really absorb a lot of the food and nutrients that she is taking in. There could be a genetic reason that she is not producing a lot of the enzymes and other things needed to absorb vitamins in her GI tract appropriately, and it could be some sort of endocrine issue where she’s not processing everything correctly, which would make sense with her being smaller and her growth stunted compared to other pigs.
They see something similar to that a lot of times in cats – where they have a B12 deficiency because their body is not able to absorb it completely, and they start having softer stools, diarrhea, etc. So, he has given her a shot of vitamin B12, which will last in her system for about 2 weeks. If we see her responding a little bit over the next week with improvement in her stools, then we will continue it for another cycle to see if it is really helping.
Cataracts:
They had the ophthalmologist look at Buttercup’s eyes and found that she has cataracts growing in both eyes. There are only a few things that really cause cataracts in younger animals: endocrine diseases, such as diabetes, or some sort of congenital issue. Given her age, he is leaning more towards some sort of congenital or genetic component that she has had since birth, but it is hard to piece out exactly what is going on. For now the cataracts don’t seem to be affecting her vision or causing any other issues, but it is something we should keep an eye on in the future.
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I have extremely bad news about Piggy. She is now having soft stools as well. Seriously. I had suspicions that she was having them yesterday but I couldn't be sure and wanted *so* badly for them to be Buttercup's. Well, Buttercup was at the vet all day and there were still fresh, mushy poos being laid in the cage, so I know 100% that they are Piggy's. I don't know why this is happening. There have been no new changes to the diet, no excess veggies, no changes at all. It is like someone is playing a sick joke on me. Ugh.
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Ech90
- Supporter in '13
couchon - No, Buttercup is not spayed. However, I don't think that there is any pattern to her stools that can be linked to a hormonal cycle.
Lynx - I think that the blood tests would show if there was anything wrong with her liver or kidneys, but I don't know if the liver or kidneys have anything to do with things being absorbed properly. Her coat of hair is so silky and shiny (in fact, I've wondered before if she is a Silkie breed of guinea pig? Her coat is just so much silkier and shinier than Piggy's, whose coat is very matte and a little bit more coarse). Other than her poo issues and newly discovered cataracts, she looks very healthy. I think that is part of the reason why her vets are so confused by her case.
To add to the confusion...this morning everyone's (both Piggy's and Buttercup's) stools were normal! I don't know what is going on. I don't want to jinx it because this has happened before and her poos have gone back to being their normal, awful selves the very next day, but could this be the vitamin B12 shot working? And maybe Piggy's brief bout of soft stool was completely unrelated to her? Who knows at this point.
Here is Buttercup laying next to a perfect stool that she produced.
[/b]
Lynx - I think that the blood tests would show if there was anything wrong with her liver or kidneys, but I don't know if the liver or kidneys have anything to do with things being absorbed properly. Her coat of hair is so silky and shiny (in fact, I've wondered before if she is a Silkie breed of guinea pig? Her coat is just so much silkier and shinier than Piggy's, whose coat is very matte and a little bit more coarse). Other than her poo issues and newly discovered cataracts, she looks very healthy. I think that is part of the reason why her vets are so confused by her case.
To add to the confusion...this morning everyone's (both Piggy's and Buttercup's) stools were normal! I don't know what is going on. I don't want to jinx it because this has happened before and her poos have gone back to being their normal, awful selves the very next day, but could this be the vitamin B12 shot working? And maybe Piggy's brief bout of soft stool was completely unrelated to her? Who knows at this point.
Here is Buttercup laying next to a perfect stool that she produced.
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Ech90
- Supporter in '13
Soft stools are back. I sent her vet this email last night:
Buttercup had good poos all day on Thursday, mushy misshapen ones on Friday, and good ones again on Saturday. Additionally, the Tramadol seems to be helping somewhat. Although I still see her straining and squeaking while passing stool, it seems to be less frequently and with less intensity than before. There were even a few times that I saw a nice, normal looking poo slip out of her butt so effortlessly as she was walking around. It is a rare occurrence, but I have seen her do this a few times. This only happens on the days that she has good stools. However, there have still been some loud squeaks and large strains/ear flapping while pooing over the past few days.
Since you first saw her on February 15th, I have kept track of all of the days that she has had good stools. They are 2/20, 2/25, 2/27, 3/02, 3/07, 3/22, and 3/24. On these days, every single stool is completely normal looking both in shape and size. They might be the tiniest bit soft, but they are drastically firmer than her usual stools. She seems to be in less pain.
Each time the good stools last for only for one day, never any longer. There is never any transition, either at the onset or offset. On the good stool days her stools are all good; on the bad stool days her stools are all bad. There's no in between. These good stool days just confound me.
I think that I have to bring Piggy back in as well. She has a very small amount of hair loss underneath her left eye, and I fear that it is because whatever is on her nose has spread. When I bring Buttercup in next week, do you think it would be better to have her be a day case instead? If not, I am going to try to schedule Piggy's appointment either for directly before or directly after hers.
It will be interesting to see what he writes back.
Buttercup had good poos all day on Thursday, mushy misshapen ones on Friday, and good ones again on Saturday. Additionally, the Tramadol seems to be helping somewhat. Although I still see her straining and squeaking while passing stool, it seems to be less frequently and with less intensity than before. There were even a few times that I saw a nice, normal looking poo slip out of her butt so effortlessly as she was walking around. It is a rare occurrence, but I have seen her do this a few times. This only happens on the days that she has good stools. However, there have still been some loud squeaks and large strains/ear flapping while pooing over the past few days.
Since you first saw her on February 15th, I have kept track of all of the days that she has had good stools. They are 2/20, 2/25, 2/27, 3/02, 3/07, 3/22, and 3/24. On these days, every single stool is completely normal looking both in shape and size. They might be the tiniest bit soft, but they are drastically firmer than her usual stools. She seems to be in less pain.
Each time the good stools last for only for one day, never any longer. There is never any transition, either at the onset or offset. On the good stool days her stools are all good; on the bad stool days her stools are all bad. There's no in between. These good stool days just confound me.
I think that I have to bring Piggy back in as well. She has a very small amount of hair loss underneath her left eye, and I fear that it is because whatever is on her nose has spread. When I bring Buttercup in next week, do you think it would be better to have her be a day case instead? If not, I am going to try to schedule Piggy's appointment either for directly before or directly after hers.
It will be interesting to see what he writes back.
Gah! I feel your frustration. There is no rhyme or reason sometimes, Ech. You are a good pig mom and are doing everything right. Keep it up and maybe those good poo days will become more frequent.
My Zoey has been having lovely poos for the past few days again. *furiously knocks wood* Perfect little things, they are. Just like a "normal" pig! I can pick them right up and throw them away. NO mush. It's so strange how happy a nice poo can make you feel after what we've been going through, isn't it??
Don't know how or why things are looking so good, but I don't care...just glad to see it!
More good thoughts being sent for you guys.
My Zoey has been having lovely poos for the past few days again. *furiously knocks wood* Perfect little things, they are. Just like a "normal" pig! I can pick them right up and throw them away. NO mush. It's so strange how happy a nice poo can make you feel after what we've been going through, isn't it??
Don't know how or why things are looking so good, but I don't care...just glad to see it!
More good thoughts being sent for you guys.
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Ech90
- Supporter in '13
I think that I have a problem with flies in my room and I desperately need advice.
It started last weekend. It was very warm outside and campus housing had not yet turned on the air conditioning. I decided to open up a window even though none of the windows have screens in them. I figured that bugs wouldn't be a problem because I live high up on the 18th floor. That night I noticed a fly in my room. This was the first time there had ever been a fly in my room all year, I figured that its appearance had to be related to my opening the window earlier in the day. I decided to never open the window again.
There was only that one little fly. It took me a few days to finally kill it, but I felt very satisfied once it was done. I figured that was it.
Two days later there was another little fly flying around. I had no idea where a second fly could have come from. I convinced myself that the first fly had somehow revived itself and come back to life. I was able to kill the fly pretty quickly this time, and once again I thought that there would be no more flies.
This has basically repeated itself 3 more times. I will see one single fly. During the day or so it takes me to kill it, it is the only fly I see. Once it is dead, I think that I am fly free. Anywhere from a hours to a few days later, another one will reappear. By now I realize that this is not the first fly being reincarnated a million times, but I don't know where they are coming from. There isn't a huge infestation of them - I only see them one at a time.
I have been telling myself that seeing one fly every few days isn't that big of a problem, and it wouldn't be, if it were just me. However, today I saw a fly actually inside the guinea pig cage, sitting on top of a piece of hay. I looked up "flies near guinea pigs" on google and something came up about flystrike. I almost threw up. I am now panicking. I can deal with many things but there are three things that just fill me with sheer terror: external and internal parasites, worms, and maggots. Flystrike is like all three phobias combined. It is my worst nightmare.
If Piggy or Buttercup were to get flystrike, I would not be able to handle it. I already feel like I am barely keeping my head above water with the diarrhea and fungus. Flystrike cannot occur. I would literally shut down. I am trying to take deep breaths and calm myself, but I cannot get that image of flystrike out of my head. It is so upsetting. I need someone to reassure me that either that flystrike will not occur or how to prevent it. I need someone to tell me that these flies are not my fault and that it's not because I don't keep their cage clean enough. I need someone to tell me that I can handle all of these illnesses because I've been increasingly feeling that I can't. Lastly, I need someone to tell me that I do take good care of Piggy and Buttercup, because sometimes it feels like their problems are all my fault. I would ask my vet to tell me all of these things, but he already thinks that I am a completely neurotic nutcase because of all of the poop pictures and videos that I am constantly taking.
It started last weekend. It was very warm outside and campus housing had not yet turned on the air conditioning. I decided to open up a window even though none of the windows have screens in them. I figured that bugs wouldn't be a problem because I live high up on the 18th floor. That night I noticed a fly in my room. This was the first time there had ever been a fly in my room all year, I figured that its appearance had to be related to my opening the window earlier in the day. I decided to never open the window again.
There was only that one little fly. It took me a few days to finally kill it, but I felt very satisfied once it was done. I figured that was it.
Two days later there was another little fly flying around. I had no idea where a second fly could have come from. I convinced myself that the first fly had somehow revived itself and come back to life. I was able to kill the fly pretty quickly this time, and once again I thought that there would be no more flies.
This has basically repeated itself 3 more times. I will see one single fly. During the day or so it takes me to kill it, it is the only fly I see. Once it is dead, I think that I am fly free. Anywhere from a hours to a few days later, another one will reappear. By now I realize that this is not the first fly being reincarnated a million times, but I don't know where they are coming from. There isn't a huge infestation of them - I only see them one at a time.
I have been telling myself that seeing one fly every few days isn't that big of a problem, and it wouldn't be, if it were just me. However, today I saw a fly actually inside the guinea pig cage, sitting on top of a piece of hay. I looked up "flies near guinea pigs" on google and something came up about flystrike. I almost threw up. I am now panicking. I can deal with many things but there are three things that just fill me with sheer terror: external and internal parasites, worms, and maggots. Flystrike is like all three phobias combined. It is my worst nightmare.
If Piggy or Buttercup were to get flystrike, I would not be able to handle it. I already feel like I am barely keeping my head above water with the diarrhea and fungus. Flystrike cannot occur. I would literally shut down. I am trying to take deep breaths and calm myself, but I cannot get that image of flystrike out of my head. It is so upsetting. I need someone to reassure me that either that flystrike will not occur or how to prevent it. I need someone to tell me that these flies are not my fault and that it's not because I don't keep their cage clean enough. I need someone to tell me that I can handle all of these illnesses because I've been increasingly feeling that I can't. Lastly, I need someone to tell me that I do take good care of Piggy and Buttercup, because sometimes it feels like their problems are all my fault. I would ask my vet to tell me all of these things, but he already thinks that I am a completely neurotic nutcase because of all of the poop pictures and videos that I am constantly taking.
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bpatters
- And got the T-shirt
What kind of flies are they? I get periodic infestations of flies in the pantry that come in with cereal boxes, but they look very different from regular old black house flies.
You can buy sticky strips that will catch flies at any hardware store. You could hang them around the cage, but I don't know how effective they'd be or how many you'd have to have to make a difference.
You can buy sticky strips that will catch flies at any hardware store. You could hang them around the cage, but I don't know how effective they'd be or how many you'd have to have to make a difference.
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