Need some help/support, re syringe feeding & guts.

[AidaB]

A little background first, Hamish decided to go on a hump-a-thon yesterday and irritate Hector. We decided it wasn’t so bad they needed separating. So boys are still together & all is currently calm.
However at some point during Hamish’s mad dominance humping he seems to have hurt (or majorly insulted Hector).
Hamish is acting totally normal, eating bumbling about etc. Boys are both approx 3yrs old.


Hector last night decided he wasn’t budging and chose a house, stayed put looking very unhappy. We gave him some Metacam, checked him out nothing obvious.
Unfortunately I had to go to work for a couple of hours, OH was in charge. Hector didn’t move much the odd nibble of hay & one venture out to the water bottle.
I syringe fed him when I got home. (He hates it but ate!)We managed about 5ml.
Overnight I have managed to get 10ml down him, and 11ml this morning.( and since loosing and finding this post another 12ml.)
He has produced some bead poos, overnight & this morning. This mornings poos have a little bubble at one end. I will add a photo.
The most recent poos have not been beaded like the photo.

Hector’s also having an occasional nibble of hay.
Regular weighing is happening, but not showing much yet.

Is this a vet now moment? Beginning to think it might be, just need some reassurance, especially as it’s the weekend.

Onto my other bit of help needed….

I have read and reread the syringe/support feeding guides- thank you for those.


How long can I keep ready made up critical care or mushed pellets before I need to make new?

Also, I really don’t think I am going to be able to wiggle out of work tomorrow & OH hasn’t quite got his head around the fact we need to help Hector eat. He also should be at work tomorrow but is able to work from home.
Does this mean I can support feed through the early morning and then evening/night & Hector should be ok during the day?
If I leave critical care or mushed pellets in a bowl during the day Hamish will hoover them up and not leave Hector any.

Sorry if I am not making sense, feeling a little sleepy!


This mornings poos & the patient.

 

[Claire W]

I am very sorry that Hector is unwell. I’m afraid I can’t answer your questions but poo is running 24-48 hours behind so the stringy poos is basically from what he ate 24-48 hours ago. He’s clearly not eating enough hay hence the poos.

Personally, I would have him seen by a vet especially if he has lost weight? Please weigh him daily why he is poorly

Sorry I’m not much help but I hope Hector feels better soon x

How Soon Should My Guinea Pig See A Vet? - A Quick Guide

 

[T-Rex]

I’ve always made a batch of syringe food in a morning and used that through out the day. I think on the CC package it says once made up use within 24 hours.

Hope he’s feeling better soon and it’s nothing to worry about. I can’t recommend fibreplex enough if you can get some. Amazon have some on prime next day delivery that I made use of recently.

 

[Wiebke]

A little background first, Hamish decided to go on a hump-a-thon yesterday and irritate Hector. We decided it wasn’t so bad they needed separating. So boys are still together & all is currently calm.
However at some point during Hamish’s mad dominance humping he seems to have hurt (or majorly insulted Hector).
Hamish is acting totally normal, eating bumbling about etc. Boys are both approx 3yrs old.


Hector last night decided he wasn’t budging and chose a house, stayed put looking very unhappy. We gave him some Metacam, checked him out nothing obvious.
Unfortunately I had to go to work for a couple of hours, OH was in charge. Hector didn’t move much the odd nibble of hay & one venture out to the water bottle.
I syringe fed him when I got home. (He hates it but ate!)We managed about 5ml.
Overnight I have managed to get 10ml down him, and 11ml this morning.( and since loosing and finding this post another 12ml.)
He has produced some bead poos, overnight & this morning. This mornings poos have a little bubble at one end. I will add a photo.
The most recent poos have not been beaded like the photo.

Hector’s also having an occasional nibble of hay.
Regular weighing is happening, but not showing much yet.

Is this a vet now moment? Beginning to think it might be, just need some reassurance, especially as it’s the weekend.

Onto my other bit of help needed….

I have read and reread the syringe/support feeding guides- thank you for those.


How long can I keep ready made up critical care or mushed pellets before I need to make new?

Also, I really don’t think I am going to be able to wiggle out of work tomorrow & OH hasn’t quite got his head around the fact we need to help Hector eat. He also should be at work tomorrow but is able to work from home.
Does this mean I can support feed through the early morning and then evening/night & Hector should be ok during the day?
If I leave critical care or mushed pellets in a bowl during the day Hamish will hoover them up and not leave Hector any.

Sorry if I am not making sense, feeling a little sleepy!


This mornings poos & the patient.
View attachment 219744View attachment 219745

Hi
Please be aware that a normal run through the gut takes about 22 hours; since piggies eat part of their poos, that means that what comes out at the far end is always 1-2 days behind the event horizon. If you only react to the poo output instead of switching to from the usual weekly weigh-in to weighing daily at the same time (ideally first thing in the morning for best day-to-day comparison), then anything you do will happen a day late.

You are also left to syringe feed on spec and cannot tailor it to the actual need, whether that is full-on feeding support for the very ill or topping up support for the partially eating and recovering as opposed to being able to adjust your support on a daily basis to the level it is really needed - unlike the poos (which are useful for telling you whetehr your piggy is recovering from whatever has caused the upset), weighing gives you that instant feedback. It also helps you know when to switch from syringe feeding a very ill piggy to bowl feeding the recovery mush outside the cage because your piggy has regained enough appetite.

You also manage the fluid recovery phase that by looking at the volume he takes voluntarily from the syringe - more than 10 ml in one go or a good part from a bowl, and you can start cutting on the number of feeds, which is going to take more stress out for you in the coming days.

Please have your boy vet checked in the coming week in case there is an underlying problem that has caused his sudden major loss of appetite and thirst.

Here is the link: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

All the best!



Please take the time to read our new, updated feeding and medicating guide, which explains it all in practical detail and with all the little how-to tips that we cannot repeat in full every time: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

 

[AidaB]

I’ve always made a batch of syringe food in a morning and used that through out the day. I think on the CC package it says once made up use within 24 hours.

Hope he’s feeling better soon and it’s nothing to worry about. I can’t recommend fibreplex enough if you can get some. Amazon have some on prime next day delivery that I made use of recently.

Thank you, that was super helpful.
Yes, we use fibreplex too, and fortunately had some in.

 

[AidaB]

Thank you for your advice, sorry I haven’t replied earlier.
Unfortunately it is not good news.
Hector’s left kidney is very swollen, the vet thinks she might be able to see some internal bleeding too, from the ultrasound.
He’s trying to act more like himself, but quite reclusive.
Bit of a mystery as to how it’s happened, vet doesn’t believe Hamish’s mad humping caused it. In hindsight perhaps Hector was suffering before Hamish had his mad dominance humping moment, although his weight was stable before Saturday.
He is now slowly losing weight, and despises syringe feeding.

Any tips on what I can add to make it more palatable welcome.

He has been prescribed Metacam daily.
Although the vet said she could operate, it would be a super tricky operation & potentially not the answer as until she looked wouldn’t really know what she was likely to see. At the moment we are just going to enjoy the happy days and see where we are in just over a week at his follow up appointment.

 

[T-Rex]

I added some mashed banana when I was feeding Ginny. I don’t know if it made a difference really but you could try that?

I’m sorry it’s not better news. Thinking of you all.

 

[piggieminder]

I'm so sorry you and Hamish are going through this. I've found with reluctant syringe feeders they often respond better to a different brand of food.

 

[Merab]

I do the same as @Lavinia and add mashed banana to the mix.
It goes down very well.
I feed Oxbow Anise flavour Critical Care as it’s the only one mine like

So sorry the news about Hector isn’t good.
Holding you in my heart

 

[lauryn1289]

Thank you for your advice, sorry I haven’t replied earlier.
Unfortunately it is not good news.
Hector’s left kidney is very swollen, the vet thinks she might be able to see some internal bleeding too, from the ultrasound.
He’s trying to act more like himself, but quite reclusive.
Bit of a mystery as to how it’s happened, vet doesn’t believe Hamish’s mad humping caused it. In hindsight perhaps Hector was suffering before Hamish had his mad dominance humping moment, although his weight was stable before Saturday.
He is now slowly losing weight, and despises syringe feeding.

Any tips on what I can add to make it more palatable welcome.

He has been prescribed Metacam daily.
Although the vet said she could operate, it would be a super tricky operation & potentially not the answer as until she looked wouldn’t really know what she was likely to see. At the moment we are just going to enjoy the happy days and see where we are in just over a week at his follow up appointment.

When I was syringe feeding my OTRB boys, I’d stick the nib of the syringe into a cucumber or suck a bit of the cucumber into the syringe and it tricked them enough times into thinking they were about to eat a cucumber. Eventually they would figure out I’m just gonna keep syringe feeding them, but then switching to a banana on the nib of the syringe would work and so on so forth. Could be worth a shot.
Praying for you both

 

[AidaB]

Thank you, I was using Emeraid, the Oxbow CC arrived last night. Its totally failed the taste test. Even our food hoover, Hamish has rejected it! Will try mashed banana later. The favourite was the Burgess recovery pellets, as mush, with grated carrot from a spoon this morning.

 

[Claire W]

I am very sorry for the news If he were my piggy, I wouldn’t operate either. I hope you can enjoy some more time together x

 

[Betsy]

My RB Piggies would only take Science Selective Recovery Plus with mashed banana and oats or a bit of grated carrot, apple or sweet potato and oats. Betsy did once decide she liked Emeraid but not for long. It's important that you get the "Plus" as this has added Vitamin C in it the normal one doesn't.

So sorry for the sad news. I hope Hector has many more Happy Todays.

 

[Bertie & Jelly]

So sorry to hear about Hector. I too went through all the critical care feeds with my piggie Jellybaby - he settled on the Burgess recovery pellets mushed in the syringe alternating with mush/oats off a teaspoon. Thinking of you x

 

[AidaB]

Its is with great sadness and many tears, that I share with you, Hector passed away peacefully this week.
Thank you all for trying to help me in his time of need.

I am struggling for words. This is not easy to write and I can not rest easy until I have.

Everything seemed to happen so quickly, sparked by one event that didn’t feel related at all.
Looking back, I feel we missed a few signs that things were not quite right. We thought Hamish had learn’t to be a messy drinker, soaking the pads under the waterbottle, now I know it was probably Hector.
My OH felt he made the right decission bringing Hector home from his vet appointment, and I did everything I could to keep him comfortable.
I feel like I failed our little pig, he was such a happy chilled out boy, who made us believe he was just fine in himself right to the end.

Thank you for being such a lovely helping guinea pig community, and all you do to help guinea pigs everywhere.

We have been in touch with the rescue, where our boys came to us from, and they will help us find Hamish a new friend. Hamish has had a health check appointment & seems to be absolutely fine.

I will write Hector a memorial post soon, and take time to be with Hamish and work through some issues personal to me.
I hope I will be welcome back in the future-perhaps when Hamish has found his new friend.

 

[Betsy]

So sorry you lost Hector. Piggies hide illness so well don't blame yourself. Sometimes the call from the Rainbow Bridge is just too strong and they have to answer it. Some need help to cross over others, well, they find their own way. Sleep well lovely Hector.

You will always be welcome here @AidaB. We are just a big piggy family after all.

 

[piggieminder]

I am so sorry. Having been through a similar situation myself recently I know how hard it is not to wish you'd done something differently. The if's, buts and maybes are unfortunately part of the grieving process. You have nothing to blame yourself for. Piggies are masters of disguise when they aren't feeling right.
You are a part of the forum and of course you will be welcome back as soon as you are ready.

 

[Siikibam]

I’m so sorry to hear this. I just saw his picture with a rainbow next to his name and was thoroughly confused. I don’t know how this passed me by.

We always question our actions when a piggy passes. The what ifs are normal. But I am sure you did the very best for your boy that you could. Remember they hide their illnesses well.

I’m very late to this but I hope that you are doing okay and trying to remember the happy todays he had. Please do not doubt what you did for him

 

[Bill & Ted]

I am so sorry you lost Hector, how did I miss your post Take heart that 6oz gave Hector a wonderful life filled with love and happiness. he will have known just how much you loved him

Sleep tight little Hector