Poisoning
There is only one form of poisoning that that it is possible
for the owner to address without veterinary help and that
is the organic kind.
The symptoms of muscle tremor and an inability of the guinea
pig to hold it's head up, which tends to keep slipping away
to one side.
More often than not it occurs when the guinea pig have been
given freedom to roam in the garden for the first time, and
it more likely to be seen in younger animals. I think this
is because the older animals have 'wiser' appetites, so to
speak, while the younger ones take the attitude, 'It's green
so let's eat it!.'
As guinea pigs cannot vomit the use of an emetic is out of
the question. What ever goes down the throat has to come out
of the back end and the hastier this is done in the case of
anything toxic, the better.
Crush a 100mg charcoal tablet, mix with a small amount of
water and syringe into the mouth. In the two cases I dealt
with, though the animals were traumatised, both were able
to swallow the medicine. This will absorb what is in the gut,
including the poison, hopefully.
Wait for half an hour and then give 1.05 liquid parafin by
syringe. Keep the animal warm and in the dark by putting it
into box with plenty of hay in it. Make sure there is also
food and water in there.
Providing you have caught the guinea pig early enough, within
twelve hours you will have a whole heap of dropping and a
healthy guinea pig. I haven't lost one yet, but in both cases
the symptoms were noticed quickly.
A subcutaneous injection of vitamin B is recommended and
plenty of rehydration fluid.
