Supplementing protein.

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camelias2009

camelias2009

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Recently I brought my 6 year old guinea pig, Lou, to the vet. She has fluid building up in her body due to an issue with her body not absorbing and using protein correctly. He suggested that I try to supplement her with extra protein so that there is at least more protein going in, so hopefully she will be able to absorb enough.

The pellet she is on has 20% protein, which is better than my vet expected. However, that is what she has been on before, so I am now on the search for other things that are safe to feed my baby, which are high in protein.

Any ideas?
 
I saw your post and wanted to bump it up! Would something like critical care contain more protein? Maybe you could give her a small amount of that every day?
 
Thanks for bumping. What is this critical care product that you speak of?

I am thinking that I am going to have to purchase a pure alfalfa hay to give to her, as she is not eating the mix well, nor is she eating the chopped hay that my barn owner feeds some of the horses. I am also waiting on a call back from the vet as to whether I might be able to get the fluid that is building up drained every month or so.
 
Yeah, I looked through all of the Oxbo products, since my vet recommends them. I did manage to find a treat available at a pet store near me which had 29% protein. I know that piggies aren't supposed to have a lot of treats, but I've talked about it with my vet and at this point he thinks that the benefits of the extra protein outweigh the risks of feeding too many treats.

She is still eating okay. She is eating pellets happily, but isn't eating as much hay as I would like, despite my many efforts to find a good alfalfa hay for her to eat. She has gotten quite picky in her old age. She is still eating fresh veggies well and is drinking normally. She does have another appoinment with the vet tonight to see if we might be able to drain some of the edema fluid that is building up to make her more comfortable.
 
My vet does believe that it is related to her kidneys because one of her kidneys is so enlarged. However, she has been a healthy piggy from day one and has never had any health issues before now, no heart or kidney issues. I'm basically just trying to keep her happy and comfortable and do everything possible (within reason) to keep her quality of life high. I will let her go when I can't do that anymore.
 
Have you tried flaked peas? Pulses are usually not recommended because they are high in protein and only given as an occasional treat.
 
Sounds great! Thanks!

Just an update for those who have been watching this thread: When I went to the vet's with Lou last week he was actually suprised to see that she was doing better not worse. She is on antibiotics and non-steriodal anti-inflamatories because she was developing a skin infection, but she seems to be perking up quite a bit. Though, the antibiotics to seem to be giving her a bit of tummy trouble. Does anyone have any hints for that?

Thanks!
 
Well for high protein I'd try things like bean sprouts, mange tout, sugar snap peas, etc. and sunflower seeds.


But if animals have something wrong with their kidneys, aren't they meant to eat less protein?
 
My vet thought that, although there is something wrong with her kidneys, supplementing protein was still the best answer because of the pressure the fluid was putting on her body. So far things seem to be okay. Since she has been on antibiotics and anti-inflammatories she has been much happier.
 
Hello. I just wanted to thank everyone for the support. Lou passed away yesterday morning. I knew the night before that she wasn't happy, and I got my say my goodbyes. That night was the first time that I haven't seen her happy though, through this whole thing.

I know that I did everything I could to keep her comfortable and happy, and I saw the change in her when the meds started helping. She perked up again. So I knew that she was tired the other night. If she was still alive the next day I was going to bring her to the vet to be put down. But she fell asleep in her snuggle sack (fleece piggy sleeping bag that she loved so so so much) and just didn't wake up.

I miss her a lot. I owned her parents, and the first time I saw her she was still wet from being born. She was a wonderful sweet piggy and I will always remember her. Her cagemate Lilly is sad, but we had been seperating the two to prepare them for the inevitable. I just wish that I had been able to bring Lou outside one last time to eat grass and enjoy the warm sun, but the weather here just wasn't cooperating with me.

Thanks to everyone for all the support and love.
 
Me too... Thank you... We knew that supplementing protein was only temporary and that she didn't have too long to live anyway. My goal was just to keep her happy and comfortable and I feel confidant that I was able to do that...
 
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