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Help please with a week old baby.

  • Thread starter Thread starter sqwiggly
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sqwiggly

I'm looking for some advice please.

My guinea pig had 5 babys a week ago today.

4 have thrived and are doing really well, but the smallest one is poorly.

She isnt feeding from the mother, and when in the cage she sits alone. She seemed to be getting very cold and weaker so I took her out of the cage as she was getting trod on and ignored. I have been feeding the baby with mushed up veg and giving her water with a syringe a tiny bit at a time.

She seems to perk up a tiny bit sometimes but shes still very small and weak.

Is there anything else I can do to try help the baby?

I'm not new to this forum ive been reading it for weeks but this is the first time ive needed to post as I can't find an answer anywhere.
 
Give her goat milk - Someone more knowledgeable can tell you how much!

Also, if she's not getting the warmth from her mum, sit her on a heat pack wrapped in towels so she doesn't get burnt. That should keep her warm!

Need someone else to answer....
 
I have no experience of this but Sophiew who fosters for a rescue has sucessfully hand reared babies and Goldie has too. As you are new, you can't PM yet I don't think but I will PM Sophiew for you as she does come on regularly....stick around today, I am sure she will answer :)
 
Hello

Sorry to hear about the littlun, it may be that it is weak because it can't compete for food with the other stronger babies, or sadly their might be something wrong with it - mums do seem to know this, and can reject poorly ones. Anyway, if it's keen to eat (sorry to call it an 'it' but not sure if you know what sex yet?). I use full fat (whole) goat's milk, warm it in a pan or in the microwave until it's lukewarm (like you would for a human baby, test it on your wrist) then offer it on a teaspoon with the baby on a towel on your lap. if the baby is hungry it should lap it up... be careful to keep the spoon low, as otherwise they can get liquid in their lungs (this is also the reason why it's best not to syringe very young babies unless you're experienced).

Once the baby is used to it you can soak bread in the goat's milk and put it in the cage - the others will probably eat it too. If it's made it to a week then that's good - let's hope he or she's a fighter!

Also if mum isn't paying it any attention you'll need to give it a clean - a cotton wool bud and some warm water and just clean it's bottom, mum would normally do this as it makes them poo.


Good luck.

Sophie
x
 
Thanks for the help.

The baby will not take any food by herself which is why i'm feeding with a syringe. Ive put some cut apple in her cage to try tempt her but shes uninterested at all in food. She seems just the same now, tired and weak.

Will keep doing what i'm doing and hopefully she will pull through.

Another problem is that shes not pooing properly, its mucasy.
 
No she won't sopiew, ive tried that over the past few days, and also tried just her and her mum in the cage for an hour and her mum ignored her, baby was just sat alone.
 
Oh no, sorry. I don't know what else to suggest, the goat's milk will usually work but only if they want to eat. You can drip tiny amounts by syringe if she'll take it but if she doesn't want to eat for herself it will be an uphill struggle. Sorry. I do hope she pulls through

Sophie
x
 
I'm feeding 2 tiny babies at the moment and I'm using evaporated milk mixed with an equal amount of boiled water - allowed to cool to room temp. I do usually use goats milk but I'm rather poorly at the moment so haven't been able to get out to get any and the evaporated milk seems to be working very well.
It is hard work if they're not willing to feed and you really need to offer milk every 2-3 hours. I do use a syringe but you have to go so very slowly, just a little drip at a time so as not to get it into their lungs.

I'm afraid I cant think of anything else you could try, certainly keeeping baby warm and wiping it's bottom to help it go to loo as previously mentioned is essential. Really hope baby makes it.

Teresa x
 
i had a baby once that refused to feed and when i took it to the vets it had a cleft pallete, when you feed the baby does any milk come out of the nose ? as thats an indication of this x
 
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