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Poops on critical care

andisafc

andisafc

Junior Guinea Pig
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hi everyone! Just after a little advice about poop sizes on critical care, I am feeding round the clock (though he is starting to eat a little hay & veggies himself) but the poops are very small, nicely formed though. Is this normal? Weight is within the normal fluctuation day to day. Thanks!
 
Poop output is behind food intake so isn’t reliable. Its 1-2 days behind intake so poops today reflect food intake (or lack of) up to two days ago.

Your weight checks each morning are your real time guide to whether he is getting enough critical care. If weight is stable each morning then that is what you are aiming for.
 
Piggies&buns said:
Poop output is behind food intake so isn’t reliable. Its 1-2 days behind intake so poops today reflect food intake (or lack of) up to two days ago.

Your weight checks each morning are your real time guide to whether he is getting enough critical care. If weight is stable each morning then that is what you are aiming for.
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Thanks very much, I have been doing weigh in at 6pm, do you suggest I change this to the morning?
Do you know if they can get bloat while being fed just critical care? Just read an article online & scared myself!
 
andisafc said:
Thanks very much, I have been doing weigh in at 6pm, do you suggest I change this to the morning?
Do you know if they can get bloat while being fed just critical care? Just read an article online & scared myself!
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The important factor is weighing at the same time each day. We suggest the morning because that is when the weight is at its lowest (as with humans) but consistency in time is the main thing.

Syringe feeding doesn’t cause bloat
 
Piggies&buns said:
The important factor is weighing at the same time each day. We suggest the morning because that is when the weight is at its lowest (as with humans) but consistency in time is the main thing.

Syringe feeding doesn’t cause bloat
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Thanks so much for your reply! Not much sleep x anxiety is not a good combo!
 
Hello. I was feeding my piggy critical care recently and his poops were small too. Once they start to eat more for themselves their poops return to normal.
 
weepweeps said:
Hello. I was feeding my piggy critical care recently and his poops were small too. Once they start to eat more for themselves their poops return to normal.
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Thanks very much for the reply, makes me feel a bit better! Just been weighed & he has lost 20g but that’s within the usual tolerance isn’t it? As long as it’s not every day?
 
It is within tolerance but I usually don’t want to see any drop when I’m syringe feeding my piggy. Like you say make sure it’s not every day.

A couple of weeks ago once I stopped syringe feeding Pepper I still weighed him every day to make sure he was still eating for himself. He lost 5g every day for a week but I could see he was eating really well and begging for food so I held off starting the feeds again and he’s now stable. Thank goodness. I hope your piggy is soon eating for themselves as it’s very stressful caring for a sick piggy.
 
weepweeps said:
It is within tolerance but I usually don’t want to see any drop when I’m syringe feeding my piggy. Like you say make sure it’s not every day.

A couple of weeks ago once I stopped syringe feeding Pepper I still weighed him every day to make sure he was still eating for himself. He lost 5g every day for a week but I could see he was eating really well and begging for food so I held off starting the feeds again and he’s now stable. Thank goodness. I hope your piggy is soon eating for themselves as it’s very stressful caring for a sick piggy.
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Yeah ideally I didn’t want to either, he was under anaesthetic / sedation on Tuesday & didn’t eat much for 4 hours that they had him, wondering if it’s the knock on from that? So pleased that Pepper is stable, feels like we’re a long way off that right now. I need to be syringe fed too as I can’t eat with the stress ha ha!
 
Give him a few days to get over the vet appointment. Hopefully he will be feeling better soon.

Remember to take care of yourself too. ❤️
 
A gap in food intake during the four hours under sedation absolutely will produce a gap in poop output. That is normal.

When syringe feeding, I also do not want to see weight drops day to day. See what tomorrow’s weight check tells you.
How much syringe feed (in ml) did you get into him?
 
Piggies&buns said:
A gap in food intake during the four hours under sedation absolutely will produce a gap in poop output. That is normal.

When syringe feeding, I also do not want to see weight drops day to day. See what tomorrow’s weight check tells you.
How much syringe feed (in ml) did you get into him?
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I’m getting about 60ml (1 tablespoon of mix as instructed) of Kavee Crucial Care in him, he won’t eat the actual critical care, doesn’t like the aniseed flavour. As he has breathing issues the less I can stress him the better.
Should I be getting more in him?
 
Is he eating anything on his own?

60ml is a great amount but as he’s lost 20g I’d up it tomorrow. Some days I was getting 100ml into Pepper and he still lost weight.
 
weepweeps said:
Is he eating anything on his own?

60ml is a great amount but as he’s lost 20g I’d up it tomorrow. Some days I was getting 100ml into Pepper and he still lost weight.
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He has started eating a bit of hay on his own today, also managed to get a few sprigs of parsley down him. Not interested pellets but figured hay wins every time anyway for them! Wow, you did well getting that much in him. I’ve had guinea pigs for over 25 years & I’ve never had this before (been very lucky).
 
I find after I’ve finished the syringe feed I put a pile of hay in front of them as it usually kick starts them eating.
 
I agree with weepweeps
60ml is minimum amount. If he loses weight day on day then he likely needs more - your weight checks are the guide as to whether you’re got the right amount. Consider that a healthy piggy would eat the equivalent of 100ml.
 
Piggies&buns said:
I agree with weepweeps
60ml is minimum amount. If he loses weight day on day then he likely needs more - your weight checks are the guide as to whether you’re got the right amount. Consider that a healthy piggy would eat the equivalent of 100ml.
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Thanks Piggies&buns, will step it up! Feel guilty I wasn’t doing enough.
 
andisafc said:
Thanks Piggies&buns, will step it up! Feel guilty I wasn’t doing enough.
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You are doing great. 60ml is a good amount, please don’t think it isn’t. It’s only once you’ve got a couple of days of weight data that you can work to find the right balance.
 
Piggies&buns said:
You are doing great. 60ml is a good amount, please don’t think it isn’t. It’s only once you’ve got a couple of days of weight data that you can work to find the right balance.
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Thanks so much for your support, it’s so hard to know what’s right! I will get more into him & see what’s what. Hopefully his appetite will return soon!
 
I’m sorry to say that we had to let little Donnie pass over the rainbow bridge yesterday. Feels so unfair that a 8.5 month old didn’t get to live a full life. He has left a huge hole as he was the best character. Just wish there was more I could have done. Thanks again everyone for your support.
 
I’m so sorry Donnie had the call over the rainbow bridge. Sometimes no matter how hard we try it’s just not enough.

He had a short life but it was filled with your love everyday and he felt that. ❤️
 
I am so sorry you had to let Donnie go, it's never easy but extra hard when they are so young. Sadly sometimes whatever we do we can't save them. No one could have done more than you did. Sending you hugs.
 
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