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Too much critical care?

schnicksy

schnicksy

Junior Guinea Pig
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One of my piggies had an op today to remove bladder stones (it turned out it wasn’t bladder stones but a very infected bladder, the X-ray etc had been inconclusive hence the op as poor Molly was really struggling).

she did great at the vets and ate right away. Of course, now she’s home she’s being a pain and is just hiding in her hay. So I gave her a teaspoon of critical care at around 6pm and some more just (2.5hrs later). She ate the lot (literally licking it from a spoon and then licking the bowl clean). The teaspoon is a teaspoon of the powder mixed with two teaspoons of water so it’s three in total? I get confused in how to show how much they’ve had.

Is there such a thing as too much? Or is that not enough? I’m concerned as she’s not pooped since she got home. I’ve read the guides but I’m also full of anxiety and paranoid.
 
While she isn’t eating for herself, then you need to give her as much as she will eat in one sitting, aiming for 60-90ml in a 24 hour period (details in the guide below). Put hay near her so she doesn’t have to move to be able to eat.
It’s important she eats enough fibre rich food - either recovery food or hay - to ensure she doesn’t encounter other
lack of food related problems. Keep a check on her weight during this time.

Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
 
I agree there is no such thing as too much recovery food in the 24 hours post op, but please make sure there is enough water in it- making up 30 mls plus (or 60 to 90 mls) at a time according to the instructions will help ensure she gets enough hydration and will poop, I always find making up small volumes without measuring can make it too thick or thin and making enough for 24 hours then storing it in a little tupperware box in the fridge helps get the consistency right! If its from a spoon you might accidentally make it too thick making just a couple of spoonfuls at a time I think x
 
PigglePuggle said:
I agree there is no such thing as too much recovery food in the 24 hours post op, but please make sure there is enough water in it- making up 30 mls plus (or 60 to 90 mls) at a time according to the instructions will help ensure she gets enough hydration and will poop, I always find making up small volumes without measuring can make it too thick or thin and making enough for 24 hours then storing it in a little tupperware box in the fridge helps get the consistency right! If its from a spoon you might accidentally make it too thick making just a couple of spoonfuls at a time I think x
Click to expand...

thanks. I’ve given her more until she wouldn’t take anymore. Thankfully she’s happily eating it without any pressure from me. She’s had three lots of the teaspoon mix which must be close to 9 teaspoons worth in the last few hours. I’m heading to bed and will get up in a few hours to give her more. and the same again a few hours after that.

I’ll make up a larger amount before I go to bed to make sure it’s runny enough. I didn’t realise I could keep it stored and it wouldn’t go off.

edit: bad spelling.
 
Thank you for the advice @PigglePuggle and @Piggies&buns Molly is doing well. She’s just about starting to eat hay on her own. I will of course carry on with critical care until I’m sure she’s fully eating on her own. She was so eager for the critical care she stuck her head in the Tupperware to lick a bit off in her most recent feed!
 
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