barely eating x3 months, now impaction issues
- Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
Look over this page that describes firmly pinning the head so it cannot be turned. It may be easier to get food and drugs in if a more gentle method does not work. One more relaxed method with more cooperative pets involves putting the guinea pig on a counter in the crook of your arm and offering food by syringe that way.
https://www.guinealynx.info/tips.html
https://www.guinealynx.info/tips.html
- Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
Valium (aka Diazepam) has been recommended in veterinary literature as an appetite stimulant.
Since probiotics generally do not have any negative side effects and may help, many people use them.
https://www.guinealynx.info/probiotics.html
Since probiotics generally do not have any negative side effects and may help, many people use them.
https://www.guinealynx.info/probiotics.html
Gilbert is down to 1038 gms today. When he was eating on his own he hovered around 1200 gm
He is eating a bit better with thicker critical care, thanx Sef. I added pumpkin, it was someone's suggestion on this board.
Yesterday he started metoclopramide 0.5mg twice/day. Is also still on Cisapride 0.6cc twice/day
I handfed him hay (also another poster), he chews & chews but the hay doesn't go into his mouth unless i gently push on the ends. What does that mean?
We have an app't on Monday for anesthesia. Will look at his teeth, do 4 views of head xray, possible chest xray for heart, bloodwork (not sure what yet, I'm waiting for vet to call me for pre-op questions/instructions
Is there anything else you would want done while he's under anesthesia?
I can't find the probiotic Sef uses, Amazon delivery is July 2, would like to start it asap if possible. Any other brands for probiotics?
Also, any ideas for which brand of vitamin b-complex to get? I'm finding a lot have sugar in them, some have essential oils. Btw, the vet said she doesn't "believe" in vit. b. Sigh
We are having problems with the vets here, it's like they are too burned out to care like they used to. So having you all to help Gilbert & me is so valuable
He is eating a bit better with thicker critical care, thanx Sef. I added pumpkin, it was someone's suggestion on this board.
Yesterday he started metoclopramide 0.5mg twice/day. Is also still on Cisapride 0.6cc twice/day
I handfed him hay (also another poster), he chews & chews but the hay doesn't go into his mouth unless i gently push on the ends. What does that mean?
We have an app't on Monday for anesthesia. Will look at his teeth, do 4 views of head xray, possible chest xray for heart, bloodwork (not sure what yet, I'm waiting for vet to call me for pre-op questions/instructions
Is there anything else you would want done while he's under anesthesia?
I can't find the probiotic Sef uses, Amazon delivery is July 2, would like to start it asap if possible. Any other brands for probiotics?
Also, any ideas for which brand of vitamin b-complex to get? I'm finding a lot have sugar in them, some have essential oils. Btw, the vet said she doesn't "believe" in vit. b. Sigh
We are having problems with the vets here, it's like they are too burned out to care like they used to. So having you all to help Gilbert & me is so valuable
-
- And got the T-shirt
If you're pushing the hay back to his molars and he's not pulling it the rest of the way in, the problem is almost certainly that his molars are not hitting properly.
I use Bene-Bac as a probiotic. It's always worked for me.
I wouldn't automatically do bloodwork. It's very hard to get blood from a guinea pig, and it doesn't generally tell you a whole lot. Only if the x-rays of teeth and heart don't show anything would I consider letting them do bloodwork.
I use Bene-Bac as a probiotic. It's always worked for me.
I wouldn't automatically do bloodwork. It's very hard to get blood from a guinea pig, and it doesn't generally tell you a whole lot. Only if the x-rays of teeth and heart don't show anything would I consider letting them do bloodwork.
Looking back now, what i find interesting (disturbing?) is that the vet #2 who did the xrays did *not* suggest anesthesia oral exam which I didn't know about until the past month or so. She went right to "he needs a ct scan" which i mentioned before would cost $1k or so and requires a longer time under anesthesia
bpatters: I ok'd the bloodwork only because he'll be under anesthesia and that should (theoretically) make it easier to withdraw blood from him...we'll see i guess
Getting bene=bac this afternoon. Any vitamin b-complex brands? What do you think of this:
If you like this, how much should I give?
bpatters: I ok'd the bloodwork only because he'll be under anesthesia and that should (theoretically) make it easier to withdraw blood from him...we'll see i guess
Getting bene=bac this afternoon. Any vitamin b-complex brands? What do you think of this:
If you like this, how much should I give?
- Sef
- I dissent.
I wouldn't use anything like that (B vitamins for kids). Ideally, it needs to be something formulated for veterinary use. I haven't found what I used in the past; it was an injectable and I'm not sure it can be given orally. Likely something similar to this:
https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.htm ... B0D0204AE5
The range for B vitamins in guinea pigs is listed in exotics formulary as 0.02-0.2 mL/kg SC or IM (that is correct as written; mL and not mg).
I think since you are on for Monday, maybe see how it goes with the radiographs and have a discussion with your vet based on the results. If your vet doesn't support its use, I'm not sure I would go against that without talking to her first.
https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.htm ... B0D0204AE5
The range for B vitamins in guinea pigs is listed in exotics formulary as 0.02-0.2 mL/kg SC or IM (that is correct as written; mL and not mg).
I think since you are on for Monday, maybe see how it goes with the radiographs and have a discussion with your vet based on the results. If your vet doesn't support its use, I'm not sure I would go against that without talking to her first.
Gilbert wants to eat and nibbles on hay & greens, doesn't touch the pellets, the food doesn't go back to his molars apparently (seeing the vet on Mon. for anesthesia oral exam)
He's getting 1/2 critical care/1/2 ground alfalfa pellets w/pumpkin & water. It's thickish.
He's taken 80=100 cc/day the last 11 days. But he's losing weight every single day, 1030 gm. today (down 8 from yesterday, down 69 gms from a week ago)
Shouldn't that amount of handfeeding volume keep him from losing weight every day?
He's getting 1/2 critical care/1/2 ground alfalfa pellets w/pumpkin & water. It's thickish.
He's taken 80=100 cc/day the last 11 days. But he's losing weight every single day, 1030 gm. today (down 8 from yesterday, down 69 gms from a week ago)
Shouldn't that amount of handfeeding volume keep him from losing weight every day?
Gilbert has a *huge lump* on his neck! It starts right under his lower front teeth and goes down most of his chest, it's bigger than a golf ball. I managed to get hold of a 4th vet (the one we have app't with on Monday is off on weekends). Dr. T said it's a root abscess, to put warm compresses on it. Did not want to start antibiotics at this time. I canceled Monday's app't and we see Dr. T on Monday instead. I'm beside myself with the stress of caring for Gilbert since March, and my dog is sick also. I'm so worried, Gilbert lost another 8 gms today
Is there any danger of this lump causing breathing issues, pressing on his windpipe?
Is there any danger of this lump causing breathing issues, pressing on his windpipe?