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Emeraid vs oxbow critical care

SallyM79

SallyM79

Junior Guinea Pig
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I have just been to the vet for some advice regarding feeding and medication ahead of my piggies operation. She has stopped eating all other food it seems so need to continue with the critical care- she gained 10g yesterday and has lost 10g today.

I was given Emeraid by the vet in the next town across on Saturday and told to feed 1ml every 2 hours (it is very thin). I have been feeding more than that (approximately 3-4 ml every 2 hours) as she wants it and has more energy with it. I went to my local vet today to get more and they have given oxbow and she hates it (it is very thick compared to Emeraid). This is the only one they supply so I have left some in a dish for her but don't think she will touch it.

I still have some emeraid so will continue with that. I was just about to order more online but just wanted to check if there is any benefit of one over the other? Should I be forcing the Oxbow?

Thanks
 
SallyM79 said:
I have just been to the vet for some advice regarding feeding and medication ahead of my piggies operation. She has stopped eating all other food it seems so need to continue with the critical care- she gained 10g yesterday and has lost 10g today.

I was given Emeraid by the vet in the next town across on Saturday and told to feed 1ml every 2 hours (it is very thin). I have been feeding more than that (approximately 3-4 ml every 2 hours) as she wants it and has more energy with it. I went to my local vet today to get more and they have given oxbow and she hates it (it is very thick compared to Emeraid). This is the only one they supply so I have left some in a dish for her but don't think she will touch it.

I still have some emeraid so will continue with that. I was just about to order more online but just wanted to check if there is any benefit of one over the other? Should I be forcing the Oxbow?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Hi

Oxbow has more timothy/hay fibre content and is generally better for longer term top up support but by far not all piggies like it.

Emeraid goes down better in a life or death emergency situation where your primary aim is to get as much into your piggy as possible to get them through the crisis and into recovery. In my own experience it is much more widely accepted by piggies.

Ultimately, you want to use what your piggy is eating more of when they are feeling unwell. It will make your job that bit easier.

PS: Please be aware that the weight of a guinea pig swings in a ca. 30-40g band over the course of 24 hours. 10g is just the difference between a full bladder and an empty bladder, just to put things into perspective. If you want a reliable day to day comparison, please always weigh at the same time in the feeding cycle. I prefer first thing in the morning when the weight is lowest as the best time to exclude the daily swing as much as possible; this also gives me a good handle on how on which level I need to plan my feeding support for the day.
Our new medicating and feeding support guide contains more very helpful practical tips: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Tips For Post-operative Care

I am keeping my fingers crossed that your piggy will come through the operation well and won't need any or much support feeding care.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi

Oxbow has more timothy/hay fibre content and is generally better for longer term top up support but by far not all piggies like it.

Emeraid goes down better in a life or death emergency situation where your primary aim is to get as much into your piggy as possible to get them through the crisis and into recovery. In my own experience it is much more widely accepted by piggies.

Ultimately, you want to use what your piggy is eating more of when they are feeling unwell. It will make your job that bit easier.

PS: Please be aware that the weight of a guinea pig swings in a ca. 30-40g band over the course of 24 hours. 10g is just the difference between a full bladder and an empty bladder, just to put things into perspective. If you want a reliable day to day comparison, please always weigh at the same time in the feeding cycle. I prefer first thing in the morning when the weight is lowest as the best time to exclude the daily swing as much as possible; this also gives me a good handle on how on which level I need to plan my feeding support for the day.
Our new medicating and feeding support guide contains more very helpful practical tips: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Tips For Post-operative Care
I am keeping my fingers crossed that your piggy will come through the operation well and won't need any or much support feeding care.
Click to expand...
Thank you. That is good to know about the weight swing range as haven't had to daily weigh before. I have been weighing at 1pm each day as that is the time the vet weighed her.

I will read through those guides tonight. I have contacted the vet from Saturday and they have more Emeraid so will go there tonight and pick that up to ensure I have enough for her. She is still quite bright and perky thankfully - I just wish she would eat off her own steam.
 
There are two versions of Emeraid.one is I/C the other is sustain.The sustain version is made with timothy hay and is used for longterm feeding.I believe its very much based ,on what your piggie preferes.mine seem to very much to prefere the Emeraid sustain feed to oxbox critical care.You have been given good advise above.
 
Mine love Oxbow Critical Care, especially the aniseed flavour.
Whenever I’ve put a dish in the cage to supplement syringe feeding all piggy noses are in the dish within seconds
 
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