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Is my guinea pig going to die?

M

Mri

Junior Guinea Pig
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We just bought a pair of guinea pigs from a pet store day before yesterday. Today morning one of my guinea pigs was lying lethargically in his cage. We thought he was dead. But then we saw he was breathing. I immediately picked him up and fed him water with my finger but most of it was running down. Yesterday he was perfectly fine, infact he was the energetic one of those two. He has ample food with him all the time and quite cozy. He moves only when we pick him up and isn't drinking or eating. He looks as if he is going to die. I don't know what to do. Pls help.
 
Livia Rabideau said:
If you are worried, find an exotic vet to check them out.
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The vet in the nearby town doesn't know about guinea pigs, they just treat dogs and cows. And, we live very far away from any city, so vet cannot be an option.
 
If it has only been a couple of days since he came home with you, he might be adjusting to the new environment. I would give him some time to adjust.

Have you tried giving him some veggies, fruits and herbs? Food might get his attention away from his new environment and help him feel more welcome.
 
Seven7 said:
If it has only been a couple of days since he came home with you, he might be adjusting to the new environment. I would give him some time to adjust.

Have you tried giving him some veggies, fruits and herbs? Food might get his attention away from his new environment and help him feel more welcome.
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Yes I did try giving him food, if it were to be any other day he would have jumped at it but today he isn't even looking at the food. I feed all kind of veggies possible, and mostly grass.

He is slumped and is just not moving.
 
When my boy Finn first came home as a baby, he was a bit shy and didn't move around for some time. But, he is a very happy and healthy boy now. He jumps around and runs around his cage when he is happy.

His behavior kind of reminded me of my boy Finn when he first came home.
 
Mri said:
Yes I did try giving him food, if it were to be any other day he would have jumped at it but today he isn't even looking at the food. I feed all kind of veggies possible, and mostly grass.

He is slumped and is just not moving.
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Welcome by the way, and hope the little one pulls through.

I remembered my Finn behaved like that at first but he is doing very well now, much bigger too.
 
Seven7 said:
Welcome by the way, and hope the little one pulls through.

I remembered my Finn behaved like that at first but he is doing very well now, much bigger too.
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Ginger couldn't pull through. He passed away a few minutes ago.
 
Hi, I have just moved your post to the health and illness section. Unfortunately it sounds like when you found ginger it was an absolute emergency and that his body was already shutting down. Any lethargy like this is a life and death emergency and requires a vet straight away regardless of whether they are particularly knowledgeable or not. It sounds very much like the body was already too far into shutting down and so it's likely that the vet would have only been able to help Ginger cross over quicker rather than cure him.

I am very sorry for your loss
 
I am very worried about my other one (Nadine) she had been squeaking all day. When I read about squeaking yesterday it said that they made this sound when they are hungry but Nadine and Ginger used to squeak even when they had food. Now Nadine has been squeaking all day I think she is nervous and anxious because of Ginger. She knew Ginger was sick and it seemed like she also knew he was going to die but know that we have buried him she is continuously squeaking, how do I calm her?
 
Lady Kelly said:
Hi, I have just moved your post to the health and illness section. Unfortunately it sounds like when you found ginger it was an absolute emergency and that his body was already shutting down. Any lethargy like this is a life and death emergency and requires a vet straight away regardless of whether they are particularly knowledgeable or not. It sounds very much like the body was already too far into shutting down and so it's likely that the vet would have only been able to help Ginger cross over quicker rather than cure him.

I am very sorry for your loss
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The vet nearby didn't even know what guinea pigs are. We live in a village in the outskirts of a small town. Exotic pets are not known here. Thanks for your help though.
 
You need to get Nardine a friend. Unfortunately if you don't have a decent vet near you. If another gets sick & the vet is too far away, that one will die too. First thing I did was sort a vet, before I got my piggies. I'm not saying this is your fault, but it may be good if you read all the forums, so you quite prepared for any eventuality. So sorry for your loss. The other thing was ginger in a hot room or outside.
 
@Mri Please take your pig to a vet, or speak to the pet shop to see if you can return her to be treated by a vet.

Unfortunately a huge part of being a pet owner is ensuring they are treated by a vet when needed.
 
I'm so sorry for your loss, please do get your remaining piggy a friend as he will be very lonely on his own
 
Hello and welcome.
Sorry your piggie died and that's very very sad. You need to learn how to cope with your other piggie etc. On this forum is advise and help with this. Where are you I'm guessing not the United Kingdom.
Pls don't be offended by some replys we all here love guinea pigs and it's up setting when we can't save one.
 
Unfortunatley lots of piggies come from shops ill. Often with URIs which can take them in hours. I am so very sorry that you had this experience and lost your piggy. Before you consider getting another please see if you have have your current one checked for illness as they can pass illnesses easily.
 
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I am very sorry for your loss :d Nadine is probably unhappy about the loss. You might want to get another little friend so she won’t be lonely.
 
Tiamolly123 said:
You need to get Nardine a friend. Unfortunately if you don't have a decent vet near you. If another gets sick & the vet is too far away, that one will die too. First thing I did was sort a vet, before I got my piggies. I'm not saying this is your fault, but it may be good if you read all the forums, so you quite prepared for any eventuality. So sorry for your loss. The other thing was ginger in a hot room or outside.
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I did keep Ginger in a hot room but nothing helped.
 
Tiamolly123 said:
You need to get Nardine a friend. Unfortunately if you don't have a decent vet near you. If another gets sick & the vet is too far away, that one will die too. First thing I did was sort a vet, before I got my piggies. I'm not saying this is your fault, but it may be good if you read all the forums, so you quite prepared for any eventuality. So sorry for your loss. The other thing was ginger in a hot room or outside.
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I am trying. when we ordered them both (through the only pet shop who was aware of guinea pigs) they took a month after we asked for them.
I spent the whole morning reading forums and shockingly there are so many cases like mine.
 
Jaycey said:
@Mri Please take your pig to a vet, or speak to the pet shop to see if you can return her to be treated by a vet.

Unfortunately a huge part of being a pet owner is ensuring they are treated by a vet when needed.
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How can I take her to the vet when there isn't one?
 
@Mri Where do you live? Someone on the forum may know of one

You may have to travel a distance but surely there is a vet somewhere. How do people get their pets checked? Do they buy them and then they just die when they get ill?

At the very least please go back to the shop and ask them which vet they use.
 
David Pet Lover said:
Hello and welcome.
Sorry your piggie died and that's very very sad. You need to learn how to cope with your other piggie etc. On this forum is advise and help with this. Where are you I'm guessing not the United Kingdom.
Pls don't be offended by some replys we all here love guinea pigs and it's up setting when we can't sa
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Jaycey said:
@Mri Where do you live? Someone on the forum may know of one

You may have to travel a distance but surely there is a vet somewhere. How do people get their pets checked? Do they buy them and then they just die when they get ill?

At the very least please go back to the shop and ask them which vet they use.
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I live in North India. People don't have guinea pigs here. I mean no one really keeps exotic pets because this is rural area. People only keep cows, buffalos, dogs and cats. Only these animals classify as pets. Rarely people buy rabbits and they buy a lot if one of them gets sick they either feed him water or food and if it doesn't respond there is nothing more they can do about that.
 
Well you certainly have your work cut out with piggies. Lovely part of the world you live in. I was spiritual impressed and learnt many things when I toured India years ago.
Lots of health things about piggies on here. Keep them cool.
 
@Jaycey I live in south india. Tamil nadu Chennai. As @Mri specified there are no vets who see exotic pets in India. I too had trouble finding vets here. But at last a general vet who had experience treating rabbits took my case and did specific studies on guinea pigs before treating mine. He was a sweetheart to do that. Please @Mri please take your guinea pig to all near by vets and let them first check them. And if they prescribe or suspect any disease please check online the symptoms and medicine the vet prescribed to cross check if the vet is treating good. In India we have no other go rather than trying our best with general vets to treat our guinea pigs. Rather than leaving them die. I learnt this lesson the hard way. I lost one of my first piggy like you. I just loved him and I lost him in just one month's time due to ear infection. He was just a 4 months baby. But now I own 6 piggies. I am also owning a heart disease piggy who is on medication through out her life.
 
David Pet Lover said:
Well you certainly have your work cut out with piggies. Lovely part of the world you live in. I was spiritual impressed and learnt many things when I toured India years ago.
Lots of health things about piggies on here. Keep them cool.
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I feel she life's in a remote place where there are no good vets. In India we do have good vets who treat guinea pigs
 
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