• 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

Wotsit is still not eating

  • Thread starter Thread starter wotsitsmum
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Poor little mite.

The only way I know of encouraging pigs to swallow, when syringe feeding, is to wiggle the syringe around a little bit, in their mouth - this action sometimes prompts them to move their tongue about and swallow.

I don't know whether or not this is worth trying, but some people give their piggies Bach Rescue Remedy in times of stress. I know this is not likely to cure his problem(s), but perhaps might soothe him a little? Haven't tried it myself yet but I'm sure somebody else here could advise further re suitability.

Have you spoken to the CCT since seeing the Rodentologist? Just wondering if it might be worth seeing if she has any further advice, bearing in mind that Pam couldn't find anything wrong.

You said that you couldn't get to the CCT. As threelittlepiggies is located near you, perhaps she knows of another Rodentologist not too far away?

If it's any consolation, I'm really rooting for little Wotsit and willing him on, as I'm sure everyone else here is, who has heard his plight x
 
Is there any news on Wotsit today?

I do understand what you are saying, there is a chance he will make the decision to not go through the 'rigour' of the necessary syringe-feedings and I can see your thoughts on whether it's fair to put him through something he gets so distressed by. You do have to play it by ear, but as long as he's interested in his surroundings (i.e. not sat hunched, facing a corner, and not bothering to move or attempt to eat at all) then keep trying to stick with it, he could turn a corner at any time. It is good he's trying to eat, although I do remember how sad it is watching a pig who wants to eat, but simply takes a bite and loses heart; your own heart sinks too - even if everything else is going great.

Rescue Remedy may be worth a try to reduce stress, your choice, dose is 1-2 drops on the tongue or 1-2 drops rubbed into the back of the ear.
 
No change in Wotsit at all, hasn't tried to eat that I have seen but I haven't put their veggies in yet. He spends all day sat in his bedtime bit, doesn't even come out when the baby one is exploring (he ends up talking to the guinea pig in the cage next to it). He isn't visibly stressed by the syringe feeding but you can tell he isn't impressed. Will keep going, I'll not give in on him unless he gives in. I'm sure he will let me know what he want to do.
 
Really pleased to hear that you still feel full of fighting spirit, despite it being so disheartening and incredibly tough. Hang in there, alongside him. He's lucky to have you x
 
wotsitsmum said:
No change in Wotsit at all, hasn't tried to eat that I have seen but I haven't put their veggies in yet. He spends all day sat in his bedtime bit, doesn't even come out when the baby one is exploring (he ends up talking to the guinea pig in the cage next to it). He isn't visibly stressed by the syringe feeding but you can tell he isn't impressed. Will keep going, I'll not give in on him unless he gives in. I'm sure he will let me know what he want to do.
Click to expand...

If a pig goes to the point of no return, the digestive system packs up entirely and from then on, it's a one-way street I gather.

You must try and get him to eat or soon there will be no point. Is there ANY chance you can get him to Vedra or Alcesterpigs? If it's his teeth giving trouble, there is little point doing anything before they are sorted.
 
I don't know if you can ask, or if there's a way for them to check but could your vet check if there is anything lodged in his throat that's maybe preventing him from eating? We lost a pig recently and the circumstances sound very similar, seemed to want to eat but for some reason couldn't, tried syringe feeding her but in the end she wouldn't swallow and the vet said she had a growth in her throat which was stopping her from being able to swallow, and in the end she couldn't breath properly. We had to have her pts but had we known from the beginning maybe things would have turned out differently.
 
He has been swallowing most of his syringe feeds and not losing weight. Some feeds he just doesn't want. He just doesn't seems bothered anymore. He hardly greets the baby pig when it rushes up to him. Don't think there is anything stuck in his throat. Plus the vet told me he did have a good look in his mouth and throat.

Threelittlepiggies I have been syringe feeding him 5 or 6 times a day, some feeds he will not take, I am aware that their systems pack therefore he has never gone without food. And three different people have said there is nothing wrong with his teeth, dragging him to someone else will not give a different diagnosis on his teeth. No-one can explain why he isn't eating, whether vet or rodentologist.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The specific issue regarding seeing different people is with the teeth overgrowing while he's not eating for himself, so where there's no problem on day one, on day eight there may well be, and different people may be able to spot something another might not. But yes, I agree that of three people, at least one should surely have spotted anything abnormal enough with the teeth.

If you are confident it's not the teeth, then an oral/throat infection would be the next problem to consider, which you're already doing. Are you giving any pain relief at all, or is it just the Daktarin and Septrin?
 
Don't know why that all came out in bold.

I have been going round in circles for weeks with Wotsit, and all the trips to the vets/rodentologist are making him even more miserable.

Gems thank you for the thought.

I think he is maybe worse today because of the antibiotics but that puts us in a catch 22, he doesn't tollerate them yet an infection won't clear up without them.

I can not take his to Cambridge or anywhere really too far away as I have 20 month and 4 month old daughters.
 
He has had pain killers but they made no difference to his eating or his disposition.

I think maybe he has just had enough, no one can find anything actually wrong with him. Perhaps it could be a tumour or a degenerative condition. I don't know either. All I do know it that that isn't my happy little 3 year old piggy sat there anymore.
 
If you're able to get hold of a probiotic, it may help with a mild antibiotic intolerance. Pets at Home sell one called Pro-C probiotic, or you can ask at a local pharmacy for some acidophilus capsules.

I can sympathise on travelling with young children, especially very young twins, I have a three year old brother and sister, always been a huge effort to get anywhere just with them, never mind the piggies too. rolleyes
 
he's on a probiotic, I really am trying to cover all possibilities but sadly I think I am slowly losing.
 
I believe pain relief would be a good step to take next then - 0.2ml children's Nurofen or Calpol, up to twice daily. It may help raise his mood, if pain is part of what is making him miserable.

(Sorry I missed that he's already on a probiotic. mallethead)
 
I'm so sorry your having to go through this, it's soul destroying to see them giving up, sometimes no matter how hard you try you just can't do anything to help them though. I battled with the decision of syringing my gp to keep her alive, but in the end she had no quality of life so it wasn't fair on her. She was in a much worse state though and was losing alot of weight on a daily basis. As others have said no-one knows your piggie as well as you do so only you will know whats best for him.
 
Gems you have just hit the nail on the head. It is down to quality of life and what is fair on the little piggy.
Some days he loses weight and others I manage to get him to put it back on.

A typical day, I get him out of his bed section, he doesn't fight while I wrap him for feeding, I give him his meds and food, cuddle him, kiss him etc, put him in his home, he staggers to bed where he sits puffed up not moving until the next time I feed him. This is repeated each time I feed/medicate him.

Wotsit was a greedy happy 1150g Guinea pig, he is now an unhappy 915g piggy. I can feel his back bone and his hips.

And yet I keep trying. Is it fair on him?
 
wotsitsmum said:
Gems you have just hit the nail on the head. It is down to quality of life and what is fair on the little piggy.
Some days he loses weight and others I manage to get him to put it back on.

A typical day, I get him out of his bed section, he doesn't fight while I wrap him for feeding, I give him his meds and food, cuddle him, kiss him etc, put him in his home, he staggers to bed where he sits puffed up not moving until the next time I feed him. This is repeated each time I feed/medicate him.

Wotsit was a greedy happy 1150g Guinea pig, he is now an unhappy 915g piggy. I can feel his back bone and his hips.

And yet I keep trying. Is it fair on him?
Click to expand...

Apologies - I wasn't trying to belittle your experience or efforts. Just making sure.

If his teeth are OK, you have done the Daktarin and neurofen and still nothing doing, there might well be a sinister reason for his steady decline.

I'm on a similar path but my pig's still relatively bright. Am convinced teeth aren't her main problem but adding to it as she doesn't eat regularly for herself. It's wearying, worrying and frankly, with little ones as well, you really don't need it.

If you want to talk to someone who will probably give you the very best advice for this case, let me know. I think you can get my e-mail off here as your PM facility won't be working yet.
 
I really don't want to lose Wotsit, but to see him like this is heart breaking, last week he was still quite perky, this week when I let him out all he wants to do is run away and hide. Not even the baby pig chutting and exploring is making him interested.
When it runs back to him he just lifts his head and gives it a little sniff.
Wish he could tell me what is wrong.
 
Really sorry to hear that there is no improvement and that you're feeling so exasperated (understandably so). Your account of his typical day sounds truly heartbreaking, as anyone who has also had the misfortune to helplessly observe the sad demise of their beloved guinea pig would agree. I've been there myself and can really empathise.

I understand that you can't travel (for various reasons) and you feel that you've exhausted all possibilities but perhaps you could consider threelittlepiggies offer to put you in touch with someone. As you can't visit then even just a phone call may help somewhat?

I completely understand that you've 'been round the houses' already, as it were. I gather that threelittlepiggies has a very experienced and knowledgeable contact and, knowing how this is all taking its toll on you, I'm sure threelittlepiggies would only offer this help if she really thought that it could be of benefit.

Please don't be offended by my comments - I know you're dedicated to your piggy, dealing with everything brilliantly, and you've already pursued more help than most would even consider....I just wonder if a quick call could perhaps be worth a try, when your options sadly seem very limited. We're just trying to help but, at the end of the day, fully appreciate that it's up to you to decide what's best for you and your piggy and respect your personal choices.

Take care, all of you x
 
I have to agree, all through this thread I have been thinking I know just the person who excels in this area, if you are able to email threelittlepiggies to get that contact then I would really recommend it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top