Guinea pigs not eating like usual

[jazzl]

For the past few days my two male guinea pigs haven’t been eating there veggies as normal or drinking as much.

I offered them all the veg they usually eat such as - cucumber, bell pepper, spinach, romaine lettuce and so on - however they they smell the food and then just walk off or they’ll nibble it but walk away straight after.

Today and yesterday, they both ate some romaine lettuce but didn’t finish the leaves and didn’t eat them as fast as they usually do. One of my guineas Percy did eat a slice of cucumber this morning but Rocko didn’t. They are eating their hay, maybe not as much but i’m not sure. They still have energy and are running around at floor time yet there’s something still off.

Also they aren’t drinking a lot of water - there’s been some hot weather this week so i’m wondering if it might be to do with that.

 

[Wiebke]

For the past few days my two male guinea pigs haven’t been eating there veggies as normal or drinking as much.

I offered them all the veg they usually eat such as - cucumber, bell pepper, spinach, romaine lettuce and so on - however they they smell the food and then just walk off or they’ll nibble it but walk away straight after.

Today and yesterday, they both ate some romaine lettuce but didn’t finish the leaves and didn’t eat them as fast as they usually do. One of my guineas Percy did eat a slice of cucumber this morning but Rocko didn’t. They are eating their hay, maybe not as much but i’m not sure. They still have energy and are running around at floor time yet there’s something still off.

Also they aren’t drinking a lot of water - there’s been some hot weather this week so i’m wondering if it might be to do with that.

Hi and welcome!

Please have your guinea pigs vet checked promptly for the after-effects of heat stroke or heat exhaustion damage, which can affect the guts and other organs and can kill days after the heat because of that. They may still need subcutaneous rehydration and gut stimulants etc.

They will also require daily weighing at the same time to check the food intake and support syringe feeding with ideally some recovery formula or mushed pellets as bridging measure (in which you need to cut off the syringe tip as shown in the syringe feeding guide to allow fibre to pass through). Be aware that over 80% of the daily food intake should be hay, which you cannot control by eye, so your piggies can lose a lot more weight very quickly without you noticing.

Please take the time to carefully read these guides here as soon as you have booked an emergency vet appointment for today:


Take the time to carefully read these guide here. They will tell you in practical detail how exactly go about things:
Heat stroke symptoms and what to do
Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike

Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Vet support and your additional good home support care are crucial for their full recovery. Guinea pigs don't cope well with sudden temperature jumps and the extremes of weather. They need special protection and measures during heat waves and heat spikes as well during the winter months.