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Not himself?

A

AmyWright

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hello, so my guinea pig is about 2/3 years old, and lately he’s stopped being himself, he used to bite me and now he’s stopped, he isn’t eating so now we’ve tried baby food because he’s losing weight rapidly, he isn’t drinking nor pooping, so we took him to the vet and he had a tooth problem so he recently had surgery to cut them so they aren’t digging into his tounge, and because of him not pooing or drinking he was given 6 injections to try and make him do both of them things, which didn’t change anything, so they said if he didn’t poo by Tuesday he most likely will be put down, anything I can try? I just don’t think putting him down is the answer, maybe he’s scared to eat after it hurting him? Anyone have any ideas would be great x
 
Buy yourself oxbow critical care asap and start syringe feeding. Read the guide about it on here. Theres no way you can put the pig to sleep. For now pick some grass and feed that, it tends to be easier for them. Just keep the pig eating until it can itself. Hopefully the teeth have been trimmed correctly. I'm sure a member called debbie T.E.A.S or Wiebke will see this thread soon to help you better than i can. Your vet is so so wrong about putting to sleep. There is no way. What a waste
 
AmyWright said:
Hello, so my guinea pig is about 2/3 years old, and lately he’s stopped being himself, he used to bite me and now he’s stopped, he isn’t eating so now we’ve tried baby food because he’s losing weight rapidly, he isn’t drinking nor pooping, so we took him to the vet and he had a tooth problem so he recently had surgery to cut them so they aren’t digging into his tounge, and because of him not pooing or drinking he was given 6 injections to try and make him do both of them things, which didn’t change anything, so they said if he didn’t poo by Tuesday he most likely will be put down, anything I can try? I just don’t think putting him down is the answer, maybe he’s scared to eat after it hurting him? Anyone have any ideas would be great x
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Hi!

Please keep trying to syringe feed fibre and water round the clock every 2 hours, as much as he will take in one go, ideally up to 40-60 ml in 24 hours to keep or get the gut going again.
He won't be able to pee or poo if the gut is empty because he cannot move his tongue and his gut has slowed down/stopped working. Has your vet checked for stasis (no gut movement)?

You can feed mushed up pellets as long as you cut off the syringe tip and plunger as shown in the syringe feeding guide unless you have been given recovery formula. Please take the time to read these guides here. You may find them very helpful as they are full of practical tips.
Tips For Post-operative Care
Bloat, GI Stasis ( No Gut Movement) And Not Eating
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
 
Wiebke said:
Hi!

Please keep trying to syringe feed fibre and water round the clock every 2 hours, as much as he will take in one go, ideally up to 40-60 ml in 24 hours to keep or get the gut going again.
He won't be able to pee or poo if the gut is empty because he cannot move his tongue and his gut has slowed down/stopped working. Has your vet checked for stasis (no gut movement)?

You can feed mushed up pellets as long as you cut off the syringe tip and plunger as shown in the syringe feeding guide unless you have been given recovery formula. Please take the time to read these guides here. You may find them very helpful as they are full of practical tips.
Tips For Post-operative Care
Bloat, GI Stasis ( No Gut Movement) And Not Eating
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Click to expand...
Thank goodness :clap:
 
Wiebke said:
Hi!

Please keep trying to syringe feed fibre and water round the clock every 2 hours, as much as he will take in one go, ideally up to 40-60 ml in 24 hours to keep or get the gut going again.
He won't be able to pee or poo if the gut is empty because he cannot move his tongue and his gut has slowed down/stopped working. Has your vet checked for stasis (no gut movement)?

You can feed mushed up pellets as long as you cut off the syringe tip and plunger as shown in the syringe feeding guide unless you have been given recovery formula. Please take the time to read these guides here. You may find them very helpful as they are full of practical tips.
Tips For Post-operative Care
Bloat, GI Stasis ( No Gut Movement) And Not Eating
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Click to expand...
Thank you for replying back,
When we went to the vets he checked his gut and couldn’t feel anything abnormal, so they injected him 6 times to make him more active, eat and poo except they didn’t work, so we’ve tried the syringe method with baby food and we’ve done it about 4 times today, which should come around to 40ml, he isn’t touching his water either so we have to also so we have to use the same method with his eating, he used to be mad for cabbage and celery and now hasn’t touched a thing, other than that is that all we can try?
 
Skypipdot said:
Buy yourself oxbow critical care asap and start syringe feeding. Read the guide about it on here. Theres no way you can put the pig to sleep. For now pick some grass and feed that, it tends to be easier for them. Just keep the pig eating until it can itself. Hopefully the teeth have been trimmed correctly. I'm sure a member called debbie T.E.A.S or Wiebke will see this thread soon to help you better than i can. Your vet is so so wrong about putting to sleep. There is no way. What a waste
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He can’t eat grass, like he physically isn’t eating, drinking or pooing, so we have to use the baby food and a syringe the vets gave us for his medicine, I have him a bowl of grass the other day and he didn’t even touch it he just sits in his cage looking depressed
 
AmyWright said:
He can’t eat grass, like he physically isn’t eating, drinking or pooing, so we have to use the baby food and a syringe the vets gave us for his medicine, I have him a bowl of grass the other day and he didn’t even touch it he just sits in his cage looking depressed
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Try soaking nuggets in water and syring feed instead if baby food. Itl do a better job
 
You might find that syringing crushed up pellets or critical care better for him. It will have more fibre than the baby food. The critical care also has added probiotics in it which are great for helping get the gut healthy again. Keep going with him, syringe feeding is hard work. Make sure you are also getting fluids into him as well.
Keep offering fresh food as well. My girl took 4 days after dental surgery to eat veg again. She was entirely supported on syringe feeding during that time. It is possible to pull them through. Good luck.
 
Dont panic and syringe feed mushed nuggets. When you can buy oxbow critical care powder give that. Its about £14 a bag most vets that treat rabbits sell it. It will last you around 4 days roughly. I was in your shoes a few years ago with a sick pig. Youl master the syringe feeding just hang in there your pig may very well start eating
 
Hank288 said:
You might find that syringing crushed up pellets or critical care better for him. It will have more fibre than the baby food. The critical care also has added probiotics in it which are great for helping get the gut healthy again. Keep going with him, syringe feeding is hard work. Make sure you are also getting fluids into him as well.
Keep offering fresh food as well. My girl took 4 days after dental surgery to eat veg again. She was entirely supported on syringe feeding during that time. It is possible to pull them through. Good luck.
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Thank you so much, I’ll give it a go tomorrow, just a bit worried because he didn’t eat before the surgery and now he’s had surgery he hasn’t touched anything or pooped
 
Just one more thing. Make sure you are feeding unlimited timothy have when hes better . This keeps the teeth from overgrowing in the first place. Sometimes guinea pigs teeth go bad no matter what though
 
AmyWright said:
And getting the water from the pellets? Or feeding the wet pellets to him?
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Feed the wet pellets to him. Should be like a porridge texture.through the syringe , he wont like it at first but you have to force him. It does look and feel cruel but its not. Cut the tip of the syringe off . The mushed nuggets go in better.

If you search guinea pig syringe feeding on youtube that will help
 
Skypipdot said:
Dont panic and syringe feed mushed nuggets. When you can buy oxbow critical care powder give that. Its about £14 a bag most vets that treat rabbits sell it. It will last you around 4 days roughly. I was in your shoes a few years ago with a sick pig. Youl master the syringe feeding just hang in there your pig may very well start eating
Click to expand...
Any ideas where I can buy one asap?
 
Go to a chemist or a vets surgery. A vets will likely give you one if you explain the situation. If trying a chemist just don't say that it is for a guinea pig otherwise they might refuse. A Chemist gave me some when i asked, I just didn't tell them what it was for.
 
AmyWright said:
Thank you so so much I’ll try this tomorrow, just don’t think putting him down is the answer
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Hi Amy. If your piggy hasn't eaten, peed or pooped for a few days now I would recommend trying feeding him softened nuggets now. They soften enough to go into a syringe. When pigs aren't eating for themselves you have to be quite aggressive in the amount you give to them.

Try mixing it up. A syringe of Critical Care, one of softened nuggets, one of baby food and repeat. Pigs have their preferences so can take some things better than others.
 
:agr: You need to start syringe feeding immediately so that the gut can start moving again. Sending healing vibes.
 
Jaycey said:
Hi Amy. If your piggy hasn't eaten, peed or pooped for a few days now I would recommend trying feeding him softened nuggets now. They soften enough to go into a syringe. When pigs aren't eating for themselves you have to be quite aggressive in the amount you give to them.

Try mixing it up. A syringe of Critical Care, one of softened nuggets, one of baby food and repeat. Pigs have their preferences so can take some things better than others.
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Thank you so much I’ll try getting some, any ideas where I could buy critical care?
 
The other thing that can get fluid into them is give him, food soaked in water. If you syringe just water you must be so careful it doesn't go down the wrong way.
Is this a good & trust worthy vet?
 
Tiamolly123 said:
The other thing that can get fluid into them is give him, food soaked in water. If you syringe just water you must be so careful it doesn't go down the wrong way.
Is this a good & trust worthy vet?
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I thought so? My parents sent him to the vet because of it and they said that he will have to be put down in a few days if he doesn’t poop... and I really don’t think putting him down is the answer, I’m just struggling to get my hands on critical care asap, sounds to me like they don’t know much about guinea pigs
 
AmyWright said:
Hello, so my guinea pig is about 2/3 years old, and lately he’s stopped being himself, he used to bite me and now he’s stopped, he isn’t eating so now we’ve tried baby food because he’s losing weight rapidly, he isn’t drinking nor pooping, so we took him to the vet and he had a tooth problem so he recently had surgery to cut them so they aren’t digging into his tounge, and because of him not pooing or drinking he was given 6 injections to try and make him do both of them things, which didn’t change anything, so they said if he didn’t poo by Tuesday he most likely will be put down, anything I can try? I just don’t think putting him down is the answer, maybe he’s scared to eat after it hurting him? Anyone have any ideas would be great x
Click to expand...
Update: we tried using the syringe with the watered down biscuits and it isn’t working, any other way?
 
He’s gone at least 5 days without food before the operation, which got us extremely worried, so his gut might of just shut down which is probably why the vet is suggesting him to be put down, even after the surgery he won’t take the baby food unless it’s forced, he doesn’t bother to go to his water bottle and will sit in his dome depressed
 
i would just like to say please don’t give us any hate for him refusing to eat for 5 days, we bought him at the pet shop and he’s my first guinea pig, they didn’t even tell us he had teeth behind his front teeth nor how to treat them, they didn’t provide any information in anything so this is very abnormal to us, so we thought he would eat on his own maybe he’s just recovering from surgery, if you can understand where we are coming from thank you, which is why we took him to great measures by seeing a vet, which could explain why he said about putting him down
 
AmyWright said:
Update: we tried using the syringe with the watered down biscuits and it isn’t working, any other way?
Click to expand...
Do you mean he won't take the food, or that you can't get the mushed biscuits out of the syringe and into his mouth? It does need to be watered down enough to use it, and the syringe needs the end cut off, have a look at this if you haven't already: Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Vets will probably keep Critical Care in stock, or alternatively Supreme science (?) Recovery Food which is very similar. My last sick piggie preferred the latter.

Whereabouts are you, someone may be able to point you in the right direction if we know roughly where you are.
 
Qualcast&Flymo said:
Do you mean he won't take the food, or that you can't get the mushed biscuits out of the syringe and into his mouth? It does need to be watered down enough to use it, and the syringe needs the end cut off, have a look at this if you haven't already: Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Vets will probably keep Critical Care in stock, or alternatively Supreme science (?) Recovery Food which is very similar. My last sick piggie preferred the latter.

Whereabouts are you, someone may be able to point you in the right direction if we know roughly where you are.
Click to expand...
We put some water in the buiscuits but we can’t suck it up into the syringe
 
Have you cut the narrow tip off the syringe? You also need to mash the biscuits/nuggets up with a spoon or fork with enough water until it is totally smooth and just liquid enough to suck up. The guide I linked above should help explain how to do it all.
 
Qualcast&Flymo said:
Have you cut the narrow tip off the syringe? You also need to mash the biscuits/nuggets up with a spoon or fork with enough water until it is totally smooth and just liquid enough to suck up. The guide I linked above should help explain how to do it all.
Click to expand...
Okay thank you so much I’ll try this in an hour or so because we’ve already syringe fed him
 
Best of luck! I know it's not easy, I spent 2 months syringe feeding a poorly boar at the start of the year. Luckily he was quite a docile pig and didn't wriggle to get out of my arms, but it still wasn't a piece of cake to get him to take the syringe at first.
 
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