Guinea pig emergencies & 1st aid kit

This information has been sourced from experienced guineapig owners, however please consult you vet if your guineapig becomes ill these are guidelines only.

If your pig goes it off its food for whatever reason, dental or otherwise, you simply have to feed them. They need a decent amount inside them, at least 40-50 mls per day, broken down into 10ml feeds over the course of the day. Critical Care or Science Recovery are a must therefore in your medicine box. If you get caught out, then you can grind down some of their dry mix and feed that, Complan Original another handy standby, and Organic Bay foods, the latter mind you would not be suitable in my view long term. They need substance, and something that will work those teeth down, spurs can form very quickly if not eating properly, so on top of an already sick pig, you can end up with dental issues.

Remember to snip the end off the syringe when syringe feeding, this makes the food easier to syringe up and administer.

If your piggy is totally incapacitated and cannot eat anything at all, do not be mistaken in thinking that as long as you give him or her something during the day that will be it, or say a last feed before bed time, you will need to get up at least once during the night to give them a feed.

Once a piggy stops eating, it is only a matter of hours before their systems start to shut down, gastrointestinal problems will occur, stasis (bloat) are common, and the major organs start to degenerate the liver/kidneys being the first to suffer.

As with all sick guinea pigs, you only get a small window of opportunity to step in here, and your actions will dictate as to how your piggy recovers.

 

1) 1ml syringes are the best size for ease of use. PLEASE get some before you need them - they are available from your local vets and some chemists.

2) Make sure you also give your guinea plenty of water by syringe if they aren't drinking on their own. Dehydration can be a real issue for sick guineas. Up to 40ml a day is required.

3) Take the syringe feeding at the pace your guinea wants to go. If you try stuffing food down them at your pace, you will end up with a very stressed guinea and a frustrated human! Patience is required here.

4) If your guinea is sick, you must make sure that they are kept warm. They don't need to be expending what little energy they have trying to keep themselves warm. Vet Bed is good to keep them on, and again, this is available from many petshops and Argos. Also snugglesafe heat pads.

5) When you've finished feeding them, make sure that you clean up the outside of their mouth / chest / face / feet and anywhere else the food has ended up! You also need to flush their mouth out with water. This will minimise the risk of bacterial / fungal infection on the skin. It can happen all to quickly when bits of food are left around, and then you've got another set of problems to deal with

6) If you've got a guinea with bladder problems - either bladder sludge or bladder stones, please don't give them the Supreme Science Recovery. They need the Oxbow Critical Care which is based on Timothy Hay (available from Bairbre O'Malleys vets in Bray). The Supreme Science Recovery is based on Alfalfa which is very high in calcium and may make the bladder problems worse.

7) Find yourself a good Vet or a Rodentologist who can do teeth without anaesthetic. Guineas that have been syringe fed for more than a few days need their teeth checked to ensure they haven't overgrown. Again, do your homework before you end up with an emergency on your hands.

 

 

 8) Infant Calpol 0.2mls twice daily for pain relief.

 

Please consult your vet as soon as your guineapig becomes ill, if your guineapig stops eating when there is no vet available (as sometimes happens guineapigs can become ill on a weekend, middle of the night etc) these tips could save their lives.

 

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Please consult your vet before using these items.

 

Guinea pig medicine kit.

 

CALPOL Paediatric for pain relief - P

METACAM - POM (vets) for pain relief and anti inflammatory

VASELINE - OTT for impacted /sore bums etc

KAMILOSAN CREAM - OTT for sore s etc

VICK AND OLBAS OIL- OTT for breathing difficulties

MICROPORE TAPE - OTT to tape up feet if pigs are scratching themselves sore

GARLIC CAPSULES - OTT burst capsule on fungal skin, fungal nose strips and also used as intestinal cleanser

CYSTEMME - OTT for pigs with cystitis. 

HONEY - sooths inflamed bladders

METATONE TONIC - OTT to boost appetite of anorexic/feeding problems in pigs

GLUCOSE POWDER, HEINZ PURE FRUIT, HEIN ORGANIC BABY DINNERS, SMASH (or any instant mashed potato), CHINCHILLA PELLETS, for syringe feeding

lml and 5ml SYRINGES for syringe feeds and administering medicines (you can get these from vets and chemists)

PRODERM CREAM SHAMPOO, ALPHOSYL SHAMPOO - P  also GORGEOUS GUINEAS SHAMPOO AND OIL SOAK for skin problems (from Gorgeous Guineas)

IVOMEC - POM (from the vets) for mites

JOHNSON's ANTI MITE SPRAY (pet shop - for birds) to treat lice on coats.

OPTREX EYE BATH - P for flushing out eyes

BROLENE OR GOLDEN EYE OINTMENT - P for minor eye infections

BREWERS YEAST TABLETS - OTT (health food shops) for impacted .  Mends soft tissue wounds etc

DAKTARIN ORAL GEL - P for fungal mouth infections

CYMEX CREAM - OTT for sores at mouth corners.

ORABASE PASTE - P to put over cymex to seal it and help heal mouth sores

ASERBINE - P Brilliant antiseptic for wounds, bites etc.

PROBIOTIC - OTT for use with antibiotics

IMAVEROLE DIP - POM - vets for fungal problems

SUDAFED (nasal and chesty one) COUGH SYRUP - OTT for breathing problems.

COTTON WOOL, COTTON BUDS

CANKER POWDER (from pet shops for cats) for ear mites

BAYTRIL, SEPTRIN (POM from vets) if ever offered get as much as is possible to keep in for emergencies. (Antibiotics)

NAIL CLIPPERS AND SHARP SCISSORS

ACTIVATED CHARCOAL TABLETS (from herbalist) for poisoning

GRIPE WATER - OTT for trapped wind and bloat

BUSCOPAN - P for stomach problems

DIORALYTE SOLUTION - OTT for dehydration, bladder problems, diarrhoea etc.

RESCUE REMEDY (available from boots and herbalist) for stressed, poorly or dying pigs.

 

Now for the natural remedies!!

 

 

Cranberry juice - Urinary tract infections.  Also a good source of vitamin C. 

Bearberry Tincture - 5 drops added to drinking water daily up to five days.

Sweet-corn.  Urinary tract infections.  Leaves and corn silk threads.  Feed as part of a fresh veg.

Echinacea - useful immune system booster for all infections particular skin and respiratory problems. Tincture 5 drops added to drinking water daily.

Coltsfoot - coughs and chesty ruttles.  Fresh leaves added to greens or tincture 5 drops added to drinking water daily.

Blackberry leaves - feed a little of fresh young leaves in cases of diarrhea.

Raspberry leaves - feed as part of the fresh greens for pregnant sowes.  Age old tonic used by generations  of pregnant women to ease birth and tone ulterine muscles.

Squaw Vine - to ease pregnancy and birth.  Tincture 5 drops in drinking water.

Rose petals - a lovely treat that once your piggies have tried they will never refuse! These have cooling and calming properties.  Feed during travelling especially if this has to take place in hot weather.

Parsley - a favourite!  Rich in vit C and calcium.  2 or 3 springs will give a piggie all the vit C it requires for one day.  Very good for pregnant sows.  As this is high in calcium feed sparingly as a treat only.

Devils Claw - pain killer for injuries, rheumatism and artheritis.  Tincture 5 drops in drinking water daily.

Propolis - bee product that has antiseptic and anti viral properties.  Useful in any type of infection. Tincture 5 drops in drinking water daily.

Rescue Remedy - use in cases of shock or during transport if piggie is nervous.

Distilled witchhazal - dilute 1:1 with water and apply to itchy patches of skin.  A few drops of Tea Tree and/or lavender essential oils are soothing as well.