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Wotsit is still not eating

  • Thread starter Thread starter wotsitsmum
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Thank you. Just want to get some food in him and not feel like the most evil person in the world when he gives me that "Oh no, not syringe time again" look. He seemed to find the Burgess easier to eat last night so will give him that tonight.
 
wotsitsmum said:
Thank you. Just want to get some food in him and not feel like the most evil person in the world when he gives me that "Oh no, not syringe time again" look. He seemed to find the Burgess easier to eat last night so will give him that tonight.
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Well both of mine gave me that look too (and I suspect most, if not all, piggies would do the same) but this is definitely a case of being "cruel" to be kind...of course you're not being cruel whatsoever but you know what I mean. I know how hard it is but as long as he can swallow properly and the food is not just staying in his mouth (just keep checking) then keep going with it, no matter how slow and arduous a task.
 
He's not happy about the syringe feeding now, a lot of the food is staying in his mouth, then he is slowly and reluctantly eating it. He looks so depressed. Gave him a blade of grass which he tried to eat but couldn't, I tried rolling it up etc etc but eventually he just gave up trying to eat it. Really hope he makes it to see Pam tomorrow and she finds what's wrong with him. I am fearing the worst.........................
 
Elvis is used to the syringe feeding now but when I first started I found some fruit smoothie or orange juice mixed in with the food is very appealing.
 
wotsitsmum

Once you get your piggy's teeth sorted properly, half the battle will be over.

Try management overhaul to help with breathing issues, a waft of Olbas oil under the nose at regular intervals and investigate Sudafed and bisolvon for medication.
 
pureed apple went down well for breakfast, and even went down after I'd put some recovery in it. Poor little thing had been trying to eat a little over night and had been drinking a little too. At least I know he actually would like to eat and drink by himself. Off to see Pam at 3pm, scared to hope she'll find what's wrong, I really don't want to lose him.
 
wotsitsmum said:
pureed apple went down well for breakfast, and even went down after I'd put some recovery in it. Poor little thing had been trying to eat a little over night and had been drinking a little too. At least I know he actually would like to eat and drink by himself. Off to see Pam at 3pm, scared to hope she'll find what's wrong, I really don't want to lose him.
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Sending you hugs and good wishes for your trip. Hope you get some answers that will help. x
 
Best of luck, I hope Pam can both identify and correct the problem.
 
Well we are back, Pam could find no reason why Wotsit isn't eating. She said (and showed me) that his teeth and mouth were fine and healthy. Noting to indicate and absess. She wormed him in case the problem was worms. I said he looked very depressed and she agreed and said sometimes they decide they have nothing to live for, so as she is a breeder she gifted a 4 week old little buddy to Wotsit int he hope it will encourage him to eat, he certainly perked up a bit when introduced to his new friend.
Will continue to syringe feed him tonight and see what happens. I think in all honest this one is now in the lap of the Gods.
 
Thanks for the advice re: not using woodshavings by the way, he is less snuffly at least. The only other symptom he could possible be dispaying is that on occasions he has been wet underneath as if he has sat in his wee, but this isn't constant. No squeaking while weeing etc, but a UTI wouldn't stop him eating would it?
 
Really glad to hear that he's still managing to take the syringe feed. I'm sorry Pam couldn't really diagnose anything, but it's lovely that you left with a little friend for him - hopefully that keeps him interested, even if only as a distraction until you find out what's wrong (I'm still really hoping that you can get a firm diagnosis.)

I'm no expert but I do know that if a piggy is in pain then that definitely could affect his appetite. You said before that you thought his problem seemed to be more to do with the actual mechanics of eating but do you think it's possible that he's perhaps just not very bothered about eating?
 
A UTI can stop pigs eating, but as I understand it the wetness on the underside is usually consistent and other signs become obvious e.g. odour, crying out when peeing/pooping.

Is he still on Daktarin Oral Gel? I'd be inclined to stick with that for the full three week course, to clear any oral fungal problem (not necessarily recognised in a clinical examination). What dose are you giving, and how often? I'd also consider giving 0.2ml infant Calpol/chidren's Nurofen, as pain can also lead to the reluctance/refusal to eat.

I've got a 14 month old boar here (Elijah) who became very quiet, withdrawn and wouldn't eat; this happened only last week. Very unlike him. As he'd had the symptoms for only one day, just the one week of Daktarin Oral Gel cleared the problem up, but this is the time of year for fungal/oral fungal problems to surface. He did have a dose of Nurofen as well for the first couple of days, but I stuck with the Daktarin and it set him back on the right track.
 
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He's just had 20mls of burgess mushed up, I think syringe feeding has just clicked with me.
Not sure whether his little buddy (and I think that shall become his name) will make a difference, he seems to love his Uncle Wotsit though.
No idea whether he won't eat because he can't or won't. There appears to be no physical reason why he is not eating. Will continue with the Daktarin but his mouth looked pink and clean and healthy.
He is seeing the vet I like tomorrow, will mention the possible blockage to her and see what she says. Will also try the calpol as I have some in anyway.
Thanks for the offer threelittlepiggies, but if I can get 20mls in every feed we'll be ok.
 
Laura-CCC4

He is having 0.5mls 3 times a day (although missed one today as he was at Pam's house), started this Monday evening.
 
The Daktarin schedule is good, do keep it up; I found it can take until the middle of the second week before you notice any difference. There may be no physical sign of an oral fungal problem, the mouth can look pink and healthy but still be sore/feel strange for them and sometimes that's enough to stop them eating. It may be worth revisiting Pam in another week if you can, if there's no change, just to check that the teeth don't overgrow while he's not eating for himself.

Well done on the syringe-feeds too, it's a great achievement once you've got the knack, it makes a big difference when they're getting more substantial feeds in them. :)

Fingers crossed for Wotsit!
 
Sending Wotsit some healing and good munching vibes. Hope his new friend has a positive effect on him. x
 
No change in Wotsit, no worse no better. So far there is nothing wrong with this teeth or visibly wrong with his mouth. I am giving him Daktarin just in case. He has a 4 week old friend to see if he can give him something to live for. The vet has prescribed trimethroprim for him, and I have found a chemist open on Easter Sunday to get it, in case he has an underlying infection somewhere, he can't tolerate Baytril so I hope he is ok with this.
Feel like I have covered all possibilities. Not having him xrayed as I know they will want to do it under GA. Really suspect it won't show anything up anyway. So fingers crossed, if any of this is going to work I think we'll see an improvement in a week, if not I don't know what else to do.
 
Septrin (trimethoprim) is a gentle antibiotic, it tends to be tolerated better than Baytril in many pigs and should tackle any bacterial infection that may be causing Wotsit's symptoms. I hope having a friend also helps to cheer him up.
 
Really glad to hear that at least he's not any worse today.

Can't remember if you said...Are you giving him a probiotic whilst he's on antibiotics? Might be worth doing so, if not already, just to keep his tummy as settled as possible.

And about x-rays, have they actually said that they only do them under GA? Just wondering, as many Vets won't even prescribe Septrin for guinea pigs, so it may be that yours is willing to do things which other (less Cavy savvy) Vets wouldn't even consider doing e.g. conscious x-rays. Just a thought.

Still keeping everything crossed for you all x
 
wotsitsmum said:
So fingers crossed, if any of this is going to work I think we'll see an improvement in a week, if not I don't know what else to do.
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As disheartening as it sounds, especially given you have a busy home life as well as poorly Wotsit, it can take some weeks for a guinea pig to start eating independently again, especially when the cause seems to be a mystery. There are treatment options beyond this, but it's important to cover the basics first, and this may take a bit of time:

1. Teeth - even though Pam has found them to be fine, I do feel it's worth having them checked every week while he's not eating for himself, as they can overgrow quickly;
2. Oral fungal infection - the three week course of Daktarin Oral Gel should help to tackle this;
3. Oral bacterial infection - the Septrin he is currently on will deal with some types of bacterial infection, although there are specific throat infections with different treatment that may be worth considering if there is no improvement in the coming weeks.

You do have to take it one step at a time, and give each treatment a chance to work, and of course through all this he'll have to be syringe-fed. Is he still taking the good 20ml feeds, a few times a day? Again, good work on getting the knack of that.
 
Yes he is on fibreplex which contains a probiotic.

I know this isn't going to down well but I also have to consider what I am doing to Wotsit, there is going to be a fine line between doing all I can to try and get him better and making him even more miserable than he already is. He is attempting to eat on occasions, so I think if we get to the point where he can/wants to then he will do. He is already very weak and although I am as careful and loving as I can be I know that syringe feeding him is stressing him out, that can't be doing him any good. I do believe it is up to Wotsit now (obviously with me giving him as much help as I can), and I do believe that in a week I will have some idea as to whether or not he can cope with the regime that I am putting him through. I really don't want to lose Wotsit don't get me wrong, I love him to bits, I am just trying to be a realist.
 
I am also very greatful to the suggestions re syringe feeding and treatment that people have given me on here.
 
wotsitsmum

I know what you are saying but a rule of thumb is if they want to eat but can't seem to, hand feed them. If it's uncomfortable to eat, find the cause and eliminate it. Pig will eat and live.
 
wotsitsmum

I know what you are saying but a rule of thumb is if they want to eat but can't seem to, hand feed them. If it's uncomfortable to eat, find the cause and eliminate it. Pig will eat and live.
 
It's a desperately sad situation and I'm sure that you're doing your very best - it really sounds like you're doing everything you can. I know how terribly difficult it is to feel helpless though and can truly empathise with that.

I'm just sorry that I don't have more experience/knowledge in order to help you further. I guess it's a waiting game so just keep doing what you're doing but please don't lose hope. You just never know x
 
Just tried to syringe feed Wotsit, all that happened was that he sat with it in his mouth, I tried to encourage him to swollow it, and some he did, I ended up having to swill the unswallowed food out with water, yet half an hour ago he tried to eat some broccoli, I found it in his mouth uneaten. I put him back in his home, he shook himself and fell over, then very unsteadily staggered back into his bed.
 
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