post op dilemas

luna21 · Sep 8, 2010

Gizmo has not been drinking much since yesterday, he has been grazing on hay and fresh parsley but refuses water and pellets. I have been trying to give him water with a syringe but he fights with me and I don;t want him hurting himself.

akane · Sep 8, 2010

Pellets or critical care soaked in blueberry Naked Juice has always proven irrestible to my guinea pigs after surgery. Odwalla juice is commonly used by some of the rescuers for sick pigs but isn't sold here in the midwest too often so I substituted the Naked Juice. Any other unsweetened juice should be nearly the same. Plain pedialyte is also sometimes used but doesn't provide the flavor and smell that makes it so appealing to them.

Amy27 · Sep 8, 2010

I would soak some of the parsley in water for about an hour and then give it to him. The parsley will soak up the water so when he eats it, he gets some water. When my buns had surgery, I would take a tupperware container put water and veggies in it and put it by their cage. That way I could offer a few pieces here and there since they wouldn't eat a lot at one time.

Could you also try to flavor a bowl of water so he is more tempted to drink it?

It is good he has been grazing but you definatly want him to stay hydrated too. I hope he starts drinking for you soon.

missyscove · Sep 8, 2010

Try setting out a second bowl of water with a little apple juice in it. That always gets my buns drinking.

luna21 · Sep 8, 2010

I've tried putting vanilla in his water but he didn't even look at it or touch it, he has peed also though so thats good. Good idea with the parsley, i shall give it a try:bunnynurse::thanks:

Amy27 · Sep 11, 2010

How is he doing? Is is drinking more back to normal?

luna21 · Sep 11, 2010

Yes, he is actually doing much better, I think the problem was his pain, once we gave him pain meds he ate much better, drank and has peed :biggrin: we are off to the vet this morning for his post op follow up, his swelling seems to be more so in one testicle than the other, but all in all he looks good!!