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Difficulty with syringe feeding

L

Lawzdot

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Yesterday we noticed that my guinea pig was very lethargic and not eating. Took her to the emergency vet who said she thought she had an issue with her molars but they did not have the expertise to deal with that there and then. They gave her an opioid injection and gave us meloxicam and critical care to feed her at home until we could see a vet on Monday.
Last night we managed to get around 20 ml of critical care down her but this morning she is just not swallowing it and it is mostly just dribbling back out or it is sitting in her mouth. We are only giving her about 0.5ml at a time.
We left her and tried about an hour later but same thing. Now she is grunting while breathing so I am worried she has aspirated some of the food.

I don’t know what to do for the best. I know we need to try and get some food in her to stop statis but I don’t know how to get her to swallow it.

I will be taking her to the vet first thing tomorrow.
 
Lawzdot said:
Yesterday we noticed that my guinea pig was very lethargic and not eating. Took her to the emergency vet who said she thought she had an issue with her molars but they did not have the expertise to deal with that there and then. They gave her an opioid injection and gave us meloxicam and critical care to feed her at home until we could see a vet on Monday.
Last night we managed to get around 20 ml of critical care down her but this morning she is just not swallowing it and it is mostly just dribbling back out or it is sitting in her mouth. We are only giving her about 0.5ml at a time.
We left her and tried about an hour later but same thing. Now she is grunting while breathing so I am worried she has aspirated some of the food.

I don’t know what to do for the best. I know we need to try and get some food in her to stop statis but I don’t know how to get her to swallow it.

I will be taking her to the vet first thing tomorrow.
Click to expand...
She is about 3.5 years old by the way.
 
I’m sorry to hear this.
If she is not able to swallow (rather than choosing not to swallow) and is now having breathing issues she needs to go back to the vet straight away today rather than waiting until tomorrow

I hope she is ok
 
Hi

HUGS

I am very sorry. I am keeping my fingers very firmly crossed. Please see a vet as quickly as possible.

If you can't get to a vet, you may find the advice in this guide here helpful, especially chapters 2 and 3 - working out whether your piggy may be dying or not (which is where you are currently at) and what happens during a natural dying process at home.

It's not a guide I like to link in but it can allow you to constantly assess the situation and talk you through the process step by step when a vet is not available in time. My thoughts are with you and your beloved one.
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs
 
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