Critical care

[PiggyMummy84]

Bubblegum our 2.5 year old piggy had a dental op last weekend and is still not eating hay but has started eating small amounts of fruit and leafy green. He's eaten the odd pellet. He was eating the cc easily and lots of it to begin with from the syringe but now it's becoming difficult getting him to take it, I'm having to force feed it to him. I've only managed to get about 25ml down him today. Any idea how much he should be having? Also I'm really struggling during the week to feed him every 4 hours as i work as a teacher full time and isn't always easy to get home. Thanks in advance

 

[Swissgreys]

It's great your boy has started eating small amounts on his own again.

To work out how much additional food (critical care) he needs will depend a lot on his weight.
He needs to be weighed daily at the same time and the goal is to keep his weight stable.
What has his weight been like since surgery?
And what meds is he currently on?

Also hay really is the most important part of the diet - does he have access to unlimited amounts in different locations around his cage?

 

[Betsy]

If bubblegum is finding it difficult to eat hay, he may eat grass. You need to start on small amounts first to prepare his stomach as grass is quite rich and can upset them if given too much too soon.

 

[PiggyMummy84]

Thank you for your reply, he is 1kg in weight at the moment. He has had some grass which he seems to eat easier but the grass is wet where i live at the moment so he can't eat it.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thank you for your reply, he is 1kg in weight at the moment. He has had some grass which he seems to eat easier but the grass is wet where i live at the moment so he can't eat it.

You can pick the grass and lay it out on paper towels to dry

 

[PiggyMummy84]

I'll do that thank you, hope much cc should i be giving him? He's eating some fruit and green leaves and I've been getting about 35ml into him during the day. It's this enough do you think?

 

[Piggies&buns]

I'll do that thank you, hope much cc should i be giving him? He's eating some fruit and green leaves and I've been getting about 35ml into him during the day. It's this enough do you think?

It’s his daily weight checks which must be your guide as to how much syringe feed he needs. If his weight drops daily, then he isn’t getting enough. The syringe feeding directly replaces the hay he isn’t eating for himself and in a piggy who isn’t any eating any hay then you aim for at least 60ml in a 24 hour period - as I say, it’s his weight checks which must be your guide though.
Eating veg which only makes up 15% of their daily so is merely a snack, and fruit (which should only ever be a once a week treat due to the sugars) doesn’t count. It’s the fibre from hay, piggies need for gut function and weight gain.

 

[Merab]

One trick I have used is to put a small dish of critical care with some mashed banana added into the cage.
It’s easy to eat and encourages a piggy to eat for itself.
A dish with some plain oats mixed with grated carrot or sweet potato also helps

 

[PiggyMummy84]

Thanks I'll try that but he has a brother pig with him who is so greedy he'll probably scoff the lot

 

[G&C]

Bubblegum our 2.5 year old piggy had a dental op last weekend and is still not eating hay but has started eating small amounts of fruit and leafy green. He's eaten the odd pellet. He was eating the cc easily and lots of it to begin with from the syringe but now it's becoming difficult getting him to take it, I'm having to force feed it to him. I've only managed to get about 25ml down him today. Any idea how much he should be having? Also I'm really struggling during the week to feed him every 4 hours as i work as a teacher full time and isn't always easy to get home. Thanks in advance

If he’s struggling to take it, maybe there is an issue with his teeth again? They grind down their teeth when chewing on ‘rough’ forage such as hay, kale grass etc. Or it could be painful for him to chew is he on any pain relief? you’re doing great