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Saline to administer orally

Ritika

Ritika

Adult Guinea Pig
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Hey guys. My piggy is really dehydrated as he has stopped eating and I am trying to feed him every 1 hour now with fluids and critical care which he is not eating at all. Just wanted to ask can we administer him with natural saline solution 0.9%w/v as a drink for his dehydration cause he is getting really dehydrated now
 
I am so sorry you are going through this and I wanted to add my support.

I think saline for dehydration should only ever be administered subcutaneously, but I know members who have done this, so maybe your vet can show you how?
The best thing is to keep offering plain water via syringe or even very dilute critical care.
I have everything crossed that your precious boy bounces back.
 
Is this saline meant to be given orally? If it's meant to be subcutaneous I would not give it orally.
 
Freela said:
Is this saline meant to be given orally? If it's meant to be subcutaneous I would not give it orally.
Click to expand...
It doesn't say anything about it being oral or subcutaneous but i can make sure if i m giving my piggy saline it must be the oral one and i can go buy it for him. But i m not gonna risk it yet so i m still awake even tho its 3:30 in the morning here and i just fed him some cucumber juice and also poop soup from healthy piggy.
 
You are dong great job @Ritika and giving him every chance.

The problem with oral saline is that due to the way it is absorbed it can actually increase the effects of dehydration.
Given subcutaneously it is absorbed differently so has a totally different effect.
Thanks about it like this - when you are thirsty would you prefer to drink salt water or fresh.

I would suggest keeping on doing exactly what you are doing.
When I had a reluctant drinker due to illness I sometimes found that a small amount of fruit puree added to the water helped to encourage them (as long as it doesn't cause stomach upsets of course) or maybe just trying with some very, very well diluted apple juice?
 
Swissgreys said:
You are dong great job @Ritika and giving him every chance.

The problem with oral saline is that due to the way it is absorbed it can actually increase the effects of dehydration.
Given subcutaneously it is absorbed differently so has a totally different effect.
Thanks about it like this - when you are thirsty would you prefer to drink salt water or fresh.

I would suggest keeping on doing exactly what you are doing.
When I had a reluctant drinker due to illness I sometimes found that a small amount of fruit puree added to the water helped to encourage them (as long as it doesn't cause stomach upsets of course) or maybe just trying with some very, very well diluted apple juice?
Click to expand...
Thanks! Yes we are not giving him saline at all I am still feeding him every hour and he just had some banana mash, diluted critical care and some poop soup. His eyes had crusty white discharge for a couple of days so i did flush it out with some saline thats it no more saline and his eyes are way better and brighter now with no discharge. He pooped a bit today which is a great progress for me and he has had some hay and cucumber on his own as well early morning. Its my last day here in India and i m trying everything i can :) I don't wanna lose another piggy so soon
 
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