• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

I Just Rescued A Guinea Pig

Status
Not open for further replies.
Z

Zachary Bennett

New Born Pup
Joined
Jan 30, 2017
Messages
9
Reaction score
11
Points
70
Location
Florida, United States
Hello Everyone!

My name is Zachary and I just rescued my first female Guinea Pig this past Friday evening. I have a couple questions that I'm hoping someone can help me with (I did a quick search for some answers before starting the thread but can't seem to find the exact answers I'm looking for).

A little bit about my GP: as I stated she is a rescue so I don't know TOO much information. From what I was told, she is somewhere around 1.5 years old and came from a teenager who went off to college. I don't know anything about her previous home or her previous treatment. The guy I rescued her from rescues bunnies and GP's. His house didn't seem to be the cleaniest of places so when I got her home I gave her a bath in like warm water right away and towel dried her.

-is it normal for GP's to stay hidden for long periods of time? I brought her home Friday evening and since then, she literally has not come out of the little house I put in her cage (see pictures). The only time it appears she has been outside of the house is when I first put her in the cage.

-she doesn't appear to be eating at all, is this also normal? Her water has not been touched and I noticed this morning neither had her food, including the fresh veggies. I tried hand feeding her and she was having none of it. I finally put her bowl inside the box and it appears she took maybe two bites of a bit of cucumber but other than that nothing else was touched. I tried placing her water bottle near the entrance to her home and that also was not touched. There is also no sign that she is eliminating (but I'm kinda mounting this up to be from not eating).

-she's making dry, wheezy-sounding noises when she's on my lap. I'm not sure if this is a reaction to being held, or if her system is dried up due to not being hydrated. She sneezed two times while on my lap this evening. Could It be that she is sick?

-in my limited overall experience with GP's they are pretty loud and make lots of noises. She doesn't move, doesn't make noises.

I know it's only been two days so I'm not expecting her to break out of the shell right away. I know it will take sometime for her to get used to her new cage, home, smells, sounds etc. I'm just concerned cause she doesn't appear to be really moving or eating :(

IMG_2413.webp

IMG_2414.webp

IMG_2415.webp
 
First off you did a good thing rehoming her -and she's stunning! Guinea pigs do often hide especially when brought into a new situation alone. It took my boar a whole week and half before he came out of his hides hole with me present. I would be a little worried with the whole no eating or drinking thing -how long has it been? After a while guinea pigs system shuts down if they don't eat or drink for long periods of time. I would see a vet about the loud breathing and sneezing as it could be a sign of a URI. Hopefully it's not but it would put your mind at rest and the vet would also give you some tips on feeding etc. I would also look into finding her a friend as it is more likely she'll settle.
 
Hello and welcome to the forum. Your girl is stunning. Well done for rescuing her.
I am going to move your post to the health and Illness section for review by our specialist advisors. You will get more comments there about breathing etc.
In the meantime please place hay, food, veggies right by the hidey so that your piggy can eat in peace and privacy while she settles in.
Also as piggies are social creatures and do much better in pairs. Your girl is probably lonely and scared at the moment and that will make Harper quiet.
Sorry I am short of time so cannot comment much further but one of our health and Illness advisors will be along soon to comment.
 
Do you have access to a vet that will see guinea pigs? If so, I would get her checked over. They will be able to determine if is the start or a respiratory infection or if anything else is going on. The wheezing may be an allergy, I note that she is on shavings, this can sometimes make them wheezy if they are sensitive to them. The not eating is a worry, does she have any hay? if not I would get some and try to tempt her with that. You could also mush up some of her pellets in a bowl and see if that appeals. If she doesn't start eating soon though you would need to step in with syringe feeding, here is our guide.

Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
 
Zachary Bennett said:
Hello Everyone!

My name is Zachary and I just rescued my first female Guinea Pig this past Friday evening. I have a couple questions that I'm hoping someone can help me with (I did a quick search for some answers before starting the thread but can't seem to find the exact answers I'm looking for).

A little bit about my GP: as I stated she is a rescue so I don't know TOO much information. From what I was told, she is somewhere around 1.5 years old and came from a teenager who went off to college. I don't know anything about her previous home or her previous treatment. The guy I rescued her from rescues bunnies and GP's. His house didn't seem to be the cleaniest of places so when I got her home I gave her a bath in like warm water right away and towel dried her.

-is it normal for GP's to stay hidden for long periods of time? I brought her home Friday evening and since then, she literally has not come out of the little house I put in her cage (see pictures). The only time it appears she has been outside of the house is when I first put her in the cage.

-she doesn't appear to be eating at all, is this also normal? Her water has not been touched and I noticed this morning neither had her food, including the fresh veggies. I tried hand feeding her and she was having none of it. I finally put her bowl inside the box and it appears she took maybe two bites of a bit of cucumber but other than that nothing else was touched. I tried placing her water bottle near the entrance to her home and that also was not touched. There is also no sign that she is eliminating (but I'm kinda mounting this up to be from not eating).

-she's making dry, wheezy-sounding noises when she's on my lap. I'm not sure if this is a reaction to being held, or if her system is dried up due to not being hydrated. She sneezed two times while on my lap this evening. Could It be that she is sick?

-in my limited overall experience with GP's they are pretty loud and make lots of noises. She doesn't move, doesn't make noises.

I know it's only been two days so I'm not expecting her to break out of the shell right away. I know it will take sometime for her to get used to her new cage, home, smells, sounds etc. I'm just concerned cause she doesn't appear to be really moving or eating :(

View attachment 58522

View attachment 58523

View attachment 58524
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome, Zachary!

Great that you have taken on this poor girl and are looking to do your best for her.

Guinea pigs are prey animals; please place a blanket over most of the cage to give her a feeling of security. She is at the moment very frightened; and that is why she will hardly move and not eat.
Please also get her lots of hay; it should make 80% of her daily food intake. She doesn't need those chewing toys - the silica in the hay grinds down the crucial back teeth so that the front teeth stay self sharpening and the guts stay healthy for a long life span.

Please take your time to read through our new owners guide collection; you should find it very helpful as we have combined the most often asked for questions from new owners with some important need-to-know information.
It has lots of detailed information on settling in skittish guinea pigs, how to interact; diet, behaviour and how to spot what is healthy and what needs to be seen by a vet, including links to lists of recommended vets and rescue centres in a number a countries etc. The information is hopefully helping you to have as smooth a start into your piggy life as possible.
Tips For Vet Visits

In the longer term, it would be great if you found her a companion, but you need first to make sure that she is healthy and not coming with any issues (quarantine).

As we have members from all over the world, we find it very helpful if you please added your your country, state/province or UK county to your details, so we can always tailor any advice to what is relevant and available where you are straight away. Click on your username at the top, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. This will make your location appear below your username every time you post. Thank you!
 
Thanks for the tips everyone!

I placed a towel over the cage as suggested so we'll see if that helps ease her. I also put down shavings as I had to go out and buy everything last minute. I'm doing research now on switching to the felt instead of the shavings.

As far as the toys, do GP's not care for them? I've had hamsters, rabbits, and a chinchilla growing up and they were all about toys. But seeing as this is my first GP it's a learning process.

I have provides pellets in addition to the fresh veggies. I've also given her hay but she hasn't touched that yet either. Right now we are going on day three of her not drinking. I checked this morning it does look like she did eat a bit more of the cucumbers and carrots so it's an improvement. Still no water and that's what really has me concerned. Should I place a small bowl of water in her cage? I have one of those drip bottles so I'm wondering if maybe she doesn't know how to use it or..?
 
I would try a bowl of water, my boys wouldn't drink from a bottle at the start, but they would drink from a bowl. They drink fine from a bottle now but it took a bit of time for them.
 
Zachary Bennett said:
Thanks for the tips everyone!

I placed a towel over the cage as suggested so we'll see if that helps ease her. I also put down shavings as I had to go out and buy everything last minute. I'm doing research now on switching to the felt instead of the shavings.

As far as the toys, do GP's not care for them? I've had hamsters, rabbits, and a chinchilla growing up and they were all about toys. But seeing as this is my first GP it's a learning process.

I have provides pellets in addition to the fresh veggies. I've also given her hay but she hasn't touched that yet either. Right now we are going on day three of her not drinking. I checked this morning it does look like she did eat a bit more of the cucumbers and carrots so it's an improvement. Still no water and that's what really has me concerned. Should I place a small bowl of water in her cage? I have one of those drip bottles so I'm wondering if maybe she doesn't know how to use it or..?
Click to expand...

You can find a thread about tried and tested toy ideas listed in the new owners' link that I have given you.
Guinea pigs are not much about chewy wooden toys; they escpecially like cardboard things stuffed with hay that they wreck! ;)

Don't worry about the not drinking. If she's eaten the veg, she should not dehydrate; her behaviour is normal for a skittish new arrival, especially a single piggy. Give her time to get her bearings and her confidence. See the drinking link in our new owners' guide collection - you will really find it very helpful! ;)

The wheezing is likely more noticeable when she is stressed, but it may be a very good idea to have her vet checked. The new owners' link also has recommended vet contacts included that cover the state of Florida.

Please take the time to read through all the information, so you can make informed decision and not just knee jerk reactions. You currently have to deal with so much confusing information that it is difficult to absorb it all. Try to work through it slowly and systematically. You girl is cared for at the minute (VERY important: plenty of hay asap!)
The rest can wait for a day or two while you do your research and think about it and then make a strategic plan on what you need to change; which areas you have more questions about and where you need more help.
 
Aw what a sweet looking guinea pig. My two (from a well run rescue here in the UK) spend a lot of time hiding. They have a 32l underbed storage box in their cage full of newspaper, hemp bedding and LOADS of hay. One of them likes to be in there. Her sister hides in the wooden cage shelter or under the plastic stool.

They are on fleece (apart from the litter tray). They didnt seem to eat much at all or drink for the first few days. Hope your girlie is soon eating and drinking and that you are able to get her a companion to cuddle up to.

Lots of patience. Good luck. Will look out for updates.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Where is the hay? This should be the biggest part of their diet. You can't have too much. I put lots of hay in the cage and then they can hide underneath it and play in it.
Click to expand...

I stated in my reply above, I gave her hay but she has yet to touch it. The pictures were taken before I had the hay in. When she FIRST got in the cage.

I put hay, a bowl of water, and a bowl of fresh veggies inside the box. It sounded like she was eating when I left for work this morning so I will have to check when I get home this evening.
 
Hello everyone.

I am sad to report that Beautie has passed. :'(

I came home on my lunch to check on her and noticed she had gotten worse. I made an appointment with the emergency vet once I got back to work, but I came home to find she had passed on.
 
Hello and welcome to the forum. I'm glad you rescued her and gave her some love in her last few days and I'm so sad to hear of her passing. I'm so sorry for your loss. Sleep tight little one x
 
Obviously I am feeling very horrible over this. When I spoke with the vet over the phone (to cancel the appointment) she informed me that more than likely she was sick at least a week before she started showing any symptoms and that I should not beat myself up over it. I had no idea how fast a URI actually moves in their system.

I informed the person I rescued her from cause from my reading, it's highly contagious and the person did mention he had number of other piggies in with her or around her.
 
Lets hope he listened to you and keeps an eye on his pigs for any signs. They do hide things very well and you were doing the best you could for her. At least she knew love in her last days.
 
I am so sorry for the loss of your piggy. Sleep well little one x x
 
I am so sorry for your loss - you did all you could for the poorly girl. So sorry that it was too late for her.
 
Thank you for all your kind thoughts and support everyone. We replaced everything in the cage (including the canvas bottom) and adopted a baby girl. She was born 1/8 and her name is Maley. She has been running around the cage eating and drinking and seems to be adjusting well.

IMG_2455.webp

IMG_2458.webp

IMG_2460.webp
 
phew.. what a week you have had... so sorry for your loss, you did what you could in rescuing her...

Maley is very cute, will you get her a friend as it is better that they live in pairs x
 
So sorry for the loss much too early, you truly did everything you could for her. Your present pig is very adorable, and good on you replacing the items in the cage.
 
She looks lovely. Hope you can get her a friend as they are herd animals and need companionship of their own kind.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top