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Syringe Feeding

J

Jasper2020

New Born Pup
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:help: Hi, I was hoping for some advise. My piggy Dorothy is 3 years old and she has been loosing weight over the last couple of months and about 2 weeks ago stopped eating. I noticed a fluid lump on her tummy area and we took her to a vet who said that the reason for her not eating would be the fluid lump and he gave her a steroid injection and said if she does not improve of eat in 3 days bring her back and she would have to be put to sleep. We was obviously devastated and due to my previous experience with vets we decided to take her to a different vets for a second opinion the following day! When we took her to the other vets the said that it wouldn't be the lump and they think it could be to do with her jaw as the movement is different which I agree with and that we could try syringe feeding for a few days and if after a week she was not eating along to bring her back and they would more than likely have to put her to sleep. So we are now just over a week and she is loving the syringe food and occasional takes a piece of fruit from me and lots of water in a syringe too and we are making sure she is getting the correct amount daily and she's shiny again with energy and putting on weight. I think she may of had a stroke and its effected her mouth. My question would be can we continue to syringe feed her long term, will she survive and has anyone has and experience like this?
 
I’m sorry to hear this.

The issue I can see with long term syringe feeding is that due to the fact she isn’t chewing any hay then her teeth will quickly overgrow (which is a problem in itself).

It’s never an easy decision to come to, but it comes down to quality of life and if you trust the vet then be guided by their opinion on whether she is likely to regain the use of her mouth
 
:agr: Overgrown teeth can cause a real issue. I probably wouldn’t give her fruit though, it’s high in sugar. How are her poops?

There’s something I wanted to clarify though. Did the second vet say that the lump on her stomach was affecting how her jaw moved? Is it anywhere near her neck or mouth?
 
Siikibam said:
:agr: Overgrown teeth can cause a real issue. I probably wouldn’t give her fruit though, it’s high in sugar. How are her poops?

There’s something I wanted to clarify though. Did the second vet say that the lump on her stomach was affecting how her jaw moved? Is it anywhere near her neck or mouth?
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Thank you for replying - her poops are good and like normal and she loved the pellets and water through the syringe. Second vet said he didn't see the fluid lump being an issue and advised it was more of a jaw issue!
 
I would say this is down to tooth overgrowth, which will impact the movement of the jaw. Is there anyway you could get your piggy seen by Simon or Kim Maddock at the Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic in Northampton? I know it isn't near, but it would really be worth the trip and I can guarantee they would get to the bottom of the problem. Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic | Northlands Vets (northlands-vets.co.uk)
 
:agr:

It sounds like she really is willing to live and doing well - having her seen by an experienced guinea pig vet may allow her dental issues to be resolved and give her the chance to eat on her own again.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
I would say this is down to tooth overgrowth, which will impact the movement of the jaw. Is there anyway you could get your piggy seen by Simon or Kim Maddock at the Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic in Northampton? I know it isn't near, but it would really be worth the trip and I can guarantee they would get to the bottom of the problem. Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic | Northlands Vets (northlands-vets.co.uk)
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Thank you for your advise - i have her booked in now at the clinic in Northampton...fingers crossed!
 
Jasper2020 said:
Thank you for your advise - i have her booked in now at the clinic in Northampton...fingers crossed!
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:yahoo:UPDATE - We managed to get an appointment on Saturday and it turns out her back teeth were growing outwards into her cheeks so were making the cheeks extremely sore! they spent an hour on her teeth and today she has started eating on her own. Thank you so much for your advise as its saved my little piggy's life...Thank you so much!
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Great news! It will definitely be worth the trip xx
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:yahoo:UPDATE - We managed to get an appointment on Saturday and it turns out her back teeth were growing outwards into her cheeks so were making the cheeks extremely sore! they spent an hour on her teeth and today she has started eating on her own. Thank you so much for your advise as its saved my little piggy's life...Thank you so much!
 
Jasper2020 said:
:yahoo:UPDATE - We managed to get an appointment on Saturday and it turns out her back teeth were growing outwards into her cheeks so were making the cheeks extremely sore! they spent an hour on her teeth and today she has started eating on her own. Thank you so much for your advise as its saved my little piggy's life...Thank you so much!
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Simon is amazing! So glad your piggy is now eating! It just makes me so very sad that vets are getting it so wrong and leaving piggies to suffer, or putting them to sleep, when they can be helped! xx
 
Just caught up with this thread. :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:
Wonderful news that your piggy’s teeth are now sorted.
She’s a lucky girl to have such a dedicated slave
 
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