Elderly Girl being Syringe Fed

[Stripeyrache]

Hello,
Our elderly girl Delilah (who is very nearly 6, her birthday is this Saturday) has gone off her food completely. We saw the vet this morning, unfortunately our exotics specialist we normally see is on annual leave, but one of the other lovely vets saw us. She has no temperature, her mouth looks fine, her tummy feels good. We’ve got some painkillers for her and some critical care which I’m mixing and syringe feeding her little and often.

The vet said if she’s not picking up tomorrow we can bring her back and they can try some antibiotics, they just didn’t want to overload anything today.

She’s exceptionally quiet and just hanging out in her log hidey or tucking herself right up in her cuddle sack. Feel quite sad, we’ve had her since she was a baby, she and her sister were our first piggies. Her sister sadly passed two years ago, and Delilah has been lucky to have some lovely friends since. She lives with Pumpkin now who is being very sweet giving her space but also popping over and giving her a little groom now and then too.

I’m not sure what I’m asking really! Maybe just a bit of a hand hold? And any tips or guidance about what to expect or look out for.

 

[CTWC]

Hi hands to hold, virtual hugs and understanding always available

 

[CTWC]

Well done for getting her to the vet quickly it can be vital especially with older guineas. Have you found the link for caring for older guineas on here if not I can try and find the link

 

[weepweeps]

I’m sorry Delilah is feeling unwell. I hope the pain killers work quickly and she’s soon feeling better. You are doing everything you can. Sending you hugs and healing vibes to Delilah.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello,
Our elderly girl Delilah (who is very nearly 6, her birthday is this Saturday) has gone off her food completely. We saw the vet this morning, unfortunately our exotics specialist we normally see is on annual leave, but one of the other lovely vets saw us. She has no temperature, her mouth looks fine, her tummy feels good. We’ve got some painkillers for her and some critical care which I’m mixing and syringe feeding her little and often.

The vet said if she’s not picking up tomorrow we can bring her back and they can try some antibiotics, they just didn’t want to overload anything today.

She’s exceptionally quiet and just hanging out in her log hidey or tucking herself right up in her cuddle sack. Feel quite sad, we’ve had her since she was a baby, she and her sister were our first piggies. Her sister sadly passed two years ago, and Delilah has been lucky to have some lovely friends since. She lives with Pumpkin now who is being very sweet giving her space but also popping over and giving her a little groom now and then too.

I’m not sure what I’m asking really! Maybe just a bit of a hand hold? And any tips or guidance about what to expect or look out for.

Hi

BIG HUGS

Sudden non-medication based loss of appetite usually boils down to a pain issue somewhere in the body or the inability to eat/process food. However, it is often - like related mystery loss of weight - without any other symptoms near impossible to work out what exactly is the cause of it once you have checked for the 'easy' suspects because it is such a vague symptom that can cover a multitude of very different things.

All you can do is try to hang in there and hope that she is pulling through.

You have done exactly the right thing and your vet is going the best they can, lacking any clear symptoms. Guinea pigs are unfortunately prey animals who hide their symptoms to an astonishing degree. Between that and their much faster metabolism this is the kind of situation we all dread as you are very much up against it, so you are by no means alone with your worries.
Not knowing means that you don't have a handle or foothold for dealing with it. The need to wait and see makes us feel very helpless and powerless and it leaves our minds wide open to stray where it is not good to go.

I have included my anxiety guide which includes little measures that you can use in order to do do something constructive and supportive for your guinea pig and yourself. I would like to ask you explicitly to stay off any online searches because what you get is all the worst case scenarios and precious little concrete help, which will combine to really fan your own fears and make you feel worse as a result - and you will then inevitably project that emotional cocktail on to your poorly piggy.
Focus on your own mental health and grounding as much as you can and focus on sending your piggy green, gentle healing vibes but none of your fears.

As for guidance, you may find these links here helpful:
- Signs of Pain in Guinea Pigs
- All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

I am keeping my fingers very firmly crossed.

 

[Stripeyrache]

Thank you all so much

She’s been a touch more vocal this afternoon which I’m taking as positive. A few very small poops where she’s been sitting too, so something is moving through I guess.

Thank you so much for the links on syringe feeding! This is a first for me so incredibly helpful.

 

[Stripeyrache]

Thought I’d update on Delilah and appreciate any expertise anyone might have! (I am also waiting on a call back from the vet)

She is tons better in herself! A few days of syringe feeding and yesterday she started eating of her own accord. She’s now pottering about the cage as normal really, drinking water, in and out of the hay box regularly and nibbling pellets. She even took a pea flake from me earlier. Yesterday her poo was very loose, and although it’s still soft they seem to firming up and holding more of a normal shape now. But her weight has still dropped which is concerning me. I think I need to keep syringe feed top ups for the time being, but wondered if there is anything else I should be asking of the vet?

It is so lovely to see her just acting more her normal self though

 

[Roselina]

Ah I’m pleased to read lovely Delilah has picked up a bit
I can’t offer more advice than you’ve been given except maybe try a little bit of redigrass ?
It’s tasty and will hopefully put a little weight back on for her
Sending you both love and healing vibes

 

[weepweeps]

I’m so pleased Delilah is doing better. It looks like the pain killers are definitely helping. What dose is she on? Maybe the vet can up it and see if she starts eating properly. It could be arthritis. For the loose poops you could try giving a probiotic. I always mix some Pro C into syringe feeds. I hope the vet can help.

 

[Merab]

Glad the Delilah has perked up.
It does sound as if she was in pain and the metacam has kicked in.
Good for you getting her to a vet so promptly..
When I had a piggy who was at the improvement stage I used to supplement the syringe feed with a small dish of it in the cage, along with another dish of grated carrots & raw oats. These helped encourage eating for themselves and complemented the syringe feed.

The cagemates always helped !