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Dobby is sick, help

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supermum

supermum

Junior Guinea Pig
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10 mins ago I picked up my piggies from my sisters, Dobby is sick it seems, his eyes are crusty and he is sat in a corner of his cage doing nothing, his bum had a clump of poo stuck to it too, we have bathed him. He has nibbled on a carrot but not really eaten anything and hasnt drank yet (its only been 10mins though)

Neil has gone to get his fav veg to see if he can be tempted to eat so we can see how bad things are. According to my sister he has been on his own all week but she only noticed his eyes on thursday, she said he has been eating but wasnt himself yesterday, to her credit she has taken him vets and he has come home with eye drops (Tiacil ophthalmic solution, 1 drop 3 times per day)

If he isnt eating how do you force feed a piggy? What stuff do I need? his breathing and everything is fine, and all other piggies are fine so I'm hoping its nothing serious, obv if I need to I will see another vet but I'm hoping once his eyes feel better he will perk up anyways.

*He has just come to life a second a go and is moving though still hasnt gone for food or water, I'm waiting on hay as I forgot to pick it up from my sis like a muppet!)
 
Has he been in an outdoor run during the day at your sisters? Just wondering if he might have eaten something he shouldn't have - did your sister know about checking the lawn for buttercups, daisies etc before putting them out?
 
If you're worried about hydration then I've found an eye dropper is helpful for giving a poorly piggie some water.
x
 
I would take Dobby to the vets as a guinea pigs general health is often reflected in their eyes and if they are crusty then it could be a sign that there is a deeper under lying problem and if force feeding is needed then a visit to the vet would be as well.

Force feeding can be important for guinea pigs that are not eating and although it is best done by the vets, you can do it yourseld. You will need a syringe. But I have never had to force feed before so I can't really help there.
 
No they were in outdoor hutches, Neil has just rang as he went to pick up the hay, apparently they were in chicken coops (they look like norm hutches to me) and he had been walking over and getting under the grating so she had to take that out, also the geese were putting their heads in so I'm wondering if part of the issue could be stress?

Because she is on a farm she couldnt of let them out because of the other animals there, I thought they would be ok there :(
 
Oh no poor Dobby. When Amelia Jane was not eating the Blue cross gave me critical care to syringe feed her with. This will give them nutrients and help keep their gut working. I wonder if poor Dobby is in pain which is why she has gone off her food. I would take her to an emergency vets to be sure. I really hope she gets well soon.
 
It's usually their whole body language that gives us the knowledge our piggies are not themselves - we know them better than anyone else and their little habits.
My second check daily on my 12 is their poo's - it's a great pointer if a poo is not normal as the first thing they do is go off their food affecting their digestive system.
More info needed really - many experienced members will offer lots of advice hopefully. If Dobby is not eating properly, could be something not agreeing with his tummy, especially if he's been staying elsewhere. Maybe after tempting with fave veg. you will get a more specific idea but I wouldn't hesitate to take him to a vet if you are worried as teeth may need looking at - sometimes the tiniest thing upsets them.
Keep us posted please :)
Sorry, just went back to your info - eyes may be mucky due to the environment previously and the drops should assist but keep a sharp eye on her yourself, could be generally under the weather because of the changes and a bit stressed out (realised 'he' is a 'she now)
 
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Right we have put kale in and he is eating it, he is also eating his hay so maybe not as bad as I thought? He has also ran from Neil when Neil went to stroke him (normal for Dobby) he is looking smaller then the other 2 though which he shouldnt but he was a little smaller then George anyways and Kreature seems to of caught George up this week so I'm wondering if Kreature is making him look smaller (if that makes sense?) He is also eating his science selective (my sis was using waggs)

Having said all of that he isnt as enthusiastic as he norm is but at least he is eating, I'm going to add cucumber now as I know that is water based, anything else he could have to ensure he doesnt dehydrate? I do feel a little better now I know he is eating.

I will use the drops and continue to keep an eye on him over the weekend (he only went vets yesterday morning) If he gets worse I will take him vets.

Would it be worth giving him a seperate area of the c & c once we have rebuilt it? or will he be fine left with George and Kreature?

I really dont need this, I am still awaiting to find out if I get to keep them or not, I can not think about rehoming a sick piggie though that wouldnt be fair on anyone!
 
As we all know piggies are prey animals and they rarely show illness the fact he has crusty eyes, not eating or drinking says something is VERY wrong.

Crusty eyes is a sign of URI, my friend Guinea Pig's all crusty eyes, no wheezy breathing they where all prescribed eye drops when there breathing became affected she rushed to the E-vet and thankfully got ABS - unfortunately one of the pigs did pass.

He needs to see vet - I wouldn't be waiting to see if he gets better, he also needs syringe fed and possibly a gut stimulant as the gut will start shutting down if he doesn't eat soon the vet should also be able to show you how to syringe feed - the vet does not have to do it.

If you don't have critical care mush up pellets like excel add boiling water, mush it up then leave to cool.

Guinea Lynx has some tips on syringe feeding can't post them as I'm on my mobile.

Good Luck.
 
He may be upset if you house him alone so maybe you should leave him so the environment is familiar for him. It sounds like you are doing all you can. I really hope he picks up soon.
 
Good he is eating something but I would still advise the vets especially as it's only Saturday afternoon they will still be open - it's much better than paying the E-vet.

Does your sister have rabbits?

Do you not weigh your pigs? I would weigh him now if not so you can start tracking his weight from now on.
 
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flintstones said:
As we all know piggies are prey animals and they rarely show illness the fact he has crusty eyes, not eating or drinking says something is VERY wrong.

Crusty eyes is a sign of URI, my friend Guinea Pig's all crusty eyes, no wheezy breathing they where all prescribed eye drops when there breathing became affected she rushed to the E-vet and thankfully got ABS - unfortunately one of the pigs did pass.

He needs to see vet - I wouldn't be waiting to see if he gets better, he also needs syringe fed and possibly a gut stimulant as the gut will start shutting down if he doesn't eat soon the vet should also be able to show you how to syringe feed - the vet does not have to do it.

If you don't have critical care mush up pellets like excel add boiling water, mush it up then leave to cool.

Guinea Lynx has some tips on syringe feeding can't post them as I'm on my mobile.

Good Luck.
Click to expand...

Hope this is the right page, think it's the one you mean?

http://www.guinealynx.info/handfeeding.html
 
Tbh, it does sound as though he has had a bit too much going on and the change of pellets hasn't helped so his digestion has slowed down. If Dobby is eating his normal food now, veg and hay, he is re-adjusting maybe to his normal habits ?/ I would be inclined to leave him with the others too but make sure he's getting his share of food, I have six girls and four were smaller than my other two so ensured they all had equal amounts - meant watching them at mealtimes until the younger ones learned how not to be pushed out. Place an extra bowl for him too and observe him eating enough.
He really does sound as though he is off colour having the drops etc. so would monitor him closely but obviously if concerned, a vet is the best option. Keep checking his poo's, they give it all away if poorly :x
 
No my sis doesnt have rabbits, she has geese in the bit they were in full time (not in the actual hutch but the field) He seems to of perked up now his fav veg are in there and is no longer near the corner. Hes munching the cucumber like he has never seen it before so I'm guessing he has missed that, he actually pinched a piece of cucumber off George and ran off to eat it which is a Dobby thing to do. The more veg added the more enthusiastic he has become.

They havent been regularly weighed as they have been difficult to handle, as they looked healthy and were eating loads I didnt place as much importance on it as they were sooo scared of us, I wish I had of done now though, I will get my scales out and weigh them, what sort of weight should he be?
 
There's no right or wrong weight for a pig - it's the pattern your looking for I would weigh daily for Dobby well he is unwell the same time every day first thing before veg to get the most accurate reading.
 
I wonder if he could have picked something nasty up from the geese? Birds carry all sorts of diseases and if any of the grass he ate was contaminated with goose poo that would make him poorly too. You should mention where he's been to the vet, it may be helpful. I'd take him to see the vet and give him a good recent history.
x
 
I will deffo daily weigh him, I am going to seperate him at meal times to ensure he is eating enough (I'm just going to add a section to the c&c)

He wouldnt of eaten contaminated grass as he never went on the grass, the veg and herbs he ate were from the kitchen so in that respect I am not worried, the vet he saw does know she had geese in the area as she did tell them everything. Its her normal vet so they know her anyway through her other animals.
 
He seems to of picked up a lot, however I think George might be bullying him, he has chased him from the water bottle a few times and I have had to remove George for Dobby to drink (they only have 1 bottle because there has never been an issue sharing) also George is chasing him from food when he is caught with it (veg is scattered mostly so they all get some) I have made sure Dobby has been able to eat and drink and no blood has been drawn at all as Dobby has been fully checked over.

Is he doing it because Dobby is ill or could this have been going on before hand and be the cause? the reason I ask is it has always been difficult to tell which of those 2 were the dominant male, George would chase both piggies but if he did anything to Kreature Dobby would chase him away if that makes sense? I'm wondering if over time George has dominated and I havent noticed (with July being as busy as it was I didnt get to spend as much time watching them so behaviour could of changed in that time, they did have attention dont get me wrong just not as much)

If its bullying who do I remove George or Dobby? If its George sensing illness do I need to seperate still? Once Dobby picks up will the trio return to normality (they really did seem to be working, the odd bit of chasing happened but no nastyness and tbf its only chasing now and I might be making a mountain out of a molehill because of Dobby not feeling well)

Dobby himself has been eating and drinking, cuddled up with Kreature and George has cuddled up with him as well (which is what is confusing me most lol) and has been running around like a loon, other then his eyes he doesnt seem ill anymore so I'm also wondering if the travel home and the bath is the reason for him sitting in a corner and his lack of enthusiasm for food at the time, have I traumatised him in my panic?
 
he is doing ok, just keeping an eye on the george situation, spoke to vets earlier too and am syringe feeding today every 2 hrs, as well as givng him his norm food and veg, just to ensure he is eating enough, the vet thinks george may need seperating if he continues being mean, more water bottles are added though so fingers crossed. Dobby is getting a check up friday as long as he doesnt lose weight or worsten, he will be seen sooner if the need arises, i have to continue with the drops too, i forgot to ask if i could alternate between mushed food and mushed veggies, any ideas if that would be ok
 
It sounds like you have done all you can. Maybe keep an eye on them and see how the bullying is. Guinea pigs are like that but as long as it is not serious it should be okay. I know their is bullying when food is involved with my gang!
 
piggyfan said:
It sounds like you have done all you can. Maybe keep an eye on them and see how the bullying is. Guinea pigs are like that but as long as it is not serious it should be okay. I know their is bullying when food is involved with my gang!
Click to expand...

I have 12 piggies in total and six of them are a herd of girls so for food, provide three dishes of everything spaced out so they are not all trying to push and shove each other. They tend to eat in pairs now although swap around to see if the others have the same :(|) The other six piggies live in pairs so is not an issue.
 
spoke to another vet surgery today after remembering i had been recommended one on here and dobby will be seen tomorrow evening, they are thinking its a dental issue but obv want him properly checked over. In mean time i am to continue syringe feeds.
 
Well at least that sounds like it is nothing too complicated or serious. Good luck at the vets.
 
dobbie passed away early hrs this morning, i had checked on him at 5.30 and he seemed ok and had eaten some of his mush mix so he must of gone down hill fast, i am gutted
 
Oh no. I am just so sorry for your loss. Poor little Dobby. You did all you could and gave him so much love.
 
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