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Has anyone got experience of feeding Emeraid?

valsie said:
I’m happy to report that little Treacle is still fighting on. He had another dental (third one now) with Simon at the Cat and Rabbit Clinic in Northampton. I’m still feeding him Critical Care as he is still very frail and averaging around 620g.
The thing I’m worried about now (there’s always something to worry about with him) is his ears have a purple tinge around the edges. Some days it’s more noticeable than others. When he went for his previous dental with Kim she noticed his ears and mentioned lack of oxygen but did not elaborate and tbh I was so worried about him not surviving the dental procedure that I didn’t pursue it at the time.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this please?
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Gosh what a little fighter Treacle is x I take my Ted to Simon too and I noticed that Ted’s ears had been a bit dry lately and said older piggies can get very dry ears quite naturally.
 
He certainly is a little fighter, I cant believe he’s still here tbh.

Treacle’s ears are not particularly dry but it’s the purple colouring on the edges I’m concerned about. He also has very red, inflamed looking back feet, again worse some days than others. Who knew that such little creatures could give us so much worry and sleepless nights ❤️
 
Sorry but I need to pick your brains again. Treacle is doing well, eating on his own with two Critical Care feeds just to top him up as his weight is still low around 620g.

I’ve got some children’s liquid Vitamin C and just wondered how much I should give him daily...any thoughts greatly appreciated.FD0E7DAE-71E6-4084-9D9C-7A5FB7FBFEB2.webp
 
I’m wouldn’t know to be honest. I use a pinch of Pro.C in Ted’s porridge oats everyday X
 
I have used Emaraid . . You certainly giving Treacle lots love and the best help. . .
I've used oats on biccys and in little dish to help a piggie put some weight on. . It did. . Hope your beautiful piggie keeps going . .well done @valsie
 
David Piggie Lover said:
I have used Emaraid . . You certainly giving Treacle lots love and the best help. . .
I've used oats on biccys and in little dish to help a piggie put some weight on. . It did. . Hope your beautiful piggie keeps going . .well done @valsie
Thank you for your kind words David, means a lot when you’re constantly worried about a poorly piggy. Yes, Treacle has lots of porridge oats too...I mix them up with his Critical Care and he also eats them out of a little dish. I was only asking about the vitamin C as I thought he might need some extra as he’s a senior with health problems.
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I know it’s Christmas Eve and most of you are either asleep or busy prepping for tomorrow but if anyone picks this up tonight or tomorrow, I would be so grateful for your thoughts.
Last week and the beginning of this week, Treacle was doing so well after his dental with Simon at the Cat and Rabbit Clinic. He was bright and eating well, hay, veggies, everything. I was so happy! But on Tuesday I noticed he didn’t look well again (you can just tell, can’t you) and he wasn’t eating his hay or pellets again. His breathing is bad too, very congested and noisy even though he’s still on Sulfatrim . I’ve been putting bowls of steaming hot water with a few drops of olbas oil and I’ve stuck a couple of cotton wool pads with olbas oil on to the outside of his igloo. This does seem to help with his breathing.
He was due to go back for another dental with Simon on 6th January and I’ve managed to bring it forward to 4th January, with the option of ringing early morning of the 29th December to try to get an emergency appointment. I just wondered if it is normal or not unusual for teeth to get overgrown in just 16 days ( he had his last dental on 8th December). Simon seemed to think he could go 3/4 weeks but I’m pretty sure it’s because of his teeth that he’s poorly again. I’m back to syringe feeding 4 times a day and he’s eating grass (but not hay) and some veggies. He only weighed 600g today and he can’t afford to lose any more weight, he is very frail.
I’m not expecting a reply over the next couple days as I know it’s a busy time for everyone. It’s a pity sick piggies don’t realise it’s Christmas and give us a break from causing us so much worry and stress 😢.
 
Sorry to hear your piggy isn’t doing so well. I can’t offer any advice as I haven’t had any piggies with dental problems but all I can suggest is trying to syringe 60 (closer to 90) to 90ml in a 12 hour period to stop him from losing any more weight. I think every two hours is recommended on the forum especially if your boy is weighing 600g. Little and often. I know Debbie at TEAS recommends feeding their veg little and often throughout the day to try to stimulate their appetite. I have recently had a piggie that had a bad reaction to anaesthetic after an op and it took both me and my partner to do the syringe feeds as he was difficult to manage but it prevented him from losing anymore weight once we stepped in as we fed atleast 60ml in the 12 hours. Hopefully someone with dental experience will be along tomorrow to give some advice. One more thing I forgot to add is that I think baytril is the recommended antibiotic for a respiratory problem but it can be more harsh on the stomach. Just wanted to offer my support - big hugs x
 
I would also recommend getting an emergency appointment for him if he’s lost so much weight x
 
Sorry I’m spamming your thread but just read it back and noticed you said about olbas oil in his cage? I’ve looked on the forum and it’s suggested that it shouldn’t be in their cages but a drop or two in a steaming bowl in their room. I would do this until you have some definite answers tomorrow x
 
DougalandDiego said:
Sorry I’m spamming your thread but just read it back and noticed you said about olbas oil in his cage? I’ve looked on the forum and it’s suggested that it shouldn’t be in their cages but a drop or two in a steaming bowl in their room. I would do this until you have some definite answers tomorrow x
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Thank you so much for taking time out on Xmas day to reply, I really appreciate it.

My two piggies don’t actually live in a cage, they have free roam of the spare room and I have put a few drops of olbas oil in a bowl of hot water in the room. The cotton wool pads with a couple of drops on, I have stuck to the outside of the igloo that he sleeps under. The heating is on but I’ve got the window open for some fresh air. I’m doing the syringe feeding every 2/3 hours but he doesn’t even really want that, although he is still eating some of his favourite veggies.
I think the earliest I will be able to get up to Simon in Northampton will be 29th December if I can get an emergency appointment. I just need to try and get him through the next few days, it’s exhausting and stressful but sometimes that’s what comes with these little ones.
Thank you for your support, it means a lot x
 
That’s ok sorry to hear you’re having a stressful time with your lovely piggie. My boy didn’t really want it either but that’s why it took two of us to get it into him! I used a tea towel to wrap him up in and then my partner held his mouth whilst I syringed it in. Just go slowly and do a third of 1ml or half a 1ml at a time and give him time to chew and swallow in between. For every 5ml I gave a syringe of water (half in the middle of the feed and half at the end) I find mixing a pinch of pro-c probiotic powder makes them more likely to accept it - again do a third of 1ml if he’s not swallowing very quickly. I would be careful with the olbas oil as on another post it was said that it shouldn’t be in or even near their cage if it’s in their room. Hope he starts to improve soon - sending positive healing vibes x
 
I would say getting him seen on the 29th December is the best thing you can do for him too x especially if it’s seeing Simon and Kim. I’m pretty sure Debbie on the forum boards guinea pigs that need more support and syringe feeding @furryfriends (TEAS) (hope I’m right Debbie and you don’t mind me tagging you) but I’m not sure what people are doing over the Christmas period x
 
DougalandDiego said:
I would say getting him seen on the 29th December is the best thing you can do for him too x especially if it’s seeing Simon and Kim. I’m pretty sure Debbie on the forum boards guinea pigs that need more support and syringe feeding @furryfriends (TEAS) (hope I’m right Debbie and you don’t mind me tagging you) but I’m not sure what people are doing over the Christmas period x
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Yes I offer boarding through my pet care business.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...-service-from-little-badgers-pet-care.181203/
 
DougalandDiego said:
That’s ok sorry to hear you’re having a stressful time with your lovely piggie. My boy didn’t really want it either but that’s why it took two of us to get it into him! I used a tea towel to wrap him up in and then my partner held his mouth whilst I syringed it in. Just go slowly and do a third of 1ml or half a 1ml at a time and give him time to chew and swallow in between. For every 5ml I gave a syringe of water (half in the middle of the feed and half at the end) I find mixing a pinch of pro-c probiotic powder makes them more likely to accept it - again do a third of 1ml if he’s not swallowing very quickly. I would be careful with the olbas oil as on another post it was said that it shouldn’t be in or even near their cage if it’s in their room. Hope he starts to improve soon - sending positive healing vibes x
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Thank you again for your thoughts and well wishes. I will have a look through the threads on here relating to the olbas oil. This little guy is up and down like a yo-yo, one day he is doing really well, the next he seems very poorly. I’m hoping I can get him through the next few days until I can get him up to Northampton.
 
I think he might be giving up 😢. He won’t swallow the Critical Care I’m syringe feeding him with, he just holds it in his mouth. I have to give him some water to make him start chewing. Tonight he’s hardly eaten anything, not even his favourite veggies. I’ve just ordered some Science Recovery food from Amazon which should be here on Sunday but if I can’t get him to eat anything that might be too late. He has been such a little fighter for so long but I think maybe he’s had enough now 😢.
 
How's he doing this morning? You could try mushed up nuggets (I use these for syringe feeding rather than the recovery foods). I also find the veg based baby foods are generally well accepted, especially when they are quite weak and not wanting the chew.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
How's he doing this morning? You could try mushed up nuggets (I use these for syringe feeding rather than the recovery foods). I also find the veg based baby foods are generally well accepted, especially when they are quite weak and not wanting the chew.
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He’s not great tbh. Going to try him with mushed up nuggets as he’s not really swallowing much of the Critical Care. I’ve ordered some Selective Science Recovery from Amazon which I’m hoping will arrive tomorrow 🤞. I will pop out and try to get some baby food too if I can find a shop open. He’s eaten some coriander but nothing else
I’ve noticed over the past couple of days that his wee is a bit orange in colour, I wonder if this could be the extra vitamin C I’ve been giving him.
I’m doing everything I can to get him through the next few days in the hope that I can get an emergency appointment with Kim or Simon on the 29th December. I’m emotionally exhausted with the stress of him being so poorly. Last week he was doing so well, eating really well and generally looking brighter but then he suddenly went downhill again. Piggies seem to have a habit of doing this from other posts I have followed on here.
 
Sorry to hear he’s not doing well. I would try the mushed pellets as my boys much prefer it. Have you tried putting some pro c in his syringe food or water too? My boys love the taste of it - it might encourage him to try and eat. Sending big hugs hope you can get him seen soon. Have you got any metacam/painkiller you can give him until you get him seen? X
 
DougalandDiego said:
Sorry to hear he’s not doing well. I would try the mushed pellets as my boys much prefer it. Have you tried putting some pro c in his syringe food or water too? My boys love the taste of it - it might encourage him to try and eat. Sending big hugs hope you can get him seen soon. Have you got any metacam/painkiller you can give him until you get him seen? X
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Yes, ive got the Pro C and I’m mixing that in with his Critical Care. I will try putting it in with mashed pellets as well and I’ve been to Sainsbury’s and got some packets of organic baby food, different flavours which I hope might tempt him.
I have got some Loxicom (dog strength) that Kim gave me on his last visit and he’s having that twice a day. He’s eating fresh picked grass ok so I suppose at least that’s something.
Thank you so much for support, it means a lot when you’re stressing about a poorly piggie x
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
He may benefit from some sub cut fluids. It can really perk them up. Do you have a local vet who could give him some fluids?
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Is that injection under the skin of fluids? I could try my local vets when they are open if you think that would help...thank you for the suggestion.
I’ve just come back from Sainsbury’s with a few packets of organic baby food in a variety of flavours which I will try to tempt him with.
 
Yes I would contact them and discuss the fluids as suggested. You can say you’re booking him in on the 29th with the specialists but it might perk him up until then. Good luck with the baby food. If he likes it you could try mixing a small amount of the syringe feed in once he’s eaten some and see if he eats that?
 
Yes, it's the fluids injected under the skin. It can really perk them up. Great news that he's eating grass. Try cutting veg into thin strips. I use scissors to cut up leafy veg. You can also grate some carrot. Try him with some mushed nuggets on a plate, if he isn't keen on taking syringe food. You can also mix in a bit of the baby food. I do all sorts and make them an 'all you can eat buffet'. Will he eat porridge oats?
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Yes, it's the fluids injected under the skin. It can really perk them up. Great news that he's eating grass. Try cutting veg into thin strips. I use scissors to cut up leafy veg. You can also grate some carrot. Try him with some mushed nuggets on a plate, if he isn't keen on taking syringe food. You can also mix in a bit of the baby food. I do all sorts and make them an 'all you can eat buffet'. Will he eat porridge oats?
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Thank you for your tips, I am trying everything just to get something into him. This is the first time he has refused the Critical Care, usually he is fine with it. I’ve just had the Selective Science Recovery food delivered by Amazon so I will give that a go too. He is eating leafy bits ok, parsley, lettuce, mint, coriander and grass but that’s about it.
I also took your advice and got an appointment this afternoon at my local Vets 4 Pets. I asked if he could have some fluids by injection which the vet agreed to do. He weighed him and he’s down to 575g today, the lowest he’s ever been.
I explained that he was already being treated by another vet in Northampton so I didn’t expect any other treatment and the vet was fine with that. I feel very lucky that I managed to get him seen at such notice, think it helped that I know the receptionist very well.
So all I can do for now is keep offering him different bits to eat (I do mix porridge oats into the syringe food, and he does eat some just dry) and try to keep him going until hopefully I can get an emergency appointment with Kim or Simon on Tuesday.
This little boy is such a fighter with such a strong will to live, how he is still here is beyond me tbh.
 
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