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Elderly guinea pig hunched up and rocking

maelle

maelle

Junior Guinea Pig
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hii, my elderly guinea pig angel has begun hunching up facing the wall and slightly rocking. ive given her more enrichment but most the time shes only interested if theres food involved. there has been no change in her lifestyle and everything else shows a healthy piggie. would anyone know what i can do to help her and what could be wrong please? xx
 
I’m sorry to hear that.
I would also say that she requires a vet check for signs of pain.

Please switch from the routine weekly weight checks and instead weigh her daily (each morning). Hay intake can only be monitored by weight checks, it cannot be gauged by eye, so if a piggy reduces hay intake (which happens if they are in pain or unwell) then you will only be able to tell when you weigh her.
If she is losing weight then you will need to step in with some support feeds.

I’ve added some guides below to help further.
Let us know how you get on at the vet

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/weight-monitoring-and-management.171577/
Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support
How to Improvise Feeding Support in an Emergency
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
 
Piggies&buns said:
I’m sorry to hear that.
I would also say that she requires a vet check for signs of pain.

Please switch from the routine weekly weight checks and instead weigh her daily (each morning). Hay intake can only be monitored by weight checks, it cannot be gauged by eye, so if a piggy reduces hay intake (which happens if they are in pain or unwell) then you will only be able to tell when you weigh her.
If she is losing weight then you will need to step in with some support feeds.

I’ve added some guides below to help further.
Let us know how you get on at the vet

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/weight-monitoring-and-management.171577/
Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support
How to Improvise Feeding Support in an Emergency
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
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thank you so much, i will do
 
maelle said:
hii, my elderly guinea pig angel has begun hunching up facing the wall and slightly rocking. ive given her more enrichment but most the time shes only interested if theres food involved. there has been no change in her lifestyle and everything else shows a healthy piggie. would anyone know what i can do to help her and what could be wrong please? xx
Click to expand...
Please take her to the vet as an emergency. Her symptoms indicate she is in distress and needs urgent treatment. I hope she improves quickly 🙏
 
As others have said, sitting hunched up and bobbing/rocking are signs of distress... this warrants a vet visit ASAP. I hope they can figure out the problem and she feels better soon.
 
Betsy said:
Have you managed to get Angel an appointment with the vet yet?
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hii yes i took her this morning, however the vet said she couldnt find anything wrong with her and its just old age. i dont know if i should believe her or go see another vet?
 
Yes, symptoms of acute distress should be investigated with X rays and ultrasound scans. Your piggy may be old, but she should not be behaving like this. You might not wish her to undergo an operation, but she should at least not be in pain. Many general practice vets don't know much about guinea pig issues such as overgrown teeth and abscesses. She needs to see an exotic vet if possible.
 
Truffolo said:
Yes, symptoms of acute distress should be investigated with X rays and ultrasound scans. Your piggy may be old, but she should not be behaving like this. You might not wish her to undergo an operation, but she should at least not be in pain. Many general practice vets don't know much about guinea pig issues such as overgrown teeth and abscesses. She needs to see an exotic vet if possible.
Click to expand...
thank you so much. i will take her to another exotic vet
 
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