Softer Poo with Critical Care

[PotatoandBessie]

Hello All,
About 4 days ago now my piggy Potato (female about 4 years old) had a cystoscopy to remove a bladder stone. She was heavily sedated and had a little bit of anestesia gas but nothing too major. We were instructed to give critical care since she has lost over 100g due to this stone. At first she was more willing to take the feedings but it definetly wasn’t easy. We were told 20 syringes per feed and 3 feeds a day. The max in one session we got was 7. She also has been harder with her medications of an antibiotic twice daily and meloxicam once daily for pain. I’ve noticed her poops look softer and longer and sometimes clumpier? if that makes sense. We seem to have stopped the weight loss a little, or at least not as rapid. But she is still only ~850g (previously 950g). The lowest she got down to was 841. If anyone has any tips on the soft poo or how to better administer critical care it would be greatly appreciated.
PS when we give her the feedings she has to be tightly wrapped up in a towel but the girl is very strong and manages to burrow her way down. Currently we are getting 6-7 syringes a day max.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello All,
About 4 days ago now my piggy Potato (female about 4 years old) had a cystoscopy to remove a bladder stone. She was heavily sedated and had a little bit of anestesia gas but nothing too major. We were instructed to give critical care since she has lost over 100g due to this stone. At first she was more willing to take the feedings but it definetly wasn’t easy. We were told 20 syringes per feed and 3 feeds a day. The max in one session we got was 7. She also has been harder with her medications of an antibiotic twice daily and meloxicam once daily for pain. I’ve noticed her poops look softer and longer and sometimes clumpier? if that makes sense. We seem to have stopped the weight loss a little, or at least not as rapid. But she is still only ~850g (previously 950g). The lowest she got down to was 841. If anyone has any tips on the soft poo or how to better administer critical care it would be greatly appreciated.
PS when we give her the feedings she has to be tightly wrapped up in a towel but the girl is very strong and manages to burrow her way down. Currently we are getting 6-7 syringes a day max.

Hi and welcome

Please take the time to read this guide here with some helpful videos and pictures as well. The guide looks at all aspects of medicating and support feeding: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Critical Care doesn't cause soft poos; these happen when there is a lack of fibre (whether that is hay or formula) in the diet or an imbalance between too much veg and not enough hay/formula fibre replacement. What comes out at the far end reflects what has gone in 1-2 days before; the weigh-in gives you an up to date backfeed. Please keep in mind that hay makes over three quarters of what a piggy eats in a day. Poos are always funny in the first 1-2 days after an operation because they reflect the feeding gap and the operation cocktail.
You have to feed the more often the less you can get into a piggy in one go. Normal is about 10-15 ml in one session; if a piggy is off their feed, then that will be less. 20 ml at once is a bit optimistic to be honest. You are aiming at 60 ml over the course of 24 hours (your vet clinic has got that one right) but at a minimum of 40 ml in a piggy that is really struggling - the latter will come with further weight loss. In guinea pigs that are eating, the transitions is fluid and is management betweeen the scales and the poo output; the scales for the amount, the poos as a check whether the nutrient balance is right.

Antibiotics (especially baytril) can further soften the poos or even kill the appetite.
Tips For Post-operative Care

All the best.

 

[weepweeps]

I hope Potato is feeling better soon. I’ve had to syringe feed my piggy Pepper a couple of times now (once for 8 weeks straight). As soon as he has antibiotics he stops eating.

From my experience the first few days you don’t get too much into them. Then they seem to realise you are helping them and also you get more confident. So carry on. Get as much as you can into her. You are doing a great job.

Also after a syringe feed put a pile of hay (or grass if she’s used to it) in front of her as a syringe feed can kick start an eating session.

If she is not eating anything for herself then try and get in at least 80ml of feed into her per day. Weigh her every morning to see if she’s lost weight. If she has then feed her more than the day before.

Are you using a probiotic? I’m in England and use Pro C powder from the pet shop. I mix this in with the syringe feed.

It’s so much easier with someone helping you. They can keep Potato facing the right way, you hold her nose, behind her incisors and slightly lift her head, put the syringe behind her incisors and squeeze in about a third of a 1ml syringe at a time. Good luck. It takes practice.