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Emeraid consistency.

Pantalaimon

Pantalaimon

Junior Guinea Pig
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What consistency should Emeraid be? I followed the instructions of 1:1 on the packet but it made a dough. I added more water but not sure how much it needs. Does the consistency look ok?
It is the IC herbivore one.
Also, do I need to be giving mushy pellets alongside this or just this instead? It is not what I was expecting and it seems to not contain much fibre.
Ratter, my elderly sow has bloat and it’s something I’ve never dealt with before.
 

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Pantalaimon said:
What consistency should Emeraid be? I followed the instructions of 1:1 on the packet but it made a dough. I added more water but not sure how much it needs. Does the consistency look ok?
It is the IC herbivore one.
Also, do I need to be giving mushy pellets alongside this or just this instead? It is not what I was expecting and it seems to not contain much fibre.
Ratter, my elderly sow has bloat and it’s something I’ve never dealt with before.
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Hi

Emeraid has got extremely fine ground fibre and you do not need any pellets in whatever form alongside - the pellets are mainly as a stop gap measure in an emergency or for those piggies which specifically struggle with the aniseedy flavouring of Critical Care (which is the most commonly used and most widely available recovery formula worldwide). Emeraid doesn't come with a flavouring stumble block.

Your formula should be as firm as recommended but so loose that you can pull it up into the syringe and get it out again smoothly without the syringe being stuck - basically, the consistency has to work for you. There are no exact measurements.

You may want to flush the syringe in a mug with plain water once it gets a bit stick. Offer water from a syringe every few syringefuld when the chewing becomes dry in the mouth; this will help to get the cud down.

All the best.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi

Emeraid has got extremely fine ground fibre and you do not need any pellets in whatever form alongside - the pellets are mainly as a stop gap measure in an emergency or for those piggies which specifically struggle with the aniseedy flavouring of Critical Care (which is the most commonly used and most widely available recovery formula worldwide). Emeraid doesn't come with a flavouring stumble block.

Your formula should be as firm as recommended but so loose that you can pull it up into the syringe and get it out again smoothly without the syringe being stuck - basically, the consistency has to work for you. There are no exact measurements.

You may want to flush the syringe in a mug with plain water once it gets a bit stick. Offer water from a syringe every few syringefuld when the chewing becomes dry in the mouth; this will help to get the cud down.

All the best.
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Thank you so much for responding so quickly. I will continue with the current consistency then. She’s farting and has done a few little poos since I gave her the first syringe of Emeraid (I’m giving this first lot slowly over half an hour).
 
Sudden disaster.
I had Ratter on the sideboard in front of me, syringe feeding the Emeraid after getting back from the vets. I decided that since she can’t have grass I could give my other pig (Pat) grass while she was occupied just in case she tried to eat some. I sat him on a towel beside me with a pile of grass, he sat there for a few minutes then decided to bolt out of the blue. He was right beside me and I caught him but he is smooth and slippery and just slipped out of my hands and dived on the floor and ran off.
He seems fine (he’s moving normally) but has broken both front teeth off. I don’t know what to do and am panicking slightly. I feel awful that it was my fault. What do I do? The teeth are still attached by flesh but not actual tooth and they have broken off (luckily quite evenly) at the bottom.
I’m guessing I go straight back to the vets?
 
I feel really terrible that he’s hurt because of my mistake.
 

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I think his lower lip is also quite bruised. Do I leave the severed teeth? Could he not choke on them when they come off? His bottom teeth are intact but obviously I can’t see the extent of any bruising.

Sorry for all of the posts, I’m slightly stressed.
 
I think he’s currently in shock. I’m concerned he can’t eat though as the teeth are just hanging loose.
 
I am so sorry. Unfortunately accidents happen. I would get him to the vet for a complete health check just in case and to put your mind at ease. The vet will deal with the teeth, I think they will have to come off. The teeth should grow back quite quickly.
 
Thanks for the responses. I apologise for panicking!
Currently at the vets, the (amazing) vet is checking for jaw fractures, removing the broken off teeth and filing the lower incisors.
It is really amazingly helpful to have this forum and be able to get concise, thoughtful responses so quickly in stressful situations.
 
Oh gosh what a shock for you. Well done getting a prompt vet review.
 
Thank you all for so much reassurance. I don’t think I will ever forgive myself for putting him there, I wasn’t thinking quite straight. He’s doing really well without his teeth but Ratter is really seriously ill this evening.
 
Bit unsure of the loxicom dosage. Does 0.5ml twice daily for an 850-920g guinea pig with severe bloat sound right?
She’s also got 1ml of emeprid twice daily. I’ve managed to get 4ml of Emeraid in her between 11 and 11:30, 7-10 ml between 17:20 and 16:20 and am now attempting another 7-10 ml. She takes ages to chew/swallow.
 
Really not looking good for Ratter. I am thinking things through and have a few questions.
How long does it take for emeprid and loxicom to take effect?
She was swallowing ok for the first feed (11/12ish) then not so well for the second feed (14:20-15:30) then not well at all for the third (17:20-18:20) and now not at all. She was given injections of pain relief and gut stimulant this morning (10:30 ish) then has just had her first oral dose. I am wondering how long I leave it to have an effect before seriously considering taking her to be put down. She is seven and has had a great life, I want to minimise suffering.

Leading on from that. I remember reading something about some euthanasia methods being horrible for guinea pigs. If I end up going to an emergency vet then they won’t necessarily be guinea pig savvy so I would like to know what to ask in that situation to avoid any pain for her.

I want to be prepared for any situation that could arise. I have more questions but they have temporarily left my brain as I’m somewhat exhausted.
 
I can't answer your questions but send you my very best wishes and hugs at a really difficult time.
 
I’m so sorry. I hope Ratter starts to improve. Sending healing vibes and hugs to you ❤️
 
Pantalaimon said:
Really not looking good for Ratter. I am thinking things through and have a few questions.
How long does it take for emeprid and loxicom to take effect?
She was swallowing ok for the first feed (11/12ish) then not so well for the second feed (14:20-15:30) then not well at all for the third (17:20-18:20) and now not at all. She was given injections of pain relief and gut stimulant this morning (10:30 ish) then has just had her first oral dose. I am wondering how long I leave it to have an effect before seriously considering taking her to be put down. She is seven and has had a great life, I want to minimise suffering.

Leading on from that. I remember reading something about some euthanasia methods being horrible for guinea pigs. If I end up going to an emergency vet then they won’t necessarily be guinea pig savvy so I would like to know what to ask in that situation to avoid any pain for her.

I want to be prepared for any situation that could arise. I have more questions but they have temporarily left my brain as I’m somewhat exhausted.
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I’m so sorry that things aren’t going well. You are doing all that you can but if she’s still not picked up by the morning I’d be making a call back to the vets. With bloat it’s often touch and go. They can suddenly turn a corner and things look brighter or they can also go the other way. Sending you support as you deal with this.
 
Pantalaimon said:
Bit unsure of the loxicom dosage. Does 0.5ml twice daily for an 850-920g guinea pig with severe bloat sound right?
She’s also got 1ml of emeprid twice daily. I’ve managed to get 4ml of Emeraid in her between 11 and 11:30, 7-10 ml between 17:20 and 16:20 and am now attempting another 7-10 ml. She takes ages to chew/swallow.
Click to expand...
Sorry about Ratter being so poorly and also Pat's accident. Sending them both healing vibes 💓
Is Ratter on dog Loxicom or cat? 0.5ml of the dog version in my experience would seem a bit high, though for short term use it could be different. (My Squeaks was on 0.4ml twice a day but that was long term for arthritis and dental inflammation)
 
Qualcast&Flymo said:
Sorry about Ratter being so poorly and also Pat's accident. Sending them both healing vibes 💓
Is Ratter on dog Loxicom or cat? 0.5ml of the dog version in my experience would seem a bit high, though for short term use it could be different. (My Squeaks was on 0.4ml twice a day but that was long term for arthritis and dental inflammation)
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She’s on dog loxicom. I think in the past I’ve been given cat stuff so that’s why it didn’t seem like much to me. She is in a huge amount of pain.
 
Pantalaimon said:
She’s on dog loxicom. I think in the past I’ve been given cat stuff so that’s why it didn’t seem like much to me. She is in a huge amount of pain.
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Poor thing, I imagine severe bloat must be terribly painful (I had a tummy ache yesterday evening, that was bad enough!).

Squeaks was 1100g when he started on 0.4ml twice a day, I was told I could give him 0.5 if he seemed to be having a bad day. After he started losing weight I didn't give him 0.5ml again. When he needed more pain relief he was prescribed gabapentin in addition. If Ratter is still showing signs of pain on her current 0.4ml dose, perhaps you could ask your vet for an additional pain medication to try to help her.
 
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