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Ear infection - won’t take critical care

squeaksandcarrots

squeaksandcarrots

Adult Guinea Pig
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Cocoa got an ear infection about 2 days ago now. She was prescribed an antibiotic yesterday (can’t think of the name now) and meloxicam. She’s taking her meds but I noticed she’s not really eating hay. She eats her veggies and pellets instantly, so I know she’s hungry but I’m confused why she won’t eat hay. I’ve tried giving her critical care many times but she won’t take it however I try to present it.
Overall I have 2 questions: 1) when do piggies start to bounce back to normal/eat normally with ear infections? 2) any other ideas in regards to giving her critical care?
I feel so bad for Cocoa and just want to help her get better asap!
 
I would assume her reduced eating is because of the pain, so you could see a quick improvement from before and after pain medication has been administered.
If not, it just means she is still poorly and you should be looking for gradual increase in appetite through the course of antibiotic she is on.

With support feeding it is/can be really tough. Some pigs love it, some pigs hate it, and it is really hard when a pig is sick and not wanting to eat.
For support feeding there are a couple things you can try, such as making it up in a bowl and allowing her to eat at it herself, perhaps putting it in their cage assuming her cage mate/mates won’t eat it all.
If you are using the big 15ml syringes that are often prescribed with such thing, I find some pigs who are really ill find it too much, so cutting the end off a 1ml syringe big enough to push the feed through works.

Support feeding is really tough, as I found out in the past month. You have to just keep going and offer her every two hours and go from there.
Weighing her daily if not already is a great way to track how she is getting on, and in the future how much critical care you should be feeding.

I will attach the syringe feeding guide incase you haven’t already had a look through - All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Wishing you and cocoa all the best. x
 
Is she getting pain meds and an antibiotic? Meloxicam is an ant-inflammatory used for pain. Syringe feeding critical care is hard. Finding a syringe that works well for you and your piggo helps. Finding one with a tip that easier to get in there tiny little mouths sometimes makes it easier. The syringes the vet gives out some guinea pigs have a hard time with.
 
squeaksandcarrots said:
Cocoa got an ear infection about 2 days ago now. She was prescribed an antibiotic yesterday (can’t think of the name now) and meloxicam. She’s taking her meds but I noticed she’s not really eating hay. She eats her veggies and pellets instantly, so I know she’s hungry but I’m confused why she won’t eat hay. I’ve tried giving her critical care many times but she won’t take it however I try to present it.
Overall I have 2 questions: 1) when do piggies start to bounce back to normal/eat normally with ear infections? 2) any other ideas in regards to giving her critical care?
I feel so bad for Cocoa and just want to help her get better asap!
Click to expand...

Hay is food item which is most usually dropped when a piggy is unwell but given it is 80% of their food intake, not eating it obviously has a huge impact.
This is why you must syringe feed to replace that lost hay intake. Only eating veg and pellets and nothing else means they are not getting enough food and will lose weight.

You will need to be persistent with syringe feeding as she absolutely does need it if she is not eating hay.
Make sure you weigh her at the same time every morning so you can know she is getting enough syringe feed to keep her weight stable in each 24 hour period.

If it is that she doesn’t like critical care, then try a different brand (critical care being a brand name (made by oxbow) rather than a generic word used to describe all recovery feeds). You can also use her normal pellets mushed up. The pellets
are lower in fibre than actual recovery feeds but they have the benefit of having a familiar taste so can often be accepted by piggies easier.
The only thing with pellets is that you would need to cut the tapered end off a syringe to be able to get it through as the mixture is more coarse than most recovery feeds.

What dosage of meloxicom is she on?

Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
 
Hi

Ear infections are extremely painful and radiate into the jaw, which in turn makes the all important chewing of the silicon-rich hay fibre, which keeps the back teeth ground down very painful as well. Unfortunately, you need to persist. Please insert the syringe on the side of the mouth that is not as painful.

How much painkiller and what concentration (cat metacam: 0.5 mg/ml or dog metacam: 1.5 mg/ml) have you been prescribed? It is likely that the dosage is too low for the excruciating pain your piggy is in.
 
Sara’s Piggies said:
Is she getting pain meds and an antibiotic? Meloxicam is an ant-inflammatory used for pain. Syringe feeding critical care is hard. Finding a syringe that works well for you and your piggo helps. Finding one with a tip that easier to get in there tiny little mouths sometimes makes it easier. The syringes the vet gives out some guinea pigs have a hard time with.
Click to expand...
Yes she is currently taking pain meds and an antibiotic. I think I have a syringe with a smaller tip so I'll try that. It's frustrating that she won't take any critical care, I know it'd make her feel better :(
 
Piggies&buns said:
Hay is food item which is most usually dropped when a piggy is unwell but given it is 80% of their food intake, not eating it obviously has a huge impact.
This is why you must syringe feed to replace that lost hay intake. Only eating veg and pellets and nothing else means they are not getting enough food and will lose weight.

You will need to be persistent with syringe feeding as she absolutely does need it if she is not eating hay.
Make sure you weigh her at the same time every morning so you can know she is getting enough syringe feed to keep her weight stable in each 24 hour period.

If it is that she doesn’t like critical care, then try a different brand (critical care being a brand name (made by oxbow) rather than a generic word used to describe all recovery feeds). You can also use her normal pellets mushed up. The pellets
are lower in fibre than actual recovery feeds but they have the benefit of having a familiar taste so can often be accepted by piggies easier.
The only thing with pellets is that you would need to cut the tapered end off a syringe to be able to get it through as the mixture is more coarse than most recovery feeds.

What dosage of meloxicom is she on?

Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
Click to expand...
I will look into the other recovery food brands, thank you. The vets prescribed her to take 0.1 mL of meloxicam
 
Wiebke said:
Hi

Ear infections are extremely painful and radiate into the jaw, which in turn makes the all important chewing of the silicon-rich hay fibre, which keeps the back teeth ground down very painful as well. Unfortunately, you need to persist. Please insert the syringe on the side of the mouth that is not as painful.

How much painkiller and what concentration (cat metacam: 0.5 mg/ml or dog metacam: 1.5 mg/ml) have you been prescribed? It is likely that the dosage is too low for the excruciating pain your piggy is in.
Click to expand...
Oh poor Cocoa :( the vets prescribed her to take 0.1 mL of dog metacam/meloxicam. I thought that this dosage seemed a little low since for a different issue they prescribed her with up to 0.6 mL. Do you think it'd be ok to give her more?
 
Is that 0.1ml once or twice a day? Either way it is low. Ear infections are painful.

We cannot tell you what to give though - only the vet can do that
 
squeaksandcarrots said:
I will look into the other recovery food brands, thank you. The vets prescribed her to take 0.1 mL of meloxicam
Click to expand...

I’d definitely call your vet to ask to increase the dose as that is very low. It’s great she’s eating mushed pellets. I hope she’s soon on the mend.
 
My piggie Bertie had an ear infection. He was on 2 different antibiotics and it took about 3 weeks before he started eating hay with enthusiasm again but he was very poorly. He’d nibble but wasn’t eating enough to maintain weight. He did start eating grass after about 1-2 weeks though alongside the recovery feed. Maybe worth a try if your piggie is used to grass. If not then it needs to be introduced slowly in small amounts. Keep going with the recovery feed or mushed pellets too. Hope for a speedy recovery for your piggie x
 
Now Cocoa won’t eat the mushed pellets and I’m stressed. I don’t know how she took them so quickly last night and now she won’t touch them. I’ve never seen a piggy who dislikes critical care as much as Cocoa does :( I’ve tried syringe feeding her, placing a bowl of the mix next to her, and now spoon feeding her. If only I could quickly buy another recovery food off the shelves but I need to order it online
 
squeaksandcarrots said:
Now Cocoa won’t eat the mushed pellets and I’m stressed. I don’t know how she took them so quickly last night and now she won’t touch them. I’ve never seen a piggy who dislikes critical care as much as Cocoa does :( I’ve tried syringe feeding her, placing a bowl of the mix next to her, and now spoon feeding her. If only I could quickly buy another recovery food off the shelves but I need to order it online
Click to expand...
Your local vet may store different types, you could ask.
There is a high chance she is in a lot of pain, as she is on such a low amount of pain killers for the situation, and that could be stinting her want to eat.

Definitely get in touch with the vet when possible, and for a bit you may have to keep going with the syringe in the mouth. She may dislike it but as long as you can see she is actively swallowing and chewing even a couple ml at a time will be very helpful for your girl.
I wouldn’t call it force feeding, as that isn’t right in any situation and could cause your pig to aspirate, but like assertive feeding.

It may not work for you but a couple years back i had a girl the exact same and unfortunately the only way i kept her alive was by “assertive feeding”, but you know your pig best.
I also just this past month had a boar who needed syringe fed who hated it! the first few days and then suddenly was raring to eat it and would wheek whenever he was near an open packet of it.
 
I just ordered 3 different other recovery foods:
-Oxbow Critical Care Apple/Banana flavor
-Oxbow Fine Grind Papaya Flavor
-Emeraid herbivores
The Oxbow brands will arrive tomorrow but the Emeraid will arrive on Sunday. I will ask my vet about if they have other brands and will buy those if they have others options available. In the meantime I will keep trying to syringe feed her what I have
 
Update. So the new Oxbow brands came today and I immediately tried giving them to Cocoa. She wouldn’t take them. I tried not to force feed but I did get some in her. I’m so frustrated because she needs to eat and she won’t take syringe feeding. Is it really possible for her to dislike all 3 flavors of Oxbow? I’m stumped and don’t know what to do. My poor girl has barely made improvement since Tuesday and I’m so worried about her
 
squeaksandcarrots said:
Update. So the new Oxbow brands came today and I immediately tried giving them to Cocoa. She wouldn’t take them. I tried not to force feed but I did get some in her. I’m so frustrated because she needs to eat and she won’t take syringe feeding. Is it really possible for her to dislike all 3 flavors of Oxbow? I’m stumped and don’t know what to do. My poor girl has barely made improvement since Tuesday and I’m so worried about her
Click to expand...
Try mixing some feed with some pellets soaked in warm water and syringe that; hopefully the more familiar taste will help. Follow the tips on how to prep the syringe tip if it doesn't pass the much rougher fibre pieces from the pellets. Please be prepared that your piggy may not like any food for the simple reason that the pain from ear infection is radiating into the jaw and is making eating and drinking a painful experience. The guide also contains tips with pictures on how to support feed and medicate uncooperative guinea pigs.
You can find all the practical how-to tips in this guide link here: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Are weighing your piggy on your kitchen scales daily first thing in the morning for best day to day comparison so you know how much feed you need to get into her in the next 24 hours? Please be aware that getting food into an
unwilling guinea pig is always a real battle but you have to be tough and push through it.
No medication can work if your piggy is losing too much weight to fight the illness and is starving from lack of feeding. Your home support is as important as any medication, and that means staying hard when getting enough feed and water down a piggy that is not eating enough and especially not at all to get them through the crisis.

All the best!
 
Keep trying. Most piggies hate being syringe fed. Last year I had to syringe feed my Pepper for 8 weeks as he completely lost his appetite while on antibiotics. It was really hard to start with but we both got into a routine with it. I hope she’s soon on the mend but in the meantime you have to support her. Is there anyone who could help? I found it much easier to sit Pepper on my husband’s lap. Good luck.
 
Hi all - I have a good update!
This week went much much better than last week. My dad helped me syringe feed Cocoa and her behavior has improved significantly :) she’s eating, drinking, and starting to act like herself again. She’s not 100% back to normal yet, but she’s getting there. I went to the vet last night for a follow up and Cocoa gained a lot of weight back, which is a good thing! I’m just glad to see her out and about again
 
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