Help, I Think My Guinea Pig Is Dying

[Nadminky]

Hi there, I have a guinea pig named Tarquin who has been poorly for about a month. He is very lethargic and has only a little interest in food. He used to be very lively and would spend lots of time frisking around in the garden, but now he just stays in his box and comes out occasionally when I bring food to him. I took him to the vet about a month ago and she could not diagnose what was wrong with him. She did say that he was very thin (I have since fattened him up by hand feeding and he has put on weight now - it may have been that the other female pigs were taking most of the food and he was letting them, although I put plenty out for all of them). She also said that he may be slightly anaemic. His heart rate was slow, anyhow. Other than that, nothing obvious and she could not prescribe anything. I have looked after him with a close eye since this time but in the last few days he has deteriorated more and now spends most of his time in his box with his head bowed. I went to see the vet again yesterday but she told me I needed an exotics specialist. I live in a very rural area so getting to one would take an hour in the car, not something I want to put Tarquin through really. I will call them tomorrow, but I really wanted to know if anyone had seen this happen before, to their guineas? Thank you, this creature means a great deal to me, any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Chief Guinea Pig]

I'm very sorry Tarquin is so poorly. I hope he recovers.
Would you be able to edit your location so we can help you more accurately with regards to your nearest piggy vet?
Top right on your user name...Personal Details...Type on the box next to location on that page.

You can see the nearest vet for you on the vet location at the navigation bar at the top of the page.

I'll tag a few people for you:
@helen105281
@Wiebke
@Pebble

 

[Elwickcavies]

How old is Tarquin? It does sound like he is very poorly and really needs to see an exotics vet with guinea experience. Could you tell us whereabouts you are, as we may be able to recommend a good vet.

 

[kerry]

How old is he? My oldest pig became the same, didnt want to leave his hut and only ate a little bit of food but he was an old man of 6 or 7. The vet also said that there was nothing she could do, it was just age and he passed away in his sleep one day.

Probably best to see an exotic vet to make sure its nothing medically wrong with him though.

 

[Wiebke]

I am very sorry, but you are doing already what you can without having him seen by a specialist vet.

 

[Nadminky]

Hi, thanks everybody for your replies. Tarquin is 2 years old. He's always been small, he's like a little bird, you can hold him in one hand, so cute. But I have no idea why he has become so weak. My location has been edited in my profile, I live in Winkleigh, Devon (EX19). As I say, I don't want to subject him to a long car journey or a blood test, it wouldn't be fair on him. I forgot to say, he is no longer able to squeak for his food, there is no sound coming out, just air. Thank you everybody.

 

[kerry]

Oh thats not old at all poor little guy. I know that you dont want to stress him out with the car trip but if he is not eating and is lethargic then there is definitely something wrong. I suggest going to vist the vet and put him in a box with a blanket over it so that it is dark ( use a thin blanket so that it is breathable). The darkness will hopefully keep him calm

 

[Chief Guinea Pig]

Your first choice of piggy vets seem to be Woodlands Veterinary Centre

 

[Nadminky]

Thanks guys, you've all been really helpful. Sometimes it just helps to talk with other like-minded people, doesn't it. I have been given the name of an exotics specialist about 45 mins away, by my local vet, so will give him a call tomorrow. I'm not sure where Woodlands is, Chief Guinea Pig, is this a vet that you can recommend for cavies? I have lost two piggies this year, both for different reasons (one was 9 years old, and simply wore out, the other had a runny nose one day and within a few days had died, despite antibiotics) - they are all rescues - and you can't help but blame yourself, can you, each time one dies, thinking there was something you did wrong. Or is that just me? I give my gang of 8 piggies everything. The run of my garden, veg twice a day, and an indoor CC pad in the winter, they are really living in luxury here, but I can't help wondering what I am doing wrong

 

[Chief Guinea Pig]

Thanks guys, you've all been really helpful. Sometimes it just helps to talk with other like-minded people, doesn't it. I have been given the name of an exotics specialist about 45 mins away, by my local vet, so will give him a call tomorrow. I'm not sure where Woodlands is, Chief Guinea Pig, is this a vet that you can recommend for cavies? I have lost two piggies this year, both for different reasons (one was 9 years old, and simply wore out, the other had a runny nose one day and within a few days had died, despite antibiotics) - they are all rescues - and you can't help but blame yourself, can you, each time one dies, thinking there was something you did wrong. Or is that just me? I give my gang of 8 piggies everything. The run of my garden, veg twice a day, and an indoor CC pad in the winter, they are really living in luxury here, but I can't help wondering what I am doing wrong

Woodlands is the next nearest recommended (by the forum) piggy vet. You may want to look up the details of there yourself on the vet locator on the top of the page.

 

[Goth Mummy]

I'm sure you are not doing anything wrong. Its just that guineas are fragile creatures. It sounds like you give them a lovely life and i hope tarquin can be helped x

 

[GPTV]

I see Helen has already been tagged but she has some heart problem piggies, think in advice she has given is that her heart piggies breath &nod in time with their breathing. They also hoot, does your piggy do this?

Also a URI should be considered by your vet as they get lethargic with them &struggle to breath, so stop eating to compensate.

nAnd/or a dental problem could be an issue, either overgrown teeth or the start of an abcess can stop piggies eating &make them lethargic.
It could be a response to pain.

The vets on the vet locator are all cavvy savvy &recommend by furball owners

My girls have a 20-30 min trip to the vets &they go in a pet carrier. A bag with vents both ends &a cover that can go down if needed (about £14 in wilko's)
I always take both of mine to have company for them.
Healing vibes for your little man.
From the girls &I
Xx

 

[helen105281]

I do have heart pigs and @GPTV is correct in that they nod as they breathe. Also failure to thrive is a common sign of a heart condition as is the following:

Hooting sometimes followed by a cough
Random coughing
Recurring respiratory infections
Bumblefoot
Abdominal bloating
Blue tinge to the extremities - nose, ears, lips
Rapid breathing

He definitely needs to see a more savvy vet. Some vets are happy to start a heart medication trial for a couple of weeks to see how the pig responds.

 

[Nadminky]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I don't think Tarquin has a heart problem, he doesn't seem to suffer from any of the above symptoms, which is good. I have decided to take him to a specialist vet later on, which is an hour's drive away, but I think he can do it. I want to make sure I have tried everything, he is so precious to us. Thank you all again, you are a lovely community there online to help and support us fellow piggy fans

 

[sport_billy]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I don't think Tarquin has a heart problem, he doesn't seem to suffer from any of the above symptoms, which is good. I have decided to take him to a specialist vet later on, which is an hour's drive away, but I think he can do it. I want to make sure I have tried everything, he is so precious to us. Thank you all again, you are a lovely community there online to help and support us fellow piggy fans

Please let us know how he gets on x

 

[Goth Mummy]

Hoping for the best for you and Tarquin.