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How can I tempt him to eat?

Bradshaw Piggies

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Update: Odin had dental last week (his molars were elongated and had ulcerated and infected his cheek). Today I took Odin on a road trip to see a specialist in Cheshire for a second opinion following his dental last Tuesday; who was very good with him. He’s had a bit more sedation, full dental X-rays done and another check of his mouth.
the vet said he can’t see anything wrong with his teeth and that roots look good on the X-rays. He said there are now no signs of infection or ulcers.
Odin is very bright in himself, gets very excited for his syringe feed and will nibble the odd bit of watermelon. But I still can’t get him to eat hay or other veggies?

he does have a very sore chin (the vet thinks this was caused by the excess saliva before his dentals). I have some treatment for this from the vet. I wonder if this is the only reason he won’t eat?

so I’m still syringing every few hours (even through the night). I’m exhausted (but will do this forever if I have to). Problem is I have to go back to work in a few weeks. I really wish there was a way to get him eating again ( I’ve even bought him three different types of expensive hay, herbs, dandelion, and his favourite veggies to try tempt him). Sometimes he shows interest, grabs the food, but then tosses his head and gives up :(
 
Update: Odin had dental last week (his molars were elongated and had ulcerated and infected his cheek). Today I took Odin on a road trip to see a specialist in Cheshire for a second opinion following his dental last Tuesday; who was very good with him. He’s had a bit more sedation, full dental X-rays done and another check of his mouth.
the vet said he can’t see anything wrong with his teeth and that roots look good on the X-rays. He said there are now no signs of infection or ulcers.
Odin is very bright in himself, gets very excited for his syringe feed and will nibble the odd bit of watermelon. But I still can’t get him to eat hay or other veggies?

he does have a very sore chin (the vet thinks this was caused by the excess saliva before his dentals). I have some treatment for this from the vet. I wonder if this is the only reason he won’t eat?

so I’m still syringing every few hours (even through the night). I’m exhausted (but will do this forever if I have to). Problem is I have to go back to work in a few weeks. I really wish there was a way to get him eating again ( I’ve even bought him three different types of expensive hay, herbs, dandelion, and his favourite veggies to try tempt him). Sometimes he shows interest, grabs the food, but then tosses his head and gives up :(

Try a little fresh grass or herbs but unfortunately you are stuck with syringe feeding as long as he is not feeling well enough to eat.
How much syringe feed are you getting into him per session? The more he takes per session, the less often you have to feed, which will take some of the pressure off you. Caring round the clock for a piggy off their food is very exhausting once it is dragging on. If he is not comfortable with biting down and chewing, he won't want to eat on his own.
 
Try a little fresh grass or herbs but unfortunately you are stuck with syringe feeding as long as he is not feeling well enough to eat.
How much syringe feed are you getting into him per session? The more he takes per session, the less often you have to feed, which will take some of the pressure off you. Caring round the clock for a piggy off their food is very exhausting once it is dragging on. If he is not comfortable with biting down and chewing, he won't want to eat on his own.
Thanks I will keep trying. He’s taking huge amounts of syringe feed, probably 15ml minimum each time. He loves it. Gets very excited.
He does react really badly when I have to put his cream on his sore chin and lips. Maybe because they are so sore he doesn’t want to eat?
 
Is he on any form of pain relief?
Maybe if his chin and lips are causing him pain this is putting him off eating, so some Metacam would help.
 
Is he on any form of pain relief?
Maybe if his chin and lips are causing him pain this is putting him off eating, so some Metacam would help.
He is on Metacam twice a day. He’s just so lethargic again and not eating. Just the syringe feed from me every couple of hours :(. I’m running out of ideas, as is the vet. Awaiting blood test results
 
Thanks I will keep trying. He’s taking huge amounts of syringe feed, probably 15ml minimum each time. He loves it. Gets very excited.
He does react really badly when I have to put his cream on his sore chin and lips. Maybe because they are so sore he doesn’t want to eat?

That is a good average amount so you can reduce the number of daily feeds accordingly and not get up during the night. What he is suffering from is not perfectly balanced teeth that make chewing difficult, but there is nothing wrong with his appetite. Try grated and finely sliced soft veg or grass which you place into his mouth.

Please be aware that teeth that are not chewing will overgrow again rather quickly. :(
 
That is a good average amount so you can reduce the number of daily feeds accordingly and not get up during the night. What he is suffering from is not perfectly balanced teeth that make chewing difficult, but there is nothing wrong with his appetite. Try grated and finely sliced soft veg or grass which you place into his mouth.

Please be aware that teeth that are not chewing will overgrow again rather quickly. :(
Thank you. I’ll try that. He’s just turning his nose up at everything except the recovery food. He’s still very underweight and just hides all the time. I’ve been to two different exotic specialists who say that can’t see anything wrong with his teeth. He’s been under sedation for it twice and had Xrays etc.
he’s still grinding his teeth (more like clicking/crunching noises). I’m so stressed with it all, all the time. I don’t eat, I don’t sleep. I just worry all the time. I don’t know what else to do. Seeing him like this is killing me. Am I bad person for keeping him going? Is there another alternative I should be thinking about? I’m desperate to get him better, I love him so much
The only thing he’s attempted a few tiny nibbles of, is either apple or watermelon.
 
Thank you. I’ll try that. He’s just turning his nose up at everything except the recovery food. He’s still very underweight and just hides all the time. I’ve been to two different exotic specialists who say that can’t see anything wrong with his teeth. He’s been under sedation for it twice and had Xrays etc.
he’s still grinding his teeth (more like clicking/crunching noises). I’m so stressed with it all, all the time. I don’t eat, I don’t sleep. I just worry all the time. I don’t know what else to do. Seeing him like this is killing me. Am I bad person for keeping him going? Is there another alternative I should be thinking about? I’m desperate to get him better, I love him so much
The only thing he’s attempted a few tiny nibbles of, is either apple or watermelon.

Then try those. As he is still keen on your syringe feed, he still has the will to live.
What pain relief is he on?

The noises are typical for a piggy with a toothache or being uncomfortable about their teeth.
 
Then try those. As he is still keen on your syringe feed, he still has the will to live.
What pain relief is he on?

The noises are typical for a piggy with a toothache or being uncomfortable about their teeth.
Ok will keep trying. He’s still producing a lot of excess saliva too. He’s trying to eat apple but drops it back out of his mouth after attempting to chew.
I’ve been to two highly recommended exotic vets who keep saying they can’t find anything wrong with his teeth. So I don’t know what else to do.
I can try Simon in Northampton at the Cat and Rabbit centre; but he’s not back till the 24th - a long time for a piggie that won’t eat solids.
 
Ok will keep trying. He’s still producing a lot of excess saliva too. He’s trying to eat apple but drops it back out of his mouth after attempting to chew.
I’ve been to two highly recommended exotic vets who keep saying they can’t find anything wrong with his teeth. So I don’t know what else to do.
I can try Simon in Northampton at the Cat and Rabbit centre; but he’s not back till the 24th - a long time for a piggie that won’t eat solids.

Have your vets considered an oral thrush infection?

Personally I would recommend to book an appointment at the Cat & Rabbit asap as they will be full up after Simon's and Kim's return. Since Odin't problems are ongoing, he should be seen by a vet who has the experience with dentals and all kinds of mouth problems to get to the bottom of it - it will hopefully make all the difference for Odin and you.
Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic | Northlands Vets

@furryfriends (TEAS)
 
Have your vets considered an oral thrush infection?

Personally I would recommend to book an appointment at the Cat & Rabbit asap as they will be full up after Simon's and Kim's return. Since Odin't problems are ongoing, he should be seen by a vet who has the experience with dentals and all kinds of mouth problems to get to the bottom of it - it will hopefully make all the difference for Odin and you.
Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic | Northlands Vets

@furryfriends (TEAS)

the vet said no signs of infection when I asked about the thrush. Is it recommended to use Daktarin?
Thank you. I’ve booked an appointment with Simon for the 24th when he returns. I’m just worried about the 2 week wait! I also hope Odin will be ok with the 2.5hour drive to get there
 
the vet said no signs of infection when I asked about the thrush. Is it recommended to use Daktarin?
Thank you. I’ve booked an appointment with Simon for the 24th when he returns. I’m just worried about the 2 week wait! I also hope Odin will be ok with the 2.5hour drive to get there

I have no personal experience with oral thrush; that is @furryfriends (TEAS) area of experience. I only know that salivating can also be a symptom of this.

Great that you have got an appointment! Please try to hang in there until then; Simon has saved piggies in much worse shape.

Odin will be fine. I have travelled with piggies aged between 9 weeks to 9 years on trains (with changes) for over 3 hours quite a few times and have taken 2 piggies on twice daily meds with us on a holiday in Wales, which meant a 6 1/2 hours car journey each way. They've all survived just fine! @Bill & Ted is making the journey all the way from Cornwall.

Here are our travelling tips. By then the weather will hopefully be back to more average temperatures again!
Travelling with guinea pigs
Tips For Vet Visits
 
Comet and Blitzen survived the train journey from Haywards Heath to Wigan and then the taxi from Wigan to Rochdale (I couldn't deal with the train any longer lol) just fine. Guinea pigs will travel just fine :)
 
Meg was fine on the 3 hour journey to see Kim and the 3 hour journey back. I put a fleece that smelled of her and Christian in the carrier along with a bit of grass, hay and cucumber and she coped with the journey quite well. I think she slept most of the time.
 
Thank you all. He usually travels everywhere with his brother, so I’m thinking take them both? I’ll just keep syringe feeding until the 24th and hopefully keep him going. He’s put on 50g despite not eating solids so I’ll keep going
 
The vet just called. Blood work shows no sign of infection and that he is otherwise very healthy.
The vet said just continue metacam and critical care feed. He said he’s also happy with his tooth Xrays. That there is some swelling at the root of the teeth that were elongated, but nothing to cause concern?
but he doesn't seem concerned with the persistant drooling or inability to chew?
so I think I’ll still go see Simon
 
Quick question: Odin is clearly in pain with his mouth. Lots of tooth grinding going on and he sits quiet and hunched a lot of the time. He’s on 0.4ml of metacam twice a day. I worry about him staying on this for another 10 days till we get to Simon. I also hate seeing him in pain.
Does anyone know of anything else I can do to try ease his pain a little?
 
Christian is on long term dog Metacam for arthritis in his spine. At first he was on 0.7ml twice a day. I have now managed to reduce this to 0.5ml twice a day and can't go any lower than this otherwise he is in pain. He has been on Metacam for over a year.
 
Christian is on long term dog Metacam for arthritis in his spine. At first he was on 0.7ml twice a day. I have now managed to reduce this to 0.5ml twice a day and can't go any lower than this otherwise he is in pain. He has been on Metacam for over a year.
Odin currently only weighs 600g so I think that’s why the vet put him on 0.4 twice a day. I better not increase it, but glad to hear I can keep him on it for now. At least for another week till he sees Simon. The drooling and teeth grinding is continuing :( can’t wait till Simon is back!
 
Now we seem to have gotten worse. Constant loud teeth grinding, lots of saliva and refusing recovery food 😢😢😢 and Simon is on holiday till the 24th
 
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