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Struggling to syringe feed piggy with URI

H

haybabies

New Born Pup
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Hello, I have been a long time lurker since I adopted my two guinea pigs from a family that could no longer look after them. This was nearly five years ago and I have always meant to do an introduction thread but never got round to it. They are now 5 and a half.

One of my piggies, Ruby, has been to the vets today as an emergency with breathing issues/probable URI, vet said he could hear increased lung sounds so would treat as for pneumonia. She had an injection of antibiotics and anti inflammatories, and she has been prescribed 1ml Baytril and 0.2ml cat Metacam per 24 hours.

My problem is I am finding it impossible to syringe feed her. She has had less than 1ml in total all day. I have tried science selective recovery food, recovery plus and also mushed up her usual pellets. She has eaten a small amount of cavolo nero, cucumber and basil cut into very thin strips today, but each time she ends up in breathing difficulties. Every time we try to syringe feed her, she is panicking and squiggling about so much, each time we try she gets worse and takes ages to calm down again. I’ve watched all the videos I can find online. I’m at my wits end now, does anyone have any more advice?

She’s not eating or drinking at all by herself. Yesterday she was eating a bit less than usual and she has recovery food due to eating a bit less because of a dental problem she has, so she had quite a big bowl of that as an extra. Later in the day I noticed she was wheezing a lot and then this morning she had just went right down hill so called the vet.

I also wondered about her medication, should I give her a half dose every 12 hours instead of once every 24 hours? If so, can I start with the first dose 12 hours after she had her injections today?

Thanks so much in advance for any help at all.
 
I’m sorry to hear this.

Piggies can’t really breathe through their mouths so eating becomes quite a difficulty when there is breathing issues.
Little and often is going to be needed (along with daily weight checks so you can monitor what is going in).

A vet is the only person who can tell you what dosage and when.
We cannot tell you when she should have her first dose following the injection - the vet is the only one who knows the dosage they gave and when it would be safe for the next one to be given.
What we can say is that piggies metabolise medications in around 12 hours and a 0.2ml dose of cat metacam every 24 hours is rather low.

All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
 
Have you tried putting some recovery food in a bowl in her cage? Or off a spoon? I found when I had to syringe pepper (also for a URi) he was much happier having it in his cage! I’d also recommend emeraid it’s mint flavour and piggies seem to go mad for it! Certainly my boys favourite recovery food!
 
Hi, yeah we have tried everything. She’s never had Emeraid before so will order some, although can’t get it until Tuesday. She does love mint flavoured things so that’s a shout, thank you.
 
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