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Critical Care

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pinkyjo

pinkyjo

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Hiya as a new guinea pig owner and new to this forum I keep reading about giving Critical Care to guineas when they are not well. What is this and where do you get it. Also what other things would you recommend for a guinea pig first aid kit. Trying to learn as I go along. This is a really friendly forum and I know you knowledgable people will have some ideas. :)
 
Hi, welcome to the forum!

Critical care is the care given to an animal when they are very ill. They are operated on first and are watched at all times. Critical care is only given when a animal will die if it is not treated soom. Example; when Rosemary had a huge abcess by her skull she needed it drained soon, she was in critical care before her operation and was very well cared for in recoverey.

Here is a guinea pig first aid kit:

Antibiotic ointment for minor cuts or scrapes

Anti-itch spray for relief of itching, dermatitis and abrasions

Artificial tear gel

Bandages. Purchase an assortment of gauze and stretch bandages, and large and small gauze pads to cover wounds

Bitter Apple Spray. Its bitter taste keeps your guinea pig from licking her wounds

Cotton balls and swabs for applying just about everything

Ear wipes for wax and ear discharges

Eye wipes to clean eye discharge

First aid lotion

Flea & tick shampoo for flea control

Grease- cutting dishwashing detergent (mild) for cleaning wounds

Hydrogen peroxide solution (3%)
 
We have got several informative threads in our Guinea Pig Care Reference Section that you might find useful!

Here is the one about a first aid kit:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36634

Critical care is a hay based powder that you mix with water when a piggy stops eating for some reason. It is NOT a food supplement!

You will also hear us mention "prebiotics" - that is also a powder containing vital trace elements and nutrients which you give as an addition to food to help stabilising the digestive system, especially when a piggy is on antibiotics or recovering from a tummy bug. Always ask your vet to prescribe some when a piggy needs antibiotics!
 
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Critical care is a powdered food that smells of aniseed which is given to Guinea pigs when they are ill and not eating properly of their own accord. I have just been syringe feeding one of our Guineas, Zippy who has just had an operation.
Critical care can be purchased from any good vets.
 
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