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Extremely worried about my guinea pig.

Sakano

Sakano

Junior Guinea Pig
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video-1541027279.mp4

Sugar (the guinea pig inside the little hat type structure) has been making squeaking noises like this all day. I'm very concerned about him. I tried to get a vet to see him today, but his usual vet was booked up. I called about 20 other vets in the immediate area, most of them didn't see guinea pigs and the ones that did weren't able to see him today. There's no emergency vet around here that takes guinea pigs. (I'm in the US.) He has an appointment tomorrow but that's still 20 hours away. I'm concerned he might be dying. I didn't get it in this video, but he usually ends the squeaking with a grunt type sound and then he's quiet for a little while before starting again.

Any idea what may be wrong? He's going to the bathroom like normal and I can't find any injuries on him.
 
I'm sorry, but I'm just guessing, but there are a couple of thoughts I have. It sounds like the noise mine make when they're yelling to each other if I take one out of the cage. I don't know if that means distress or just trying to locate their herd. It could also be submissive noises - has the other piggy been bullying him? That could also explain why he's hiding, although they also hide if they're ill. Does he appear unwell apart from these noises? I agree you do need to see a vet, but you could try dividing the cage so he is on his own and see if he calms down, as a trial while you wait if you absolutely cannot get an appointment. If he doesn't settle, don't keep them separately though, as you'd need to rebond them. @Wiebke would be able to give a more expert opinion.
 
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No there's two in there. The sick guinea pig making the noise is under the hay hidey, the other one sniffing around it is healthy.
 
never mind you just answered the question lol. Has he been eating normal ? and can he get out of the straw thing? it sounds like mine when shes begging for food or calling out to her cage mates when i take one out.
 
Sorry I hadn't read you post properly, but I changed it when I did. If you read it again it may be more helpful lol.
 
i<3piggys said:
never mind you just answered the question lol. Has he been eating normal ? and can he get out of the straw thing? it sounds like mine when shes begging for food or calling out to her cage mates when i take one out.
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As far as I can tell, he's been eating. Earlier today he was going over when I put hay in the cage. At 8pm I give them some shredded carrots as a treat. Usually Sugar is standing on top of one of the hay structures waiting ahead of time for me to get it for him, but he was still hiding today. :( But when he noticed I had them, he did show interest and came over to the side of the cage to eat them.

Does he appear unwell apart from these noises?
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I can't really tell. I don't see an injury on him. Earlier today I put him in a box with a towel by himself to see if he was going to the bathroom normally and it appeared he was. It seems like sometimes he made the noise while he was trying to urinate, but then he started making the noise much more constantly, so I don't know if it's related. I picked up Spice for a while as it seemed Sugar was being agitated by him, and for a while Sugar quieted down (I think he fell asleep) but after about 10 minutes he started squeaking again, so I don't know if it's that.
 
Definitely best to get him checked over, especially if it's when he's trying to wee. He could be in pain.
 
Reenie said:
Definitely best to get him checked over, especially if it's when he's trying to wee. He could be in pain.
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Do you think he'll be okay until tomorrow? There's really not much I can do today unfortunately. :( Like I said, I tried to get him appointments at many different vets for today and they all said no.
 
Sakano said:
Do you think he'll be okay until tomorrow? There's really not much I can do today unfortunately. :( Like I said, I tried to get him appointments at many different vets for today and they all said no.
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I'm afraid it's impossible to say without knowing what's wrong. I would keep trying, but if you can't, you can't, and you just have to do the best you can to keep him comfortable until your appointment. I hope the wee dude is ok.
 
Sakano said:
Do you think he'll be okay until tomorrow? There's really not much I can do today unfortunately. :( Like I said, I tried to get him appointments at many different vets for today and they all said no.
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I think it would be good if you isolated him in another cage and see how he is. If his poops are normal and pee looks OK, that's a good sign. If you isolate him, try to use fleece or something where his pee will kind of pool up before soaking into the fabric so you can see if his pee is normal.
 
Sorry to hear about him.

I am also in the US and I usually take mine to the exotic vet. I feel they have more knowledge about small animals.
I am in Michigan, and there are emergency animal hospitals all over the place. Last time I visited an exotic vet, I requested early appointment and they were able to get me in ASAP.

I understand how upset you are over your pet. I can relate.
 
Sakano said:
video-1541027279.mp4

Sugar (the guinea pig inside the little hat type structure) has been making squeaking noises like this all day. I'm very concerned about him. I tried to get a vet to see him today, but his usual vet was booked up. I called about 20 other vets in the immediate area, most of them didn't see guinea pigs and the ones that did weren't able to see him today. There's no emergency vet around here that takes guinea pigs. (I'm in the US.) He has an appointment tomorrow but that's still 20 hours away. I'm concerned he might be dying. I didn't get it in this video, but he usually ends the squeaking with a grunt type sound and then he's quiet for a little while before starting again.

Any idea what may be wrong? He's going to the bathroom like normal and I can't find any injuries on him.
Click to expand...

Hi! It rather sounds like protest/distress to me rather than pain. I assume your piggies are still in the settling in and establishing their new group hierarchy phase? How long have you had your piggies, how old are they and what gender?
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)

Please remove any hideys with just one exit where an underpiggy can be 'locked in' by the more dominant one. Ideally you only have hideys with exits on opposite sides with any sub-adult piggies under 15 months so they can get out and about. Also have everything in twos - hideys, water bottles at different ends and feeding bowls. Only feed as much veg and pellets as your piggy can eat in one go, served in a bowl each at least a body length apart. Remove the bowls between meals. This additionally encourages your piggies to eat as much unlimited hay as possible, which should make over 80% of the daily food intake for long term health and longevity. Make sure that access to hay can also not be blocked.

Please take the time to read these guides here. You should find them very helpful. they are all part of our new owners most helpful guides collection.
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
Cage Size Guide
 
Some good news, Sugar seems to be feeling better today. He's not squeaking like he was. He still looks sick, but he even came out of his hidey to stand on top of it and wait for his lettuce this morning. I'm still taking him to his vet appointment, but I'm glad to see he's improved.

Wiebke said:
Hi! It rather sounds like protest/distress to me rather than pain. I assume your piggies are still in the settling in and establishing their new group hierarchy phase? How long have you had your piggies, how old are they and what gender?
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I've had them for a year and a half now. They're both males. I don't think it's distress because I removed Spice from the cage for a while so Sugar could get some rest. (Sugar likes his personal space, meanwhile Spice kept following him around yesterday because he seemed worried about him.) But Sugar kept making that noise, even when Spice was sitting on my lap.
 
Sakano said:
Some good news, Sugar seems to be feeling better today. He's not squeaking like he was. He still looks sick, but he even came out of his hidey to stand on top of it and wait for his lettuce this morning. I'm still taking him to his vet appointment, but I'm glad to see he's improved.


I've had them for a year and a half now. They're both males. I don't think it's distress because I removed Spice from the cage for a while so Sugar could get some rest. (Sugar likes his personal space, meanwhile Spice kept following him around yesterday because he seemed worried about him.) But Sugar kept making that noise, even when Spice was sitting on my lap.
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In this case, please have him vet checked. Make sure that the vet also checks his man bits for a sperm rod or something stuck somewhere.
Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths
 
hope you get to the root of the problem with Sugar, best wishes, it’s soo worrying when there not right x
 
Update: We just came back from the vet. The vet gave him an ultra sound and said he didn't have bladder stones or internal bleeding, which was good. But there was some blood in his urine. The vet said he had a bladder infection and sent me home with medicine.
 
Sakano said:
Update: We just came back from the vet. The vet gave him an ultra sound and said he didn't have bladder stones or internal bleeding, which was good. But there was some blood in his urine. The vet said he had a bladder infection and sent me home with medicine.
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That is good news! Stones in boars are no fun.
 
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