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I Don't Know What's Wrong

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SpikeNibbles

SpikeNibbles

Junior Guinea Pig
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My eleven month old Abbey named Spike has been having some tummy trouble.

I've had Spike and his buddy Nibbles for about a month and a half. They are both boys and are two months apart. They have a big cage with some hiding spots. I take them out of the cage for playtime.

Today I put some Cilantro in their cage along with some apple. I went in and checked on them and they were both laying down( which is unusual). They had eaten very little. When I picked Spike up he started squealing. As I continued to hold Spike I noticed he'd had a big tummy. I thought he had a full bladder so I put him back. I looked at Nibbles' tummy it wasn't big. I've continued to check on Spike. His tummy's still big.

I think it might be bloat but I'm not sure. I'm really worried. Does anyone know what it might be.
 
With bloat the tummy tends to sound hollow when you tap it. If you are worried it is best to get them both to the vet as soon as you can. In the meantime gentle vibration (like with an electric toothbrush) can help and so can Woodwards gripe water if you have any. Is Spike eating anything?
 
I just checked on him he has moved to a different corner of the cage. The half eaten Apple is gone but I think Nibbles might have eaten them. Nibbles was munching on one earlier.
 
SpikeNibbles said:
My eleven month old Abbey named Spike has been having some tummy trouble.

I've had Spike and his buddy Nibbles for about a month and a half. They are both boys and are two months apart. They have a big cage with some hiding spots. I take them out of the cage for playtime.

Today I put some Cilantro in their cage along with some apple. I went in and checked on them and they were both laying down( which is unusual). They had eaten very little. When I picked Spike up he started squealing. As I continued to hold Spike I noticed he'd had a big tummy. I thought he had a full bladder so I put him back. I looked at Nibbles' tummy it wasn't big. I've continued to check on Spike. His tummy's still big.

I think it might be bloat but I'm not sure. I'm really worried. Does anyone know what it might be.
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Please get your boy to a vet asap! You can usually find an out-of-hours service via your regular vets answering machine or by googling local services if you live in an urban area. It looks like acute bloat, and that is an emergency. If your piggy is getting injections, please ask for what he is given, ideally something against the bloating, gut stimulations (work on the muscles of the guts) and a painkiller. If your boy is getting injections, please ask what they are for. Don't accept any steroid injections; they slow down the organs in rodents and are not recommended. Please take both boys.

You can help by gently massaging the belly; anything vibrating will do, like the handle of an electric tooth brush to help break the gas. Do this off and on, even throughout the night. Also start syringe feeding and watering once your vet has excluded a blockage.
If you can't get to a vet asap, gripe water for baby colics may help to break the gas a bit, but it won't be enough to stop a full flung bloat.

Bloat can hit out of the blue. How hot is it where you are and in the piggy room? Please make sure that your other boy is also OK and eating and drinking normally. Switch from weighing once weekly to weighing daily at the same time; cheap scales from the supermarket will do.

Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig
Tips For Vet Visits
The Problems With Steroids And Why They Shouldn't Be Used.

All the best!
 
Right now it is 97 but it feels like 100. But in the Guinea pig room it is 70. They are not facing the corner and they are not eating or drinking.
 
They definitely need a vet visit. Bloat is life threatening, and can get worse quickly.

Over the past few years I've had to rush one of my boys to the emergency vet because of bloat. If I hadn't he wouldn't be here now. Please take them to a vet.
 
image.webp Update: I checked to see where vets are and the only vet that takes care of Guinea pigs is closed and is 60 miles away.

My grandma suggested that he might be plugged up. So my mom and I checked and sure enough he was. I checked on him through out the night and discovered that the bloating has gone down a lot.

I want to thank everyone who gave me advise.
 
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