Back story: My daughter's class pig, Cinnamon, delivered three pups the morning of 2/14, Wednesday. Two of the pups are fine, running, popping, trying lettuce and pellets. The third little pup, the runt, has some issues. Her front paws are turned in and she walks/hops on the back or sides of them. I think her back legs are a bit wonky, too. She doesn't move a lot. Her eyes are smaller; not sure about her vision. I have been working with the teacher on helping this sweet thing survive. We tried putting her and mom into a separate cage so she could nurse without competition, but it seemed like that wasn't working and mom was rejecting her.
So I volunteered to take the whole family to the vet on 2/16, Friday. He said I should hand feed her Critical Care. The first feeding she showed some interest. Since then she has not wanted the Critical Care at all and I basically have to force it on her. Her weight went down between the Friday afternoon vet visit and the next morning, Saturday, from 97 grans to 91 grams. (Her siblings are around 124 grams.)
I have been feeding her every 3 hours but her disinterest in the Critical Care has been challenging. I've tried various consistencies, thicker, thinner, to no avail. I don't want her to aspirate so I have been using my finger rather than the syringe which is not terribly effective and I hate that her earliest interactions with people involves force. Late last night I started feeling desperate and worried that she had no appetite. So I tried some other things- slice of apple? She tasted it but that was all. Pureed pumpkin? Sniffed and turned away. Mashed pellet? Nope. Spinach? Lettuce? Kale? Parsley? Hay? Alfalfa? Mashed carrot? Nope, nope, nope. On a whim, I tried a drop of cream on my finger.
I know, I know. No. Milk! But... SHE WENT NUTS. Licked it up and wheeked for more. I'd never seen her so excited. So I thought, Aha! and tried mixing it with the Critical Care but she turned her nose up at that. All she wants is straight cream. I gave in and gave her about 1/8 tsp using the syringe (she drank off it like a water bottle) and still forced some of the Critical Care mash into her. This morning she was moving around, making noises, so much happier.
So now, my dilemma. Milk is bad. But it's what she will eat. She obviously wants some kind of milk. I've pictured myself milking mama guinea pig and that not only looks rather ridiculous but the logistics are mind boggling. Is there any kind of milk that I can give her, in addition to the Critical Care, that isn't terrible?
Fyi, she was at 93 grams this morning and I have been offering her just water after feedings.
Thank you!
So I volunteered to take the whole family to the vet on 2/16, Friday. He said I should hand feed her Critical Care. The first feeding she showed some interest. Since then she has not wanted the Critical Care at all and I basically have to force it on her. Her weight went down between the Friday afternoon vet visit and the next morning, Saturday, from 97 grans to 91 grams. (Her siblings are around 124 grams.)
I have been feeding her every 3 hours but her disinterest in the Critical Care has been challenging. I've tried various consistencies, thicker, thinner, to no avail. I don't want her to aspirate so I have been using my finger rather than the syringe which is not terribly effective and I hate that her earliest interactions with people involves force. Late last night I started feeling desperate and worried that she had no appetite. So I tried some other things- slice of apple? She tasted it but that was all. Pureed pumpkin? Sniffed and turned away. Mashed pellet? Nope. Spinach? Lettuce? Kale? Parsley? Hay? Alfalfa? Mashed carrot? Nope, nope, nope. On a whim, I tried a drop of cream on my finger.
I know, I know. No. Milk! But... SHE WENT NUTS. Licked it up and wheeked for more. I'd never seen her so excited. So I thought, Aha! and tried mixing it with the Critical Care but she turned her nose up at that. All she wants is straight cream. I gave in and gave her about 1/8 tsp using the syringe (she drank off it like a water bottle) and still forced some of the Critical Care mash into her. This morning she was moving around, making noises, so much happier.
So now, my dilemma. Milk is bad. But it's what she will eat. She obviously wants some kind of milk. I've pictured myself milking mama guinea pig and that not only looks rather ridiculous but the logistics are mind boggling. Is there any kind of milk that I can give her, in addition to the Critical Care, that isn't terrible?
Fyi, she was at 93 grams this morning and I have been offering her just water after feedings.
Thank you!