Guinea Eating Problems

[Calvin]

Hi

Hope someone can offer some advice please. I've only just joined but read lots of invaluable info on here since my daughter got her 2 pigs, Nutmeg and Snowdrop, two years ago.

A few days ago, Nutmeg, stopped having any real interest in fruit and veg even her favourites like pepper, basil and lettuce. The food she would try it took her ages to eat - for example, a quarter of a strawberry took her about 10 minutes. She's never been as greedy or fast as Snowdrop but always been a steady eater.

Other than this she seems happy enough in herself with no obvious changes in behaviour. My first thought was an issue with her teeth. I couldn't see anything obviously wrong when I looked and nor could the vet when she went on Thursday. She is still eating hay and grass (she's out there now nibbling away) but we can't tell how much she is taking in. The vet gave her some painkiller, zantac liquid and critical care powder (which she isn't keen on and doesn't like being syringed in her mouth but can't be that bad because Snowdrop is going mad to get at it!) The vet is the first to admit he isn't an expert in guineas so do we try a different vet or see how she goes for a few days? My daughter is beside herself at the thought of 'Nutters' having to be put under for further investigation.

Anyone out there had a similar situation? Any suggestions? Anyone recommend a good guinea pig specialist in Stoke on Trent / Staffordshire Moorlands if necessary.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

Hope someone can offer some advice please. I've only just joined but read lots of invaluable info on here since my daughter got her 2 pigs, Nutmeg and Snowdrop, two years ago.

A few days ago, Nutmeg, stopped having any real interest in fruit and veg even her favourites like pepper, basil and lettuce. The food she would try it took her ages to eat - for example, a quarter of a strawberry took her about 10 minutes. She's never been as greedy or fast as Snowdrop but always been a steady eater.

Other than this she seems happy enough in herself with no obvious changes in behaviour. My first thought was an issue with her teeth. I couldn't see anything obviously wrong when I looked and nor could the vet when she went on Thursday. She is still eating hay and grass (she's out there now nibbling away) but we can't tell how much she is taking in. The vet gave her some painkiller, zantac liquid and critical care powder (which she isn't keen on and doesn't like being syringed in her mouth but can't be that bad because Snowdrop is going mad to get at it!) The vet is the first to admit he isn't an expert in guineas so do we try a different vet or see how she goes for a few days? My daughter is beside herself at the thought of 'Nutters' having to be put under for further investigation.

Anyone out there had a similar situation? Any suggestions? Anyone recommend a good guinea pig specialist in Stoke on Trent / Staffordshire Moorlands if necessary.

Thanks in advance.

Hi and welcome!

Please see a vet promptly if your guinea pig is losing their appetite. Most often it is a pain issue somewhere. Bring any ill guinea pigs indoors so you can keep an eye on them better. if your piggy is still lively, have it seen tomorrow during regular hours. If it is looking apathetic or fluffed up, then it is an out-of-hours emergency.

Switch from weighing weekly to weighing daily at the same time in the feeding cycle (ideally before breakfast or dinner) and start topping up with syringe feed; in an emergency, you can use mushed up pellets and get a 1 ml syringe from a pharmacy. Follow the instructions in the syringe feeding guide on how to cut the tip off so the mush passes through. Hay is making around 80 of the daily food intake, which you cannot control but which is most often the food group dropped first. It is very important to keep the guts going as guinea pigs can go downhill very quickly. Guinea pigs are prey animals and very good at hiding any illnesses until it is too late. For weighing, cheap kitchen scales from the supermarket are fine.

Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig
Should my piggie see a vet? - a quick guide

Guinea Pig Vet Locator
How to contact a vet out of hours
Tips For Vet Visits

 

[Calvin]

Hi

Thanks for your reply and the information. She's still pretty lively, was zooming round the run earlier, and still interested in hay and grass. We'll take her to a different vet tomorrow if she's still showing a lack of interest in her veggies.

Thanks

 

[rosie and bramble]

Sometimes they can get bored of eating the same veggies, have you tried something different to the usual, sometimes if they are getting plenty fresh grass too they don't seem so interested in the veggies? I wouldn't think there could be much wrong if hay and grass are still being eaten without any struggle and if you have been to the vet and they cant see anything obvious I'm sure all is fine. Maybe worth monitoring too how much hay grass is being eaten and continue to monitor weight regularly too. How is you piggy managing with nuggets ?

 

[Calvin]

We do offer a wide variety and we have seen them get fed up of foods that they seemed to love. Well, Nutmeg mainly as Snowdrop never seems to tire of eating anything and everything!

The fact she is still spending a long time on the grass and eating hay is why I was thinking there couldn't be anything radically wrong. Tonight she has had a half-hearted effort at a dandelion and a bit of greens but other than that not really interested. Weight is the same as 3 days ago. Nuggets - neither of them have ever really shown much interest in nuggets even though we always have Some fresh ones in their hutch.

Thanks.