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Guinea Pig Not Eating

S

shaineze

New Born Pup
Joined
Feb 20, 2018
Messages
5
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1
Points
35
Location
East London
Hello.
So I'm getting worried because scruffy.hasn't been eating. I'm definitely calling the vet tomorrow but i wanted to know if anybody had any ideas what It Is. He is eating a little. But he seems to be struggling and jts take him a while to chew. His fur has also been thinning and coming out in clumps.
Does anybody know what it is? I also wanted to know if i can give him a bath because he is quite dirty. He also hasnt been drinking much.
Thanks so much
 
It could be any number of things, it sounds like he is in a bad way. He really needs to see a vet today, whatever the original cause he is now at risk of gut stasis and dehydration both of which are life threatening
 
shaineze said:
Hello.
So I'm getting worried because scruffy.hasn't been eating. I'm definitely calling the vet tomorrow but i wanted to know if anybody had any ideas what It Is. He is eating a little. But he seems to be struggling and jts take him a while to chew. His fur has also been thinning and coming out in clumps.
Does anybody know what it is? I also wanted to know if i can give him a bath because he is quite dirty. He also hasnt been drinking much.
Thanks so much
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Hi! If can, PLEASE see a vet today if at all possible. Google for round the clock services in an urban area or out-of-services. You can also find contact numbers from your regular vet's answering machine.

There are too many conditions that can cause loss of appetite that we cannot even begin to guess. The most frequent is a pain issue somewhere in the body.
Please check whether the water bottle is still working and, if you are in the south of the UK, please keep your piggies out of the sun and cool!

What you need to do ASAP is to start support feeding to prevent the guts from slowing down and eventually closing down. This can be a life saver; don't underestimate the importance of your care at home to get your piggy through a health crisis! You can use mushed up pellets in an emergency as long as you snip off the tip of a needle-free 1 m syringe (available in any pharmacy) as shown in our syringe feeding guide. Also offer as much water as your boy will take. Please keep in mind that 80% is hay, so seeing your piggy nibbling on a little veg can be VERY deceptive!
Weigh daily at the same time to keep an eye on the food intake and to adjust how much you feed. Try to get at 60 ml or ideally more into your piggy in 24 hours; if your piggy is very ill, aim for as close to 40 ml as you can by feeding little but often around the clock.

Not Eating And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
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Hi and welcome to the forum.
Great advice already given so I’m just adding support.
Please let us know what happens
 
hi
i brought my guinea pig to the vet this morning and apparently his teeth were overgrown.
they are going to trim them and i will pick him up this evening.
i would have taken him to the vet yesterday but i was busy and didnt see your replies till late last night.
thank you all for your support and hopefully scruffy will get better soon.
 
@shaineze Be prepared to step in with handfeeding as he may not want to eat for himself for a while. If you don't know how to do it, or have the supplies please ask the vet when you pick him up tonight.

Guinea pigs are different to cats and dogs in that they need food moving through their system all the time, and he's already been without food for a day or two.
 
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