• 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

Castration, Should They Eat?

Status
Not open for further replies.
I am sorry you are going through this - it sounds like they were sent home too early.
But take a deep breath - you can do this.
Firstly it is good they are both so out of it - it means it is more likely something in their system causing them both to be so dopey, as opposed to one of them having a bad reaction to something.
The dopiness will wear off - you just need to keep them going.
You are doing everything you can - keep feeding and giving them water.
Make sure they are warm, but not too hot.
Place a fleece pad underneath them so it can b easily changed if it gets wet and dirty.

I would ask the emergency vet what they actually plan to do with them.
If they stay at the vet will there be someone present overnight to keep up with syringe feeding and watering?

Good luck - you are doing fine and the best for your boys.
 
I am so sorry. I felt exactly like you as Tyrone chewed at his and had to have emergency surgery a few days later.
All because I wanted him to live a long happy life with the girls.
The vets are to blame for letting them out early.
I am sure if you syringe feed them they will be fine until morning then you really need to ask for some pain relief for them. If they aren't pooping though that's cause for concern. It was touch and go with Tyrone but he is fully recovered now as will your boys be soon. But he did poop and pee straight away. X
 
is it ok to give another pain relief medication? Even though they have had loxicom?

Thank you everyone for your kind words :( xxxxx
 
I would not give anything else tonight without knowing what they were given at the vets, the pain killing injection will last until tomorrow, assuming they had it, I would be surprised if they haven't had one.
 
Hi all,
A little update.
Today I took them to the vets and they were given fluids, and was sent home with a gut stimulant, and loxicom pain relief.

I have gave them 5ml each of critical care, and will be given them more later when there settled more. I have tried tempting them with a little celery and they have had a little nibble on it.

They produced pee and poop in the vets as he squeezed their bellys but the vet said he thinks they are holding it in because they are in pain..

Fingers crossed for my little boys :( xx
 
Urm it begins with M? And they have to have that twice a day and the doses are 0.3 and 0.35, they also had loxicom earlier which is only the once.

I would tell you the exact name because it's upstairs, but I've let them rest and don't want to disturb them by going in the room again
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Which gut stimulants have you been given and at what doses? How often have you been told to give them?
Click to expand...

Erm it begins with M? And they have to have that twice a day and the doses are 0.3 and 0.35, they also had loxicom earlier which is only the once.

I would tell you the exact name because it's upstairs, but I've let them rest and don't want to disturb them by going in the room again
 
Hi is there anyway I can physically force Biscuit to pee/poo? He still hasn't and it's worrying me because I'm syringe feeding him but nothing well maybe like one poo, is coming back out.
 
The reduced output reflect what your piggy has (or hasn't) been eating in the past day -- don't worry a huge amount about the lack of poops at the moment. As long as you keep up with the syringe feeding and gut stimulants, you'll soon see some poos (though they might be very small). The single poo is a good sign -- at least your piggy isn't completely stopped up.

It can be a worrying time getting your piggy (or piggies) through an operation, as they can be very dopey from the pain meds. Make sure hay, water, and pellets are close to them as possible in their cage, and try and tempt them to eat on their own with a tiny bit of grass or their favourite treat -- not too much though as it might upset their tummies. Also make sure you have a fleece hidey or a covered hot water bottle in the cage, as your piggy might not have a good time regulating their own body heat at the moment.

Tonight will be hard -- try to offer them some syringe feed every 4 hours minimum. My boys only took 3ml a sitting the first night but they got a lot brighter on the second day after the pain meds wore off.
 
Just read through your thread, it's reassuring to see someone else experience the same as I have! Little update after biscuits last feed he pooped a few times! They are obviously abit funny shaped, and quite watery - but I'm glad there's poops! He also nippled on a little hay. He has had 20ml of syringe feed so far today, and will give him some more at 3am if he hasn't had a munch on food.

Biscuit my other pig, seems to have chirped up, he was caught gnawing at his wood block earlier and then at a few nuggets. He is producing a few poops now, and as I have seen him eat himself and climb for his hay, I have only syringe fed him about 10ml today.

The poos appear quite wet? not diarrhoea though at all, there defiantly formed. Is this normal? theh did have fluids at the vets, and I gave them around 10ml earlier of water with their feed.

These piggies are going to put me in an early grave, they worry me sick!
 
Glad they're on the up-and-up. The wet poos are very slight diarrhoea due to the gut stimulant. Just make sure you keep syringing water as well as food, you're doing all the right things. My boys loved Avi-pro mixed into their water, it also helped to settle the guts a little.

If you're worried, get a packet of dioralyte from the chemist, make it up with water and syringe it into them -- it'll help replace lost electrolytes.
 
Buttons was a NIGHTMARE to syringe feed last night and again tonight. It's so hard because I can't be too firm as I'll hurt his belly. However he is doing not many poos but when they are coming out there reasonably good poos, more of a brown colour than black. Does this mean he must be getting the right amount of food? I'm wondering whether he is eating on his own more and I'm not realising.

Also (sorry millions of questions) I gave them their gut stimulant and loxicom yesturday at 1pm. When's the earliest I can give it to them again?

Thanks
 
Have you tried feeding Buttons when he's sitting upright on his bottom on say a desk or dining-room table, his back pressed against your chest? I feel like that's the only way I could feed my Tubs. You can have your nondominant hand around their chest, with your index finger under their chin. That way you can keep the head somewhat still as you insert the syringe behind the tongue. Less wriggling too. You need to be firm, unfortunately -- it's a case of being cruel to be kind. Just make sure you don't syringe more at once than they can eat (about 0.3ml). Keep the syringe in the mouth while you're waiting for them to chew as well, just withdraw it very slightly. Makes things a little easier.

Those poos do sound positive, though the syringe feeding sounds tricky, you're doing an alright job! Are you weighing once daily? That's the best way to figure out if and how much he's eating on his own.

Best to check your vet's prescription for the gut stimulant and loxicom; there should be a sticker on the bottles or boxes stating exactly how much should be given and how often. Loxicom is usually given once a day (though I do know some people split the dose in half and give one half in the AM, and one PM), so next time you could give it is 1pm. I gave about 0.3ml of gut stimulant every 12 hours, but if in doubt phone the duty vet and ask! I'm guessing your piggy is on metoclopramide?
 
I tried all the techniques for syringe feeding, literally everything and nothing works for buttons. He just uses his legs to kick off me, to the point where if I hold him any tighter he is going to be hurt especially because he was neutered and had a little fatty lump removed also on his belly. I'm wondering whether the syringe is too thick, as it fits in his mouth, but he is really struggling and wiggling around, and before when I had to syringe feed him he was a little nightmare but not half as bad as today! (Also could be the pain relief is starting to ware of maybe?)

Biscuit however is a gem to syringe feed! thankfully as he is the one that isn't eating much at all.

I'm at work tomorrow so I'm not sure how I'm going to work out the syringe feeding times, as I start at 8am and finish at 4pm, and only get a half hour lunch break so won't have time to get back :( xx
 
Kirsty said:
I tried all the techniques for syringe feeding, literally everything and nothing works for buttons. He just uses his legs to kick off me, to the point where if I hold him any tighter he is going to be hurt especially because he was neutered and had a little fatty lump removed also on his belly. I'm wondering whether the syringe is too thick, as it fits in his mouth, but he is really struggling and wiggling around, and before when I had to syringe feed him he was a little nightmare but not half as bad as today! (Also could be the pain relief is starting to ware of maybe?)

Biscuit however is a gem to syringe feed! thankfully as he is the one that isn't eating much at all.

I'm at work tomorrow so I'm not sure how I'm going to work out the syringe feeding times, as I start at 8am and finish at 4pm, and only get a half hour lunch break so won't have time to get back :( xx
Click to expand...

Also! Buttons has started biting the hell out of me when I syringe feed him too! I have nibble marks all up my arms and even on my boobs where I've tried to restrain him!
 
Have you tried wrapping Buttons in something like a towel, so his legs aren't free for him to struggle with? Not so tight that he can't move at all obviously, but enough to maybe keep him still enough for syringe feeding?
 
Lorcan said:
Have you tried wrapping Buttons in something like a towel, so his legs aren't free for him to struggle with? Not so tight that he can't move at all obviously, but enough to maybe keep him still enough for syringe feeding?
Click to expand...

Yep tried that! He also sees the towel coming and scarpers! Then he panics :(
 
Kirsty said:
Yep tried that! He also sees the towel coming and scarpers! Then he panics :(
Click to expand...

Yeah, I figured it was a long shot. Comet used to just bunch himself into a fat ball then when you were finished wrapping, he'd stretch out and no more wrapping. They're good at this kinda stuff.

Sorry I can't help though. You have my sympathy, dosing unwilling piggies is no mean feat.
 
Lorcan said:
Yeah, I figured it was a long shot. Comet used to just bunch himself into a fat ball then when you were finished wrapping, he'd stretch out and no more wrapping. They're good at this kinda stuff.

Sorry I can't help though. You have my sympathy, dosing unwilling piggies is no mean feat.
Click to expand...
Thank you though x
 
If your getting stressed out they will be able to sense it chick. You'll be okay and you love them lots obviously so just try your best x
 
Important medical question..

If I give my pigs their loxicom and Meta(something or over) the gut stimulant at 1pm today. Can I give it to them before work at 7am? As otherwise they won't be able to have it until 4pm so will most likely not eat as the pain.

However they have the gut stimulant twice a day will have that again at 9pm tonight. Can that be given at 7am as well?

Thanks
 
Thereve gone backwards :( buttons is now not eating at all again and just sleeping. Biscuit has come out a couple times and had a slight nibble and that's it :( I fed them at 8pm so I'm likely to have to feed them again at 12. I don't no how I'm going to get buttons to do it again, he struggled and stresses so so much. I'm struggling myself to put him through it
 
Hi ,I'm sorry you are experiencing difficulties.You can give loxicom at 7am along with metaclopromide,both should be given as near to 12 hours apart as you are able,would you be able to give meds at 7am and 7pm?I would take them both back to the vet monday if they are still not eating for themselves.Can anyone else help you feeding the critical care,to give you a break.I hope both boys improve soon.xx
 
My mum helped me earlier- and it made it that little bit easier. But not at 12oclock st night she won't ☹️

Yeah I didn't get a response on here so I spoke to a woman from a local rescue. She suggested I gave half of the loxicom dose at 1pm then the other half loxicom dose at 7.30. So then I can give the full dose at 7.30am tomorrow. She said it will be better because not as much will be in the system. I did the same for the gut stimulant.

I don't understand. Buttons is now doing like very small circle poos.
 
Do you have a t-shirt that you can put in the pigs house? Use it to pick them up with. It will have their scent and your scent on it (it's what I do). I know your piggies are poorly but I've literally just started to handle my pigs on my own without help from anyone! It might make them feel a bit more safe and also you can wrap them in it loosely so that they feel a bit safer and can't kick you.

It will feel like a chore but the more you do it the easier it will get. Be firm but gentle. Don't think about what ifs, that's what was scaring me! Just do it get it done give them a cuddle and put them back home! You'll feel so much better once you've stopped worrying for one minute. It will be very hard but if you just chill and focus it will seem easier.

I hope they make a quick recovery, but try and focus on the positives! They made it through the operation till right now :) you can do this ❤ good luck and lots of piggies cuddles from my 3 x
 
The fact that he is still doing poos and had the energy to fight you for syringe feeding is actually good - even if u are finding it hard. Keep trying with the syringe feeds , use a tea towel to wrap him - you have to be quite determined. Have breaks in between for him and you. Are u using a 1ml syringe as per the feeding guide? Make sure the feed is not too thick so it will go in smoothly.
Have you got a plan for tomorrow? The vet should offer a day sitting service where they will syringe feed and medicate, usually doesn't cost lots. Can u get to vet early morning? Might help you go to work and know he will be fed during the day?
Also keep trying with bits of veg, posh hays etc. Fingers crossed for your boys to start mending.
 
My plan tomorrow is to medicate them at 7am with the full dosages. Hopefully this will start then feeding again. I only gave half doses today because of the time difference for tomorrow as I'm back at work, do you think that's what caused them to feel pain and not want to eat again? biscuit has had a tiny bit of Kale from me. At half 12 I'm going to feed him and give him some water.

Then I'll be at work until half 3! But I'm hoping to go to my vets to get some different critical care as I think buttons prefers the white stuff? The problem I have is my vet who is good with guinea pigs is in surgery Monday so won't be able to see her until Tuesday. So I'm not sure whether I should book in with her for Tuesday and just feed the other critical care tomorrow?
 
i would book them in to see the vet as soon as possible,continue with cc.you can order critical care from vet uk,also science recovery plus if your piggies prefere this.I believe the pain relief needs to be increased ,dose ,to twice daily.Pain can stop piggies eating.You are doing well,can you get to the vet tomorrow,or find someone to feed during the day ?x
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top