[Gpdd] [HEALTH] Duke

[Cazza177]

Dear Glynis

Don't loose hope.  This could just be a blip in how Duke is feeling, and
there is no reason to feel there's nothing you can do.  You may want to grab
hold of a copy of Piggy Potions by Peter Gurney via Amazon (who can send
quickly), or a pet store.  If anyone can help Glynis with where she can get
hold of Gentian extract, Swedish bitters or Elderberry pills, please email
her to let her know.  I hope what's below will help Duke for you, Glynis.
Don't give up.  Good luck.  Carole

Peter Gurney says:-

"If a gp goes off its food when there are no detectable symtoms of ilnness,
then first examine the teeth. If the lower incisors appear over-long and the
ends of the top ones are beginning to curve inwards, there is likely to be a
problem with the molars, further in the mouth.  Also, if they impinge at an
angle instead of being level when looked at face on, then there is trouble
inside.  Unless you know of someone who can do dental work WITHOUT
anaestheic, contact the Cambridge Cavy Trust (tel: 07721 026401).

"If teeth are all in good shape then it is either an indication of an
impending illness or what I have come to regard as a kind of 'hiccup' in the
digestive system.  I call it a hiccup because I have not the slightest idea
what causes it.  The droppings may be smaller or change colour but are still
firm, indicating it's not diarrhoea.  What I do know is that there are a
couple of things that give what I can only describe as a 'kick start' to the
appetite.  These are:-

A. 0.4ml Gentian extract, twice daily, or the same dosage of Swedish
bitters.
B. One Elderberry pill and one Greenleaf pill ground up together.

"A little syringe feeding is always helpful but do not overdo this and make
the gp lazy.  I grind down the animal's dry feed into a powder and add to
this liquidised cucumber, carrot or any other vegetable that the gp likes.
This way, the patient is getting its normal diet in a more digestible form.
Every second day, add a level teaspoon of rehydration salts into the
mixture.  A useful American product is called Critcal Care for Herbivores by
Oxbow Pet Products.  It comes in powder form and you just mix with water.
The gps that I have given it to gobbled it down with great glee and it has
every ingredient that a recovering gp needs to get it back into top form
again.

"When giving any kind of supplementary food, or medicine for that matter,
always keep a close eye on droppings, if there is any sign of loosening, try
an alternative.  Anything recommended in this book has been tried and tested
over quite a few years now, so in general there should be no problems.
Occasionally, however, just as among humans, an individual gp will be unable
to tolerate a certain medicine or food which goes down perfectly well with
the majority.  Be aware of this and monitor accordingly."

       

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From: "Glynis Robson" <Glynis at garnay.com.au>
Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2006 10:08:53 +1100
To: <gpdd at gpdd.org>
Subject: [Gpdd] [HEALTH] Duke

When do you know it's their time??
He's lost more weight again, also has broken a slither off the front
tooth again!!
He acted so differently on the weekend, and he's now only eating leafy
things sometimes his corn and just a little of his fruits.
What also is concerning me that when he's under his hidey he faces the
corner, this is what Sully did for a few weeks before he passed
onto the Bridge.  
He seems like a little old man now, he only weighs 830g (1.8 lbs) and is
loosing weight constantly even with as much TLC as i can. Syringe
feeding has started up again much to his disgust, am going to try some
new foods and see if that will make a difference.  Has anyone fed them
'pie apple' (used when taking a short to making apple pies) am going to
look at ingredients to make sure there's no added sugars etc.. it's so
hard to find foods to feed piggies when they are sick.
Sorry this is so long, thanks for listening.
 
Glynis & Duke (in mem Sully)