Guinea pig bloat

Re: Guinea pig bloat

Hannah Wynne Richards — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 11:36:07 GMT

Thanks Vikki I'm another whowill remember this reference

Wynne

Re: Guinea pig bloat

Amanda Magrath — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 11:21:01 GMT

yes good point - the clients were less than impressed with just the consult fee! - I'm sure xraying would have been near impossible!!

The GP was actually not enormously bloated but generally a little "gassy" on palpation, bright, eating well and defacating normally. I've started her on abs, metoclop, recovery sachets and have ordered some surfactant, the owner reports this morning she seems "smaller" and I'm seeing her back in for a check later so fingers crossed!

Thanks again for your help! :-)

Re: Guinea pig bloat

Louise6732 — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 19:31:21 GMT

What good advice Vikk! I've yet to see a GP with bloat but will jot down those notes for when it happens, bound to see one some time!

Louise

Re: Guinea pig bloat

Vikki Halliday LLB — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 18:59:55 GMT

If the client can afford it, then yes would prefer to do imaging, however these animals have a low intrinsic value and clients are less willing to spend on diagnostics due to the cost. I would not have reservations about giving metaclopramide in Guinea pigs without imaging, as I have yet to see one with a true obstruction, although anything is possible!

How did you get on anyway?

Re: Guinea pig bloat

Amanda Magrath — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 17:54:42 GMT

thank you all for your replies, and to Vikki for such a detailed response with very useful images. I would be nervous giving metoclopramide until I had ruled out an obstruction - do you tend to recommend radiographs before giving metoclop?

Re: Guinea pig bloat

Vikki Halliday LLB — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 14:46:14 GMT

Guinea Pigs are prone to intestinal stasis, and can develop secondary bloat due to various microorganisms. We tend to treat ours very aggressively with metoclopramide and Zantac, Infacol (simeticone) which helps to break down the gas bubble surface tension, cover with antibiosis, and also fairly intensive syring feeding with e.g Fibreplex or revcovery diet. We also use the Bio Lapis probiotic sachets in water as this can help re-colonise the gut.

I wouldn't advise deflation as it is isually caecal bloat, and this runs a huge risk of peritonitis, however if it is so large as to be causing vascular or respiratory compromise you may have to take that risk.

GPs are also prone to bladder stones, and other differentials would be ovarian cysts, uterine neoplasia, or pregnancy.

Bloat is the most common, and can be related to age, dental disease, inappropriate diet etc, but sometimes this happens in the youngest, best looked after pigs for no apparent reason.

Gastric bloat in a GP.

Caecal bloat in a GP

Bladder and urethral stones in a GP. The urethral stone was not causing an obstruction, but had slowly dilated the urethra.

This can also cause bloat as a secondary effect.

Recently we have also seen more cases where we suspect caecal pinworms, so a faecal smear may help.

This one from a gerbil, but a similar species can pasasitise Gp's and should respond to Panacur.

Re: Guinea pig bloat

jose targa — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 14:14:51 GMT

I can remember one case...of a ginea pig "breeder" who doesn´t know the problems with the age of the pregnancy in females...and it became an emergency caesarean surgery.

Re: Guinea pig bloat

jose targa — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 14:06:23 GMT

Dear Amanda:

Gastrointestinal problems due to a bad condition (wrong food/fiber%, bad tooth alignement...) often develope low intestinal motility and proliferation of undesirable bacteria (like Clostridium spp.) It´s very important to improve the motility!!!!!!!!! it can be serious!!!!!!.

Good Luck!!

Re: Guinea pig bloat

Michael Woodhouse — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 13:59:27 GMT

If it's female an ovarian cyst?