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Guinea pig not eating and sleeping a lot

GuineaPig Mom

GuineaPig Mom

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I have two guinea pigs, and one of them is named Cookie. He is an American Dutch guinea pig who has been with me for 5 years. The owner who I brought him from didn't know his exact age, but I'm guessing that he was 1 when I first brought him, so he is now about 6 years old, which I know is old for a guinea pig. I'm not sure if it is due to his old age, or if he is just sick, but just until yesterday, he was quite healthy. He ran around a bit with my other guinea pig, and ate just fine, though I did notice that he has been sleeping more lately. However, when I woke up today, and went to their cage, he did not run up to me like he did every morning. He was simply sleeping in his hut. I just thought that maybe he was a bit tired, but when I gave them their food, he wouldn't eat either. I tried to get him to eat by giving him his favorite food- bananas, but he simply ignored it, and kept sleeping. I'm really worried about him because he is pretty old, and he is also pretty skinny for a guinea pig. I can feel his leg and back bones, and I tried to make him a bit fatter, since he seemed too thin, but he wouldn't really gain any weight. He also has been sleeping a lot more lately- well over 4 hours.

Btw, I'm not sure if this information is necessary, but I'm writing here how I usually take care of them.
During the spring and summer, they live outside in a 110x185 cage, but since the weather has been cold lately, I keep them indoors during the night, and let them run outside during the day. In the morning, I pet and play with them a bit, and give them 1/3 cup of veggies each. Then, I carry them to their outside cage and give them a little snack. During the afternoon, I feed them another 1/3 cup of veggies each, along with 1/16 cup of pellets. I also spot-clean their cage and play with them during this time. At noon/night I bring them back in to their indoor cage, and feed them their last 1/3 cup of veggies and 1/16 cup of pellets. I also clean their cage every day, and make sure they have plenty of hay.
 
If he isn’t eating then you need to step in and syringe feed him as an emergency measure, and get him to a vet.
You also need to switch from routine weekly weighing to weighing him daily at the same time each day.
Most of their food intake is hay which you cannot judge by eye so weekly weighing allows you to see what is going on with the hay intake. if their weight drops then they haven’t been eating enough hay. You then switch to daily weighing and syringe feeding to stabilise the weight.

Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Weight - Monitoring and Management
 
Sorry to hear your boy is unwell. Hope you can get him seen soon. Let us know how you get on.
 
GuineaPig Mom said:
I have two guinea pigs, and one of them is named Cookie. He is an American Dutch guinea pig who has been with me for 5 years. The owner who I brought him from didn't know his exact age, but I'm guessing that he was 1 when I first brought him, so he is now about 6 years old, which I know is old for a guinea pig. I'm not sure if it is due to his old age, or if he is just sick, but just until yesterday, he was quite healthy. He ran around a bit with my other guinea pig, and ate just fine, though I did notice that he has been sleeping more lately. However, when I woke up today, and went to their cage, he did not run up to me like he did every morning. He was simply sleeping in his hut. I just thought that maybe he was a bit tired, but when I gave them their food, he wouldn't eat either. I tried to get him to eat by giving him his favorite food- bananas, but he simply ignored it, and kept sleeping. I'm really worried about him because he is pretty old, and he is also pretty skinny for a guinea pig. I can feel his leg and back bones, and I tried to make him a bit fatter, since he seemed too thin, but he wouldn't really gain any weight. He also has been sleeping a lot more lately- well over 4 hours.

Btw, I'm not sure if this information is necessary, but I'm writing here how I usually take care of them.
During the spring and summer, they live outside in a 110x185 cage, but since the weather has been cold lately, I keep them indoors during the night, and let them run outside during the day. In the morning, I pet and play with them a bit, and give them 1/3 cup of veggies each. Then, I carry them to their outside cage and give them a little snack. During the afternoon, I feed them another 1/3 cup of veggies each, along with 1/16 cup of pellets. I also spot-clean their cage and play with them during this time. At noon/night I bring them back in to their indoor cage, and feed them their last 1/3 cup of veggies and 1/16 cup of pellets. I also clean their cage every day, and make sure they have plenty of hay.
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome!

Please have him vet checked as soon as possible. A piggy doesn't lose lots of weight without a reason. Lethargy/apathy and loss of appetite are red warning light symptoms.

Keep in mind that about 80% of the daily food intake is unlimited hay (that is about breakfast, lunch and dinner all together) and NOT veg (which should make around 15%, about the equivalent of an afternoon snack) and 1 tablespoon of pellets (5%, about what you eat for a dessert).

Step in with syringe feeding fibre asap (in a pinch you can use mushed up pellets, provided you cut off the syringe tip just below where it widens to allow the rougher fibre in the pellets pass through.
Switch from the life long weekly health monitoring weigh-in to weighing daily at the same time in order to monitor the food intake as you cannot control the hay intake just with your eye. If you look just at the veg, you will inevitably miss out on the majority of his diet.
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Weight - Monitoring and Management

Please be aware that if your boy emphatically refuses to take any syringe feed with far more vigour than is reasonable for his weakened state, then it is likely that his body has already started to close down and that he is dying. Once that process has started, there is unfortunately nothing that can stop it. if he still able and can swallow, then an emergency trip to the vets may save his life in combination with your round the clock feeding care as detailed in our emergency care link, which also contains all the tips and advice on what you need to do but also includes information on how to spot whether your piggy is dying and when they have crossed the line of no return.
Emergency Resources and Critical Illness Care - Contents list and subforum link

PLEASE take the time to read all our information links. They contain the detailed practical step-by-step advice that we cannot post at length in every thread.

Fingers very firmly crossed!
 
Wiebke said:
Hi and welcome!

Please have him vet checked as soon as possible. A piggy doesn't lose lots of weight without a reason. Lethargy/apathy and loss of appetite are red warning light symptoms.

Keep in mind that about 80% of the daily food intake is unlimited hay (that is about breakfast, lunch and dinner all together) and NOT veg (which should make around 15%, about the equivalent of an afternoon snack) and 1 tablespoon of pellets (5%, about what you eat for a dessert).

Step in with syringe feeding fibre asap (in a pinch you can use mushed up pellets, provided you cut off the syringe tip just below where it widens to allow the rougher fibre in the pellets pass through.
Switch from the life long weekly health monitoring weigh-in to weighing daily at the same time in order to monitor the food intake as you cannot control the hay intake just with your eye. If you look just at the veg, you will inevitably miss out on the majority of his diet.
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Weight - Monitoring and Management

Please be aware that if your boy emphatically refuses to take any syringe feed with far more vigour than is reasonable for his weakened state, then it is likely that his body has already started to close down and that he is dying. Once that process has started, there is unfortunately nothing that can stop it. if he still able and can swallow, then an emergency trip to the vets may save his life in combination with your round the clock feeding care as detailed in our emergency care link, which also contains all the tips and advice on what you need to do but also includes information on how to spot whether your piggy is dying and when they have crossed the line of no return.
Emergency Resources and Critical Illness Care - Contents list and subforum link

PLEASE take the time to read all our information links. They contain the detailed practical step-by-step advice that we cannot post at length in every thread.

Fingers very firmly crossed!
Click to expand...

Hello,

Thanks for your reply + tips :) I read that guinea pigs should eat a cup of veggies everyday so I divided that into three parts- during the morning, afternoon, and evening. Was that information wrong? Should I be feeding him less than a cup?

I started syringe feeding him a blend of pellets, soft hay, bananas, bell pepper, and water. Luckily, he does eat it, and is able to swallow it, though he doesn't really like it. I also got an emergency vet visit scheduled for tomorrow :)

Thank you, I also I have fingers crossed for him to get well soon.
 
Piggies&buns said:
If he isn’t eating then you need to step in and syringe feed him as an emergency measure, and get him to a vet.
You also need to switch from routine weekly weighing to weighing him daily at the same time each day.
Most of their food intake is hay which you cannot judge by eye so weekly weighing allows you to see what is going on with the hay intake. if their weight drops then they haven’t been eating enough hay. You then switch to daily weighing and syringe feeding to stabilise the weight.

Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Weight - Monitoring and Management
Click to expand...

Hello,

Yes, I started to syringe feed him right after posting my initial post. I also got an emergency vet visit scheduled for tomorrow morning, though I am a bit worried about it since the last vet visit was terrible, and since I'm not allowed to stay with him this vet visit due to the COVID. But hopefully it's a good vet, and Cookie can recover well :)

Thanks for the tip, I'll weigh him right away!
 
You don’t need to add banana or veg when syringe feeding. Either mushed pellets or a recovery food will do. You will need to weigh him daily at the same time and adjust the amount accordingly. Try to get him to take at least 60ml in a 24 hour period. It sounds like he’s lost a lot of weight so feed him regularly, including through the night.
 
I just syringe fed him another 10 ml, and he refusing to eat even more, and is having a harder time swallowing it than the last time I fed him. He's also really limp, and doesn't have as much strength as he normally does. He's also having a hard time keeping his eyes open, and keeps twitching, which I'm guessing means he's in a lot of pain. T^T Is there anything else I can do other than feeding him until his vet visit tomorrow?
 
10ml is a good amount. But please try to get him an emergency appointment. I think the way he’s behaving calls for it if possible. There isn’t anything you can do for him apart from a vet trip. Keep him comfortable and have a read through the emergency care guide that was linked in the second post.
 
Siikibam said:
10ml is a good amount. But please try to get him an emergency appointment. I think the way he’s behaving calls for it if possible. There isn’t anything you can do for him apart from a vet trip. Keep him comfortable and have a read through the emergency care guide that was linked in the second post.
Click to expand...

The earliest emergency appointment I could get was tomorrow morning at 9am. The vets where I'm living don't open for a long time and the emergency clinics don't take guinea pigs.

Also, it is common for old guinea pigs like Cookie, who is between 6-7 years old to be sick like this?
 
It’s not really be common. There must be something else going on. Yea they do slow down, but I don’t think it’s to the extent you’re describing. Especially those of lethargy etc. Good luck and I hope he’s ok during the night.
 
Right now, I'm syringe feeding Cookie the third time. When I held him to feed, he look a bit more lively compared to before. At least he isn't limp like before. But, he seemed to be a bit more bloated compared to before, though it may just be a speculation. However, the problem is with the syringe feeding. At first, he ate it just fine, but now, he twists and turns so much I can't feed him. Even when I manage to put a little in his mouth, he doesn't eat it and spits it out. Now I'm really at a loss. Though he seems a bit better than before, now he won't eat the food even when I give him small bits of it. Plus, he doesn't seem to be letting out any excrement.
 
If he’s not pooing it’s because he wasn’t eating enough. Poo output is 1-2 days behind input. You just have to be a bit more ‘forceful’ when feeding him I’m afraid.
 
GuineaPig Mom said:
Hello,

Thanks for your reply + tips :) I read that guinea pigs should eat a cup of veggies everyday so I divided that into three parts- during the morning, afternoon, and evening. Was that information wrong? Should I be feeding him less than a cup?

I started syringe feeding him a blend of pellets, soft hay, bananas, bell pepper, and water. Luckily, he does eat it, and is able to swallow it, though he doesn't really like it. I also got an emergency vet visit scheduled for tomorrow :)

Thank you, I also I have fingers crossed for him to get well soon.
Click to expand...

Hi!

The cup is a small cup and should be mostly filled with leafy green veg and fresh herbs.
With an ill piggy, please leave out any veg and fruit and concentrate on getting as much fibre into him as possible. Hay and grass (the dry and fresh version of the same) is the food that guinea pigs have evolved on; recovery formulas are enriched with vitamin C.
Guinea pigs supplement they hay/fresh grass diet with some other green forage for any additional nutrional needs in terms of trace elements; herbs will provide that in an urban pet setting. Fruit is a very rare find and should only ever be a very small and very occasional treat.
The more hay based recovery formula you feed, the better because that keeps the gut balanced and provides the correct nutrition.
You need to get at least 40-60 ml over 24 hours in 2 hour sessions (3 hours at night) into a piggy that is not eating at all in order to keep the gut going.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links

How did the vet trip go?
 
Hello,

Sorry for the late update but sadly, Cookie died last night at 2.

He passed Saturday night very well, and looked a lot better in the morning, when I found him cuddled up with my other guinea pig, Coco. I fed him some mushed pellets with water, and then took him to the vet, where I was told he would be getting an x-ray, a blood test, and a shot to get his gut working again. I was not allowed to be there with him because of the COVID situation, but when I wen back after about 3 hours, I was told that he had a moderate gas buildup and arthritis in his spine. He was given 5 medicines- one for his arthritis treatment, a gas relief, a pain reliever, mineral oil for his poo, and some antibiotics. I was told that his inappetence was probably because of the pain from the gas and the arthritis. I was really relieved because when I first got him, he looked better. But 10 minutes later, he was worse than he was in the morning. I warmed him with some pads and a warm water bottle, and let him rest on some soft blankets. I gave him food every 1.5 hours and some water every 30 minutes, as well as medicine at the times the doctor told me, but he just kept getting worse. He couldn't open his eyes properly, and seemed to breathe more rough, despite the doctor saying he had no problems with his heart or lungs. All the vets were closed at that time, and there were no emergency vets near me, so I was debating what to do, when my parents forced me to have some sleep, saying that he was just tired and stressed out from the vet visit, and that I would be tired from all the crying, not sleeping, and not eating, and that there was nothing I could do. I had no choice, and slept for just 30 minutes, and I am guessing he passed away during these 30 minutes. I tried shaking him to see if he was just in a deep sleep, or in a shock state, but he wouldn't wake up, and he was no longer breathing.

In the morning, Coco kept staying only in his hideout, where he had stayed with Cookie while he was sick. I placed Cookie back in the cage, since I had read that a dead guinea pig should be placed back in the cage for his cage mate to know of his death. I didn't really want to since Cookie was very dear to Coco, and I knew Coco would be really sad, but I didn't want Coco to think he was abandoned, and decided to put Cookie in his cage. However, when I did, Coco freaked out. He bolted out of his hideout, and hid behind it, and would not move. I was afraid of Coco's wellbeing, and took Cookie back out of the cage. Luckily Coco calmed down, but I wasn't sure if Coco really saw Cookie or not. Also, I was told that the dead guinea pig's cage mate would groom his body, or ignore him, but Coco got scared of him. Is this normal? And should I place Cookie back in the cage for Coco to see?
 
And for Cookie's body, I'll be wrapping him up and placing him in a box to bury later today.
 
I'm sorry for your loss. Unfortunately gas/bloat can kill very quickly. You did the best for him, which is all any of us can ever do.
 
Siikibam said:
I'm sorry for your loss. Unfortunately gas/bloat can kill very quickly. You did the best for him, which is all any of us can ever do.
Click to expand...

Thank you, I was really blaming myself a lot for his death, but your comment really helped.

Do you know if I should place him back in the cage for my other piggie? I tried once, but he got really scared.
 
I would probably leave it. You can maybe leave something that your resting piggy laid on - a fleece or something with his scent on - in the cage now and when you next do a clean.
 
GuineaPig Mom said:
Hello,

Sorry for the late update but sadly, Cookie died last night at 2.

He passed Saturday night very well, and looked a lot better in the morning, when I found him cuddled up with my other guinea pig, Coco. I fed him some mushed pellets with water, and then took him to the vet, where I was told he would be getting an x-ray, a blood test, and a shot to get his gut working again. I was not allowed to be there with him because of the COVID situation, but when I wen back after about 3 hours, I was told that he had a moderate gas buildup and arthritis in his spine. He was given 5 medicines- one for his arthritis treatment, a gas relief, a pain reliever, mineral oil for his poo, and some antibiotics. I was told that his inappetence was probably because of the pain from the gas and the arthritis. I was really relieved because when I first got him, he looked better. But 10 minutes later, he was worse than he was in the morning. I warmed him with some pads and a warm water bottle, and let him rest on some soft blankets. I gave him food every 1.5 hours and some water every 30 minutes, as well as medicine at the times the doctor told me, but he just kept getting worse. He couldn't open his eyes properly, and seemed to breathe more rough, despite the doctor saying he had no problems with his heart or lungs. All the vets were closed at that time, and there were no emergency vets near me, so I was debating what to do, when my parents forced me to have some sleep, saying that he was just tired and stressed out from the vet visit, and that I would be tired from all the crying, not sleeping, and not eating, and that there was nothing I could do. I had no choice, and slept for just 30 minutes, and I am guessing he passed away during these 30 minutes. I tried shaking him to see if he was just in a deep sleep, or in a shock state, but he wouldn't wake up, and he was no longer breathing.

In the morning, Coco kept staying only in his hideout, where he had stayed with Cookie while he was sick. I placed Cookie back in the cage, since I had read that a dead guinea pig should be placed back in the cage for his cage mate to know of his death. I didn't really want to since Cookie was very dear to Coco, and I knew Coco would be really sad, but I didn't want Coco to think he was abandoned, and decided to put Cookie in his cage. However, when I did, Coco freaked out. He bolted out of his hideout, and hid behind it, and would not move. I was afraid of Coco's wellbeing, and took Cookie back out of the cage. Luckily Coco calmed down, but I wasn't sure if Coco really saw Cookie or not. Also, I was told that the dead guinea pig's cage mate would groom his body, or ignore him, but Coco got scared of him. Is this normal? And should I place Cookie back in the cage for Coco to see?
Click to expand...

BIG HUGS

I am very sorry for your loss. Cookie was already very borderline when you took him to the vets and his body gave up. Sadly once that process has started, there is nothing you or a vet can do to stop it. This is when the fast metabolism of guinea pigs turns against them.
Try not to feel guilty; you have done all a good owner should do.

Please remove the body and don't be upset.
Companions (like humans by they way) can react VERY differently to a dead companion. Being scared by a sudden death is not all that uncommon. It is one of these human stereotypes that all guinea pigs lick the eyes (i.e. give them kisses) after a mate has passed away - a number will do, but that is not even the majority. It just tallies most with how we would like to see guinea pigs react because it comes closest to our human expectation of how we should react to the passing of somebody close to us.

In truth, it can be anything from fright, just ignoring the mate when the leave-taking has happened while the companion was still alive but removed themself from the group as much as possible in a cage to die away from the group, to coming into spontaneously into a monster season and chasing other sows right over the body of the group patriarch (happened after my Llewelyn passed away), to desperately gnawing right down to the bone in an attempt to 'wake up' a suddenly passed companion (we have been contacted about 'killing companions' and 'cannibalism' quite a few times and will undoubtedly be contacted again). About half the companions will carry on a normal.

You may find these guides in this link here helpful to make sense of your experience of the natural dying process, of your own feelings and to know what to do and look out for with Coco right now and in the coming days and weeks: Death, Dying, Terminal Illness, Grieving and Bereaved Companions: Information and Support for Owners and Their Children
 
Wiebke said:
BIG HUGS

I am very sorry for your loss. Cookie was already very borderline when you took him to the vets and his body gave up. Sadly once that process has started, there is nothing you or a vet can do to stop it. This is when the fast metabolism of guinea pigs turns against them.
Try not to feel guilty; you have done all a good owner should do.

Please remove the body and don't be upset.
Companions (like humans by they way) can react VERY differently to a dead companion. Being scared by a sudden death is not all that uncommon. It is one of these human stereotypes that all guinea pigs lick the eyes (i.e. give them kisses) after a mate has passed away - a number will do, but that is not even the majority. It just tallies most with how we would like to see guinea pigs react because it comes closest to our human expectation of how we should react to the passing of somebody close to us.

In truth, it can be anything from fright, just ignoring the mate when the leave-taking has happened while the companion was still alive but removed themself from the group as much as possible in a cage to die away from the group, to coming into spontaneously into a monster season and chasing other sows right over the body of the group patriarch (happened after my Llewelyn passed away), to desperately gnawing right down to the bone in an attempt to 'wake up' a suddenly passed companion (we have been contacted about 'killing companions' and 'cannibalism' quite a few times and will undoubtedly be contacted again). About half the companions will carry on a normal.

You may find these guides in this link here helpful to make sense of your experience of the natural dying process, of your own feelings and to know what to do and look out for with Coco right now and in the coming days and weeks: Death, Dying, Terminal Illness, Grieving and Bereaved Companions: Information and Support for Owners and Their Children
Click to expand...

Thank you. Okay, I won't be putting him back in the cage for Coco. Thank you for the guide as well. It was my first time dealing with a guinea pig death, so I was kind of lost on what to do.
 
GuineaPig Mom said:
Thank you. Okay, I won't be putting him back in the cage for Coco. Thank you for the guide as well. It was my first time dealing with a guinea pig death, so I was kind of lost on what to do.
Click to expand...

It is tough and rather traumatic when it happens without warning, especially when you have never been confronted with death and the sheer physicality of dying. It is by no means the gentle and smooth sailing away in one's sleep. I am glad that the guide is helping you. I have written it for that purpose.

Coco knows that Cookie is gone. ;)
 
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