Guinea Pig Doesn't Want To Eat and is losing weight

[hrebikmilan3]

I got a guinea pig on 29th april. He didn't want to eat on first day, but he slowly started eating , i guess he was just stressed. He gained 10 grams in 3 days and everything was going relatively well until now. Last night I moved his cage to another room and he stopped eating. He still doesnt want to eat, he started eating his bedding so I replaced it with fleece. He lost 15 grans in the last 3 days, he started at 196 grams and now he is at 191. What should I do to help him eat again. I gave him carrots, spinach, cucumber and he only takes one bite out of it. Please help me

 

[Swissgreys]

Welcome to the Forum.


How old is your guinea pig?
How big is his cage?
Does he have a friend?
Does he have access to unlimited hay?

A good guide to guinea pig diets can be seen here:
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

Any new or young pig will naturally take time to settle, and this process tends to be easier on your pig if they have a friend.
How is the cage set up?
In new surroundings it often helps to cover part of the cage with a blanket or towel to help your guinea pig feel safer.

 

[Scuttle2]

I got a guinea pig on 29th april. He didn't want to eat on first day, but he slowly started eating , i guess he was just stressed. He gained 10 grams in 3 days and everything was going relatively well until now. Last night I moved his cage to another room and he stopped eating. He still doesnt want to eat, he started eating his bedding so I replaced it with fleece. He lost 15 grans in the last 3 days, he started at 196 grams and now he is at 191. What should I do to help him eat again. I gave him carrots, spinach, cucumber and he only takes one bite out of it. Please help me

Oh Sweetie
This must be so worrying for you. There are many reasons he may not be eating:

♣ Pain
♣ Recent surgery
♣ Dental problems
♣ Environmental changes (stress) THE MOST LIKELY REASON
♣ Insufficient/Inaccessible fresh water or exposure to extreme temperatures
♣ Ketosis of other illnesses (infections e.c.t)
♣ Loneliness

Make sure his drinker is working. Make sure that you make things as familiar as possible for him. Make sure he is not visibly ill. There is a small possibility he wants company but as this is recent it is probably just stress of these sudden changes.

Book him in for the vets and in the mean time try
a) syringe feeding him
b) moving the cage back to the previous room (although this should only be a last resort as it could make things worse)

If he has not started eating properly by Wednesday and you have not yet seen a vet make an emergency appointment. Make sure he eats over these next few days (even if it is only a tiny bit)

To syringe feed get some pellets and mash it up with warm water then slowly syringe into his mouth. (You can buy sachets of syringe feeding food if you want to use these rather than the normal pellets he eats )

Good Luck to you and your piggie!
x ♥

 

[Wiebke]

I got a guinea pig on 29th april. He didn't want to eat on first day, but he slowly started eating , i guess he was just stressed. He gained 10 grams in 3 days and everything was going relatively well until now. Last night I moved his cage to another room and he stopped eating. He still doesnt want to eat, he started eating his bedding so I replaced it with fleece. He lost 15 grans in the last 3 days, he started at 196 grams and now he is at 191. What should I do to help him eat again. I gave him carrots, spinach, cucumber and he only takes one bite out of it. Please help me

Hi and welcome

Your boy is just a tiny baby that is frankly below the average weight of a piggy at weening age, feeling VERY lost and frightened and is desperate for company. The best, quickest and most effective appetite booster and help to get him out of his shell/making him happy of all is the company of another same sex piggy that can help teach your little boy what is safe to eat and what not; your boy will also get back his ' I want what you have' reaction as guinea pigs are wired to eat in larger groups.
Guinea pigs are prey animals that live in groups and that are not suited to live as singles. Companionship is vital for mental and general health and can be crucial for living longer.
If you were a toddler and given away to a family from a very different culture and language in a very different part of the world, how would you react? And in the case of your baby, it is so much worse because it is a prey animal that is in the power of predators that can easily kill it anytime on a whim...
Moving him around before he has fully got his bearings in his new home is very stressful again. Please place a blanket over the top of the cage to give your little boy an added feeling of security.
Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs
Companionship

Tips for settling in:
How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig Safely

Please also read this guide here: How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig Safely

Please be aware that over 80% of the daily food intake is unlimited hay. Veg is making only 10% and 2 tablespoon of pellets (1 tablespoon for adults) make the last 5% of what a piggy eats in a day. The more hay your boy eats, the healthier he will be in the long term and the longer he will live. Babies learn from their elders what is safe to eat and how to drink from a bottle; they are not born with that knowledge.
Please take the time to read our diet guide: Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

All these guides and many other very useful ones are part of our new owners guide collection to help you to a good start and to give your piggies the happiest of life and get so much joy back by sharing their happiness:
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides