[Gpdd] (Health) Spooky has diarhoea

[warmbreath]

I am surprised to hear Spooky has diarrhea, not that common in piggies. Have 
they given a cause. It seems to me most likely that it would be either 
parasites or a virulent bacterial infection like pastuerella or bortedella 
(sp) which require antibiotics. The parasite question can usually be handled 
with a test called fecal float.   How old is he and how long had he been 
away from mum? When choosing a probiotic, a people health food store will 
usually have a choice of many, and you want to pick the one that has the 
most different friendly bugs listed, the lactobacillus found in yogurt being 
the most un-needed because piggies dont need to digest milk products. Try to 
pick ones that dont have sweetners esp sorbitol and aspartame added (check 
the baby gas drops below for this too), sorbitol causes gas and diarrhea, so 
the kind that come in capsules would be the best. Give the probiotics on an 
oppositie schedule as the antibiotics i.e., if the antibiotics are given 
twice a day say at noon and midnight, then the probiotic would be at 6 am 
and 6 pm.  Also, I'm sure you know this but make sure the vet isnt giving 
penicillen by mouth, will cause the diahhrea and worse.

It could be his new diet now that he lives with Fugly, allot more veggies, 
so when he recovers he may just need pellets and hay to start, but I cant 
see a diet change causing such a severe case.  It is very good you were able 
to get him to the vet and get sub-Q fluids,  a life saver for sure.  I 
believe that plain kaopectate can be given, and if he has gas, you can give 
baby gas drops the active ingredient being simethicone, be sure to get the 
kind that just say gas, not gas plus diarrhea because the kaopectate is the 
only safe diarrhea medication.  I would also discuss with the vet if short 
course of opiates might be  appropriate, they will stop up a gut really 
fast.

Being in the UK I wonder if you have given Vedra Standley-Spatcher at the 
CCT in Oxford a call for a consultation, her contact info including phone is 
easily Googled. Also be sure to check www.guinealynx.info for acceptable 
antibiotics

You have my fervent hope for a quick and complete recovery, poor little guy. 
I'm sure he is in the best possible hands.
much love, hang tough little guy     Sandy