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Probiotic options?

brookeh2662

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi everyone! One of my guinea pigs is very picky about probiotics. She is on antibiotics now and is having a bladder stone surgery next week, so I need her to be able to take them. I’m a nurse and I can’t get this girl to take anything haha. She does not like bene-bac (the standard that exotic vets recommend) and I’ve also tried a powder version you can sprinkle onto her food but to no avail. Does anyone have suggestions for this? Thank you so much!
 
Perhaps you could try mixing it into some critical care or mushed pellets.
Piggies have a huge amount of tastebuds so the taste of the thing she doesn’t like really needs to be very well hidden.
 
Hi

Is she your only piggy? If not, you could try a healthy live microbiome transfer from a healthy guinea pig not on antibiotics or opioids.
When done correctly with totally freshly dropped poos soaked shortly in a little water and syringing 3 ml of the water ideally within 5 minutes, this method can be more effective than any powder. It mimics natural poo-digging behaviour from recovering piggies. You just have to be aware that microbiome dies off very quickly as soon as it leaves the body.
Probiotics & Live Gut Microbiome Transfer ('Poo Soup'); Recovery Formula Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links and Transfer Recipe

If you have a picky/uncooperative piggy, it is always best to syringe in order to make sure that you get the full amount in. Follow it up with a treat.
We have a chapter with tips, pictures and videos for coping with uncooperative piggies in our guide (see chapter 7): All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

All the best for the op. I am very sorry.
 
Mine refuse to go near benebac or fibreplex, but they will take Pro-C mixed into critical care or similar and eat that off a small dish. All the best for the surgery.
 
I use Pro C in their water as they both like the taste of it and will drink more with it, than without it. However, I do dilute it a little more than recommended by using 1 scoop of powder with 250ml of water, rather than 200ml. Hope all goes well with the op.
 
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