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Guinea pig a little lethargic?

Lovethempiggies

Lovethempiggies

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Dec 24, 2018
Messages
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Location
Alexandria, Virginia
Okay so, it’s Christmas Eve and my guinea pig wasn’t moving as much as he always does. He usually runs ALOT when he is out the cage but when I took him out he seemed to only walk and look for a way back in the cage. When I brought him back in he ate hay and pellets and some vegetables and then he went to a spot in the cage and went under the newspaper to sleep. I don’t know what to think of this but I didn’t find really light brown poops and why worries me is that I’m not home and I won’t be home till the next morning.... what should I do? Is he sick?
 
I can’t advise but I’m going to post so more people will see this post...
 
@Lovethempiggies Are you already away? Is someone looking after your pig(s) whilst you are away?

Have you fed him anything different that could have caused a stomach upset?

Does he look ill? Has he lost weight?

Not seeing any poops is a sign that he could have a digestive issue. He needs to be monitored so if he is alone then it would be worth asking a family member or neighbour to check on him.
 
Jaycey said:
@Lovethempiggies Are you already away? Is someone looking after your pig(s) whilst you are away?

Have you fed him anything different that could have caused a stomach upset?

Does he look ill? Has he lost weight?

Not seeing any poops is a sign that he could have a digestive issue. He needs to be monitored so if he is alone then it would be worth asking a family member or neighbour to check on him.
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Yes they are alone but I’m only gone till tommorw. I’ll be back by 8am. I have left them lots of hay and water. He is drinking and eating. He moves around quite normally just a little less. His poop is normal but it is a yellowish brownish color. He was left without hay or vitamin c for a day or two becuase my neighbor FORGOT to go see them. And she ignored my texts. But when I got home I found him munching on some hay but he seemed to have a puffed up coat. I saw him just 5 minutes ago. That’s how I found him. He didn’t have any problems drinking the water or munching on the hay. Just that he seemed more tired then usually and the puffed up coat and stuff. I’m starting to think he might just be dyhrated and not fed well becuase of my neighbor. But I will say he didn’t seem to lost that much weight.
 
Lovethempiggies said:
Is it bad?
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I don’t think it’s too bad, as long as his poops are solid and he’s still eating, you could maybe try to get him to be a wee bit more active by his moving things around his cage, it would make things more interesting. If he gets worse please take him to see a vet. You said he may be dehydrated? If so please try to syringe him some water.
Hope he gets better soon
 
Lovethempiggies said:
Okay so, it’s Christmas Eve and my guinea pig wasn’t moving as much as he always does. He usually runs ALOT when he is out the cage but when I took him out he seemed to only walk and look for a way back in the cage. When I brought him back in he ate hay and pellets and some vegetables and then he went to a spot in the cage and went under the newspaper to sleep. I don’t know what to think of this but I didn’t find really light brown poops and why worries me is that I’m not home and I won’t be home till the next morning.... what should I do? Is he sick?
Click to expand...

Just keep an eye on him for the moment. it is hopefully just a bit of an off day.

If you have access to kitchen scales, please switch to weighing once daily at the same time (the daily weight swing can be 30-40g between a full and empty bladder and tummy). If the weight loss surpasses more than 50g in a matter of a day to a week, then it is time to have him seen by a vet.

As he is still eating all food groups, you can be assured that he is still making poos. If he had trouble in that department, he would be very uncomfortable and not eat. ;)
 
Sophie Blane said:
I don’t think it’s too bad, as long as his poops are solid and he’s still eating, you could maybe try to get him to be a wee bit more active by his moving things around his cage, it would make things more interesting. If he gets worse please take him to see a vet. You said he may be dehydrated? If so please try to syringe him some water.
Hope he gets better soon
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Yes so I did have to go to my family’s house so they are alone but I will be home in the morning around 8 or 9. I tried to syringe feed him water and he most definitely accepted it. He was drinking a little crazy when I refilled their water bottle. As for the puffed up coat... I’m not sure what’s up with that. But yes they probably went 1 day without hay or water and I had no clue cuz I was out of town. I will monitor him and I will try to get a scale to weigh him😊
 
Sophie Blane said:
I don’t think it’s too bad, as long as his poops are solid and he’s still eating, you could maybe try to get him to be a wee bit more active by his moving things around his cage, it would make things more interesting. If he gets worse please take him to see a vet. You said he may be dehydrated? If so please try to syringe him some water.
Hope he gets better soon
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And about taking him to the vet.... I might have a problem with that... you see I get help from people to loan me money for vet bills and I already have over 500 dollars worth of debt and if I add on to that I am screwed.... but if it is necessary to take them then I will do anything in my power to take them... I just want to make sure I’m not exaggerating about his conditions
 
Wiebke said:
Just keep an eye on him for the moment. it is hopefully just a bit of an off day.

If you have access to kitchen scales, please switch to weighing once daily at the same time (the daily weight swing can be 30-40g between a full and empty bladder and tummy). If the weight loss surpasses more than 50g in a matter of a day to a week, then it is time to have him seen by a vet.

As he is still eating all food groups, you can be assured that he is still making poos. If he had trouble in that department, he would be very uncomfortable and not eat. ;)
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Oh okay! I hope so too, he did seem a bit just not his normal self... but he was still drinking, eating ,pooping, and peeing about the normal amount. Just not moving as much with a puffed up coat. I do think it is becuase he went a day without any food or water becuase my neighbor is horrible. He didn’t get vitamin Cfor a day or too so I don’t know if that might affect it. I will be home Tomorrow in the morning. I will check in to see how he is doing and will give all the details here😊
 
Lovethempiggies said:
And about taking him to the vet.... I might have a problem with that... you see I get help from people to loan me money for vet bills and I already have over 500 dollars worth of debt and if I add on to that I am screwed.... but if it is necessary to take them then I will do anything in my power to take them... I just want to make sure I’m not exaggerating about his conditions
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Just monitor him for now, make sure he’s definitely eating and drinking, you won’t have to take him to the vet unless he gets worse.
Merry Christmas!
 
Sophie Blane said:
Just monitor him for now, make sure he’s definitely eating and drinking, you won’t have to take him to the vet unless he gets worse.
Merry Christmas!
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OKAY UPDATE! So I came home very worried thinking he would be worse.... but seems to be perfectly fine! So I did notice that he only runs around if he is chasing his brother or his brother is chasing him around.pee seems normal, poop lightish brownbut good shape, fur is only puffed up when eating or sleeping! Eating everything that is given to him, hasn’t popcorned but he doesn’t popcorn usually so... but like I said, he only runs around if his brother is chasin him or he is chasing his brother. Fur is puffed up when not doing anything. I hope nothing is wrong with him. 🤞🏾
 
Sophie Blane said:
He could be in pain when eating, or trying to preserve heat
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Okay, so I’ve been thinking about this and the more I do the more I get worried. I thought about what you said about being in pain while eating, and I don’t think that is the case. I heard that they can get puffed up to seem mean or scary to the other piggies so that the other piggies won’t bother him for his food. You see, my piggies have been through some stuff with each other, and they fight quite a bit. I’m wondering if he puffs up to seem mean to my other piggie so he will leave him alone since he is always bothering him. Could this be the case?
 
Lovethempiggies said:
Okay, so I’ve been thinking about this and the more I do the more I get worried. I thought about what you said about being in pain while eating, and I don’t think that is the case. I heard that they can get puffed up to seem mean or scary to the other piggies so that the other piggies won’t bother him for his food. You see, my piggies have been through some stuff with each other, and they fight quite a bit. I’m wondering if he puffs up to seem mean to my other piggie so he will leave him alone since he is always bothering him. Could this be the case?
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Also, when you open the door to my house, it gets quite chilly, could this be why he puffs up? His feet are pink and plump and I’m wondering if that’s bad. They are a light pink and a little plump
 
I always work on the basis that I take mine to the vet with any concern.
I’d rather be an over anxious owner than risk missing something that could be dealt with easily.
I am lucky in having an excellent vet surgery close to me that is a branch of a vet hospital so I can always access vet care quickly.
Hope things work out for your boy.
It is worrying when they’re not quite right
 
Merab's Slave said:
I always work on the basis that I take mine to the vet with any concern.
I’d rather be an over anxious owner than risk missing something that could be dealt with easily.
I am lucky in having an excellent vet surgery close to me that is a branch of a vet hospital so I can always access vet care quickly.
Hope things work out for your boy.
It is worrying when they’re not quite right
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I would like to be able to take them to the vet when I have worry’s, but since I am only 17, I need to be able to have my mom help me with them with the bills, but sadly I don’t. We use help from something named the humane society an they have helped us a lot, but we have quite a bit of debt and I only want to take them to the vet if it is necessary, since I am a very worrying person.
 
I’ve just re- read the whole thread and the advice you’ve already been given.
It seems as if keeping a careful watch over the next day or two is important.
I don’t know if your vet would be willing to negotiate a payment plan if you need it?
 
Merab's Slave said:
I’ve just re- read the whole thread and the advice you’ve already been given.
It seems as if keeping a careful watch over the next day or two is important.
I don’t know if your vet would be willing to negotiate a payment plan if you need it?
Click to expand...
Oh okay I’ll keep an eye on him. He seems to be doing fine but for some time he goes under his newspaper to sleep till I get home to feed him and play with him for a bit. That’s when I find him a bit puffed up. Like I said, he fights quite a bit with his brother and I’m wondering if that why he is puffing up like that to maybe seem like scary to him? Idk.... and about my vet.... there’s not much I can do about that. They don’t do payment plans even if my piggy was in a life or death situation. All I have is the humane society and I have a lot of debt and haven’t been paying quite frequently. Around tomorrow I will be calling to pay atleast 35 dollars and see if we are on good terms to keep an eye on my piggy and if it is necessary, I will talk to my mom about it and try my best to take him to the vet.
 
Okay so it’s been a day or two since my piggie was fluffed up and now wanting to move much. Seems like it’s completely different now. He’s eating and drinking and running around then goes back to his cubby for a nap, (that’s when some of his little hairs stand up but not completely puffed up)! After he’s taken a nap for about 1 hour or less he sees that we are walking around near his cage and he stands up to eat and drink and beg for some vegetables, he gets them of course cuz he’s always been spoiled, drinks some water, gets some pets, then goes back to rest. I think that he is OkY? Now I’m focusing on his weight. He is around 900 grams and he is 7 months old but feels very skinny. I’m not sure if I should make him gain weight or not. Also, I have questions about how much vitamin C I should give him. But I think he is OkY now? 🤞🏽
 

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Good to hear he’s feeling better; plain dry porridge oats are good for putting weight on piggies! :)
 
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