Guinea Pig ill

[klee]

Aw, it is fantastic that Bon Bon is so happy to eat on her own, the hardest part I found is actually getting my girl to eat voluntarily, as she was very unhappy with being syringe fed so it sounds like you have kept her going very well.
Like Guinea pig slave has said ' How are her poos?' If she hasn't been going you may find that when they come through that they are a bit misshapen or soft, or a lot at a time. Any of these is a good sign as it shows her guts are still working. It took several days for Esme to produce any 'normal' looking poos so I just kept up the syringe feeding and offered her, small veggies that she liked so she could choose her own.
Keep up the good work.

 

[sport_billy]

Well, we managed a little more grated carrot, a celery leave (only a little one but all counts) and the best thing... I put in some for her sister into the hutch and Bon Bon ran over and tucked into half of one on her own with no encouragement from me.

Mummy needs a bath now to relax a little but I am pleased she is eating a little more, but like you all say EVERY BIT COUNTS.

I have popped some of her mush in the hutch now too and hopefully she will dig in herself a little if she fancies it.

Thanks again everyone, I will keep you updated. I have a few pictures but can't post them as I don't know how :-( Will try and figure it out.

xx

Here is a thread that shows you how to post photos, you'll need a free photobucket account and then this thread will show you how... http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/s...Photobucket)


Fingers crossed for Bon Bon, you are doing amazing for her, well done

 

[amd1985]

Her poos are extremely soft and not much of them to be honest, but keeping a close eye on that too.

Not much look this time, a few little bites of cucumber but no pellet mush but it is in the hutch if she wants to try.

She was drinking voluntarily when I went outside so I let her finish before attempting a feed, hopefully the rest of the day/evening/night will run as smoothly.

I am shattered - it is such hard work! I am trying to remain calm and can't say I am not disheartened when she isn't eating much but keeping positive that at least she is managing a little.

xx

 

[klee]

Her poos are extremely soft and not much of them to be honest, but keeping a close eye on that too.

Not much look this time, a few little bites of cucumber but no pellet mush but it is in the hutch if she wants to try.

She was drinking voluntarily when I went outside so I let her finish before attempting a feed, hopefully the rest of the day/evening/night will run as smoothly.

I am shattered - it is such hard work! I am trying to remain calm and can't say I am not disheartened when she isn't eating much but keeping positive that at least she is managing a little.

xx

You may find that rubbing/ massaging her tummy may help to get her guts moving a bit better and expel any gas that can build up. Keep up the good work with the feeding, you need to think if she hasn't eaten properly for a few days and is only getting what is being given to her you won't expect to see a lot of output. As long as you are getting some poo that is good .

The softness can be partly due to the added water in the syringe feed and the guts not working properly, like you say she is also drinking a fair bit so the softness although not great in a healthy piggy is a step closer to what you expect in a poorly piggy.

 

[Poppy'sMum]

I was going to say in addition I would try feeding her small bits of hay to encourage her to eat, I do this with mine & it does help a lot. Best wishes to Bon Bon

 

[amd1985]

Well, a good morning so far, Bon Bon ran out of the hutch to their food bowl with her feed me now mummy squeak (believe me, I have missed this sound from my usually very vocal girl), lucky for her I was ready with her mushed pellets, cucumber and hay.

She managed two thinly cut cucumber slices and about a teaspoon and a half of her mushed pellets, she then wriggled a lot and enjoyed the hay. It isn't as much as usual which I expect, but again a good start to the day. Going to try hourly as she seemed to respond better to that yesterday and settled better towards the evening as well (she was a right grump when I tried her about 9pm as she has snuggled down and was resting - I have learnt not to try that again)

So, we are ok, so far so good. I am so nervous for Tuesday, the thought of my frail little girl undergoing an op terrifies me. But positive thoughts and I know that it is for the best, if she hasn't given up then neither will I. I am sure I am doing the right thing and that Bon Bon wants the opportunity! I am so scared she won't pull through and that the anesthetic will be too much for her! :-( Trying to stay positive) xx

 

[amd1985]

Well, what a stressful feeding day we have had today. Bon Bon has turned her nose up each time I have tried to syringe/spoon feed her. So she has been sat next to me as I watched a catch up of Emmerdale and shes started munching on a little lettuce leaf, I have popped her another in and she has gobbled that up too. Perhaps my little lady just wants to try herself today :-) so, again not eaten much after a successful first meal this morning but she has had a little something. Will be trying her well into the evening as well.
xx

 

[klee]

Well, what a stressful feeding day we have had today. Bon Bon has turned her nose up each time I have tried to syringe/spoon feed her. So she has been sat next to me as I watched a catch up of Emmerdale and shes started munching on a little lettuce leaf, I have popped her another in and she has gobbled that up too. Perhaps my little lady just wants to try herself today :-) so, again not eaten much after a successful first meal this morning but she has had a little something. Will be trying her well into the evening as well.
xx

The best thing is to let her have what she wants, if you put a small pile of her fave veg next to her she can pick what she wants.
Esme hated being syringe fed, and much preferred having proper food once she got past the initial not eating process. I still offered her some syringe food and often forced her to have about 3ml so i knew she was getting something substantial. Adding some (porridge) oats to the mush can sometimes make it a bit more tasty and will also help her keep her weight up- it is hit and miss whether they like it but it can make it a little different, also adding soft fruit like banana can make syringe food go down a little better.
Don't feel disheartened by her not wanting to eat it, you are doing fantastic with her. x

 

[amd1985]

The best thing is to let her have what she wants, if you put a small pile of her fave veg next to her she can pick what she wants.
Esme hated being syringe fed, and much preferred having proper food once she got past the initial not eating process. I still offered her some syringe food and often forced her to have about 3ml so i knew she was getting something substantial. Adding some (porridge) oats to the mush can sometimes make it a bit more tasty and will also help her keep her weight up- it is hit and miss whether they like it but it can make it a little different, also adding soft fruit like banana can make syringe food go down a little better.
Don't feel disheartened by her not wanting to eat it, you are doing fantastic with her. x

I will try the porridge and banana for sure then and see if that will help at all. She is an odd one, she eats the mush in a morning and I wonder if it is because that is where I have popped her metacam, almost like she knows she needs it.

She is still drinking plenty and like you say eating her fave veggies when she fancies so at least she is getting something.

Thank you for your kind words, it is such hard work and it is nice having someone who has been through it to talk to, I told my friend earlier how exhausted I feel and she didn't seem to understand at all.

Thanks again.

xx