follow-up regarding feeding the rice water

Question
QUESTION: Hi Pat,

this is from a thread that I don't know where to hit the follow up button.

Thank you so much for advising feeding peanut the rice water.
she does NOT have diarrhea any more!! I got right on it in the early evening, and woke up this morning seeing her not wetting her bedding like she did the day before!! it worked!

and she loves the tasted of the rice water so much, she eagerly wanted to drink it. I used the rice water to mix the critical care with, and she loved it.

she is eating on her own more!! yes!!

my question is if the rice water is good for her if I should keep giving her that. she's much more interested in feeding teh critical mixed with rice water than just plain water. but if it is not good any more for her health now the diarrhea stopped, i will not keep doing it.

I am also thinking to not go back to the antibiotics, which I stopped yesterday all day. I feel she is so much better than even before I started to give her critical care. the antibiotics was kinda like a last shot from teh vet when she was in a miserable place and he specifically told me he might not have any answers for her.

since then I decided to nurse her back to gaining weight and then deal with whatever issue she might have. also, I am believing Miracles for her! God can and will heal her!

you have been one of the ways that Miracle is delivered.
I want to thank you with ALL my heart.

sorry this was long...can I still give her the rice water, or no?
thanks.

jill and peanut

ANSWER: Jill, that is so sweet. Thank you so very much. It will not hurt her to have the rice water mixed with the Critical Care. It's a good way to get both hydration and the nutrients she needs. Once her appetite is back to normal you won't need to give her anymore.  

One of the biggest issues with diarrhea is dehydration and that can happen very quickly in a guinea pig. When she begins to put the weight back on it should be safe to return her to a normal pig diet. If you can weigh her daily and keep a record you will see if the trend is going upward as it should.

Since they're such small animals a few ounces can be critical. That's why the Critical Care is such a blessing. It's the animal equivalent of Ensure. It's liquid nutrients, high in calories, fat and vitamins. Humans can live on just Ensure for a long time. I'm not sure how long you can keep an animal on Critical Care but as long as they're holding their own it's safe.

Be careful about too many vegetables. Carrots don't seem to cause digestive issues but lettuce can irritate an already irritable bowel. Same with fruits. The sugar in fruit will aggravate diarrhea in humans because the bacteria thrives on it. You might offer her a little bit of applesauce without added sugar. I wouldn't give her more than a teaspoon at a time once a day. What you want to accomplish is gradually getting her belly and intestines able to handle more solid foods.

It's difficult at best to find a vet that is knowledgeable in cavies. There isn't any money spent on the study of cavy health and diseases and most vets get little or no experience in dealing with them. I am fortunate to have a couple of friends who are both veterinarians and cavy breeders, but they're the exception rather than the rule. We can't blame our local vets for having to experiment with treatments. They try what they can and if it works that good, if it doesn't they're left in the dark.

You didn't say what kind of antibiotics Peanut was on? Penicillins are extremely destructive for cavies as they destroy the natural flora in the gut, causing a secondary infection to take over and can be lethal. Sulfa based medications are okay and most vets prescribe things like Bactrim or Baytril.

Continue what you're doing and allow her to have the rice water with the Critical Care as long as she's so eager for it. You'll know when she's showing the strength and eagerness to get back to normal. You can start diluting the water a little at a time and gradually wean her off of it altogether. As long as she's passing stool that is formed and normal appearing the rice water won't hurt her.

And just an FYI- it works on humans just as quickly as it does on animals. I know from experience!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: "thank you so much for the reply.
Emergency!!
she seems limp?
her back legs are not supporting her and when I hold her she seems not holding herself up...it is as if I am holding all of her for her. when I put her down on a surface, it seems she is not sitting up but feet are clasping.
she was fine a couple hours ago, and I don't knwo what has happened.
one thing after another it seems, but i am going to lvoe her through. today God showed me we are His nurses as He is the doctor, teh perfect one.
also thank you for the feedback on the vets, I agree our vets do their bests and we as parents also do our bests.

thanks!
jill"

me again
it seems that her back legs were curled up and not strong and stretching to stand.
she is eating and drinking and pooping still.

I am so tahnkful for YOU, Pat!!!!

jill

ps the antibiotics is chloramphenicol

Answer
One of the top adverse effects of Chloramphenicol is nausea,vomiting and diarrhea. I was a best to stop it as her condition may have been more aggravated by the treatment. It's what is called a 'broad spectrum' antibiotic and is useful for many different types of bacteria but generally is usually only used if nothing else is available.

As long as she's taking in the fluids and making urine and stool that's a good sign that she's able to make a turnaround. By all means keep her on the Critical Care so she can build up her strength.

The tucking of the legs typical means abdominal pain. Just like us when we have a tummy ache it feels better to pull your legs up close to the belly and the same happens to animals. It may be a slow recovery but the appetite and elimination are key indicators that she's not turned the corner to an irreversible condition.  

Let's keep our prayers going strong and give her time.