Hi, my 5.5 year old had some blood in her urine so she is on antibiotics but she is barely eating now. Brought her to the vets today to get a painkiller as she was making noises she was in pain and she isn't eating much so they gave her fluids. I'm giving her all her favourite foods and nothing, she might nibble a bit but not close at all to the amount she normally eats. Any advice or experience with this?
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Bladder infection
- Thread starter Lorettab
- Start date
On top of feeling poorly, antibiotics can upset their tummies. If she isn’t eating hay then you need to step in and syringe feed her to keep her system going. You can also give a probiotic as it can help settle the tummy, or better still, poop soup from a healthy companion.
Weigh her daily to ensure you are getting enough syringe feeds into her.
I will add in some guides below which give further information
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Weigh her daily to ensure you are getting enough syringe feeds into her.
I will add in some guides below which give further information
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Hi!
Has your vet checked for bladder stones, sludge or crystals?
Have they checked for a hard area just above her genitalia in case a stone is blocking the urethra and the urine flow, which can back up into the kidneys?
Please read the information in the links that @Piggies&buns has provided. We can't repeat all the relevant details in every single post; it would take up too much space and time but they contain all the information to give you a chance at keeping your girl alive during this crisis. the last link contains all the tips on how you can improvise in an emergency when you haven't got everything necessary at home.
They don't want to do x-ray just yet but she isn't eating, vet advised to give her cat food from the pouch, has anyone been advised this? I got the critical care in another vets.
Don't
Claire W
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Please do NOT feed cat food. It’s meat and guinea pigs are herbivores. Please feed her the critical care instead
Oh that is awful advice from a vet. Please do not give cat food - it is entirely the wrong type of food for a piggy.
Your piggy needs critical care recovery food or use the piggy’s normal pellets but mush then up with water so you can syringe feed - as per the guides I linked in earlier
I’d also say you might do well to get another vet - any vet who thinks a guinea pig can eat cat food does not know enough about piggies to be dealing with this situation.
Siikibam
Forum Donator 2022/23
I’m shocked at the advise your vet gave you. Where are you located? If U.K., US or Canada we can help you perhaps locate a vet experienced in treating guinea pigs. I wouldn’t go back to them. Or at the very least I would insist they do an x ray. But then again they might not know what they’re looking for.
Hi!
Guinea pigs are herbivores!
If your vet is as bad as this, please see another vet asap and have your girl vet checked for potential stones.
Please use critical care or a mix of mushed up pellets and critical care if your piggy really doesn't like the taste (in the latter case you may need to cut of the very tip of the syringe and if necessary the plunger in order to let the fibre pass through).
Follow the tips in our emergency and crisis care guides; you can find the access link to all the information and practical tips you need when your piggy is very ill via this link here, which you may want to bookmark: Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
We got her critical care from another vet and booked an appointment with a different vet, but she wouldn't eat the critical care. She took a very bad turn and was in pain and wouldn't move, she wasn't herself and hasn't been in days. She dropped soo much weight. We went back to the vet (to the one we like) and it was Cordelias time. I'm devastated 
We got her critical care from another vet and booked an appointment with a different vet, but she wouldn't eat the critical care. She took a very bad turn and was in pain and wouldn't move, she wasn't herself and hasn't been in days. She dropped soo much weight. We went back to the vet (to the one we like) and it was Cordelias time. I'm devastated
BIG HUGS
I am so sorry for your loss. It sounds like a large bladder stone or one that got lodged in the urethra or ureter to me.
You may find these guides here helpful in the coming days and weeks. Please be kind to yourself; you have tried your best!
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children