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Hand feeding. How much, how often?

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LittleEskimo

LittleEskimo

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How often should a guinea pig eat. McMac has become very reluctant to eat anything, including fresh veg, and so I have had to make up a pellet, water and grated carrot mix for fear of him going into some kind of stasis. He isn't enjoying being syringed it but at least he is getting something

Just wondering how much and how often he should be syringed a bit. Don't want to stress him out too much. Will be heading out to the vets asap tomorrow
 
For a pig that's not eating at all you ideally need to give him 120ml over a 24 hour period but I appreciate that that's not always practical. Try to get as many feeds in as you can a few hours apart aiming for at least 20 ml each feed. Always use a 1ml syringe as anything bigger is too big for the pigs' mouth.
 
Good luck at the vets today, how is McMac this morning?
 
A guinea pig as far as I'm aware should go no longer than 4 hours without food so if you can just do it as regularly as you can that would probably be best. Hope that helps, good luck at the vets.
 
I think syringing has helped. He started eating on his own again. I had him wrapped up in a towel and cradled in my arm while feeding him food and he seemed quite happy with it. He then started writhing around. I managed to catch him before he fell out of my arms but there was bright red blood all over the towel. I think he tried passing somethibg as it stopped as soon as it started up. He has still perked up from the food though and will eat and drink a little on his own. Vets today so hopefully this will all be sorted soon enough
 
I hope the vets goes well. Do you have an exotics vet?
 
I would also give the feed in 20 ml doses every 2 to 3 hours from when you get up till when you go to bed. If your piggy isn't drinking water then water also be syringe. Hope that McMac gets better soon.
 
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