new pig does not like veggies!

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tiggyswift

Post   » Sun Dec 16, 2007 9:57 am


As I am sitting here, Junior is eating a carrot!!! He also ate some hay and 2-3 pellets on his own, too! Maybe his gastric upset is clearing up on it's own? I am very proud of his progress!!!! The only thing is to get him to eat, I take his house out for a very short time(10-15 min.), and as soon as he is done I put it back, even if it is only 2 or 3 minutes. I don't want to stress him any more, but this seems to be the only thing that encourages him to eat at all in his cage. I hope I don't have to do it for long, maybe a few days. 23 poops overnight, a bit bigger than they have been, but still 2 strung together. That is better than before. He is seeming a bit more comfortable around us, too. CC feeding last night was awful again. He fought so much I needed help, and even then it was very hard! He sure has a strong head and neck for a pig that has barely eaten! I have not weighed him yet today. Will post his progress later.

tiggyswift

Post   » Sun Dec 16, 2007 11:59 am


Junior's weight is slightly down again, but still within an ounce. It took an hour to feed him this morning, it is getting so hard, as he must be the most difficult piggie there is to syringe feed! I am really having a hard time with him! He only ate less than 1/4 of his carrot, but at least he ate some.
I hope he starts eating normally soon. I can't wait until we are done with the dreaded feedings! Other than that, he is doing well. I held him for a while after I fed him, and he licked my arm for quite a while! It was cute, and I was impressed that he just sat there without trying to bolt!

rpaws

Post   » Sun Dec 16, 2007 8:23 pm


You are lucky to be getting guinea pig kisses from Junior. Come on Junior, show us how you can poop. My one girl made 35 poops in less than 1/2 hour one time. Of course she is over 3 lbs., but still, you should be doing some serious pooping.

You could also try putting some pellets in the pigloo with him. I find my guinea pigs like the idea of "eating in bed."

Julsie

Post   » Sun Dec 16, 2007 10:18 pm


I'm new to the forum, but thought I'd share my experience with Critical Care.

When my piggie was on it a few months ago, the vet said some pigs would happily eat it without being force-fed, so after a couple days of syringe feeding, we mixed up a thick pasty blob of Critical Care -- think mashed potato consistency -- and dropped it on top of Kyle's food bowl. He nibbled at it the first time we tried, and the whole blob dried up so I could pick it out easily the next day. The second day, he ate almost the whole thing! You might try it, especially since it doesn't sound like Junior recognizes vegetables as food.

Good luck getting that baby healthy again!

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Amy0204
We miss our sweet Oreo

Post   » Sun Dec 16, 2007 10:34 pm


You might want to consider syringe feeding canned pumpkin...not as ideal as CC but it's got lots of fiber and it's healthy for pigs. Mine hate the CC, but will readily take the pumpkin so I fall back on it when we absolutely need it.

Too bad about the bugs. When we adopted Panda, he was miserably shy. I jumped the gun and put him in with a companion a lot sooner than I should have, but it got him eating and moving around. Maybe you could put them in the same room so Junior would know he's got species-company nearby?

Tracis
Let Sleeping Pigs Lie

Post   » Mon Dec 17, 2007 12:37 am


More good thoughts for Junior. I hope he does well at the vet on Monday.

tiggyswift

Post   » Mon Dec 17, 2007 8:08 am


I will try the pumkin. I do put pellets in his pigloo, he just won't eat them, and does not have any interest in them. Thanks for the well wishes. He really needs them right now! Could the lice make him lose his appetite?

tiggyswift

Post   » Mon Dec 17, 2007 5:09 pm


Junior is at the vet, and will be spending at least a few days there to see if they can entice him to eat on his own. Again, no apparent findings apon physical exam, teeth normal, no sores in his mouth, no bloat, etc. Also, his weight was the same as last week, so maybe my scale is off slightly. It's possible he has an upset stomach for whatever reason, and they will treat for that if they determine that is the cause. He is pooping, but not as he should be. I saved every poop he did from his last appt. to today to show them. He does still have lice, they are continuing treatment there, and Elmo went today for treatmrnt as well. I am taking NO chances
with him. I probably won't know anything until sometime tomorrow, so I will update then. They have a great tech. who is wonderful with nursing Guinea Pigs back to health, so hopefully he will be home with a hearty appetite in a few days. If anyone can help him, it is them. He is in the best place he can be right now, and this will help alleviate my anxiety and stress over him for a bit.
It was almost impossible to force feed, and took me at least an hour to 1 1/2 hours per feeding, plus I have slept at the most 3 hours per night. I have been crying my eyes out over him, too. Hopefully, he will recover rapidly. One more thing, do guinea pigs suckle at all? I swear he was suckling my arm last night, and the exam table at the vet's today. Sorry so long, alot to say.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Mon Dec 17, 2007 6:19 pm


I wish you the best. I know this has to be very hard for you both.

tiggyswift

Post   » Mon Dec 17, 2007 7:38 pm


Thanks Lynx, for your well wishes. This has probably been a lot rougher on him than it has been on me. I absloutely hate to see an animal suffering, it tears my heart out! I sure hope they can make him well again and he can come home soon. We havn't had him long, but already I am attached and love him dearly. Do guinea pigs weaned too early suckle at all? He was doing that on my arm last night. I will let you know how he is doing as soon as I know something. I sure do miss him! I have learned a very valuable lesson through all of this, and will definitely wait for one to become available at a local shelter next time I am looking for a guinea pig. I don't believe there are any rescues in my area. I had been looking for weeks, and poor Elmo was so depressed, I made a poor decision.

Talishan
You can quote me

Post   » Mon Dec 17, 2007 8:34 pm


Most petstore pigs are yanked from their mothers so early, he may indeed be trying to suckle. While they don't "need" mother's milk past the first few days, if they can get it, they'll try to do so for at least a few weeks thereafter.

If it's any comfort (which it's probably not), he doesn't physiologically need mother's milk now.

tiggyswift

Post   » Mon Dec 17, 2007 9:17 pm


That's what I thought. He is definitely too old to need his mother's milk, but maybe it is a source of comfort for him or something.It was the weirdest feeling! The only thing that will make me feel better is him eating all on his own and being healthy enough to eventually be put in with Elmo. I am praying for him. I have to admit I am releived to not have to feed him for the next few days. It is so hard to force even the smallest animal that does not want to eat. I just hope they can save him.

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