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Has Anyone Got Tips On Teaching A Guinea Pig To Eat Hay Again After An Illness?

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sharonS said:
Aww poor Minky, hope the Intrafungal kicks in in a couple of days so that she can eat normally again. Is your own vet now in contact with Simon about on going treatment? What does the thrush look like have you been able to look, and will you be able to get repeat meds if necessary? Good news that her teeth are ok.
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My vet is in contact with Simon & Minky is booked in on January 2nd for check-up when she will thoroughly check Minky's mouth.

I have tried to look in Minky's mouth but find this impossible as she's such a little battler when it comes to her mouth at present. It's a major battles to feed her sufficient by syringe. I finished off yesterday's Critical Care at breakfast this morning then at 11 I made a batch of pellets (2 tablespoons) mixed with water & mushed into a paste. She's eaten 3/4 of this in 4 sittings & I'll give her the rest for breakfast in the morning.

Good signs tonight though, Minky has eaten some veggies for first time since Monday. She had a little bit of carrot, some lettuce & a little Oxbow hay. Last night & tonight I finished off by giving her a 1ml syringe of Manuka honey. With no more food or drink till about 2 or 3 in the morning this will help to heal & soothe the ulcers in her mouth.
 
piggyfan said:
You are doing so well getting minky better.
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A big improvement this morning. I woke up early so went down to check on Minky at just before 5.30. I thought I try her with veggies again so got some lettuce, strips of carrot & sliced cucumber. She ate for over an hour & during this time I added some melon, readi-grass & short pieces of hay. She's now managing to pick up food from the floor which she's hardly managed in the lat 2 weeks. She ate some of everything so I just gave her 5ml of mushed up pellets. Her weight is stable, just 1 gram increase since Wednesday. In her cage it looks like she's been eating her muesli mix too. I'm not certain yet but she's definitely going in the right direction. I've put her back in with Minnie & Rex to try to stimulate her in to eating more & to move round a bit more too.
 
I am glad to hear that Minky is improving by the day, she is a real fighter. The reason i ask about the thrush was because your Minky has such similar symptoms to my Ruby, I know it is too late now but any info is always helpful for future reference.
It is a case of would have should have with Ruby and it makes me feel guilty to think it may have been something that was easily treated, but due to lack of knowledge she may of gone for something that was treatable.
 
sharonS said:
I am glad to hear that Minky is improving by the day, she is a real fighter. The reason i ask about the thrush was because your Minky has such similar symptoms to my Ruby, I know it is too late now but any info is always helpful for future reference.
It is a case of would have should have with Ruby and it makes me feel guilty to think it may have been something that was easily treated, but due to lack of knowledge she may of gone for something that was treatable.
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I'm really glad I took Minky on the long journey to see Simon. After just 2 days I've taken her off Critical Care & she's eating fairly normally though slower than normal. It was a bit of a gamble not giving her Critical Care since breakfast yesterday but when I weighed her today she'd put on about 60g. I'll have to give her her Bio-Lapis pro-biotic in water now. She's also pooing like it's new fashion & I'm forever spot cleaning. She's mainly eating grass which is only because we're having such a mild spell here & its growing, some is even flowering in the way that grass does. This may stop next week if we have the cold weather which is supposed to arrive. As well as grass she's eating a variety of veggies plus Oxbow hay & readi-grass. Her head tilt is worse than it was 2 to 3 weeks ago but she's coping well by herself. I'm putting her in with the others for 2 or 3 hours a day but because of her slow eating she wouldn't get her fair share of food if she was permanently in with them yet.
 
Great news, continued love to Minky. Simon certainly is a real asset to piggies in need. Hope she continues to do well. Love and cuddles to her, your doing her proud Stewy.
 
Stewybus said:
I'm really glad I took Minky on the long journey to see Simon. After just 2 days I've taken her off Critical Care & she's eating fairly normally though slower than normal. It was a bit of a gamble not giving her Critical Care since breakfast yesterday but when I weighed her today she'd put on about 60g. I'll have to give her her Bio-Lapis pro-biotic in water now. She's also pooing like it's new fashion & I'm forever spot cleaning. She's mainly eating grass which is only because we're having such a mild spell here & its growing, some is even flowering in the way that grass does. This may stop next week if we have the cold weather which is supposed to arrive. As well as grass she's eating a variety of veggies plus Oxbow hay & readi-grass. Her head tilt is worse than it was 2 to 3 weeks ago but she's coping well by herself. I'm putting her in with the others for 2 or 3 hours a day but because of her slow eating she wouldn't get her fair share of food if she was permanently in with them yet.
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I am so glad to hear that she is making such good progress, if she can eat for herself that is half your battle won, keep up with the updates I like to here how she is getting along.
 
Today's update on Minky is again very good. She's continuing to eat & now eating a wider variety of veggies adding kale & celery to all the other things. I'm continuing to also give her plenty of fresh grass as the mild spell is continuing & the grass is lovely for her. She put on over 30 grams since yesterday. Because I stopped giving her Critical Care 2 days ago I'm now giving her the Bio-Lapis pro-biotic in water. I was giving her 1/3 of a sachet with 1 tablespoon of Critical Care which was the minimum amount she was eating in a day. I'm now mixing 1/3 of a packet with 16ml of water & spreading that out over the 24 hour period. I'm going to ring the vets tomorrow to see about taking her off the Metacam & maybe reduce some of the other drugs. Has anyone else used Zithromax on a guinea pig for a long period. She's now been on it for 15 days & I have enough left for another 14 days. I'm mixing it in 7.5ml batches & giving her 1ml a day. Any advice on this will be appreciated. I'm very happy with the way things are going & this has been my best early Christmas pressie ever, getting her well on the way to recovery.
 
furryfriends Excellent Adventure Sanctuary said:
What lovely news! I am so glad you came to see Simon. He really is the best! I don't know what I would do without him. Well I wouldn't have my Sanctuary that is for sure! x
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Thanks Debbie, It was really nice to come and visit you too while I was down there. You're doing a wonderful job with your rescue.
 
Stewy I'm so pleased to hear Minky is progressing so well, I really hope she continues to make a speedy recovery.

Hopefully you can all have a well earned, healthy Christmas rest.
 
Merry Christmas Stewy, Minky and family, hope Minky is having some thing nice for Christmas treat.
 
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