Hi I'm new to this forum so be gentle with me.
My son was given an unwanted guinea pig from a friend at school, which we were very excited about. It soon became clear she was pregnant and a few weeks later she gave birth to 4. We'd read up about caring for her and her babies and I used this forum from afar.
I noticed that one of the babies was a runt and very shakey and kept a close eye on him (I dont know if he was male). Mum seemed to care for it at first but soon rejected him, nursing the other 3 and turning/running away from the little one (we called him Goblin). Sooo back to the forum and internet on caring for a rejected runt. On the third evening we tried to spoon feed him some mashed up pellets, he was very keen and kept pushing his face into the mash, when i moved the spoon away he would move towards it. I could hear a grating noise from his jaw though.
I put him back with mum and returned early the next morning to find him gasping in the hay away from the rest of his family so decided to remove him altogether and try to feed him up, get him strong and return him to his mum.
I did get my son to hold mum while I put him to her to drink, but he wasnt interested.
I contacted the vet who was going to call me straight back with advice, I contacted local pet centres who were unable to help me and recommended i contact the vet, I bought a syringe from the chemist (they seemed to be the only people that actually cared about the poor little mite). I gave him a hot water bottle (not too hot) wrapped in fur - warmed him up and tried to feed him every 2 hours. Initially he was interested in his food but seemed to give up very quickly. I made a very watery pellet mix with the tiniest amount of pureed carrot. Gently rubbed his lower regions with warm damp cotton wall to stimulate his bladder and bowels. Kept hearing the grinding noise in his mouth. Tried vet, no response. During the course of the day his eyes turned misty. All I could do was keep him warm. When I stroked his head he would lift it up slightly.
I didnt know whether to feed him or not, I was concerned if I didnt try and feed him he would get weaker. Eventually I scooped him up, he felt cold so i put him against my skin and as I held him there he passed away.
Id only been looking after him a day but felt absolutely devestated!
After he died I tried to open his mouth as I couldnt get my head around the grinding noise. His mouth would not open. This means Id been spoon feeding him pellets and he wanted them but was unable to eat them. What should I have done?
I feel so guilty that I didnt save him.
My son was given an unwanted guinea pig from a friend at school, which we were very excited about. It soon became clear she was pregnant and a few weeks later she gave birth to 4. We'd read up about caring for her and her babies and I used this forum from afar.
I noticed that one of the babies was a runt and very shakey and kept a close eye on him (I dont know if he was male). Mum seemed to care for it at first but soon rejected him, nursing the other 3 and turning/running away from the little one (we called him Goblin). Sooo back to the forum and internet on caring for a rejected runt. On the third evening we tried to spoon feed him some mashed up pellets, he was very keen and kept pushing his face into the mash, when i moved the spoon away he would move towards it. I could hear a grating noise from his jaw though.
I put him back with mum and returned early the next morning to find him gasping in the hay away from the rest of his family so decided to remove him altogether and try to feed him up, get him strong and return him to his mum.
I did get my son to hold mum while I put him to her to drink, but he wasnt interested.
I contacted the vet who was going to call me straight back with advice, I contacted local pet centres who were unable to help me and recommended i contact the vet, I bought a syringe from the chemist (they seemed to be the only people that actually cared about the poor little mite). I gave him a hot water bottle (not too hot) wrapped in fur - warmed him up and tried to feed him every 2 hours. Initially he was interested in his food but seemed to give up very quickly. I made a very watery pellet mix with the tiniest amount of pureed carrot. Gently rubbed his lower regions with warm damp cotton wall to stimulate his bladder and bowels. Kept hearing the grinding noise in his mouth. Tried vet, no response. During the course of the day his eyes turned misty. All I could do was keep him warm. When I stroked his head he would lift it up slightly.
I didnt know whether to feed him or not, I was concerned if I didnt try and feed him he would get weaker. Eventually I scooped him up, he felt cold so i put him against my skin and as I held him there he passed away.
Id only been looking after him a day but felt absolutely devestated!
After he died I tried to open his mouth as I couldnt get my head around the grinding noise. His mouth would not open. This means Id been spoon feeding him pellets and he wanted them but was unable to eat them. What should I have done?
I feel so guilty that I didnt save him.