Not Eating WHY.

[katiebby21]

Vitamin C tablets?

Yesterday I went to the vet to find out my guinea pig has an upper respiratory infection.
Other than the medicine she has to take, the vet said I have to use vitamin C tablets in her water for she doesn't get more sick.
I am aware that guinea pigs cannot form their own vitamin c, but I try to give fruits and vegetables that contain them.
I read some stuff that the tablets are bad for guinea pigs?
Is this true?

 

[HannibalLecter]

Re: Vitamin C tablets?

What medication was prescribed? Is the pig getting probiotics?
Vitamin C in water degrade really quickly, and will make the water taste bad causing the pig to drink less. The pig will never drink enough of the water to get the right amount of vitamin C in such a short time. I'd contact a different vet.

Make sure the pig eats enough bell pepper, or sprinkle a split pure vitamin c tablet over lettuce/in critical care.

Oxbow carry a Vitamin C tablet appropriate for cavies, but it should never be put in water.

 

[bpatters]

Re: Vitamin C tablets?

If she's not eating her veggies (particularly bell pepper), then crush a plain vitamin C tablet and put it on her lettuce. Never put it in water -- for one thing, it changes the taste and the pig may drink less. For another, it decomposes very quickly,s o it's useless.

I'd also get a probiotic -- Benebac is good if you can find it, or plain acidophilus (available at your drugstore or nutrition store). Give an hour before or an hour after (or both) she eats.

 

[foggycreekcavy]

Re: Vitamin C tablets?

You can also crush the C, put it in a tiny bit of water, and syringe it to her.

How much did the vet say to give her? Usually with a sick pig I give 50 mg. So you'll need either the Oxbow Vitamin C or else buy the kids chewable 100 mg and cut them in half.

 

[jen34]

Re: Vitamin C tablets?

No, tablets are great for them. My piggy has severe pneumonia (poor baby had it when I rescued her.) I give her them every day; a kind that the vet gave me. But you can find it in almost any pet stores. Putting vitamin C in their water wont last very long...the vet told me that it loses its power if kept in water like that. Just feed her a tablet; she will probably eat it easily because they taste good. Or you might have to try a little harder if shes stubborn.

 

[katiebby21]

She hasn't been eating or drinking like usually.
Shes just been hiding in her house.
HELP.

 

[HannibalLecter]

Is this the pig with a URI on a treatment? Are you feeding her probiotics at the same time?
You need to take her to a vet as soon as possible to rule out blockage, disease/infection or overgrown teeth & set a diagnosis. As well as syringe feeding her Critical care, if unavailable you can feed a pellet mash. Make sure to also syringe her water if she's drinking less.

https://www.guinealynx.info/handfeeding.html

 

[bpatters]

She MUST eat, or she'll die.

Is she eating anything at all? Is she pooping?

If this pig is on antibiotics, that's likely the reason for her not eating. You will need to handfeed her, which means 50-60cc per day of either critical care or a pellet slurry. She also needs a probiotic (acidophilus will do, Benebac is better) a hour or so after every dose of the antibiotics.

Ditto HannibalLecter on reading Guinea Lynx on handfeeding. The sooner the better.

It will be your responsibility to feed your pig. If you took it back to the vet and they kept it overnight, there would likely be no one there to tend to it. You need to feed it every 3-4 hours around the clock until it eats on its own.

 

[foggycreekcavy]

I merged your threads, since they seem to be about the same pig.

Please answer our questions so we can help you help your guinea pig.