rodent
New Born Pup
Hi, this is my first time posting so apologies in advance if I'm not as quick as others.
I'll give you an intro before getting to the issue
Early 2013
So 10 years ago, (I was 10) I bought 2 female guinea pigs from the most popular pet shop in the UK. (I'll call them P & T)
I had a simple cage for them with 'everything they needed' but within a couple of weeks, I upgraded to a 2 tier cage.
Fast forwarding time as this isn't relevant, I upgraded to a guinea pig hutch, then a 6ft rabbit hutch and eventually stopped altogether and allowed them to free roam around the house.
Early 2019
In 2019 P passed away, which left T alone.
Within a couple of weeks, I went to my friend (who's an experienced guineapig breeder) and adopted 2 little female babies (W & A)
Almost instantly, T became such an energetic 6ish-year-old, loving the new babies and it made me realise she has started becoming depressed about P.
Late 2019
Months later, I went back to my friend and adopted another (F), and another (T) aaand another (S).
Early 2020
Eventually, the older piggy (T) passed away as an elderly piggy.
The other piggies mourned, but things went back to normal somewhat quickly.
Mid 2020
6 or so months after that, I adopted another (C)
Early 2021
within another year, there was one more little baby (A). A was introduced to S as her own baby, which she immediately accepted and they were both the same breed which helped them form their unseperable relationship.
Back to the point, I adopted (A) early 2021 at about 8 weeks old or so. She forever stayed the baby of the group, but the leader and the loudest.
Late 2021
I adopted 2 cats from a shelter (B & L) and was a little unsure how they would all get on so the pigs went from having a 3 level human house, to their (big) room.
They were not affected by this change
Late 2022
A started losing weight, gradually. (all my pigs are between 1 - 1.2kg) and I pretty much instantly took her to the vet. Nothing was wrong.
She had a strong appetite, was full of life and was the friendliest lil piggy ever.
After a couple of months of this, I started syringing food into her mouth as the vet mentioned she could have issues with her back teeth and they would have to sedate her to properly see it, yet she was way too light and most lilely wouldn't wake up from this.
eventually, she became weaker and weaker and strayed away from being able to stand up to being told shes at high risk of having a heart attack.
On every vet visit, A would travel with S to keep her company as they just never wanted to be apart.
May 2023
A few weeks after A's 2nd birthday, I came home to her in the middle of the room with all the pigs around her. She wasn't breathing.
This was traumatic for the pigs and me to find.
I gave them as much attention and enrichment as i could, taking time off work to fill that hole they formed in the group.
As mcuh as I wanna talk about this, I will move on.
June 2023
S became distant, not wanting to eat and she's not been herself. the others showed signs of being unsociable but S was really hit with this.
It's been weeks now, as we're in June 2023. S eats, but she's gone from 1.1kg to 0.6kg.... I've made her a vet appointment for tomorrow but I needed to come here to talk about this and if there is anything I can do from experienced guinea pig lovers.
She just lays in one of her tubes most of the day, on her belly so her back legs are spread out like a duck and you can see the sole of her feet.
She's a Peruvian piggy so her fur is very long and grows completely over her face, A used to barber it for her but now I've been doing it. Her fur is almost always dirty and wet. she won't look after herself and I don't know what more I can do for her.
I do currently have 6 piggies in total so S should't feel lonely but A was like a baby to her.
W - 4yrs
A - 4yrs
F - 3yrs
T - 3yrs
S - 3yrs
C - 2 yrs
All female
All happy and healthy (except S)
please feel free to ask questions. ask many as you'd like
I'll give you an intro before getting to the issue
Early 2013
So 10 years ago, (I was 10) I bought 2 female guinea pigs from the most popular pet shop in the UK. (I'll call them P & T)
I had a simple cage for them with 'everything they needed' but within a couple of weeks, I upgraded to a 2 tier cage.
Fast forwarding time as this isn't relevant, I upgraded to a guinea pig hutch, then a 6ft rabbit hutch and eventually stopped altogether and allowed them to free roam around the house.
Early 2019
In 2019 P passed away, which left T alone.
Within a couple of weeks, I went to my friend (who's an experienced guineapig breeder) and adopted 2 little female babies (W & A)
Almost instantly, T became such an energetic 6ish-year-old, loving the new babies and it made me realise she has started becoming depressed about P.
Late 2019
Months later, I went back to my friend and adopted another (F), and another (T) aaand another (S).
Early 2020
Eventually, the older piggy (T) passed away as an elderly piggy.
The other piggies mourned, but things went back to normal somewhat quickly.
Mid 2020
6 or so months after that, I adopted another (C)
Early 2021
within another year, there was one more little baby (A). A was introduced to S as her own baby, which she immediately accepted and they were both the same breed which helped them form their unseperable relationship.
Back to the point, I adopted (A) early 2021 at about 8 weeks old or so. She forever stayed the baby of the group, but the leader and the loudest.
Late 2021
I adopted 2 cats from a shelter (B & L) and was a little unsure how they would all get on so the pigs went from having a 3 level human house, to their (big) room.
They were not affected by this change
Late 2022
A started losing weight, gradually. (all my pigs are between 1 - 1.2kg) and I pretty much instantly took her to the vet. Nothing was wrong.
She had a strong appetite, was full of life and was the friendliest lil piggy ever.
After a couple of months of this, I started syringing food into her mouth as the vet mentioned she could have issues with her back teeth and they would have to sedate her to properly see it, yet she was way too light and most lilely wouldn't wake up from this.
eventually, she became weaker and weaker and strayed away from being able to stand up to being told shes at high risk of having a heart attack.
On every vet visit, A would travel with S to keep her company as they just never wanted to be apart.
May 2023
A few weeks after A's 2nd birthday, I came home to her in the middle of the room with all the pigs around her. She wasn't breathing.
This was traumatic for the pigs and me to find.
I gave them as much attention and enrichment as i could, taking time off work to fill that hole they formed in the group.
As mcuh as I wanna talk about this, I will move on.
June 2023
S became distant, not wanting to eat and she's not been herself. the others showed signs of being unsociable but S was really hit with this.
It's been weeks now, as we're in June 2023. S eats, but she's gone from 1.1kg to 0.6kg.... I've made her a vet appointment for tomorrow but I needed to come here to talk about this and if there is anything I can do from experienced guinea pig lovers.
She just lays in one of her tubes most of the day, on her belly so her back legs are spread out like a duck and you can see the sole of her feet.
She's a Peruvian piggy so her fur is very long and grows completely over her face, A used to barber it for her but now I've been doing it. Her fur is almost always dirty and wet. she won't look after herself and I don't know what more I can do for her.
I do currently have 6 piggies in total so S should't feel lonely but A was like a baby to her.
W - 4yrs
A - 4yrs
F - 3yrs
T - 3yrs
S - 3yrs
C - 2 yrs
All female
All happy and healthy (except S)
please feel free to ask questions. ask many as you'd like
Hoping you find out what’s wrong with S, if the vet can rule out illness then it may be that she is really missing her closest friend