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Won’t swallow recovery food.

Hannah2803

Hannah2803

Junior Guinea Pig
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My guinea pig is going through a lot at the moment. Firstly a scratched eye alongside a URI, now followed by overgrown teeth. He was born with teeth problems so this third issue hasn’t come as a surprise. We visited the vet Saturday, they gave us recovery food, eye drops and antibiotics for his URI, then by Monday there had been no improvement so we went back to the vet again, this is when they spotted the overgrown teeth and said he needs an operation to have his teeth filed down. As you can imagine, my guinea has not been eating or drinking at all during this time, only the recovery food. On Monday we were told we’d have to wait until Wednesday morning for the operation because they’re shut Tuesday (New Years Day). This means it’s down to me to keep feeding him and keep him alive until Wednesday morning, but today, Tuesday, i’ve noticed he isn’t swallowing any of the recovery food, even from 9 hours ago, it just sits in his mouth and goes dry, we’ve tried giving him water which yesterday he took happily but today he is doing all he can to reject it. What more can i do to make him eat the recovery food?
 
Maybe he might lick some recovery food off a slice of cucumber? Or if you dilute the recovery food a bit more it might go down easier? I think some people have also tried mixing fruit puree baby food with recovery food or mashed up pellets. Or might he lick some grated veg or fruit and soggy porridge oats off a spoon? If its just for another 24 hours anything is worth a try to keep his guts moving and get a few calories into him!
Healing wheeks and good luck with his dental surgery x
 
PigglePuggle said:
Maybe he might lick some recovery food off a slice of cucumber? Or if you dilute the recovery food a bit more it might go down easier? I think some people have also tried mixing fruit puree baby food with recovery food or mashed up pellets. Or might he lick some grated veg or fruit and soggy porridge oats off a spoon? If its just for another 24 hours anything is worth a try to keep his guts moving and get a few calories into him!
Healing wheeks and good luck with his dental surgery x
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PigglePuggle said:
Maybe he might lick some recovery food off a slice of cucumber? Or if you dilute the recovery food a bit more it might go down easier? I think some people have also tried mixing fruit puree baby food with recovery food or mashed up pellets. Or might he lick some grated veg or fruit and soggy porridge oats off a spoon? If its just for another 24 hours anything is worth a try to keep his guts moving and get a few calories into him!
Healing wheeks and good luck with his dental surgery x
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The problem is, my guinea is almost completely lifeless, i can’t even explain how lethargic he is but practically not moving, he has no interest what so ever in taking food.
 
Hannah2803 said:
My guinea pig is going through a lot at the moment. Firstly a scratched eye alongside a URI, now followed by overgrown teeth. He was born with teeth problems so this third issue hasn’t come as a surprise. We visited the vet Saturday, they gave us recovery food, eye drops and antibiotics for his URI, then by Monday there had been no improvement so we went back to the vet again, this is when they spotted the overgrown teeth and said he needs an operation to have his teeth filed down. As you can imagine, my guinea has not been eating or drinking at all during this time, only the recovery food. On Monday we were told we’d have to wait until Wednesday morning for the operation because they’re shut Tuesday (New Years Day). This means it’s down to me to keep feeding him and keep him alive until Wednesday morning, but today, Tuesday, i’ve noticed he isn’t swallowing any of the recovery food, even from 9 hours ago, it just sits in his mouth and goes dry, we’ve tried giving him water which yesterday he took happily but today he is doing all he can to reject it. What more can i do to make him eat the recovery food?
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Hi!

I am very sorry; these kind of things always happen at the worst of times, as I know from my own experiences.

Please try to see whether your piggy can still swallow watery syinge feed; feed only very little (0.1 ml) at once and allow time for swallowing.
See a vet as soon as possible. If your dental has been done wrongly by an inexperienced vet, it can have done more harm than good if done wrongly.

You could see whether you can find an emergency vet to look for a sub-q infection of fluids to keep him going until tomorrow. Google for services that are open today.

All the best!
 
Unfortunately when the teeth overgrow, they can trap the tongue, which makes swallowing difficult if not impossible. Being lethargic and unable to swallow would be considered an emergency, I agree with the above that he needs to see an out of hours emergency vet today if he is to stand a chance. Wishing you both all the best!
 
Lady Kelly said:
Unfortunately I think if he is almost lifeless he needs to see an emergency vet today
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You see, there aren’t any emergency vets open near me. It’s cruel but I think I have to accept what’s coming.
 
Hannah2803 said:
You see, there aren’t any emergency vets open near me. It’s cruel but I think I have to accept what’s coming.
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Does your vet not have an emergency service? If I call my vets out of hours then the answer machine gives the details of the emergency contact, some vets will have their own while others will all go through one local one. It would be highly unusual not to have this provision at all
 
Your vets must make provision for emergency services even if they don’t do their own emergency care. Please call the vets and note the number they will give you in their answering service for that will be the emergency provider’s details. Alternatively check their website for details of the emergency cover.
Your piggy really does need to see an emergency vet.
 
I agree with @Lady Kelly if you phone the usual vet numbers they will give out of hours services - as you know, he shouldn't wait until tomorrow. Wishing you lots of hugs and sending healing vibes for your poor boy. :hug::hug:x
 
VickiA said:
Your vets must make provision for emergency services even if they don’t do their own emergency care. Please call the vets and note the number they will give you in their answering service for that will be the emergency provider’s details. Alternatively check their website for details of the emergency cover.
Your piggy really does need to see an emergency vet.
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My parents have finallt found an emergency vet and Joey’s with them now, i couldn’t bare to go with them after how lifeless he’s been today. I’ll keep you updated on the outcome. Thanks everyone.
 
Sadly, Joey hasn’t made it, the vet chose to put him down after deciding he had a neurological illness alongside everything else possibly due to his organs shutting down so he wouldn’t have made a recovery regardless.
Thankyou everyone for the support and I’m glad to know Joey’s in a better place now.
 
I'm so sorry for your loss. Remember to be kind to yourself and know you did your best for Joey.
 
I'm so sorry to hear this. He was obviously very loved and well cared for. You did your best and made the hardest decision to end his suffering. Take care xx
 
Really sorry for your loss. You did everything for Joey and letting him go was the last and biggest act of kindness you could do for him. Look after yourself
 
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