Can You Train A Guinea Pig To Eat Slower? Choking Issues.

[NASH]

Fluffy is 6 and has a myriad of issues which are being managed, however, distressingly she has started guzzling her food so quickly without either chewing properly or drinking between mouthfuls that she is choking. I know that piggies cough and even have a hiccup type choke but this is far far worse, a proper all out food stuck cant breathe choke. We have had to syringe her mouth clear on a couple of occasions this past week and last night after being cleaned she guzzled hay and did the same. Fluffy has always had unlimited hay and water, she has a small amount of pellets in the morning and the evening and has a good handful of fresh veg / herbs/ fruit daily, but it is as if we have not fed her for a week and she has to eat it as fast as possible in case we take it away from her. Today she choked on her moistened pellets but she has eaten basil and mint leaves as every time I pass her home I give her 1 or 2 and she eats that ok its only when she thinks there's more to come that she doesn't chew and swallow properly. We don't think she has a blockage as she wouldn't be able to eat at all. She is drinking and pooping well as well as jumping around shouting (silently as she lost her wheek a long time ago). She lives alone so does not need to compete for food. Any ideas on how to slow the speed of her eating down? as this is singularly the most distressing thing i have ever been through with a guinea pig and any advice would be very gratefully appreciated.

 

[Wiebke]

It may be worth trying to syringe feed her her pellets and veg in little portions (half a 1ml syringe in one go equals about 1 mouthful). PLease still let her have hay, so she is keeping her back teeth ground down properly.

Weigh her daily at the same time in the feeding cycle so you can she whether she is getting enough food. it may be worth to have her checked by a piggy savvy vet to see whether there is an underlying problem that could have caused the change in her eating habit. We have got a UK vet locator on the top bar, but if you added your country, state or UK county to your details, we may be able to give you local recommendations if you wish to.

 

[Veggies Galore]

I will watch this thread with interest - please let us know how you get on.

My trio are fed twice a day with plenty of fresh veggies - and they have unlimited hay. When |I feed them, it reminds me of those dreadful pie eating competitions you sometimes see on the TV. I haven't seen any problems with choking at all but I'm amazed at how quickly they wolf down their veggies.

 

[Poppy'sMum]

I wonder if it is possible she has something stuck to one of her back teeth, a spur on one or a fungal infection in her mouth. Due to her age it might be best if her teeth are checked whilst she is conscious, to rule any of these out. Are you in the UK?

 

[NASH]

Thank you. We live in Cardiff and see Bridges which is a guinea savvy vet. Fluffy has spent more time at the vets the last few weeks than the vets have! her teeth were looked at about a fortnight ago but that's not to say she can't have developed a problem. I am feeding her 1 leaf at a time each time i pass her home and have managed to get a fair amount into her today but she's looking concerned as the boys are munching their veggies and she is only having 1 mouthful every 5 minutes. We have not taken her off hay and she has munched some today with no problem. Dreading giving her her pellets so will seriously think of syringing them in.

 

[Poppy'sMum]

Best to get it checked, but they would possibly want to give her a little whiff of gas first, unless you can get her to see Simon at the Cat & Rabbit clinic in Northampton

 

[kerry]

I will watch this thread with interest - please let us know how you get on.

My trio are fed twice a day with plenty of fresh veggies - and they have unlimited hay. When |I feed them, it reminds me of those dreadful pie eating competitions you sometimes see on the TV. I haven't seen any problems with choking at all but I'm amazed at how quickly they wolf down their veggies.

Oh you have described exactly what happens with my 4! Pie eating contest speed winners have nothing on my lot when it comes to food!

 

[Freela]

I have no advice, but one of my pigs is constantly coughing/sputtering after eating (mainly treats like lettuce.) She inhales them, then coughs and hacks, so I feel your pain!

 

[Veggies Galore]

Oh you have described exactly what happens with my 4! Pie eating contest speed winners have nothing on my lot when it comes to food!

Now you see it - now you don't.


Must be awful to have a guinea that chokes on their food though

 

[kerry]

Fluffy is 6 and has a myriad of issues which are being managed, however, distressingly she has started guzzling her food so quickly without either chewing properly or drinking between mouthfuls that she is choking. I know that piggies cough and even have a hiccup type choke but this is far far worse, a proper all out food stuck cant breathe choke. We have had to syringe her mouth clear on a couple of occasions this past week and last night after being cleaned she guzzled hay and did the same. Fluffy has always had unlimited hay and water, she has a small amount of pellets in the morning and the evening and has a good handful of fresh veg / herbs/ fruit daily, but it is as if we have not fed her for a week and she has to eat it as fast as possible in case we take it away from her. Today she choked on her moistened pellets but she has eaten basil and mint leaves as every time I pass her home I give her 1 or 2 and she eats that ok its only when she thinks there's more to come that she doesn't chew and swallow properly. We don't think she has a blockage as she wouldn't be able to eat at all. She is drinking and pooping well as well as jumping around shouting (silently as she lost her wheek a long time ago). She lives alone so does not need to compete for food. Any ideas on how to slow the speed of her eating down? as this is singularly the most distressing thing i have ever been through with a guinea pig and any advice would be very gratefully appreciated.

I have the same problem with one of my girls. Eats her food so quickly that she choaks. @Wiebke suggested to spread her feeding times out during the day and it has helped somwhat,
still alittle pig though when broccoli is involved.

 

[Wiebke]

You cannot change the personality, but I have found that feeding in little bits is helping with the desperate gobblers.

 

[NASH]

Thank you. I am now feeding her in little bits as anything more than 1 mouthful or 1 small basil leaf or 5 Harringtons pellets put out for her and she almost forgets to chew and swallow in her eagerness to stuff her face as quickly as possible. Its taking ages to feed her but the new rule is whenever anyone moves or walks past her they give her a small tidbit. She's always been a greedy little food stuffer but has got worse.

 

[Veggies Galore]

Thank you. I am now feeding her in little bits as anything more than 1 mouthful or 1 small basil leaf or 5 Harringtons pellets put out for her and she almost forgets to chew and swallow in her eagerness to stuff her face as quickly as possible. Its taking ages to feed her but the new rule is whenever anyone moves or walks past her they give her a small tidbit. She's always been a greedy little food stuffer but has got worse.

You are a devoted owner. Well done

 

[NASH]

I am very sad to say that Fluffy passed away peacefully at home about 4pm today. It was not related to her health problems or food guzzling issues and was totally unexpected. She spent a lovely day having food given to her, she was running, jumping, drinking, burrowing in fact my husband and remarked on how active she was and how much she was enjoying herself. About 3.30 she made an unusual squeak sound, i went over to her and she seemed wobbly but not uncomfortable, i stroked her and spoke to her whilst she laid down. She became very quiet and moved to make herself more comfy, her little legs moved as she slowly faded. She held on until my husband came home and my daughter returned from school. We lifted her gently into her carrying box and she passed quietly over. Thank you everyone for your replies on this thread and the other 2 i started in relation to her.

 

[helen105281]

I'm really sorry, night night Fluffy.

 

[Veggies Galore]

Oh I'm so sorry to hear this - at least you were there when she passed away

 

[kerry]

Rest in peace Fluffy

 

[PiggyOinkOink]

Aww poor Fluffy..sorry to hear she passed. Perhaps it was kinder that she went peacefully than through choking on food or other traumatic health issues. It was nice for her to hang on until the rest of your family arrived to say goodbye.