Sick Piggie- Syringe Feeding

[laurenm]

Hi, a brief history before getting to my actual question: My guinea pig Bruce has been unwell for just over a week. He stopped eating and drinking so I stepped in with syringe feeding as soon as I noticed, and have spent the past week going back and forth to the vet. At first the vet thought it was a dental problem, but after throughly checking she couldn’t find anything. He was then given a full x-ray and there was nothing unusual. Finally, the vet took a blood test and the results showed an increased number of enzymes so perhaps a liver problem but they weren’t conclusive. So, he was given baytril and zantac in case it’s a problem with his gut and I’ve to go back to the vet with him again on Saturday.

However my question is, is there any way to encourage him to eat his nuggets? He wheeks when he wants fed, which is about every 2-3 hours, and I’ve hardly slept for a week. He still eats veggies and hay and that doesn’t seem to cause him any pain or anything. I have been off work but have to go back on Thursday and am worried about leaving him all day. If I don’t get up to syringe feed him when he wheeks he just sits and faces the corner of his cage, which is obviously a very bad sign. Any advice would be much appreciated

 

[Abi_nurse]

If he's still eating veg and hay this is good. I wouldn't worry right now about the pellets as they are not essential. You can always change the brand or just wait until he begins to feel better before worrying about if he eats them or not. The hay is the most important part. : )

 

[laurenm]

If he's still eating veg and hay this is good. I wouldn't worry right now about the pellets as they are not essential. You can always change the brand or just wait until he begins to feel better before worrying about if he eats them or not. The hay is the most important part. : )

The problem is he only eats his hay after he has been syringe fed (the vet gave me some Recovery sachets) and he wheeks so loudly when he wants fed. I will of course keep feeding him, just wondered if there was anything to entice him to eat on his own so I could get some sleep lol! Thanks though, I think I will just have to wait and see if he responds to the medicine

 

[Janey]

Just a thought, is his hay easily accessibly to him - as in right next to where he normally is? My girl is currently being syringe fed and will eat her hay, but only if it's right there next to her - and she has to have it replenished much more than I usually would - lots of fresh handfuls throughout the day.

 

[laurenm]

Just a thought, is his hay easily accessibly to him - as in right next to where he normally is? My girl is currently being syringe fed and will eat her hay, but only if it's right there next to her - and she has to have it replenished much more than I usually would - lots of fresh handfuls throughout the day.

Yeah mine is the exact same! It’s funny you mention that as I wasn’t sure whether to include it in the original post. He won’t eat from his hay rack at all, so I’ve been putting fresh stuff down beside his pigloo but he still insists on only eating it at syringe feeding times. He also won’t drink from his water bottle, only takes it from a syringe. He has put some weight back on after losing quite a lot, so he must be getting enough. It’s just such a worry when they’re not acting like themselves. Hope your girl is doing ok x