Charlie Not Swallowing Food

[RoyalDuke]

I made a post the other day about Charlie, he wasn't eating and I was worried he was about to die.

Since then he's perked up a little bit, he's not hiding so much and I've seen him out and about, running and jumping on his platforms. I thought that perhaps it was something to do with his teeth or jaw, whether they were overgrown or he'd bumped his mouth and made it sore. Taken him to the vet today and she says she can't feel any overgrown teeth at the back, but was struggling to see them becuase he was holding so much food in his mouth. Last night I mushed up some pellets in water and made them soft, and he devoured the first little bowl I did, I gave him some more for throughout the night along with some mashed strawberry and some soft melon, but he didn't eat the rest. She can't feel any lumps or bumps. He's on critical care and fiberplex, but he doesn't seem to want to swallow it, most of it dribbles out his mouth. He seems to be holding the food in his mouth rather than swallowing. He weighs about 920grams, while his litter mate is 1,200, so it's possible he's lost some weight over the last few days, but I don't weigh them regularly even though I should!

Any tips?

 

[DM030819]

Have a read through the handfeeding thread to see if you're feeding him in the right way.

It can be really hard to do, and the pig can sometimes only take very small amounts at a time.

I was syringe feeding at the weekend and although he wasn't enthusiastic he would take it. But no more than 0.3ml at a time and he took as few minutes to eat it.

Let us know how you get on, and we might be able to suggest other things.

 

[Wiebke]

I made a post the other day about Charlie, he wasn't eating and I was worried he was about to die.

Since then he's perked up a little bit, he's not hiding so much and I've seen him out and about, running and jumping on his platforms. I thought that perhaps it was something to do with his teeth or jaw, whether they were overgrown or he'd bumped his mouth and made it sore. Taken him to the vet today and she says she can't feel any overgrown teeth at the back, but was struggling to see them becuase he was holding so much food in his mouth. Last night I mushed up some pellets in water and made them soft, and he devoured the first little bowl I did, I gave him some more for throughout the night along with some mashed strawberry and some soft melon, but he didn't eat the rest. She can't feel any lumps or bumps. He's on critical care and fiberplex, but he doesn't seem to want to swallow it, most of it dribbles out his mouth. He seems to be holding the food in his mouth rather than swallowing. He weighs about 920grams, while his litter mate is 1,200, so it's possible he's lost some weight over the last few days, but I don't weigh them regularly even though I should!

Any tips?

Please keep on syringe feeding, but mix the Critical Care with mushed up pellets to cover the taste or just feed mushed up pellets.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Could you get to another vet? Vet with experience in guinea pig dentals are admittedly scarce on the ground.
Guinea Pig Vet Locator

 

[RoyalDuke]

Please keep on syringe feeding, but mix the Critical Care with mushed up pellets to cover the taste or just feed mushed up pellets.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Could you get to another vet? Vet with experience in guinea pig dentals are admittedly scarce on the ground.
Guinea Pig Vet Locator

I don't think we have any vets experienced with piggy dentals in the area. He seems to be doing better today, he's eaten a whole stick of celery, a nibble of rocket leaf and a handful of grass. It's very strange! Yesterday he only ate a teeny bit of grass (along with the critical care and a little bit of mushed pellets) but today he's eaten more grass, practically demanded some celery off me and had a nibble of rocket leaf. He won't eat nuggets or his oats anymore.

I wonder if he had an upset stomach and didn't want to eat until it settled down? I'll continue with the crit care and his fibreplex, though. He's been a more active today than previous days so it must be doing something for him.

 

[Deleted member 114675]

I don't think we have any vets experienced with piggy dentals in the area. He seems to be doing better today, he's eaten a whole stick of celery, a nibble of rocket leaf and a handful of grass. It's very strange! Yesterday he only ate a teeny bit of grass (along with the critical care and a little bit of mushed pellets) but today he's eaten more grass, practically demanded some celery off me and had a nibble of rocket leaf. He won't eat nuggets or his oats anymore.

I wonder if he had an upset stomach and didn't want to eat until it settled down? I'll continue with the crit care and his fibreplex, though. He's been a more active today than previous days so it must be doing something for him.

Could you speak to Cavy Corner ? Sue Tate may be able to advise a vet who can do dental work .

 

[RoyalDuke]

Could you speak to Cavy Corner ? Sue Tate may be able to advise a vet who can do dental work .

Will try to sometime soon. My only worry is cost and travel as I don't get much and my parents won't be happy having to take me to doncaster and back x

 

[alpacasqueak]

I have the same problems with travel, don't drive and no vets near me that are too rodent/piggy savvy.

My chinchilla Poppy has had problems with her teeth for over 3yrs, went to almost all of the vets in my area, they couldn't really see what the problem was and she became very unwell.
Got her to a brilliant vet (Simon at Cat&rabbit Care Clinic in Northampton) and he was great with her, sorted her teeth and she's been seeing him since.

I have to get four taxis and two trains to get there and back which can be v stressful, for me, Poppy and her bro Pedro. But definitely worth it to get her sorted, could see a huge difference (as well as weight difference) pretty much straight away.

So if you could get to a good vet that knows what they're doing would save you a lot of stress and worry and hopefully make Charlie feel much better too.

Good luck and hope you and your piggy get sorted soon x