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Help my piggie is not eating and losing weight

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rcasbard

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can anyone help, my guinea pig has lost a lot of weight in a week, he wasn't able to chew his food so vet said it is a problem with his teeth, he carried out a procedure and filed down his teeth but wasn't convinced this was the issue. We bought him home on Saturday, he tried to eat a little bit but wasn't able so we have been hand feeding him, giving him anti inflamatory drops and baytril. Also 100mg of Vit C incase the issue was his jaw joint. Now he has completely given up eating and sits in the corner getting thiner and giving up, its sad and want to know if there is anything else we can do? I have stoped Baytril as the vet this morning said not to bother. Any advice?
 
Hello

I'm afraid I'm going to bombard you with info as it is vital that your piggy gets some food into his system now or you will very likely lose him.

If you need advice on what to feed, this thread is helpful.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=83055

Please read this thread on dental issues.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=83085

This is the top dental vet around - please, if you can, go there.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=85715

If you can give your location we may be able to help more.

Suzy x
 
we are in leytonstone, East london. he just tried to eat a spinach leaf, ate half then left it! He seems disorintated. how much food should we be hand feeding him, vet says just 5ml 3 times a day, is that enough?
 
I use Burgess Excel for the majority of the syringe feeding I do here at the rescue with Vit C and probiotic added. 2 tablespoons of nuggets, add warm water to cover, stand for 10 mins, mash with the back of a fork. If the pig will eat by themselves offer in a bowl or on a spoon, if they will not eating voluntarily add more water to allow it to be syringed. Aim for 20-30 ml per feed, 120 ml over 24 hrs if the pig is not eating for themselves.

HTH

Suzy x
 
Thank you Suzy, I just need to find someone who can look after him 24 hrs as my work commitments will not allow me to be at home, its very upsetting!
 
Debbie Postles (Furryfriends) runs a sanctuary for piggies with dental problems. She can take your pig in order to keep him going and enable him to be close by to the vet for any treatment that may be required. Her contact numbers are 01604 877220 or 07725 489595.

This is the link to the sanctuary's website. There are permanent residents and also piggies who stay long term or just temporarily.
http://www.teasnorthampton.co.uk/

I would be able to come half way to meet you if that would make things easier with transportation and journey time? Luton (J10 of the M1) is roughly halfway between here and Leytonstone. I'm on holiday from work so any time of day (or night!) wouldn't be an issue for me.
 
that is very very kind offer. I will see what we can do. In the meantime our piggie is now refusing to be hand fed - our vet said that is usually an indication that is the end - is that true? I am so upset
 
Just 2 weeks ago after a bladder operation on the Monday, on the Saturday he went into gut stasis he refused all food I called the emergency vet i told him he'd given up he advised to give intense care to get his gut's working again it took 12 hours for my boy to pick up he's fine now.

I think his best chance is to go to the dental sanctuary and see Simon, It's not something you can sleep on every second is precious I would get in contact with Debbie.

x
 
rcasbard said:
that is very very kind offer. I will see what we can do. In the meantime our piggie is now refusing to be hand fed - our vet said that is usually an indication that is the end - is that true? I am so upset
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Have you been syringe feeding?
Use one of the 1ml syringes you should've been given with the medication. Cut the tip off, leaving a wider opening. Mush up some nuggets into a paste and use the syringe to get as much as possible into your piggy. Even if he doesn't want to take it, you will have to force him. Try to direct the syringe across his mouth rather than straight back. He should be able to take 1ml in one go. If you syringe water, do it slowly to reduce the risk of choking.
 
pig refusing to now be hand fed

if your pig refuses to be hand fed and just wants to hide in the corner, is there anything else i can do?
 
yes using a syringe and cut the top off but he is really refusing and I am finding it impossible, he doesn't want to know.
 
From what you have said about the advice your vet has given you, I think you need to see a different vet. If Northampton isn't an option for you, I think you should also consider taking him to see Anne at Goddard vet in Ewell. It is about 30 minutes on the train from Waterloo, if you call in the morning you might be able to get one of her later appointments at 6.30 ish, but she only works Mon, Tues, Weds. At the very least you need to get someone to show you how to syringe feed properly - I work in London and would happily come round to show you, but not sure how to get in touch as I don't think you have made enough posts for me to pm you.
 
Last year my Eric pig was ill and stopped eating and lost weight and we never found out why. The vet sent him home because he didn't know what else to do with him. I fed him by syringe (and I had to be forceful) 5ml every hour a mix of critical care, pure fruit/veg puree baby food and prebiotic and also the 5ml water as well. He recovered in 2 days. You may really have to bully him - I know you feel mean but you know better than he does what's best for him. He just wants to behave like a prey animal and pretend he's not ill. You won't feel so mean if you manage to bring him round.

As far as getting them to eat independently, fresh herbs like parsley or coriander are more tempting than other veg.
 
thanks all, i have managed to get some food down him tonight, not sure its enough but will keep trying. Only problem is I can't feed him every hour as i have to be at work. I hope our vet can recommend someone tomorrow who can take him and get him better.
 
When you can get the food in but it just dribbles back out and the piggie doesn't swallow it then often the end is near. However, when the piggie just clamps its mouth closed and refuses the syringe this does not mean there is nothing more that can be done. You MUST be firm with your piggie and ensure he takes at least 120 mls of syringe food per 24 hours. How are you holding the piggie for feeding? I find the best way for me is to have the piggie stood on my lap facing towards the right. Then with the left hand I hold the head very firmly and with the right hand I guide the syringe into the site of the mouth and syringe the food in.

If there is any way possible that you can get your guinea pig to me, then I will make sure he gets the best possible chance. It would enable him to be seen by Simon Maddock who is fantastic at dental work on guinea pigs. I see you already have an offer of transport from the Luton area. Please consider accepting this offer. You really need to act quickly though. You can't afford to watch and wait when dealing with dental problems.
 
Hi I just wanted to say something and I hope you do not mind. If you tell human resources they should listen to you and understand you need time off. If that does not work you can put it in writing and have a right to a tribunal. This is a matter of life and death and I see no reason why they will not allow you the time off.
 
You don't need to syringe feed on an hourly basis. Aim for 15 to 20 mls every 2 to 3 hours.
 
I have recently had a guinea pig here from Exeter. He arrived a very poorly boy, unable to eat. After one treatment from Simon he was eating well and after a couple of follow up appointments he headed back home. He is now back to normal and living life to the full.

I also have a piggie from Cardiff who hadn't eaten a thing for herself for 7 weeks before arriving here. She is now eating really well and will be going home very soon.

I am willing to offer the same for your piggie. Please consider it.
 
Do you love your pig? Do you want him to die? I'm assuming the answer is no, or you wouldn't be here asking for advice.

The fact that he isn't eating by himself AND is losing weight, means that you have a very serious situation on your hands. You cannot sit back and wait for something to fall into your hands.

Your options as I see it, are as follows:

1) Go to a recommended vet locally (one who is recommended for dental treatment) and nurse piggy at home. At this stage, you're looking at feeding and medicating throughout the day and night.

2) Get piggy up to Debbie in Northampton where he can be nursed by her, and see the Sanctuary's vet, who is widely regarded as THE man for guinea pig dental work http://www.teasnorthampton.co.uk/ There is a large, national network of volunteers that make up The Piggy Bank. Between them, they've transported pigs the length and breadth of the UK, often saving lives. They give up their own time to do this out of their love for guinea pigs. If you wish to send piggy to Debbie, the Piggy Bank volunteers may be able to give up their day off work to help with transport. We do often ask for travel expenses (i.e. fuel) to be paid, as it's an entirely voluntary set up.

3) Deny your pig the medical treatment that it requires, thus failing to meet the RSPCAs guidelines and commiting a crime under the animal welfare act, the maximum sanctions being a £20,000 fine, a 6 month jail term, and a lifetime ban on keeping animals. "Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, the maximum penalties available for an offence of causing an animal unnecessary suffering are a fine of £20,000 or six months’ imprisonment, or both."

The decision is entirely yours.
 
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Amanda1801 said:
Do you love your pig? Do you want him to die? I'm assuming the answer is no, or you wouldn't be here asking for advice.

The fact that he isn't eating by himself AND is losing weight, means that you have a very serious situation on your hands. You cannot sit back and wait for something to fall into your hands.

Your options as I see it, are as follows:

1) Go to a recommended vet locally (one who is recommended for dental treatment) and nurse piggy at home. At this stage, you're looking at feeding and medicating throughout the day and night.

2) Get piggy up to Debbie in Northampton where he can be nursed by her, and see the Sanctuary's vet, who is widely regarded as THE man for guinea pig dental work http://www.teasnorthampton.co.uk/ There is a large, national network of volunteers that make up The Piggy Bank. Between them, they've transported pigs the length and breadth of the UK, often saving lives. They give up their own time to do this out of their love for guinea pigs. If you wish to send piggy to Debbie, the Piggy Bank volunteers may be able to give up their day off work to help with transport. We do often ask for travel expenses (i.e. fuel) to be paid, as it's an entirely voluntary set up.

3) Deny your pig the medical treatment that it requires, thus failing to meet the RSPCAs guidelines and commiting a crime under the animal welfare act, the maximum sanctions being a £20,000 fine, a 6 month jail term, and a lifetime ban on keeping animals. "Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, the maximum penalties available for an offence of causing an animal unnecessary suffering are a fine of £20,000 or six months’ imprisonment, or both."

The decision is entirely yours.
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Hang on a minute - I don't think that flying in with ultimatums is quite the right way to go about things. The OP is new to the forum and has come to seek out advice, which is a lot more than many other people would have done. They have been given some options to consider and in the meantime has worked to get some food into their piggy.

Yes, it can be frustrating for us when we offer options of transport and care, but sometimes logistics do get in the way. Life isn't always so 'black and white'. The OP has been to visit their vet, but as is often the case, they aren't so guinea savvy - not the OP's fault, but the fault of the 'small furries won't make us much money' attitude of the industry in the vast majority of cases. Piggies do go downhill very quickly and inexperience on both our own part and also that of most vets sometimes don't help the situation. We are lucky to have the help and guidance of Simon Maddock as a vet. It is easy to take our ability to get our animals to him for granted.
 
MintyAndGarry said:
Hang on a minute - I don't think that flying in with ultimatums is quite the right way to go about things. The OP is new to the forum and has come to seek out advice, which is a lot more than many other people would have done. They have been given some options to consider and in the meantime has worked to get some food into their piggy.

Yes, it can be frustrating for us when we offer options of transport and care, but sometimes logistics do get in the way. Life isn't always so 'black and white'. The OP has been to visit their vet, but as is often the case, they aren't so guinea savvy - not the OP's fault, but the fault of the 'small furries won't make us much money' attitude of the industry in the vast majority of cases. Piggies do go downhill very quickly and inexperience on both our own part and also that of most vets sometimes don't help the situation. We are lucky to have the help and guidance of Simon Maddock as a vet. It is easy to take our ability to get our animals to him for granted.
Click to expand...

Amanda was involved in the transportation here of both Rose from Cardiff and Cornflake from Exeter. I think the speed both these piggies deteriorated whilst on their way here really concerned her. When she collected Rose, she was just starting to demonstrate signs of head tilt and runny eye, in addition to not being able to eat. By the time she got here the eye was swelling greatly and the vet visit planned for the following day was brought forward. Rose had a retrobulbar abscess behind the eye and the eye needed to be stitched closed as it was drying out. Without this immediate treatment Rose would've definitely lost her eye. She has now completely recovered but even a few extra hours would have meant a very different outcome. Cornflake was a very sick boy too, but again getting immediate treatment from a very guinea pig savvy vet saved his life too.

Although her post is harsh, I think she is just very concerned that this piggie should get immediate treatment, as there really isn't time to wait and see.

It does need to be remembered though that this owner has been trying to get appropriate treatment for her guinea pig. So many vets just haven't got a clue about guinea pigs, and even those who are a little more guinea pig savvy, are still clueless when it comes to dental issues and the supportive care that a guinea pig needs who can't eat for themselves. Telling a client to give 5 mls of syringe food, three times a day is dreadful. As has already been mentioned, this needs to be approx 120 mls per 24 hours. This makes the difference between life and death. This vet clearly really doesn't have any understanding of guinea pigs at all.

We are so lucky here in Northampton to have Simon and I just feel it would give your piggie the very best chance if he could be seen by Simon. I also have lots of experience in dealing with dental piggies, and their needs.
 
I could syrige feed him during the day for you if you can get him to me near Dartford, I have a fair bit of experience with dental pigs. My rodentologist is in Hastings and saved the life of one of my piggies. I have to go out this morning, but will be in after 2pm.
 
I was just thinking about your little guy, How is he?

Syringe feeding a sick pig is difficult but not impossible, Keep trying to get as much food in him as possible, that's a very kind offer from Pretty Pigs, Little Pig and furryfriends. When P was ill I was very lucky that another member on the forum watched him for a day. I hope you get something sorted soon.

I remember with my first pig I was in your exact situation, the vet I was using at the time was not guinea pig savy and I'd never had any experience with syringe feeding well it's easy enough to tell someone how to do it, it's much easier when someone's able to show you how to do it.
 
Thanks everyone. I managed to feed him as much as I could last night and this morning and will do the same when I get back from work. He isn't losing weight, just maintaining. I have an appointment with a dental vet tomorrow morning then will take it from there. I am doing all I can and not giving up him. Negative replies to my post is not appreciated at this time
 
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