Soft poop: what the vet said
rshevin - I've been searching around the forums and just read your past thread about GI upset in Piggy.
PC *is* pooping, it's just not normal looking and not as frequent as my others. The vet gave me Reglan so I'm assuming he doesn't believe it would harm her. Should I get an x-ray anyway? Keep this Reglan/Simeth combo up until next Friday's visit?
PC *is* pooping, it's just not normal looking and not as frequent as my others. The vet gave me Reglan so I'm assuming he doesn't believe it would harm her. Should I get an x-ray anyway? Keep this Reglan/Simeth combo up until next Friday's visit?
In guinea pigs, a blockage is not bloat. I suppose it can cause bloat, but it's not the same that we are talking about here. If your girl is pooping at all she's not blocked.
Simethicone is a very benign drug. Giving not enough isn't doing any harm, but then it's not doing very much good, either. I believe that people here have used varying dosages--your vet certainly prescribed more than what's here on GL--
https://www.guinealynx.info/motility.html#simethicone
I think she's louder because she doesn't like the way the vet grabs her tummy!
Simethicone is a very benign drug. Giving not enough isn't doing any harm, but then it's not doing very much good, either. I believe that people here have used varying dosages--your vet certainly prescribed more than what's here on GL--
https://www.guinealynx.info/motility.html#simethicone
I think she's louder because she doesn't like the way the vet grabs her tummy!
somechick,
I'm glad PC is pooping. That's definately a good sign. Before Piggy totally stopped pooping, he had oddly shappen, soft poos that seem to be similar to how you describe PC's.
There was one incidence about a year ago where he started getting funny poos and I aggressively treated with simethicone, 0.2mL 3xday and he returned to normal without becomming blocked. Depending on the concentration your vet gave you, it may or may not be more than is recommended on GL. I gave slightly more than recommended because I noticed 0.1mL wasn't really working. (What, you don't commit all pig medicines, contrations, dosses to memory? Teasing of course. I can't remember that stuff either.)
I do like to give Piggy the simethicone about 30 minutes before a GI stimulant (cisapride in my case). The idea is that something forcing GI movement with gas could be painful. I have NO evidence, scientific or anacdotal, that this is a good idea. It's something I made up but "it seemed like a good idea at the time."
I also agree she doesn't have full bloat. I had a very, very ill rescue pig develop bloat post-tooth trim and it was terrible. I think it's one of those awful things that's so bad you know it immediately when you see it. If you aren't positive, it isn't and that is a good thing.
There's some indication that PLAIN kaopectate can help with soft stools as well (https://www.guinealynx.info/motility.html#kaopectate) but I don't know about your situation. I'd be wary of giving too many meds. Hopefully the reglan will get things moving through correctly.
Try to encourage lots of movement and exercise as well.
I'm glad PC is pooping. That's definately a good sign. Before Piggy totally stopped pooping, he had oddly shappen, soft poos that seem to be similar to how you describe PC's.
There was one incidence about a year ago where he started getting funny poos and I aggressively treated with simethicone, 0.2mL 3xday and he returned to normal without becomming blocked. Depending on the concentration your vet gave you, it may or may not be more than is recommended on GL. I gave slightly more than recommended because I noticed 0.1mL wasn't really working. (What, you don't commit all pig medicines, contrations, dosses to memory? Teasing of course. I can't remember that stuff either.)
I do like to give Piggy the simethicone about 30 minutes before a GI stimulant (cisapride in my case). The idea is that something forcing GI movement with gas could be painful. I have NO evidence, scientific or anacdotal, that this is a good idea. It's something I made up but "it seemed like a good idea at the time."
I also agree she doesn't have full bloat. I had a very, very ill rescue pig develop bloat post-tooth trim and it was terrible. I think it's one of those awful things that's so bad you know it immediately when you see it. If you aren't positive, it isn't and that is a good thing.
There's some indication that PLAIN kaopectate can help with soft stools as well (https://www.guinealynx.info/motility.html#kaopectate) but I don't know about your situation. I'd be wary of giving too many meds. Hopefully the reglan will get things moving through correctly.
Try to encourage lots of movement and exercise as well.
I've used Reglan alone for what your describing and has worked everytime I've used it.
When Tess had a full body xray and it showed that she had a lot of gas, the vet prescribed Cisapride, which she believes is the drug of choice. The problem with Cisapride is that it has to be sent out to a compounding pharmacist which can take a day or two to receive.
When Tess had a full body xray and it showed that she had a lot of gas, the vet prescribed Cisapride, which she believes is the drug of choice. The problem with Cisapride is that it has to be sent out to a compounding pharmacist which can take a day or two to receive.
Cisapride also may (or may not) be somewhat difficult to obtain since it has been withdrawn from the human drug market except in cases of "documented need." Whatever that means. My vet seens a LOT of exotics of all different species so they keep it on hand. I suppose I'm lucky. I have no idea what flavor they compound it with, but that pig sucks that stuff down like candy at Christmas. I can hardly get the syringe back!
Ok. I also called the vet and he said it's definitely not "bloat" as I'm reading it here. He actually thinks her case is quite mild. She's definitely gassy, but he isn't concerned that she's not going to make it or anything. He also said he doesn't think an x-ray is needed becase, like you said lisam, she is pooping so were not dealing with something major.
I'm sure shes louder because the vet is making a balloon out of her sides. Poor thing.
I'll check the concentrate of the Simeth. when I get home. The reason I've only been doing it 2x/day is because I thought his recommendation was high. But maybe PC is REALLY gassy. I'll also try the gas-med then reglan and see if that makes any moves.
And I hope I never HAVE to commit dosing to memory! After this past month I'm done! :)
I'm sure shes louder because the vet is making a balloon out of her sides. Poor thing.
I'll check the concentrate of the Simeth. when I get home. The reason I've only been doing it 2x/day is because I thought his recommendation was high. But maybe PC is REALLY gassy. I'll also try the gas-med then reglan and see if that makes any moves.
And I hope I never HAVE to commit dosing to memory! After this past month I'm done! :)
- Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
Read over the dietary advice on the diarrhea page. Some things will promote gas. You want to avoid them.
www.guinealynx.info/diarrhea.html
www.guinealynx.info/diarrhea.html
Mum said:
"Klynne, I can appreciate your dismay to find that the cure was causing the problem with your pig, but I think it's risky to throw simethicone out of the medicine cabinet."
I posted, above, and prior to, Mum's post:
"Somechick, I would not discontinue Simethicone as directed by a vet; I'd just try to find an alternative brand."
"Klynne, I can appreciate your dismay to find that the cure was causing the problem with your pig, but I think it's risky to throw simethicone out of the medicine cabinet."
I posted, above, and prior to, Mum's post:
"Somechick, I would not discontinue Simethicone as directed by a vet; I'd just try to find an alternative brand."