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Very poorly weak guinea pig

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Beanie26

New Born Pup
Joined
Nov 18, 2015
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Location
Newport, South Wales, UK
Hi, My guinea pig has been very ill for over a week now. He stopped eating much so we took him to the vet who prescribed baytril for a possible mouth infection. The course finished last Wednesday but he is still eating very little. We are syringe feeding him every 2 hours day and night with supreme science recovery plus. He has gone from taking 6 ml to about 10/11 each session. He shows interesting solid food but doesn't seem to have the energy to chew and swallow it. Does anyone know if a vet can give some sort of energy boost to get him strong enough to eat again. I know B12 can increase appetite but does it also give energy? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
 
Thanks. I should also have said that we've been giving him probiotic and small quantities of pineapple and orange juice to tempt him to suck the syringe.
 
Thanks all. Been back to vet and he's had metcam, b12 and dioralite solution. They said possible spur on tooth but see how he goes for a day or so before investigating/filing.
 
I would be cautious with the orange juice as it can be quite acidity especially if your pig is having teeth issues and it rubbing on the inside of the mouth.
I also wouldn't hesitate in being sure on a tooth issue. It is generally recommended, if you can, to visit a great vet - Simon at the Cat & Rabbit Clinic who are great with teeth issues.
Good luck x
 
Thanks everyone. I haven't replied before now as we had to have Lloyd put into his forever sleep on Wednesday
I'm totally heartbroken and struggling to know what to do longer term with our other little boar, Milo. I know he needs a grieving period which is so sad to watch, but we don't think we can cope with having another piggie - we want to get off the cycle. Not sure if we can keep him as a sole piggie and give him lots of attention or if we should try to find him a home with other piggies. I really can't bear the idea of losing him too, but I want him to be happy. Just wish there was somewhere we could take him each week to play with other pigs.
 
So sorry for your loss.
It’s hard to know what is the best thing to do when you are feeling so heartbroken.
Milo will need companionship but I am sure that as the initial shock and pain pass and you can think straight again that you will make the right decision for all of you.
Look after yourself and take time to grieve
 
I am so sorry for your loss. Look after yourself and take time to grieve. Remember the more you grieve the more you have loved.
 
Thank you all for your kind words. Milo seems to be coping well under the circumstances although it's heartbreaking to see him look for his friend when we put him back in the run or when we get back home (he seems to think we'll be bringing Lloyd back). He is doing some popcorning when we put hay in though, so at least that's something.
 
I am very sorry for your loss. Have you seen this thread? Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig
It contains tips on looking after a bereaved piggy.
How old is Milo? Would you consider perhaps asking one of our recommended rescues to do a boar date and to “loan” you a piggy? Some rescues offer this so that you can have company for your boar until he dies and then you can hand back the “loan” piggy to the rescue. are you anywhere near Glynneath Guinea Pig Rescue?
 
Hi Vicki

Thanks so much for your reply. I didn't realise that borrowing a piggie would be an option. Milo is 17 months old - do you think this could be an option for him if we decided to go down that route? It's not that we don't adore piggies but we've lost 3 in 3 years and none of them lived to 3 years old (none of them had the best start in life before we got them though) so we are hoping to step off the cycle at some point as the grief feels crushing. It would be amazing if Milo could have a friend in the meantime though. We are only about a 45min drive from Glyneath.
 
He’s quite young so perhaps a “loan” piggy may be too long term but it’s certainly worth contacting Suzy to see if she can help.
I know how hard it can be following the loss of one piggy - the heartache is genuine. I’ve lost 2 in a week and feel so bruised myself. Luckily my little group still has 3 so I’ve no need to replace the lost piggies in a hurry. Milo is a youngish piggy. He could have many years ahead of him. If you can’t have a “loan” piggy and want to break the cycle could you bear the thought of giving him up to the rescue so that he can be dated and rehomed with another solo boar?
 
Hi Vicki

I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you. Thanks to your suggestion of a loan piggie, Milo now has a new little friend and we have peace of mind that the rescue will take him back if we choose to step off the cycle in the future when anything happens to one of them. Although Suzy wasn't able to help, we managed to find a few other rescues who were open to the suggestion.

Milo now has a new 8 week old friend (an adorable pink eyed white) who we've called Walter Benjamin. After a very short period of getting to know each other, they're already inseparable. I've attached a picture. It's so lovely to see Milo happy again and to have been able to give Walter a home. Thanks again. Xx
IMG_20180915_125739940_BURST000_COVER_TOP.webp
 
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