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Syringe feeding

alib1991

alib1991

New Born Pup
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Hi all! My 4 and a half year old guinea pig has had teeth troubles for the past couple of months. (Now under the wonderful care of Simon at the cat and rabbit clinic!) He’s having dentals every 3 weeks but after about a week, he pretty much stops eating and loses weight. He’s still hungry and laps up syringe food though.
I’m just worried he’s become over reliant on syringe food and just want to try and get him back onto pellets, hay, and veg but feel like I’m in a losing battle. Any tips?!
 
If a guinea pig can eat for themselves, I truly believe they will do that, rather than expect syringe food. However, it is important to present the food in the correct way to encourage them to keep trying for themselves. Some like it cut into very thin strips and others prefer to eat hard food, such as carrot or a broccoli stalk and like it given as a large piece, so it doesn't move easily while they bite into it. I also find with some dental piggies, they need about 5 - 10 mls of syringe food, just to get them going and will then eat better for themselves, rather than giving it without the small top up of syringe food first. How long have you been going to Simon? What does Simon think regarding him stopping eating again so soon?
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
If a guinea pig can eat for themselves, I truly believe they will do that, rather than expect syringe food. However, it is important to present the food in the correct way to encourage them to keep trying for themselves. Some like it cut into very thin strips and others prefer to eat hard food, such as carrot or a broccoli stalk and like it given as a large piece, so it doesn't move easily while they bite into it. I also find with some dental piggies, they need about 5 - 10 mls of syringe food, just to get them going and will then eat better for themselves, rather than giving it without the small top up of syringe food first. How long have you been going to Simon? What does Simon think regarding him stopping eating again so soon?
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Thanks! He’s going back to see Simon on Thursday so will speak to him then - he’s only been twice so on the second time Simon wasn’t concerned, but he just doesn’t seem to be getting better. Will try syringe feeding first and then presenting him with food to see if that helps him eat - struggling with balancing between getting enough food into him and not filling him up!
 
alib1991 said:
Thanks! He’s going back to see Simon on Thursday so will speak to him then - he’s only been twice so on the second time Simon wasn’t concerned, but he just doesn’t seem to be getting better. Will try syringe feeding first and then presenting him with food to see if that helps him eat - struggling with balancing between getting enough food into him and not filling him up!
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It sounds like there could be a pain issue. Maybe a brewing abscess that isn't detectable yet. Is he on Metacam (loxicom)? I am sure Simon will get to the bottom of the problem. He's worked miracles with so many of our piggies, here at TEAS.
 
How about offering mushed pellets so he’s eating his usual pellets rather than cc food.
Also pureeing veggies to make it easier.
Just suggestions
Hope he does get completely sorted soon
 
Merab's Slave said:
How about offering mushed pellets so he’s eating his usual pellets rather than cc food.
Also pureeing veggies to make it easier.
Just suggestions
Hope he does get completely sorted soon
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That’s what he has in a dish in his cage at the moment (as well as normal pellets). But this morning I noticed him using his paws whilst eating it which is weird... fingers crossed he gets better!
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
It sounds like there could be a pain issue. Maybe a brewing abscess that isn't detectable yet. Is he on Metacam (loxicom)? I am sure Simon will get to the bottom of the problem. He's worked miracles with so many of our piggies, here at TEAS.
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Maybe! Will speak to Simon on Thursday and see what he says. Poor piggy is trying bless him! No, not on any pain meds at all - hasn’t been for over a month so wondering if it is a pain issue! Thanks!
 
alib1991 said:
Maybe! Will speak to Simon on Thursday and see what he says. Poor piggy is trying bless him! No, not on any pain meds at all - hasn’t been for over a month so wondering if it is a pain issue! Thanks!
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Do you have any Metacam or Loxicom? It might be worth starting him on some, if you do.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Simon always prescribes Metacam or Loxicom twice a day. Do you have the dog version? We tend to give 0.25 - 0.3 ml of dog Metacam twice daily. Simon pulls the top off the bottle, so you can use a 1 ml syringe to measure out the dose.
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It’s the cat version of Metacam so not sure if the dosage is different?
 
So Papua seems to be getting on a bit better today and has his appointment with Simon tomorrow. Quick question though, is it possible to overfeed on syringe food? He’s just taken about 70ml in one go which makes his daily amount up to 160ml - he’s underweight (780g) but worried this is too much! Thanks!
 
alib1991 said:
So Papua seems to be getting on a bit better today and has his appointment with Simon tomorrow. Quick question though, is it possible to overfeed on syringe food? He’s just taken about 70ml in one go which makes his daily amount up to 160ml - he’s underweight (780g) but worried this is too much! Thanks!
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No, you can’t overfeed! I hope your appointment goes well tomorrow xx
 
So it’s now 3 days since his dental and he’s given up eating already! I think this is the quickest he’s stopped. No idea why and his weight has now dropped to 710g - about 60g less than Thursday. Started syringe feeding again but his next appointment isn’t for another 3.5 weeks :-( he’s on pain killers now (the dog one) so hoping it’ll pass and he’ll start eating again but really not sure what else to do if not. Wondering if maybe some sunshine and grass time might help?
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Does he eat well immediately after the dental?
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Pretty much normal! Less veg but eats nuggets and hay with no problems. Have now tried resorting to softened pellets but he’s just not cooperating. Simon hoped that by keeping him on painkillers, we’d get past the sticking point which is stopping him eating but unfortunately doesn’t seem to have helped.
 
alib1991 said:
Pretty much normal! Less veg but eats nuggets and hay with no problems. Have now tried resorting to softened pellets but he’s just not cooperating. Simon hoped that by keeping him on painkillers, we’d get past the sticking point which is stopping him eating but unfortunately doesn’t seem to have helped.
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I’m just trying to think of all possibilities. Could eating more normally give him tummy ache, I wonder? So he stops eating, his teeth start to go wrong again,and it all goes horribly wrong. Just wondering if some gut motility drugs(Zantac and Emeprid) would help!
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
I’m just trying to think of all possibilities. Could eating more normally give him tummy ache, I wonder? So he stops eating, his teeth start to go wrong again,and it all goes horribly wrong. Just wondering if some gut motility drugs(Zantac and Emeprid) would help!
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Maybe! Though he happily eats syringe food like it’s goung out of fashion (normally 150ml+ in a day when fully on it). Would some probiotics help perhaps? Thanks for your help on this - feeling at a loss!
 
alib1991 said:
Maybe! Though he happily eats syringe food like it’s goung out of fashion (normally 150ml+ in a day when fully on it). Would some probiotics help perhaps? Thanks for your help on this - feeling at a loss!
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I'd give it a go. It isn't going to do any harm and it might do some good. I must admit, this isn't one I have come across, in all the years of running TEAS. Maybe try some Fibreplex too.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
I'd give it a go. It isn't going to do any harm and it might do some good. I must admit, this isn't one I have come across, in all the years of running TEAS. Maybe try some Fibreplex too.
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Oh dear, he is quite a dramatic little pig so not sure if this is just coming out now 😂 I’ll try some probiotic, but with his quality of life at the moment, I’m not sure if I’m just forcing him to stay alive to be honest, though he does seem lively.
 
alib1991 said:
Oh dear, he is quite a dramatic little pig so not sure if this is just coming out now 😂 I’ll try some probiotic, but with his quality of life at the moment, I’m not sure if I’m just forcing him to stay alive to be honest, though he does seem lively.
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Another thought! Have you always seen Simon? I’m thinking maybe get Kim to take a look at him. Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes can be useful!
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Another thought! Have you always seen Simon? I’m thinking maybe get Kim to take a look at him. Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes can be useful!
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That may be a good idea actually! Will ask if she can.

Can guinea pigs lose the taste for veggies? He’s currently wolfing down softened pellets from a syringe and will occasionally eat off a spoon but still not even slightly interested in the veg. He’s nibbling hay but the amount he’s eating won’t keep him going or his weight stable.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Are you feeding the veggies he used to enjoy? I’ve found, after illness, they tend to not like what they previously enjoyed and prefer different ones. Will he eat grass?
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I’m giving him the same ones and some new ones to try and see if he’ll eat something but maybe something entirely different would be good.

He’s not too keen on grass, was thinking of putting him out today but it’s a bit chilly!
 
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