Porkchop is sick went to vet

**porkchopsmom** · #1 02-07-06, 05:22 pm

Porkchop is very sick. I noticed yesterday AM that she didn't seem very energetic, and last night she didn't come down from the loft for her carrot. That's very bad. I took her to the vet on my lunch hour and the vet gave her a shot of baytril(spelling?). My regular vet was not in today so I took her to the vet I use for my dogs. Porkchop is not eating or drinking and she is cold to the touch. My question is how do I make her drink and is eating as important as drinking? I have her separated from Apple and on a heating pad set on low. She looks bad and not drinking is very much worring me. I have an appointment with Porkchops vet tomarrow afternoon, but I need advice now. Please Help!!

**WEAVER** · #2 02-07-06, 05:42 pm

First of all let me say the heat pad is a good idea, especially seeing Chopstick is cold, but you do want to make sure he can move away from the pad if it is getting too warm and make sure it is on the lowest setting with a towel or two wrapped around it.
As far as him eatting and drinking, it is critical that he does so. A guinea pig's body is made to forge all day long and he can become very sick very quickly if he stops eatting and drinking. I do not know how to attach links and maybe someone on here that is not computer iliterate as myself can attach the link for you, but if you want to look for it is on the Guinea Lynx website on the CavyCages home page. Once you are on the medical web page go to hand feeding. On there it has a Critical Care mix you can make by crushing pellets and adding baby food. I am sorry I can not get the page for you and I am hoping that someone can. You really need to hand feed him as soon as possible!!!

**JackSpicerRules** · #3 02-07-06, 05:45 pm

http://www.guinealynx.com/handfeeding.html Somewhere on there sorry I can't find the exact link.

**JennG** · #4 02-07-06, 06:09 pm

I'm so sorry to hear about Porkchop. I'm in the middle of doing some hand feeding myself. Try and get down what you can just be careful not to rush it. Poor Lola's choked a few times because I gave her too much at a time. Good luck. I hope he's ok. Keep us posted.

**Ly&Pigs** · #5 02-07-06, 07:33 pm

Aggressively handfeed or Porkchop could die. You may also need some hydration sub-q's, and some plain pedialyte for hydration issues. Did the vet give AB's for you to give at home? Did the vet tell you to either feed a pellet mash or critical care? Did the vet do any thing other than give a shot? What did the vet say Porkchop has?

Quote:

I do not know how to attach links and maybe someone on here that is not computer iliterate as myself can attach the link for you, but if you want to look for it is on the Guinea Lynx website on the CavyCages home page.

Weaver, just type in the website address or copy/paste a link and it will automatically turn into a url when you submit your post.

**annaamber200510** · #6 02-07-06, 07:48 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by WEAVER

First of all let me say the heat pad is a good idea, especially seeing Chopstick is cold

It's Porkchop!

**porkchopsmom** · #7 02-07-06, 08:00 pm

Well, the vet doesn't know anything about GP's except what the receptionist at the other vet said to her over the phone. She gave the baytril shot and told me to go to my vet tomarrow when he is back. She didn't give me anything to give at home or tell me to mash up food. How do I make her eat the mash and how do I force water?? She looks worse than when I left for class. She hasn't moved from the spot I put her. But she does feel warmer. She nibbled on a carrot I left for her. I will check the site for instructions now. Thanks!!

**WEAVER** · #8 02-07-06, 08:20 pm

annaamber--thank you for noticing the name. I am literally laughing so hard my side hurts

.

Sorry Porkchop, I hope you forgive me. Whatever your name is I am here to help

.
To handfeed PORKCHOP the easiest way is to see if she will eat it from a spoon, if that is not going to work or she is too weak to care you will need you use a syringe w/out the needle (of course).

**Ly&Pigs** · #9 02-07-06, 08:40 pm

Mash a few pellets with warm water or warmed pedialyte and either feed from a spoon or syringe feed it slowly. Then give plain pedialyte via a syringe. Make sure to see your normal vet tomorrow.

**porkchopsmom** · #10 02-07-06, 09:10 pm

I ran out and the man at the Walgreens store was very helpful. He gave me 2 syringes and told me how to try to feed her. Better than the vet today. I mashed a handful of pellets with some pedialite and microwaved for 20 seconds. I added some applesauce and more pedialite until it was able to go into the syringe. I got about 1 tsp. down her. How often should I feed her?? I don't know how much of the plain pedialite whet in her and how much went all over me. She was starting to struggle. I thought that was good. A little sign of life. I put a small water bottle and some pellets in the basket with her. I also got some thermacare pads so I don't have to worry about her chewing on the cord of a heating pad.
Oh, there was 1 poo in the basket and it was hard and dry. I don't know how long it was there so it could have just dried out. If there is anything else I need to do please write back. I will check before I go to bed.

**WEAVER** · #11 02-07-06, 09:24 pm

You should try and feed her every two hours (I believe that is what the website said). When you go out tommorrow I would try to get her baby food, either carrots or green beans. Applesauce like we eat has corn syrup in it and apples are not good for piggies to eat all the time. You did good though, anything in her belly is better than nothing. Good luck at the vets tommorrow, please keep us posted.

**JennG** · #12 02-08-06, 10:45 am

Just home checking on Lola and to see how Porkchop is doing. Wishing him well. Hopefully there'll be good news when I get home from work. Sending good thoughts!

**WEAVER** · #13 02-08-06, 11:45 am

I hope Porkchop made out ok today at the vets. She has been in my thoughts all day. Hoping for good news...

**Ly&Pigs** · #14 02-08-06, 12:09 pm

The best baby food flavors to mix are squash or carrots. You could even do a fruit flavored one like peaches or apples. Salana feeds Einy a pellet mash with peach baby food. Einy loves his peachy pellets.

**porkchopsmom** · #15 02-08-06, 05:38 pm

Well, I want to thank everyone who gave me advice. I was up several times last night with her. She seemed to get worse around 3 a.m. I was prepared for the worst this a.m. But, she had wet and there was a little poo in the basket. I was afraid she would back up since she hadn't went most of the day Tuesday. She stared to fight me this morning before I went to work. I was trying to feed her the mash and she kept moving her head around. I fed her again at lunch. She purred at me when I picked her up. I took her to the vet she usually goes to and he gave her another shot and said to call in the morning. He said if she wasn't eating to keep using the syringe, but she was breating better than he expected. The junk around her eyes was better also. I put her back with Apple. I thought maybe she would eat when Apple did. They usually dine together. Oh, her temp. was good today. She is resting in her pigloo now. I will try the peaches Ly or maybe carrots since she loves them. One more question: How can I tell if she is getting enough? I give her usually 1 tsp in the syringe several times a day. I don't want to give to much at once and give her a belly ache. Thanks again everyone!!!

**WEAVER** · #16 02-08-06, 06:08 pm

What junk around her eyes?? Did you post she had crusties in the previous threads because I must have missed it???? It sounds now like your baby has a URI. What did he give a shot of, Ly will want to know when she reads this. I hope Porkchop is going to be ok. If she is sick she should still be seperated from Apple.

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