• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Guinea Pig not eating - help needed!

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

JamesD

Joined
May 18, 2011
Messages
23
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
UK
Hey guys sorry for butting in on the conversation but i'm new to this and son't really know how it works as yet! Anyway i'm looking for help/advice with my little guinea pig she is 3.5month old (Mia) and has been full of life and energetic up until last week when she seems to have taken a bad turn.Her balance was off which was the first thing i noticed i usually have her beside me when I'm lying on bed watching some tv and she usually sleeps away quite the thing or explores but recently she has been moving around a lot as i would if uncomfortable/having a restless sleep,then when in her cage she would curl up in the corner of her cage n not eat...I took her to the vet on monday first thing and the vet semed to think she was fine just maybe a cold n gave her a jag but on wednesday same scenario only her hair looks dry and like its shedding so back to the vets and igot a different girl at the vets this time and she seemed to think she was haing problems with her bowel movement and gave me a course of supplimented food (green pulp basically) but she doesn't take to well to it! I have also tried baby food through a syringe and also water through the syringe.Has anyone got any tips/advice as to whats next or how to help please because its breaking my heart watching her suffer. I know its a big ask but information will be greatly appreciated

Kind Regards

James
 
Thanks for replying! North Ayrshire in Scotland.Just want my wee star back to normal..
 
If you were nearer to me I would recommend my vet. However, it would be a bit far to travel. Hopefully someone will be able to recommend a vet, but in the meantime have a look at our list of recommended vets.

You say your piggie doesn't seem keen on the syringe food. I've often found piggies prefer their normal food mushed up. Which dry food do you feed? Wagg Optimum is great for making into a syringe feed as the pellets are so tiny. Also the Burgess Blackcurrent and Oregano. I just put some into a cup and add boiling water and then cool. What size syringe are you using? Have you cut the end off the syringe?

Apart from not eating, what other symptoms does your piggie have?

I am going to split your posts off from this thread and make you your own, as you are more likely to get plenty of response.
 
I feed them 'Wagg Guinea Pig Crunch' Other symptoms include Light sneezing,odd noises,squeeking when lifting,falling over when turning around. I really cant thank you enough for the help asit is urgent and I'm alsonew to this! Can guineas make a recovery by themselves with the force fed treatment or do * think i better prepare for bad news? I would upload a picture to show you her but dont know how!
 
The best dental vet in your area is Glenn Hodgson.
http://www.apexvets.com/

I know he is away just at the moment - I'll see if there is another vet that can be recommended that you can see until Glenn returns.

Suzy
 
Your piggie really needs to see a guinea pig savvy vet asap by the sound of things. Keep syringing food into her as it's important to keep food going through the system. Otherwise everything starts to shut down really quickly. The dry food you use can't be mushed up to make syringe food so it would be worth getting something like the Wagg Optimum as your piggie might prefer it to the syringe food you are using. Which one have you got? Critical Care or Science Recovery?
 
I realise that would be my best option but I'm myself at the moment and have been in for surgery recently on my foot so cant drive until monday earliest.... If needs must i will travel via train etc but doubt very much if mia would benefit fromthe journey! Is there nothing i can do except force feed her? I'm actually scared about leaving her and going to sleep as i dont think she will be there tomorrow.They get you so attached in a small amount of time! Any one ha this problem before?
 
It sounds as though she needs to see a vet. Syringe feeding her should hopefully keep her going until she can get to a vet, but it needs to be sooner rather than later by the sound of things.

I can't really offer any other suggestions as without seeing your piggie it's very difficult to know just how serious things are. The problem is, guinea pigs can have similar symptoms with many different conditions so it's important to get a proper diagnosis.
 
I just phoned Apex vets emergency number and they were very helpful although they did state that mia might be too far gone and described her symptoms as bloat which cause a build up off pressure on the heart and lungs and nerves to the back legs which in turn causes loss of balance,they recommended getting her seen in the morning and ultimatley 'put down' if the outcome is bad.I can't see me goin for that option personally as she doesnt seem in that much pain and her older sister is sitting nose to nose with her as i write this so i will just brave it and hopefully lucks on her side..
 
aaw sorry to hear this, we could do with someone like pebble to see this thread shes got good advice she always helps me. keep checking the forum, pebble sometimes comes on later at night. and I'm sure other people will be following your thread.

i hope your piggy is ok, you obviously care a lot about your piggy x
 
ps can i just say as well I'm not expert but i know people will back me up on saying that you know your pet best and please dont let someone else persuade you to have her put down when they may be no need. vets bug me sometimes. i sometimes think the people on this forum know more than the vets. x
 
Thanks 4 your concern,they were a birthady present from my mum as i had others when i was younger! Just a shame shes taken ill! I might sound a bit scatty when saying I'm hoping its just a guinea pig version of the human flu and she will get better,so heres hoping! You get so attached to the little guys its unbelievable.....Tomorrows another day on the other hand so heres hoping for a miracle! Cant thank you guys enough as ive had plenty of helpful and encouraging comments......Mia will appreciate when shes back munching away!
 
woop woop i knew someone would come on to offer help haha. i love the forum

your right you do get attached to them iv got 3 and I'm so paranoid about them and love them loads.

I dont want to upset you but i dont think guinea pigs get flu and it goes away on its own i think your guna have to act on this one and it sounds like the sooner the better... dont ignore it , because guinea pigs can do downhill quickly. xx at the same time dont give up and dont give up hope!
 
Not tonight although first priority first thing,would that be good enough?
 
Its just a shame to see her a shadow of her former self,usually i take them upstairs and let them run about under the covers exploring n watching them n they jump n nibble everything,ivegot pictures of them snuggled up next to me on the bed about 3 weeks ago which is quite cute! how do you upload pictures soi can share?
 
has mia done any poos or anything? ill let furryfriends reply to you for your last post i dont know anything about bloat but i know you got to act fast. So the sooner probably the better xx
 
I have to stress this treatment worked for my guinea pig and there are no guarantees that it will work for yours. The diagnosis of bloat has been given to you over the phone and without a vet seeing your piggie and obviously I can't see her to know whether we are treating the right thing here.

However, I've saved guinea pigs of mine with bloat using the following treatment.

3 mls of gripe water initially and then gently massage the piggies tummy. Continue to give syringe feed and give a 1 ml of gripe water after about an hour. Little and often syringe feeding works best. 1 ml of gripe water can be given every hour to hour and half.

Only last week I found Rory looking very poorly and not eating. After using this treatment he started eating again after a few hours and by the next day was back to normal.

However, I still took him to my vet the next day to be checked over.
 
i upload mine through photo bucket you have to open an account then load them up through there. would be nice to see mia :))
 
i used photobucket aswell. Took me a few attempts to upload the pics on here. I hope ** piggie is ok. Please keep us update x
 
This is difficult as there are a number of things this could be from the symptoms and you have had 3 different vets give 3 different diagnoses.

Firstly the original symptoms of being uncomfortable or losing balance would suggest possibly an ear infection (treatment antibiotics) or ear mites. (treatment ivermectin and ear drops) . Mia received an injection which was probably baytril (or other) antibioitic - but this would not be enough unless she received a proper course of antibioitic over at least a week to wipe out infection

Next she is seen by another vet who notices she is not pooing/eating properly. The hair shedding etc indicates she is under the weather (and again could point to mites). This time she receives syringe food (which is imortant to keep her guts moving as already stated by other posters on here).

Having rung Apex, they diagnose possibe bloat over the phone - this could be the primary or a secondary issue (secondary because it has been caused by the anitbioitic/not eating). However if it is the primary issue, (which it could also be based upon her earlier symptoms) then the bloat could be caused by an obstruction and the best treatment will depend upon the cause.

The bottom line is that your piggie is very poorly and it is vital that she sees a cavy savvy vet tomorrow....can you get a friend to take you to Apex? At the very least she needs a continuation of whatever treatment she has previously been given - be that a full course of antibiotics, gut stimulant or whatever injections - and a firm diagnosis as to what the problem(s) are.

It's also important that you syringe feed her until you get to the vets to keep her guts moving. This can be quite daunting at first and everyone has their own way of syringe feeding.I put the piggie on my lap on a towel with head pointing to the right (I am right handed) With my left hand I cup her face/chin, lift her head slightly and then guide a 1ml syringe (with end cut off) into the side of her mouth behind her front teeth and dispense 0.2ml at a time, giving her a chance to chew/swallow in bewteen. After a couple of mls I then syringe 1ml of water to rinse her mouth. If she son;t eat the mush - you could try fishing out the pellets from the Wagg crunch and rehydrating those with boiled water and allowing to cool as described above

Also you need to alleviate the bloat (furry friends will talk you through the gripewater/infacol - buy at any main supermarket in the baby section). You can also try massaging her tummy very gently. With her head pointing down/away from you, cup your hands round her tummy in front of her hind legs and very gently massage her abdomen whilst she takes her wieght on her front feet/resting on your legs. If her tummy feels taut rather than squishy(and sounds hollow when you tap it with your finger) then that is a sign of bloat.

I do hope you can get her to a vet tomorrow and get a definitive diagnosis together with the correct treatment.

HTH
x
 
Edit: Just to clarify, the infacol I have mentioned is a totally different medication to gripe water and on no account should be given at the dosages mentioned by furry friends for gripe water.

x
 
I will do everything within my power to ensure she gets the best help possible,as you stated its hard to get a diagnosed when i have been given so many different ones....No offence intended towards the vets.Although its hard to feel like I'm helping her when nobody seems to care a great deal for small animals at local vets,i have the upmost respect for everyone of you who take time out of your lifes to help others like myself and mia.In my opinion mia is part of the family and thats worth saving whatever the price..
 
thanks please makesure you do dont wait and think she will get better on her own. pebble is spot on as always, i always go to her for help and advice shes very knowledgeable

do keep us posted x
 
Fingers crossed she makes a speedy recovery! I will keep you posted! Nite all............James
 
i Hope Mia is feeling better today and the vets visit goes well. Make sure you buy some pellets to syringe feed her with today. Best wishes to you both x x
 
Hey guys,She was taken to the vets this morning and we got another vet this one was younger than me but seemed to be really upbeat and very comptent in her assessment,she reckoned that Mia wasn't past saving and didnt seem to be in any pain and to keep goin with the syringe feeding.. She still isnt getting any better though but i will persist with the feeding until she has no choice but get better!:)p Although i will still welcome any suggestions/opinions etc
 
Aw, hope little Mia is back to herself very soon.
I have a poorly boy at the moment so know how daunting it is and how scared you feel x>>
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top