• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Emeraid Or Critical Care Or Both

Katiedid

Katiedid

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Mar 20, 2014
Messages
1,265
Reaction score
1,640
Points
725
Location
Jersey - Channel Islands
Hi Ziggy is still ill. I'm syringe feeding and in all homesty I'm struggling to get enough critical care into her. Simon suggested I need 60ml and without feeding constantly I can't manage. I'm getting 20ml ish - she must be eating something as she is maintaining weight.

What are people's views if emeraid because (1) I need less and (2) Ziggy is really fed up with critical care. Can I feed emeraid at night and critical care at day? We could end up doing this for weeks and I need to fit it in around my job!
 
Sorry to hear that poor Ziggy is still ill.

There is a thread here about Emeraid vs Critical care:
Emeraid Vs Oxbow Critical Care?

But to be honest if you are struggling to get enough critical care into Ziggy then it would definitely be worth a try with Emeraid.
I hope Ziggy feels better soon.
 
I fed both. Emeraid on its own doesn't have enough fibre for herbivores.

You can mix up the critical care thicker. For my boy I fed the equivalent of 80 MLS of critical care per day, but I was only actually feeding 40 because I mixed it up twice as thick?
 
I would try a bit of Emeraid as you need far less volume. My vets recommend it. If there is a longer term problem you can try alternating between emeraid and CC. Mine don’t like CC. But I’ve found if you mix it with a bit of pineapple juice they will eat it with less of a struggle. Plus it’s adding some extra VIT c in for them.
 
My chaps definately enjoyed Emeraid a lot more! Don't forget to try adding in probiotics if you are still having a hard time; my pig loves the taste so I used to dip the tip of the syringe in the probiotic powder before each mouthful, it made it a lot more palatable.
 
I'm having huge success with the Emeraid atm but my piggy is eating willingly on her own too. Perhaps try mixing the two together to make the Critical Care more palatable? Also, I found my malocussion pig took the Cc a lot easier if I ran the syringes under a warm tap first, once it went cold she refused it, that might help? I'm so sorry you're going through this, it's the worst.
 
Thank you all. I tried the emeraid this morning. It was so much easier to get the full amount into her (once she has decided she’s done she stops chewing and as she is so little I have Simons words ringing in my ears to be careful not to aspirate) - I only had to force the last 2 ml whereas with cc I was teying to force 10+ ml - I may alternate between the 2 use cc when I have a little more time to cluster feed and emeraid when I have to be out of the house at work. However she is hating the cc (I may put it on a Bain Marie to keep it warm).

I’m hoping it’s not long term - but we will see.
 
Katiedid said:
Thank you all. I tried the emeraid this morning. It was so much easier to get the full amount into her (once she has decided she’s done she stops chewing and as she is so little I have Simons words ringing in my ears to be careful not to aspirate) - I only had to force the last 2 ml whereas with cc I was teying to force 10+ ml - I may alternate between the 2 use cc when I have a little more time to cluster feed and emeraid when I have to be out of the house at work. However she is hating the cc (I may put it on a Bain Marie to keep it warm).

I’m hoping it’s not long term - but we will see.
Click to expand...

I'm so happy for you, I cnanot put it into words. I know the relief you must be feeling right now, after this success. Give yourself a well deserved break for a couple of hours now.
 
I gave her more emeraid at lunchtime and this evening I’ve squeezed 15 ml of critical care down her (I added pure apple juice). She is starting to look better.
 
I wish she would start to poop again! Also eating again. I’m going to have to isolate her for a while because with the locusts tribe it’s impossible to assess what she is actually eating on her own - but it’s not much.

I’m wondering whether I now need gut stimulants.
 
I would get her out on the metaclopramide ASAP if I were you. It won't only make her poop, it may well stimulate her appetite as well.

Has your vet considered a b12 injection? That's worked really well before for our girls who were showing reluctance to eat
 
The only vet I can see is absolutely useless- newly qualified. Ahhhhh what do I do. I left the vets and cried last time I saw her she was so awful.
 
If she's your only option then just be firm. Go in, tell her your exact concerns and the exact medication you need. If nothing else she can fill the prescription for you.
 
Fingers crossed for you. Hopefully now you're getting more food into her as well she will start pooping very soon.

FYI I experimented with mixing the Emeraid with Oxbow Cc this morning. My baby lapped that up too. It was a ratio of about two Emeraid to one Cc, but it was a start
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top