Dental issues and not eating

[Daisy and Poppy]

Hello everyone, I’m looking for advice from anyone who has experienced a similar situation please. My 3 year old boar, Mango has had 2 dental surgeries in the past 3 weeks and is still struggling to eat on his own. The last procedure was 2 weeks ago. He has been on antibiotics and Metacam. We’ve been syringe feeding him and maintaining his weight while his mouth heals (he had an ulcer caused by a spur). Today I took him to see Kim at The Cat and Rabbit Clinic. She was absolutely amazing with him, checked his molars and filed the incisors down. She advised to stop syringe feeding him so he will try to eat on his own. She also switched him onto Loxicon for the pain and said to stop the antibiotics. He has slightly improved but isn’t eating very much (no hay only leaves and a couple of pellets). The only thing that seems to interest him is his cage mates poops (due to the antibiotics I presume). I’m really worried that he’s going to lose weight (or worse) without support feeding. How long do I leave him to try on his own? It’s absolutely heartbreaking to see him struggling so much still. Any input from fellow piggy parents would be so helpful and comforting.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear this.

I too would be concerned about not syringe feeding. Our advice is never that you stop syringe feeding to encourage them to eat. It is always syringe feed until they refuse to syringe feed feed because a piggy who can eat hay will eat hay.
You could perhaps not feed tonight and see what happens with his weight tomorrow morning and then review, but you don’t want him to go into stasis.

Just so you know metacam and loxicom is the same thing - contains the same active ingredient just under a different brand name

 

[Daisy and Poppy]

I’m sorry to hear this.

I too would be concerned about not syringe feeding. Our advice is never that you stop syringe feeding to encourage them to eat. It is always syringe feed until they refuse to syringe feed feed because a piggy who can eat hay will eat hay.
You could perhaps not feed tonight and see what happens with his weight tomorrow morning and then review, but you don’t want him to go into stasis.

Just so you know metacam and loxicom is the same thing - contains the same active ingredient just under a different brand name

Thank you for the reply. This seems a reasonable thing to do and was along the lines of my thought process too.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

I tend to give around 10 mls of syringe food and then offer some grass or finely chopped veggies/salad leaves. In that way you aren’t filling them up with syringe food, but you are just giving enough to spark an interest in eating xx

 

[Daisy and Poppy]

I tend to give around 10 mls of syringe food and then offer some grass or finely chopped veggies/salad leaves. In that way you aren’t filling them up with syringe food, but you are just giving enough to spark an interest in eating xx

That is excellent, thank you so much!

 

[cortney]

Hello everyone, I’m looking for advice from anyone who has experienced a similar situation please. My 3 year old boar, Mango has had 2 dental surgeries in the past 3 weeks and is still struggling to eat on his own. The last procedure was 2 weeks ago. He has been on antibiotics and Metacam. We’ve been syringe feeding him and maintaining his weight while his mouth heals (he had an ulcer caused by a spur). Today I took him to see Kim at The Cat and Rabbit Clinic. She was absolutely amazing with him, checked his molars and filed the incisors down. She advised to stop syringe feeding him so he will try to eat on his own. She also switched him onto Loxicon for the pain and said to stop the antibiotics. He has slightly improved but isn’t eating very much (no hay only leaves and a couple of pellets). The only thing that seems to interest him is his cage mates poops (due to the antibiotics I presume). I’m really worried that he’s going to lose weight (or worse) without support feeding. How long do I leave him to try on his own? It’s absolutely heartbreaking to see him struggling so much still. Any input from fellow piggy parents would be so helpful and comforting.

I would syringe feed. Given he likes his cage mates poops. Have you tried poop soup! I believe it was here i found out about poop soup yes eww. Take poop fresh ones, from healthy guinea pig mush up, and you can mix it with critical care syringe feed and it helps honestly. I didn't believe it but it did for all of mine.

Mine also like critical care meatballs no not meat in them just really dense critical care mounded up in little balls and they nibble it. I also put some pellets in the mounds so porcupine mounds
I also would offer hay by hand or sigh its work, .....ok get bits of romaine lettuce put hay in it roll up like a little burrito and put in mouth mine took it this way then realized they wanted hay weirdos.....Also chop up hay and wet it sometimes it being crunchy they don't like it it but it gets them started.

Yes i have had many times them not eating, etc so i have done many imaginative things to get them to eat like little piece of lettuce slip hay in side of mouth they eat it.

You are doing very well and i hope he starts to come around a bit.

 

[Daisy and Poppy]

I would syringe feed. Given he likes his cage mates poops. Have you tried poop soup! I believe it was here i found out about poop soup yes eww. Take poop fresh ones, from healthy guinea pig mush up, and you can mix it with critical care syringe feed and it helps honestly. I didn't believe it but it did for all of mine.

Mine also like critical care meatballs no not meat in them just really dense critical care mounded up in little balls and they nibble it. I also put some pellets in the mounds so porcupine mounds
I also would offer hay by hand or sigh its work, .....ok get bits of romaine lettuce put hay in it roll up like a little burrito and put in mouth mine took it this way then realized they wanted hay weirdos.....Also chop up hay and wet it sometimes it being crunchy they don't like it it but it gets them started.

Yes i have had many times them not eating, etc so i have done many imaginative things to get them to eat like little piece of lettuce slip hay in side of mouth they eat it.

You are doing very well and i hope he starts to come around a bit.

This has been so helpful, thank you very much! The burrito hay is the most ingenious suggestion and has so far worked a charm. It seems that patience and persistence really is the key here x

 

[cortney]

This has been so helpful, thank you very much! The burrito hay is the most ingenious suggestion and has so far worked a charm. It seems that patience and persistence really is the key here x

Glad it worked lol. i got very imaginative with hand feeding. My vet actually looked stunned when i showed her,and said well that is dedication. lol Hope things are getting better and i also swear by poop soup too!