emergency syringe feeding help

[piggiemummy03x]

my della has suddenly gone down hill in less than 12 hours not eating, drinking and just sat in the corner of her cage ruffled up.. was completely fine last night and this morning!? we have science selective recovery plus to feed but cant work out how much she needs as vet advised given 1-2ml a sitting but here says 5-10ml?! I'm freaking out i dont want to give her too little and her go into statis…

 

[weepweeps]

Oh no I’m so sorry to hear this. What I would do is get as much as I can into her this evening and then weigh her tomorrow morning before any food. Once you have this weight, then you feed often throughout the day. Then the next day you weigh again in the morning before food. If she has lost weight you feed more. If she is stable you feed the same. I had a piggy that needed about 100ml of recovery feed a day as he wasn’t eating for himself at all.

Why has she stopped eating? What is the diagnosis? Good luck.

 

[weepweeps]

All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

 

[piggiemummy03x]

Oh no I’m so sorry to hear this. What I would do is get as much as I can into her this evening and then weigh her tomorrow morning before any food. Once you have this weight, then you feed often throughout the day. Then the next day you weigh again in the morning before food. If she has lost weight you feed more. If she is stable you feed the same. I had a piggy that needed about 100ml of recovery feed a day as he wasn’t eating for himself at all.

Why has she stopped eating? What is the diagnosis? Good luck.

its so out of the blue no warning at all so its a huge shock, she greeted me for morning wake up song and pea flake like normal and didn’t notice anything then. again when i put on her cream around 10am completely fine (flamazine or something for urine burns) then i come down to find her like i described in the post yes i will keep on weighing her and keep an eye on it, we just managed 3ml of it first feed but she hates it tried to give her a pea flake and she tried to eat it but couldn’t which still makes me think its a teeth issue…

there isnt a diagnosis, vet checked her over everything fine, teeth checked couldn’t see a problem no sores or cuts in her mouth indicating a tooth issue.. its a mystery honestly.
thankyou x

 

[weepweeps]

What I find is that when you start to syringe feed you get a few mls in. But the longer you keep feeding then you get more confident and they take more and more. So keep trying. Also after a syringe feed offer a pile of hay as it can kick start their appetite to eat for themselves.

 

[piggiemummy03x]

What I find is that when you start to syringe feed you get a few mls in. But the longer you keep feeding then you get more confident and they take more and more. So keep trying. Also after a syringe feed offer a pile of hay as it can kick start their appetite to eat for themselves.

thanks so much

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m so sorry to hear this.

Offer as much as she will take in each sitting - there isn’t a set amount (it’s just that only taking 5-10ml indicates a total loss of appetite).

In a total loss situation, 40ml is the absolute minimum per 24 hours to prevent stasis.

I hope she is ok

 

[piggiemummy03x]

I’m so sorry to hear this.

Offer as much as she will take in each sitting - there isn’t a set amount (it’s just that only taking 5-10ml indicates a total loss of appetite).

In a total loss situation, 40ml is the absolute minimum per 24 hours to prevent stasis.

I hope she is ok

she puts up a fight at the first syringe so getting three in was a big achievement, got a feeling ill be up most of the night getting it in her.. because shes only had 3ml should i try another 3 ml after an hour or keep it at 2 hour intervals and just try to feed more? she wont take ANY water from syringe I'm hoping the water in the feed will be enough for now..

thankyou so much x

 

[Wheekallweek]

Poor baby hope she's feeling better soon!

 

[piggiemummy03x]

Poor baby hope she's feeling better soon!

thankyou

 

[Wiebke]

my della has suddenly gone down hill in less than 12 hours not eating, drinking and just sat in the corner of her cage ruffled up.. was completely fine last night and this morning!? we have science selective recovery plus to feed but cant work out how much she needs as vet advised given 1-2ml a sitting but here says 5-10ml?! I'm freaking out i dont want to give her too little and her go into statis…

Hi

I am very sorry. Please for ideally 60 ml in 24 hours (a minimum of 40 ml if you really struggle).

You adjust the frequency of feeds to how much you can get into Della in a session; it can range from having to fight for for every millilitre in the very weak. What you are replacing is not the veg and pellets (which make around 20% of the daily food intake but the hay/grass, which makes over three quarters of what a piggy is eating in a day. You can put 25 ml of water in a glass and see how little that is by yourself!
Vets not familiar with guinea pigs sadly tend to massively underestimate/ignore the crucial hay volume.

As close to 5-10 ml (plus additional water offered between feeds): every two hours during the day and once during the night).
10-15 ml (4-5 feeds plus extra water offered) between getting up und just before you go to sleep (make sure that you get 6 hours for yourself)
15 ml + (2-3 feeds daily during your waking hours), depending on how much she is starting to eat and drink on her own; manage transition by weighing first thing in the morning.

This guide here is also very helpful in understanding health monitoring and how to manage the various levels of syringe feeding:
Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support

If Della starts to struggle against the syringe well in excess to her weakening strength or she struggles to swallow (please never give more than 0.1 ml or one tenth of a small syringe) to a very weak piggy and always wait until feed and water have gone down before giving more), then you may unfortunately face the fact that her body is closing down.
Not your fault; it can happen without warning in seemingly healthy piggies out of the blue at any age. You haven't missed anything because there wasn't anything you could miss.

I am sincerely wishing that the guide links below won't become necessary but here is more step by step guidance in case you need it if it comes to the very worst. A looming night and a weekend is always extra stressful. Please don't hesitate to contact an out-of-hours vet/24 hours clinic.
Is my guinea pig dying?
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

I am keeping my fingers very firmly crossed for Della and you!

 

[piggiemummy03x]

Hi

I am very sorry. Please for ideally 60 ml in 24 hours (a minimum of 40 ml if you really struggle).

You adjust the frequency of feeds to how much you can get into Della in a session; it can range from having to fight for for every millilitre in the very weak. What you are replacing is not the veg and pellets (which make around 20% of the daily food intake but the hay/grass, which makes over three quarters of what a piggy is eating in a day. You can put 25 ml of water in a glass and see how little that is by yourself!
Vets not familiar with guinea pigs sadly tend to massively underestimate/ignore the crucial hay volume.

As close to 5-10 ml (plus additional water offered between feeds): every two hours during the day and once during the night).
10-15 ml (4-5 feeds plus extra water offered) between getting up und just before you go to sleep (make sure that you get 6 hours for yourself)
15 ml + (2-3 feeds daily during your waking hours), depending on how much she is starting to eat and drink on her own; manage transition by weighing first thing in the morning.

This guide here is also very helpful in understanding health monitoring and how to manage the various levels of syringe feeding:
Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support

If Della starts to struggle against the syringe well in excess to her weakening strength or she struggles to swallow (please never give more than 0.1 ml or one tenth of a small syringe) to a very weak piggy and always wait until feed and water have gone down before giving more), then you may unfortunately face the fact that her body is closing down.
Not your fault; it can happen without warning in seemingly healthy piggies out of the blue at any age. You haven't missed anything because there wasn't anything you could miss.

I am sincerely wishing that the guide links below won't become necessary but here is more step by step guidance in case you need it if it comes to the very worst. A looming night and a weekend is always extra stressful. Please don't hesitate to contact an out-of-hours vet/24 hours clinic.
Is my guinea pig dying?
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

I am keeping my fingers very firmly crossed for Della and you!

60 full 1ml syringes a day?! i don’t understand how its so much i could barely give her 3ml

my vet is good with pigs though so i don’t understand why she said so little

thanks for the guide! I'm going to be up all night as i dont know when she stopped she wont take any water at all.

 

[piggiemummy03x]

Hi

I am very sorry. Please for ideally 60 ml in 24 hours (a minimum of 40 ml if you really struggle).

You adjust the frequency of feeds to how much you can get into Della in a session; it can range from having to fight for for every millilitre in the very weak. What you are replacing is not the veg and pellets (which make around 20% of the daily food intake but the hay/grass, which makes over three quarters of what a piggy is eating in a day. You can put 25 ml of water in a glass and see how little that is by yourself!
Vets not familiar with guinea pigs sadly tend to massively underestimate/ignore the crucial hay volume.

As close to 5-10 ml (plus additional water offered between feeds): every two hours during the day and once during the night).
10-15 ml (4-5 feeds plus extra water offered) between getting up und just before you go to sleep (make sure that you get 6 hours for yourself)
15 ml + (2-3 feeds daily during your waking hours), depending on how much she is starting to eat and drink on her own; manage transition by weighing first thing in the morning.

This guide here is also very helpful in understanding health monitoring and how to manage the various levels of syringe feeding:
Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support

If Della starts to struggle against the syringe well in excess to her weakening strength or she struggles to swallow (please never give more than 0.1 ml or one tenth of a small syringe) to a very weak piggy and always wait until feed and water have gone down before giving more), then you may unfortunately face the fact that her body is closing down.
Not your fault; it can happen without warning in seemingly healthy piggies out of the blue at any age. You haven't missed anything because there wasn't anything you could miss.

I am sincerely wishing that the guide links below won't become necessary but here is more step by step guidance in case you need it if it comes to the very worst. A looming night and a weekend is always extra stressful. Please don't hesitate to contact an out-of-hours vet/24 hours clinic.
Is my guinea pig dying?
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

I am keeping my fingers very firmly crossed for Della and you!

I'm in tears her body cant just shut down like this with no warning please

 

[Merab]

Holding you in my heart

 

[Wiebke]

60 full 1ml syringes a day?! i don’t understand how its so much i could barely give her 3ml

my vet is good with pigs though so i don’t understand why she said so little

thanks for the guide! I'm going to be up all night as i dont know when she stopped she wont take any water at all.

HUGS

Just keep on trying but be aware that if she grows too weak or struggles too much, she may no longer be able to process any food.

It is going to be a sleepless, anxious and lonely night for you. My heart aching is for you, having been there myself often enough.

Please be honest with yourself if Della is losing her fight but also keep in mind that it is not because you haven't tried or because you have done anything wrong. There are times when a piggy's much faster metabolism can suddenly turn against them.
It is brutal for us who love them so much to be unable to stop it from happening but there are sadly things beyond our power and our willingness to turn things around by sheer willpower alone.

Hang on in there as much as you can but stay realistic, as heartbreaking as that can be.

 

[piggiemummy03x]

HUGS

Just keep on trying but be aware that if she grows too weak or struggles too much, she may no longer be able to process any food.

It is going to be a sleepless, anxious and lonely night for you. My heart aching is for you, having been there myself often enough.

Please be honest with yourself if Della is losing her fight but also keep in mind that it is not because you haven't tried or because you have done anything wrong. There are times when a piggy's much faster metabolism can suddenly turn against them.
It is brutal for us who love them so much to be unable to stop it from happening but there are sadly things beyond our power and our willingness to turn things around by sheer willpower alone.

Hang on in there as much as you can but stay realistic, as heartbreaking as that can be.

thankyou so much, sorry i am very emotional right now. we have just managed a 4ml feed but not a lot of water; I'm going to do more feeds little and often. so far shes had 7ml, i am using 10am tomorrow morning as my ‘24 hour guide’ so i need 33ml more by 10 tomorrow..

 

[piggiemummy03x]

HUGS

Just keep on trying but be aware that if she grows too weak or struggles too much, she may no longer be able to process any food.

It is going to be a sleepless, anxious and lonely night for you. My heart aching is for you, having been there myself often enough.

Please be honest with yourself if Della is losing her fight but also keep in mind that it is not because you haven't tried or because you have done anything wrong. There are times when a piggy's much faster metabolism can suddenly turn against them.
It is brutal for us who love them so much to be unable to stop it from happening but there are sadly things beyond our power and our willingness to turn things around by sheer willpower alone.

Hang on in there as much as you can but stay realistic, as heartbreaking as that can be.

she was given a pain med injection at the vets just working out when best to give her more pain meds as dont want to over do it! got to give her pain relief and some gut meds ‘before bed’ i was told. i am aiming for 11pm tonight. both injections (pain meds and emeprid) given around 6.30pm this evening

 

[piggiemummy03x]

she was given a pain med injection at the vets just working out when best to give her more pain meds as dont want to over do it! got to give her pain relief and some gut meds ‘before bed’ i was told. i am aiming for 11pm tonight. both injections (pain meds and emeprid) given around 6.30pm this evening

was told i can give metacam again (but not sure on dosing) tonight - gave her 0.2ml 1.20 pm this afternoon before vets, normally dose is 0.3ml but that was when she weighed 1kg now shes about 950g so i dropped it and forgot to ask at vets. was told i can hold off gabapenin tonight and start tomorrow unless i feel she needs but she just looks in pain then her cisapride tonight too

 

[Wiebke]

she was given a pain med injection at the vets just working out when best to give her more pain meds as dont want to over do it! got to give her pain relief and some gut meds ‘before bed’ i was told. i am aiming for 11pm tonight. both injections (pain meds and emeprid) given around 6.30pm this evening

All the best!

You cannot overdose on that metacam dose so it is OK to give in that dosage so soon again in an extreme case; normally we recommend every 12 hours in an emergency and once daily for long term use.

Emeprid is normally about every 8 hours but 6 hours are OK in a pinch.

 

[piggiemummy03x]

All the best!

You cannot overdose on that metacam dose so it is OK to give in that dosage so soon again in an extreme case; normally we recommend every 12 hours in an emergency and once daily for long term use.

Emeprid is normally about every 8 hours but 6 hours are OK in a pinch.

i didn’t know wether to give her the .3 like i normally would as i keep hearing its hard to overdoes on this but was worried as i was maybe going to give her the gabapentin too.. its so hard knowing whats right! really appreciate you replying to me i feel less alone xx

 

[piggiemummy03x]

All the best!

You cannot overdose on that metacam dose so it is OK to give in that dosage so soon again in an extreme case; normally we recommend every 12 hours in an emergency and once daily for long term use.

Emeprid is normally about every 8 hours but 6 hours are OK in a pinch.

its cisapride i was given to give tonight

 

[piggiemummy03x]

update! for far we’ve managed to feed 19ml of the supplement food since our first feed at 8pm della has eaten a sprig of corriander and a little lettuce so hopefully this is a good sign

 

[AidaB]

Thinking of you, How are you and Della this morning?

 

[piggiemummy03x]

Thinking of you, How are you and Della this morning?

haven’t slept, dellas still not eating herself we have had a couple of poos though.. just trying to keep positive!

 

[piggiemummy03x]

Thinking of you, How are you and Della this morning?

also thankyou

 

[AidaB]

haven’t slept, dellas still not eating herself we have had a couple of poos though.. just trying to keep positive!

Bless you, it’s not easy. Hope Della’s taking the syringe food a bit easier.

I found myself singing nursery rhymes to Billy(RB) when syringe feeding, in the middle of the night. Think it calmed me more than him!

 

[piggiemummy03x]

Bless you, it’s not easy. Hope Della’s taking the syringe food a bit easier.

I found myself singing nursery rhymes to Billy(RB) when syringe feeding, in the middle of the night. Think it calmed me more than him!

she’s definitely more alert and seems to want to eat the veg i offer her but its like she cant? I'm still convinced it must be teeth.. yes iv been singing a bit of cold play this morning! della probably hates me

 

[piggiemummy03x]

I'm just not sure where to fit in my sleep! I'm too anxious to not feed her every 2 hours…

 

[piggiemummy03x]

we’ve had some poos! i know they are far from ideal but am hoping this is a good sign!

 

[Piggies&buns]

It is a good sign that she is pooping - it means her system is still working.

Get as much feed into her during the day as you can so that you can get some unbroken sleep tonight. Do a last feed late tonight and then sleep, then do another feed first thing tomorrow morning

Fingers crossed for her and you