missy
Adult Guinea Pig
Hi all,
Not sure where to post this but hopefully it's ok here.
My guinea pig has been treated for the last couple of months for stubborn cystitis-like symptoms. As a result, he's been syringe-fed various meds and copious amounts of fluids every day. He's never been a big drinker but, prior to this new treatment regime, would occasionally drink from his water bottle, of his own accord.
Since I've been syringing his fluids he's stopped getting his own drinks of water. He always has a fresh supply and it's the same bottle he used to use no problem (albeit rarely) but now he completely ignores it. He gets a bit of water from his veg but apart from that he only has the fluids I give him (orally) by syringe.
I'm really worried that when I stop the syringing he'll still not drink for himself and will get dehydrated. I can understand him not being thirsty for most of the day, as I give him lots to drink then, but he goes through the whole night without me giving him anything and still he's not tempted by his bottle. (I've checked and it never goes down at all)
At the moment I'm managing ok, as I'm home all day, but at some point soon I'll hopefully be back to work and I really worry about him being left all day without drinking. Until I'm confident that he'll drink on his own then I can't go out for more than a few hours at a time!
Don't know if it sounds silly but is it possible that he's got so used to me giving him fluids by syringe that he simply can't remember how to use the bottle?! Anyone else had a piggy who suddenly refused to drink on their own?
I should add that, although he does still have some ongoing health problems, he's ok in himself and importantly has a very healthy appetite for food....it's just fluids he doesn't want. The bottle itself definitely works ok and I've tried adding things to his water to make it more appealing and also put his water in a bowl, instead of the bottle, but he won't touch any of it.
Any ideas please? Thanks!
Not sure where to post this but hopefully it's ok here.
My guinea pig has been treated for the last couple of months for stubborn cystitis-like symptoms. As a result, he's been syringe-fed various meds and copious amounts of fluids every day. He's never been a big drinker but, prior to this new treatment regime, would occasionally drink from his water bottle, of his own accord.
Since I've been syringing his fluids he's stopped getting his own drinks of water. He always has a fresh supply and it's the same bottle he used to use no problem (albeit rarely) but now he completely ignores it. He gets a bit of water from his veg but apart from that he only has the fluids I give him (orally) by syringe.
I'm really worried that when I stop the syringing he'll still not drink for himself and will get dehydrated. I can understand him not being thirsty for most of the day, as I give him lots to drink then, but he goes through the whole night without me giving him anything and still he's not tempted by his bottle. (I've checked and it never goes down at all)
At the moment I'm managing ok, as I'm home all day, but at some point soon I'll hopefully be back to work and I really worry about him being left all day without drinking. Until I'm confident that he'll drink on his own then I can't go out for more than a few hours at a time!
Don't know if it sounds silly but is it possible that he's got so used to me giving him fluids by syringe that he simply can't remember how to use the bottle?! Anyone else had a piggy who suddenly refused to drink on their own?
I should add that, although he does still have some ongoing health problems, he's ok in himself and importantly has a very healthy appetite for food....it's just fluids he doesn't want. The bottle itself definitely works ok and I've tried adding things to his water to make it more appealing and also put his water in a bowl, instead of the bottle, but he won't touch any of it.
Any ideas please? Thanks!