Concerned About Barney Eating. Advice Please

[AbiS]

I have just given the boys their breakfast. Toby has got stuck into the veg as normal but Barney's behaviour has me a little concerned.

I usually open the hutch up so they can have a run around the lounge while I chop their veg. They usually climb over each other to get out first. This morning Toby came out as usual but Barney just stay up in the upper level. I gave them both a little carrot - Toby at the kitchen door, Barney in the hutch - he ate his no problem but still wouldn't come out. I sat by the run hand feeding Toby, as I do every morning, and still Barney wouldn't come down. I started to hand feed Barney in the hutch and noticed that although he was taking the veg willingly and eating it, he is chewing a lot slower than normal. MrS and I call him 'the machine' because he normally consumes food so fast and we cant work out how he makes his jaw go that quickly.

I picked him up and put him beside his food bowl but as he doesn't like being held he freaked out and ran back into the hutch and wont come out. He is still taking hand fed veg from me but again, chewing slowly.

I will take him out and weigh him later this morning and start doing this daily until I work out if there is a problem.

Is this something I should be concerned about? Is there anything else I should be doing? He doesn't seem unwell in any other way. He is moving around fine just his behaviour is a little odd this morning. Does he need a trip to the vets or am I being over anxious at this point?

 

[sport_billy]

Give him a weigh and get him checked over by the vet paying special attention to dental. Is he doing any over exaggerated chewing motions? Or dropping any food while eating? It might be nothing but always worth getting it checked.

 

[AbiS]

No - he seems to be eating fine just slowly. He has just taken himself off into the bedroom and curled up in the pigloo that they have in there - not like him at all - he usually sleeps out in the open on the fleece during the day. Will see if I can get an appointment with the vet.

 

[AbiS]

Well he has finally come out of the hutch into the run and has eaten the veg that Toby hadn't finished and is now working on a bowl of readigrass - think he is feeling a little disconcerted as hooman is sat staring at him. He hasn't eaten as much readigrass as he normally would though. He hadn't eaten any of the Timothy hay in the hay rack but I have just changed it from the normal boring stuff to his favourite with dandelion and marigold in it and he is busy chomping away. Think I will hold off on the vet for now but will keep a close eye and take him if he hasn't returned to normal by this afternoon.

 

[AbiS]

Well - he just has me all confused! He is eating - nuggets, pellets and hay. He is drinking. But he still isn't acting himself.

I have contacted my local piggy savy vet (who is further away) but cant get an appointment until Monday. So - do I see how he goes or take him to my more local vet who isn't an exotics specialist?

 

[helen105281]

I would get him checked as soon as you can. It sounds to me like something is brewing, whether it be dental, oral fungal or something else. Maybe get him to local vets now but arrange a follow up at the exotics vet when you can get an appointemnt.

 

[AbiS]

Well he has had a little sleep underneath MrS's reclining chair, I gave the food call from the kitchen and he came racing out shouting his head off. He has had a run around the lounge, rumblestrutted at his brother and is now tucking into some hay. I have weighed him and he is now 1329g (clearly underweight lol). This is a post breakfast weight his last pre-breakfast weight was 1293g.

He seems to be acting more like himself now, I really don't want to take them out in the cold if I don't have to, am going to continue observing and if I have any more concerns he will be going straight to the vets even if it has to be an emergency one later on. I'm not back at work until Wednesday so can keep a close eye on him.

Thank you for your advice - I'm not ignoring it at all, just the situation appears to have improved at the moment. one thing it has made me realise though is that I definitely don't want them going to live back in the garden in the summer because this is the kind of thing I wont pick up on if I'm only popping out to see them every now and then.

 

[helen105281]

Ok.

I agree it is much easier to spot things when they live indoors and you can watch for the slightest change in their behaviour.

 

[piggyfan]

I hope he is okay.

 

[AbiS]

I hope he is okay.

Thank you! He seems to be acting more normally now - and is now asleep on the fleece instead of hiding away. He has eaten loads of hay without encouragement and currently has his face in the nugget bowl! The absolute proof of normality will come at 7pm when he has his tea - if he comes out of the hutch he is fine, if he doesn't then he will be having a trip to the vet tomorrow! I think I have probably been worrying about nothing. Chances are that he was sulking because I wasn't downstairs on the dot of 8am to give him breakfast!

Honestly - who would think a little furball would cause so much stress!

 

[piggyfan]

Let's see how he is at dinner time.

 

[AbiS]

hmmmm..... well I have just put some more readigrass in the bowl (they normally get it for treats and never twice in one day). Barney has just launched himself down the ramp and out of the hutch as if he was going to lose his life if he didn't get a mouthful of tastiness in the next 0.08seconds.

I think we can stand down!