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2 new boys from Gumtree, one seriously ill!

Nicolaj36

Nicolaj36

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IMG_20181106_180758302.webp So I posted the other night about my new guinea pigs which I had just rehomed asking if he was male or female....so here is pic as requested :love: Unfortunately, his brother, has come to me seriously ill. When they arrived on Sunday night he was very weak and not eating, but I assumed he was stressed from the journey and left him alone. I realised yesterday he was a wee bag of bones, was unable to eat and could only take tiny sips of water if I held the bottle to his lips. It is so sad to see. He's been to the vet who suspects a chest infection, but he must have had it for some time considering how thin he is, he was given injections at the vet and sent home with Baytril. The vet is not optimistic, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. He's a lovely boy, with a fighting spirit, as everytime I was trying to persuade him to eat with mashed up pellets, banana, etc, his wee head was lifting and he was looking at me as if to say "I really want to, I just cant", he's already stole my heart.
 
Nicolaj36 said:
View attachment 99766 So I posted the other night about my new guinea pigs which I had just rehomed asking if he was male or female....so here is pic as requested :love: Unfortunately, his brother, has come to me seriously ill. When they arrived on Sunday night he was very weak and not eating, but I assumed he was stressed from the journey and left him alone. I realised yesterday he was a wee bag of bones, was unable to eat and could only take tiny sips of water if I held the bottle to his lips. It is so sad to see. He's been to the vet who suspects a chest infection, but he must have had it for some time considering how thin he is, he was given injections at the vet and sent home with Baytril. The vet is not optimistic, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. He's a lovely boy, with a fighting spirit, as everytime I was trying to persuade him to eat with mashed up pellets, banana, etc, his wee head was lifting and he was looking at me as if to say "I really want to, I just cant", he's already stole my heart.
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Hi!

I am so sorry that your boy has been let down so badly by his previous owners. Please always give any piggies that are not from a good standard rescue a check upon arrival and arrange a vet check for very soon after. Far too many people will lie through their teeth when they want to be rid of unwanted pets - and the risks are all on your side.
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)

Are you syringe feeding recovery formula and water if he is not eating? Please take the time to properly read our syringe feeding guide as your measures are OK as a stop gap, but you need more fibre in the diet to give him the strength - remember that over 80% of the daily food intake is hay - and that is what is keeping the guts going and balanced. Far too many people fail because they underfeed and feed too much fruit and veg, which is less than ideal.
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Syringe Feeding & Medicating Guides, Probiotics Links, First Aid Kit...

Has your vet checked the teeth and the guts for GI stasis (no gut movement/sounds in the gut), which happens when a piggy is not eating for too long?

Fingers VERY firmly crossed!
 
Willow and Sky, he's the healthy one, didn't stop eating pellets when he came in at first.
 
That is so sad, and you did the right thing taking him on and getting him checked out by a vet so quickly. Hope he pulls through with syringe feeding.
 
Hi Wiebke,

I live 3 hours away from where they came from so I just had email contact and took them on trust. They were delivered to me by someone else. However, as much as I think it's a disgusting thing to do, I am glad they are now with me and at least getting a small chance rather than just being left in a cage to die.

Can I get recovery formula on Amazon?

My daughter took him to the vet as I am ill just now and couldn't get out, however I did speak to the vet on the phone and explained his teeth needed checked, as well as explaining everything else to him.

He's really not looking good tonight....but like you said, fingers crossed!
 
Nicolaj36 said:
Hi Wiebke,

I live 3 hours away from where they came from so I just had email contact and took them on trust. They were delivered to me by someone else. However, as much as I think it's a disgusting thing to do, I am glad they are now with me and at least getting a small chance rather than just being left in a cage to die.

Can I get recovery formula on Amazon?

My daughter took him to the vet as I am ill just now and couldn't get out, however I did speak to the vet on the phone and explained his teeth needed checked, as well as explaining everything else to him.

He's really not looking good tonight....but like you said, fingers crossed!
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Should be able to get it on Amazon. I'm pretty sure I got critical care next day on Amazon prime before
 
Sending lots of healing vibes x
 
You should be able to get Critical Care food from your vet which you can syringe feed him with. Good luck, hope he pulls through x
 
Veggies Galore said:
You can get recovery formula on Amazon . However, I feel you may need something sooner for tonight one of the link ( this one Complete Syringe Feeding Guide ) suggest any pelleted food can be soaked to use as syringe feed . I haven't needed to do this myself - but I have been told by Cavy Corner that Harringtons mash quite well.
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I used mashed up Harringtons as an emergency syringe food and they do mash up well with luke warm water.
 
Nicolaj36 said:
Hi Wiebke,

I live 3 hours away from where they came from so I just had email contact and took them on trust. They were delivered to me by someone else. However, as much as I think it's a disgusting thing to do, I am glad they are now with me and at least getting a small chance rather than just being left in a cage to die.

Can I get recovery formula on Amazon?

My daughter took him to the vet as I am ill just now and couldn't get out, however I did speak to the vet on the phone and explained his teeth needed checked, as well as explaining everything else to him.

He's really not looking good tonight....but like you said, fingers crossed!
Click to expand...

Yes, you can get the recovery formula from amazon or one of the online vet supply places like hyperdrug, viovet etc, - they'll come up when you google. You can find a list of recovery formula products in our syringe feeding guide (with recommendations).

In an emergency you can feed mushed up pellets and if your piggy doesn't like the critical care, mix it up with some of his regular pellets (mushed up). In this case you'll have to cut off the syringe tip as shown in order to allow any fibre to come through. With a very ill piggy it is generally a case of whatever you can get down whichever way, as long as you can get as much as possible in. Please be careful in not just shooting food in; give only so much in one go (0.1- 0.3 ml) to a weak piggy that it is not more than it can swallow and make sure that the previous lot has gone in before you give more. It is not a quick process.

Please check whether he is still able to pee. A blocked ureter or urethra needs to be seen within 24 hours; it is extremely painful and life threatening. That is the worst case scenario, so please don't panic! if necessary keep him on a rag, so you can feel for dampness.
 
When I syringe fed my piggies every 3 lots of syringe food I would give them some water.
 
He's gone! I last checked him at 9pm. He was in the bedroom in the pet carrier as I thought it would be more calming and peaceful there for him. When I checked him at 9 he was alive, not great, but alive. I read your replies and the syringe feeding guide and mashed up pellets and went to attempt to give him some, and he's passed. I feel so sad. Poor wee boy. RIP.
 
Oh I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm sure he will have known his last few hours were somewhere different where he was feeling cared for. He is now at the Rainbow Bridge, out of pain and in his prime with lots of lovely food and hay and everything he could wish for. Sleep well little piggy.
 
I'm so sorry, but I want to say THANK YOU so much on his behalf for trying so hard to save him.
 
I am so sorry, it’s heartbreaking to see the condition people let their piggies get into. You did your absolute best for him. Sadly it was just too late for him. Huge hugs x
 
I’m so sorry for your loss, no one could have done anymore for him and I’m sure he knew you loved him. Sleep tight little piggie x
 
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