Support with Feeding Glucosamine

[PipSqueak20]

Hello,

I’ve been giving Pip 1 capsule of cystease per day for a couple of weeks now. This is for her bladder and urinary health. She hates it! She doesn’t like me syringing it to her, sprinkling it on her food (she won’t eat the bits with a lot of the powder on it). She won’t eat it even with critical care mixed with it as somehow she can taste it She has tried the oxbow urinary tablets but she will eat them for 2 days and then won’t eat them again so it’s a waste of money. I have ordered piggie parcels urinary support formula pellets.

Is there anything else or a different way of giving it to her that I haven’t thought about?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

Guinea pigs have about double the number of taste buds that humans have and very roughly five times the number of that of cats. Since rodents don't have a vomit reflex, they learn from their elders what is safe is to eat and what not. That can make introducing new and especially medical flavours very difficult.

You could try it in mushed pellets (you need to cut off the syringe tip for that as shown in our syringe feeding guide) but you may have to brace for the same reaction.

The only other option is to for you to tough it out and force it in undisguised with the minimum of water needed to dissolve the powder. See the chapter about medicating uncooperative guinea pigs in the same guide for how to do that. Be sympathetic while you do that and follow it up with lots of praise, , a bit of water to wash the taste away and then her favourite treat for her cooperation during and afterwards so she learns to accept it but you also take that flavour away asap.

Usually, once a piggy realises that they cannot get away with it, they will submit to superior strength. Assert your (friendly) authority by gently pinching her ears before you syringe the medication and fondle her ears and stroke her upper cheeks below the eyes (where piggies give each other kisses when they are not well) as a sign that she is still a welcome part of your group and that you love her.

Here is our guide with the relevant pictures and videos: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

I hope that this helps you? There is unfortunately no magic trick and you can cannot beat piggy taste buds by hiding new flavours; especially if you have to use more new stuff that comes with the same problem and likely a lot of sugar...