Been awhile since I updated and unfortunately this update has good and bad news. Bad news is Pepper has bladder stones, he’s on medication so he can pass them on his own and if that doesn’t happen we’re not sure of how to proceed just yet. But the good news is that he’s on medication and not obstructed and despite being a little bloated he’s getting syringe fed.
Speaking of syringe feeding, I wanted to share this wonderful video demonstrating how to syringe feed. I’ve looked up instructions and had the vet tell me what to do but it’s a lot different when you’re trying to get a syringe into a prey animals tiny mouth while they squirm. I’ll share the link after I offer a little advice to those who haven’t had to do this before:
Be aggressive - yeah, that sounds harsh but as I’ve seen other people say: if you don’t get food into their system, they’re going to die. So no matter how much they don’t like it and how much they squirm, keep putting food into their mouth and don’t give up. Take breaks, catch your breath and offer cuddles but then keep going until the serving of food is in their stomach.
Push the syringe past their teeth - okay, so I didn’t understand this and that’s on me. Guinea pigs have cheek pouches like other rodents and their molars are actually farther back than it looks at first. You need to aim the syringe deep into their cheek or towards the back of their mouth so they start chewing and swallowing. Don’t dribble it into the front of their mouths because it’ll fall out and it does no good on their face or the towel.
Offer water in between - Pepper eats like people when he’s well. He takes a bite of food and then a drink of water. This likely helps him chew and soften the food so he can swallow it. Even with a slurry like Critical Care or softened pellets, it helps if you eye dropper mouthfuls of water as you feed, it’ll encourage them to keep chewing and swallowing and a sick pig also needs to stay hydrated.
It’s okay to get frustrated - neither Banana or Pepper took to syringe feeding and I can’t blame them. However, it’s more than fine to feel frustrated when your pig isn’t cooperating. Don’t let that deter you from getting as much food into them as you can. Take a breath, shift positions, tell them they’re being a jerk, it’s okay as long as you keep going.
Oh god, the gas - bloated piggies have gas trapped in their abdomens. Food high in fiber (like Critical Care) helps move this out of their system which helps them get hungry and start eating on their own. Gas is uncomfortable for them, so expelling it is important. However, you might find your pig farting on you as you feed them and that definitely makes the process less pleasant. Take comfort in knowing their GI tract is functioning and it may not smell nice but it is a good thing.
And as always, if your piggy stops eating or drinking, seems lethargic or has any other change in behavior, go to the vet. It’s hard to tell when it’s serious but not responding to their favorite snack and going a day without eating or drinking OR not eating or drinking as much as normal is a sign of an emergency. The sooner they get checked out, the sooner you can treat them.
And here’s the video, I hope your piggies are as cooperative as this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH2STcTyps0