Jeffrey's really ill- I fear he won't make it through the night..

[TheCJ]

I need advice from anyone, please.

My boy Jeffrey is only about 11 weeks old. I noticed this morning as I got ready to take him out for floor time that he hadn't moved alot since I woke up. When I checked on him, he wasn't using his back legs at all and wouldn't move alot. He's dragging himself along on his front legs.

I rushed him to the vet within 10 minutes, and they said it might be a vitamin C deficiency (I only got Jeff less than a week ago- and had noticed he was quite fussy about veg and timothy hay- but had been trying my best to get him to eat bits) He was given a shot for the pain and I was told to use the dissolvable vitamin C tablets you get from the pharmacy, which I have.

Since then, however, he's eaten hardly anything, the only thing he's eaten is a bit of meadow hay. He will not drink the vitamin C water *or* regular water. I'm reading everywhere that it's bad to give him the vitamin c dissolved in water, but I don't know what to do as all the buses have stopped running and all the supermarkets near here are closed- so I can't get a syringe or anything!

Please, I really need help tonight. I'm really scared he won't make it...

 

[Glynis]

Oh dear you did say you had a sick piggie
Have you any critical care or recovery? If not mush up some of his pellets and try feeding it from a small spoon or popping a mushy one into his mouth.
Keep him warm and comfortable. Keep offering him little tid bits of hay, grass whatever veg or fruit he'll take.
I'm sorry i know you said in your other thread about money but Jeffrey does need to see a vet.....they could give him some fluids etc..
HUGE HUGS for you and healing wheeeeeeks for little Jeffrey xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Some more of our other lovely people are around i'm hoping someone else might suggest something to you.

 

[TheCJ]

Thanks so much for replying so quickly, you're so kind and more compassionate than alot of people! I've taken him to the vet, do you mean he needs to go again? I can't find any around here open this late, and I'm scared to wait till morning!

 

[threelittlepigs]

I don't really have any experience to share, unfortunately. The only thing I can recommend is that you mush some pellets up by pouring boiling water on them and then waiting for them to cool before offering them to him on a spoon. If they are slightly warm they might be smellier and therefore encourage him to eat.

It is not generally thought to be a good thing to add things to piggies water because they tend not to drink it if it has been altered. If you are keen to do this then you could try leaving the normal bowl/bottle clear and giving him the vit c on a spoon. Do you feed greens? Spring greens are high in vit c and are very cheap at the moment (on offer in ASDA for 50p for 500g). I would encourage you to offer them. If you can stretch to it parsley is also very good and full of vitamins but if your little chap won't eat anything at all then fresh grass tends to be the most tempting thing for a poorly guinea pig and it is packed with vit c. A poorly guinea will often eat grass when it won't eat anything else at all.

It must be heartbreaking to see him so ill, but I'm afraid to say that it sounds to me as if he has a serious problem that was perhaps there before you took him on. Good luck through the night: I know how exhausting it is.

 

[HairlessWillow7]

Have you been able to get any vitamin c into him? I've had a vitamin c deficiency experience with one piggy. I also thought he wasn't going to make it, but I managed to get some vit c into him. He perked up rather quickly. It took a few days of syringe-feeding, but he got back to almost normal. I still have him today. His back legs though, were never the same. Try to get some vitamin c into him. If it is a deficiency, it will help tremendously.

*hugs* to you! I hope he gets better and wish you lots of luck!
xxxxxxx

 

[Wiebke]

How is he this morning?

 

[AudioHeart]

Awwww hope the little fella is okay this morning! x

 

[Teejay]

Awww...poor Jeffrey......my boy is just recovering from a URI and completely lost his appetite and I found Recovery (a food supplement from the vet) an absolute life-saver.

But, if you don't have any of that (or Critical Care) to hand, then mushed up feed pellets sounds like a brilliant idea to me.

I found that my boy preferred fresh cut grass to anything else, so I gave him a pretty much endless supply of that throughout the day. I also regularly hand-fed him tiny portions of all of his favourite foods.......basil, pear, red peppers (very high vit C), sweetcorn....basically, anything he would eat, just so he has some food inside him.

But the Recovery was a god-send......I knew he was getting something very nutritious and he was also getting fluids (as you mix it with water).

Massive <<<vibes>>> for Jeffrey.....

 

[Glynis]

I'm really sorry i had to go.......i was going to visit another member from here

Thanks for the message, i do hope little Jeffrey coped ok over night?
Were you able to get the pellets into him ?
Thinking of you both xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[TheCJ]

Hey guys,

Just got back from the vet, I scraped up every last bit of money I had and took him. Unfortunately, Jeffrey had to be put down. They don't know what was wrong with him, but then again they weren't small pet specialists, I realised after asking. We had a really long night staying up to make sure Jeff was okay, but it was no use. I'm devastated. Jacque is all alone now, and I'm reluctant to get a second guinea pig now, because it won't be fair if I can't afford the bills! I don't know what to doooo. I got Jacque checked out at the vet yesterday, but from what happened today it's clear they don't actually know alot so I'm wondering if he is okay as they said he was.

See, I've only had Jacque for not very long as well, so now I'm worried that I won't be able to tell if he's just depressed from not being around Jeffrey anymore or actually ill!

 

[Wiebke]

BIG HUG

I am so sorry that Jeffrey was so ill that you had to let him go.

Where are you? Would you consider rehoming Jacques to a reputable rescue if you had one that would take him in, so he could get all the medical care and a new friend, and would only go to a good home. He is too young to stay on his own for the rest of his life. Right now, he is pining for his friend.

Sadly, medical cost ARE a major consideration for any pet - they often come to a huge multiple of the actual buying price; and with the way many pets are churned out to make money, their health and wellbeing takes a back seat.

 

[doglovinpiggylover]

sorry you lost Jeffrey, rip lad x

 

[threelittlepigs]

Sorry for your loss. It did sound to me as if your piggy had a very serious problem. You've had a big shock and I would say that you need to take some time to think about the next steps.

Your piggy will need company in time, but you at least need to give yourself a few days to think the options through.

 

[Jules7]

Oh hun, I am very sorry that you lost your little boy. It sounds like there was something seriously wrong with the poor chap. As the others have said take your time and give it a few days for things to settle before you make a decision, but yes, unfortunately vet's bills are a huge consideration aren't they. I put a little aside each month for an "unfortunate event" but I appreciate, its not always possible. Chin up and stay strong for Jacque x

 

[Teejay]

Oh, i'm so sorry that you had to say goodbye to Jeffrey, but it sounds like PTS was the kindest thing to do in the curcumstances. I know that doesn't make it any easier, but you did the right thing for Jeffrey.

<<<Big hugs>>> Tracey

 

[irishsea]

I'm very sorry to hear about your little Jeffrey Hugs and thoughts from us and our littlw Willow and Faith.

 

[Freela]

((HUGS))- I'm sorry for your loss! Vet bills are brutal... we got hit with medical bills for two pigs last summer. It was not a fun month!

 

[Glynis]

Oh no i'm really sorry to hear about Jeffrey 8...8...8...
RIP Jeffrey run free at the bridge, now you'll be able to popcorn and munch out on the lush green grass and tasty dandelions, you'll be sadly missed by your mummy and Jacque but NEVER forgotten xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))))))))) and lots of loves from Glynis, Velvet and Onyx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Another little star now twinkling in the sky .........


Good on you love for scraping up your last bit of cash, you tried your very best for little Jeffrey, i'm sure he knew how much he was loved x)
Give yourself sometime and then make the decision about what to do with Jacque xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[CandyFloss]

So sorry to hear about little Jeffrey - you did your best for him
RIP little one
Hugs
x