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Colin not eating :(

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sarahp

sarahp

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Colin is 3 years old. I found tonight that he hasn't been eating his veg or dried food since Sunday. There are no poos in his cage since I cleaned him out on Sunday and he has gone really quiet. He usually bites and struggle when picked up but lets me do anything. Am really worried :( Am planning on calling the vet first thing tomorrow but just wondered if there's anything I can do tonight?

:(
 
feed him yourself... it may be hard to start.
If you have it use critical care and a syringe, if not mash up some pellets in warm water and feed those of the end of a teaspoon. As for water, either syringe or suck up some using the end of a straw...
But phone the vet first thing and insist he is seen as soon as possible
 
Aww ble him, yeah what Helen said you may find it easier by snuggling Colin in a towel or blanket for easy feeding too. Good luck at the vets. x
 
Yeah you need to get him into the vets asap. It is important to keep them eating, you do need to feed him yourself tonight. As helenllama says, mash up some food or veg, if you don't have a syringe put it on a spoon or on the end of your finger and just gently push small amounts into his mouth. Make sure to try to give him some water too to keep him hydrated. Let us know how you get on at the vets
 
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Have you checked his bottom in case he is impacted when the poos don't come out as normal little pellets but collect into a lump at the anus?
Is he peeing OK?
Is his abdomen soft or hard, does he look as if he is in any pain?
It could be lots of things but agree with everyone a visit to the vets is essential and as soon as possible.
 
I hope that you've been able to get Colin to eat some and drink some water, all the very very best for your vet visit, sending healing wheeeeeeeeks and gentle loves for the little man xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>
 
yep he needs to see the vet as soon as poss. If pigs stop eating their whole bodies shut down as they constantly need food
 
I've managed to give Colin some mashed up pellets and water. I was so worried last night, I couldn't get to sleep for ages :( :( I dreaded checking on him this morning but he's ok. Still very quiet in the corner. I think he might have had a little bit of celery overnight and a bit of hay.

His bottom seems fine. I found a tiny little poo so don't think he is impacted. He seems to be weeing ok. I don't know if it's just me but it seems to smell a bit strange. He doesn't seem to be in pain, just very quiet. Not his usual naughty self.

Anyway, we are booked in with the vet this afternoon. I can't wait to go. I know I should maybe have arranged a morning appointment but I'm very wary of the vets round here and have got an appointment with a lady who I know is excellent with guineas. I'd rather she looked at him rather than someone I've never seen before.

Thanks for your help. I'll let you know what happens.

Thanks
 
Glad he has picked up a little. Two of my girls are a little under the weather with mites at the mo and they smell a little odd too. Think its more to too with the medication though as it seems to have eased off them today.

Keep us posted hope Colin will be ok.

Louise
x
 
I'm not sure if this is good advice but it has worked for our pigs and bunnies, when they have been off their food. Its purely a natural thing, so surely it wouldnt harm. All of our pets love grass and dandy leaves, but obviously in this weather its hard to give them any (never feed them cold/icy food) and they will have reduced goodness because of the weather - but I collected a good handful of clean, healthy looking grass and some nice dandy leaves, and gave them a very good long wash, chopped it all up into tiny pieces with scissors, washed it again and let it soak (and importantly - warm up) for a bit. Then after drying the mush for a bit, I add a bit more clean water to make it fairly wet but not too wet - just enough to increase their fluid content.

Its kind of cheating, because they obviously adore grass/dandys, so are always sure to nibble away - so giving some of the pigs and both rabbits this in an easy to eat and hydrated form seemed to work wonders and kick started their appetite on each occasion.

I guess its another version of Science Recovery, but it seemed to do the trick.

Good luck at the vets.
 
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Yes, how did the vets visit go?

Its true that grass often tempts them when all else fails! Hope he will be ok :)
 
Colin eating grass :)

Well, firstly I was dreading going home from work to pick him up for the vets because he'd been so quiet that morning. But I got him out and he sat on the sofa eating some celery leaves! Typical.

The vet said he felt 'empty' as soon as she picked him up. She weighed him and he's 1 kilo which is light for him. She checked his teeth and gave him a good check over and said it's a problem in his gut. He had an injection to get things moving a bit and gave me some carrot flavour fibreplex (with probiotics etc.) as well as something else I can't remember the name of. She told me to tempt him with grass and other popular food and said to take him back if still not pooing in about 12 hours or if I'm still worried.

He is extremely naughty at taking the fibreplex etc. and somehow manages to get those naughty front paws out even when he's wrapped up tightly, but I don't mind at all because it proves he has perked up a bit! He ran round the living room for a bit last night, ate some GRASS and kept demanding more GRASS...

Although still a bit quieter than usual, he seems to be slowly getting back to his wriggly, biting naughty self and I noticed he is pooing again, even though they are little ones to start with :)

Hopefully he'll be back on his other veggies and dried food soon.

x
 
awwwwwwwwwwwww bless xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>

erm that smell you spoke about, was it like a vinegar type thing? and you smelt it from his mouth? (if so it's a toofie problem... it just my experience from my boy that tells me this..) and hey if it is you at least now know what to ask at the vets :)

Good luck COLIN XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
 
That's great news that he's on the mendxx>>>
 
not eating still :(

I think I might call the vet on Monday. He's pooing now but still not interested in very much food. He has some grass and dandelions but not the whole pile and is still rather quiet. Strange because he occasionally livens up and runs round the room trying to eat christmas decorations / plastic bags! Can't work him out at all!
 
You know you said the vet checked Colin's teeth did she check his front and back teeth? Do have done this she would have had to use buccal pads to open your piggie's mouth properly to get a good look. I just thought I'd check :)
 
colin

well she put a metal thing right into his mouth which he used like a drinking bottle while she looked through it... i assumed this enable her to look down at the back teeth.... or am i wrong?

once again he has brightened up... he is eating cucumber and carrot on my lap, just not in his cage. he's eating loads of the newspaper at the bottom of his cage.... he's just one strange little boy at the moment!
 
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