-
Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement
Syringe feeding help
- Thread starter LaurenS
- Start date
Hi!
Give only very little (about 0.1 ml or 1/10 of a small syringe) and wait until she has swallowed it. In a situation like this it is a very, very slow process.
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
If she is unable to do this, then I am very sorry but it is likely that her body has already started to close down and she is no longer able to process any food.
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs
Fingers firmly crossed!
Thank you, she won’t even take 0.1ml but I’ll keep trying
Please leave be, as heart-breaking as it is. Your girl has unfortunately crossed the line of no return now.
Please take the time to read this guide here, which will take you through the whole process in a practical but sensitive way, including accompanying a guinea pig in multiple organ failure at home: A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs
It is never the kind of advice that I want to give, having been there often enough with piggies of my own, but you need to switch track now and concentrate on keeping your girl as comfortable and warm (but not hot) as you can and be prepared to see an out-of-hours vet if necessary. The guide link above will tell you exactly what you can do and what you need to look out for.
BIG HUGS
My thoughts are with you.
BIG HUGSThank you for her help, she’s recently passed away
I am so sorry. You have done your best, so please don't feel guilty or like you have failed your beloved one.
You can never choose when and what from those you love die; you can only ever cherish the time you have with them. Nature is stronger than us. Sadly, the much faster metabolism and small body size are very much turning against piggies when their time comes.
As long as you have cared well for your girl during her life time, you have done exactly what your piggies want from you. They measure their life in happy todays and don't have a concept for an average life span.
Also try to take consolation that as deaths go, hers was comparatively quick and peaceful. Our vague and very sanitised idea of drifting away in one's sleep is actually very rare; a natural death is a lot more physical than most people expect and can be very upsetting if you are not braced for it. Thankfully by the thick end, your piggy will be mostly out of it already.
When we had the choice of deaths, wouldn't we rather choose this and rather shouldered the extra pain and shock from the suddenness of it happening ourselves instead of drawing out this same process for those in our care?
Please be kind to yourself in the coming days.
Our bereavement guides tell you what you can do for any companions now and in the days/weeks after as well as for yourself as you go through the grieving process. Here are the links:
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
