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Is My Guinea Pig Sick?

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GoldenOrchid

GoldenOrchid

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Hello!
I have a guinea pig (a female) since august, and two days ago i got a new one (a female), and i don't know if she's ill but she has been acting really weird. She is always laying down, on her side, and she puts a leg up. She almost doesn't eat or drink (at least i haven't seen her doing any of this things), and she is really skinny. I thought that it could be because of the other guinea pig, but i separated them and she's still acting the same. I don't know if i should take her to the vet or if she is only scared and it's a matter of time.
Can anyone advice please?

(sorry for my english but in my country there isn't any forum about guinea pigs and i am really worried about mine)
 
Hi
I am new to the forum myself. If she hasn't been eating and drinking properly I would advise to get her checked out by the experienced with guinea pigs vet. guinea pigs can get dehydrated and get worse really quickly because they are such small animals.If she's lethargic in addition to not drinking or eating properly that usually is a sign of illness.
If you only got her 2 days ago then she might be scared and she might be eating and drinking when you are not looking so check if she poops and pees normally. My older guinea pig used to lay on his back with his leg up when he was really comfortable but not 2 days after I got him. When he started doing this I got really scared and checked on him but it turned out he was only having a little lie down but if you are concerned I would get her to the vet.
 
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I would get to a vet asap because if she isn't eating it won't take long for her to go into stasis and her organs could shut down. Pigs are very good at hiding their illnesses. Have you been able to weigh her at all and then maybe some of the more experienced owners can give you an idea of whether she is potentially underweight? I don't know what country you are in but sometimes it is difficult to find a vet who is experienced with guinea pigs
 
I agree that she needs to see a vet. Could you update your location on your profile as it may help us to help you. Do you have access to a vet?
 
Eating almost constantly is very important for piggies, because they NEED to have their guts working nonstop. If they don't eat, they can have stasis on the guts, as Lady Kelly said, and that is really serious, it can cause death. So go to an exotic vet as soon as possible.
 
Hi and welcome!

Where are you located? We have got members from all over the world on this forum, so our advice can vary a lot. Please click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location to add your country, state or (for the UK) your county/city.

New guinea pigs can be very frightened and will only eat a bit when nobody is around. Has she got access to unlimited hay and pellets close to her hidey? How are her poos looking? If they are normal and not thin/extremely small or coated in mucus then she is still getting enough food. Is she used to eating veg?
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/how-do-i-settle-shy-new-guinea-pigs.36239/

It however advisable to have her vet checked and to quarantine any guinea pig that has not undergone a mandatory quarantine at a good rescue. It would also be a good idea to weigh her daily at the same time to check her real food intake.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi and welcome!

Where are you located? We have got members from all over the world on this forum, so our advice can vary a lot. Please click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location.

New guinea pigs can be very frightened and will only eat a bit when nobody is around. Has she got access to unlimited hay and pellets close to her hidey? How are her poos looking? If they are normal and not thin/extremely small or coated in mucus then she is still getting enough food. Is she used to eating veg?
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/how-do-i-settle-shy-new-guinea-pigs.36239/

It however advisable to have her vet checked and to quarantine any guinea pig that has not undergone a mandatory quarantine at a good rescue. It would also be a good idea to weigh her daily at the same time to check her real food intake.
Click to expand...

I'm from Portugal, thanks i've changed it already. Her poos are smaller than the other guinea pig poos but i guess that they are normal. I tried to give her carrots but she didn't ate it.
Thanks to everyone that replied :)
Tomorrow i'll take her to the vet.
 
Just place a towel over the cage to make her feel safer and place any food and water close to where she is hiding. How old is your new girl and how much is she weighing?
 
Wiebke said:
Just place a towel over the cage to make her feel safer and place any food and water close to where she is hiding. How old is your new girl and how much is she weighing?
Click to expand...
abou 1 month old
and i don't have an weighing-machine :/
 
MrsSuzy said:
Whereabouts in Portugal are you? I have a few contacts there (Sou Portuguesa mas vivo aqui no Reino Unido há uns quantos anos) so if you give me your rough location I can try to find a suitable vets?
Click to expand...
Castelo Branco
 
GoldenOrchid said:
abou 1 month old
and i don't have an weighing-machine :/
Click to expand...

You can use cheap kitchen scales from a supermarket for weighing your guinea pigs to get an idea. They cost about 10 euros and use a cardboard box to weigh her in, so she cannot jump out and injure herself while she is still very frightened.

Poor little baby; she is missing her family terribly and is very afraid in a strange place!

Babies that young feel a bit bonier than older guinea pigs. it is likely that her mum never had vegetables to eat (many commercial breeders only feed a cheap dry mix), so she will have to learn it from her new companion. Please be careful to introduce vegetables only slowly, so you can avoid causing diarrhea.

Is she on her own or is she already living with your older sow?

Here are our diet recommendations; once she has had her vet check and is healthy, I would introduce her to your other girl, as company is what she is currently missing most. There is a chance that she could develop mange mites or a respiratory infection just from the stress of coming to a new place in the next two weeks, but because she is taking it so hard, it is better to take that risk and if necessary, treating both guinea pigs. She should start eating with having a new mommy pig to snuggle up to and learn from. ;)

Here are our tips on how to introduce guinea pigs. As she is just a baby, your other sow should accept her even though she is going to push her around quite a bit at first; that is normal for babies that have to learn to be at the bottom of the hierarchy.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/introducing-and-re-introducing-guinea-pigs.38562/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/sow-behaviour.38561/
 
Wiebke said:
You can use cheap kitchen scales from a supermarket for weighing your guinea pigs to get an idea. They cost about 10 euros and use a cardboard box to weigh her in, so she cannot jump out and injure herself while she is still very frightened.

Poor little baby; she is missing her family terribly and is very afraid in a strange place!

Babies that young feel a bit bonier than older guinea pigs. it is likely that her mum never had vegetables to eat (many commercial breeders only feed a cheap dry mix), so she will have to learn it from her new companion. Please be careful to introduce vegetables only slowly, so you can avoid causing diarrhea.

Is she on her own or is she already living with your older sow?

Here are our diet recommendations; once she has had her vet check and is healthy, I would introduce her to your other girl, as company is what she is currently missing most. There is a chance that she could develop mange mites or a respiratory infection just from the stress of coming to a new place in the next two weeks, but because she is taking it so hard, it is better to take that risk and if necessary, treating both guinea pigs. She should start eating with having a new mommy pig to snuggle up to and learn from. ;)

Here are our tips on how to introduce guinea pigs. As she is just a baby, your other sow should accept her even though she is going to push her around quite a bit at first; that is normal for babies that have to learn to be at the bottom of the hierarchy.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/introducing-and-re-introducing-guinea-pigs.38562/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/sow-behaviour.38561/
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Thank you! She is alone because i thought that she could be acting weird because of the other guinea pig, or that if she was ill she could give the illness to the other one.
 
Thank you :) I understand the frustration of finding a vet and not surprisingly the best exotic vet practice in Portugal are near Lisbon and Porto :( I used to find it so frustrating when I lived there ( I'm from Faro).

In the first instance I would suggest you contact all the clinics in your town and ask what experience they have with guinea pigs. Choose the one with more experience as a first step. You can also email [email protected] as they are over there they might be able to point you in the right direction. The email is for the Portuguese showing club which I must say I am very against to and I know this forum is too but it might be the best option to ask over there for a vet recommendation. Sorry I can't be much more help, wishing your piggy all the best. I agree with Wiebke, she might just be a bit frightened and not eating much but important to monitor her.

Do you have any kitchen scales? (balança de cozinha) they are great for piggy weighing.

PS: feel free to pm me if you need or if English is a issue (your English is very good but thought I'd offer :) )
 
MrsSuzy said:
Thank you :) I understand the frustration of finding a vet and not surprisingly the best exotic vet practice in Portugal are near Lisbon and Porto :( I used to find it so frustrating when I lived there ( I'm from Faro).

In the first instance I would suggest you contact all the clinics in your town and ask what experience they have with guinea pigs. Choose the one with more experience as a first step. You can also email [email protected] as they are over there they might be able to point you in the right direction. The email is for the Portuguese showing club which I must say I am very against to and I know this forum is too but it might be the best option to ask over there for a vet recommendation. Sorry I can't be much more help, wishing your piggy all the best. I agree with Wiebke, she might just be a bit frightened and not eating much but important to monitor her.

Do you have any kitchen scales? (balança de cozinha) they are great for piggy weighing.

PS: feel free to pm me if you need or if English is a issue (your English is very good but thought I'd offer :) )
Click to expand...

Thank you! I'll email them.
No, but tomorrow in the morning i'll try to buy one.
 
Thanks @MrsSuzy for your local recommendations and help. I am not keen on breeders myself, but you have to take your help where you can get it!

PS: You can send private messages (pm) if you click on the envelope on the top right of your page. ;)
If you find you have a problem, you can always contact the administration for help in this section here:
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/forums/forum-technical-assistance.7/
 
Ideally, your little girl should weigh ca. 250-300g at her age (ca. 4-5 weeks), but you will likely find that she is weighing less, especially if she is feeling rather skinny.
 
@GoldenOrchid I just received information that the following vets in Castelo Branco, whilst not specialising in exotics have a vet that did some work experience with exotics. Might be worth using them, asking for this particular vet. Details are: Clínica veterinária de Castelo Branco (272326145) (925560393)

Keep us posted, hopefully your girlie is just settling in :)
 
MrsSuzy said:
@GoldenOrchid I just received information that the following vets in Castelo Branco, whilst not specialising in exotics have a vet that did some work experience with exotics. Might be worth using them, asking for this particular vet. Details are: Clínica veterinária de Castelo Branco (272326145) (925560393)

Keep us posted, hopefully your girlie is just settling in :)
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Thanks! Today i went to the pet shop to see if they could five me some information about vets here, and they said that the guinea pig probably doesn't have enough vitamin C and they gave me a vitamin supplement to gave her 3 drops twice a day and they also said to keep my piggie warm.They said that if she isn't better tomorrow to take her to the vet.
the image is the vitamin supplement that they gave me.vitaminas.webp
 
What dry food do you give them to eat? Guinea pig specific pellets have added Vit C. Saying that it won't hurt supplementing her Vit C although I'm not familiar with that product re: dosages, specs, etc. I would agree with the shop, if she is still behaving like this tomorrow better take her to vet. Hope she's ok.

Is she the cutie in your avatar photo?
 
MrsSuzy said:
What dry food do you give them to eat? Guinea pig specific pellets have added Vit C. Saying that it won't hurt supplementing her Vit C although I'm not familiar with that product re: dosages, specs, etc. I would agree with the shop, if she is still behaving like this tomorrow better take her to vet. Hope she's ok.

Is she the cutie in your avatar photo?
Click to expand...
I don't no, i just bought normal guinea pig food i guess
No, in the avatar it's Chewie (or chewbacca maria, because i am a huge star wars fan and i wanted my first guinea pig to be called chewbacca but since it's a girl :b) my first guinea pig, i have her since august
 
Please do not add any vitamin drops to her water; you need to syringe directly for best effect, and you can do so only in very small quantities with such a young piggy, as anything that goes into the lungs, can cause pneumonia. Guinea pigs will drink a lot less water as soon as you add stuff; you can also not control the intake and make sure that an ill piggy is really getting the full dose.

If you can switch to uniform pellets, that would be better. it prevents selective feeding of just the sweet bits.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/pellets-or-muesli-dry-mix.112655/
 
Today i tried to put her out of the cage a little bit to see if she just stay laid down or if she walked, and she walked a bit but she walk with her rear legs at the same time, she doesn't alternate them like i see my oldest guinea pig doing
 
It can well be vitamin C deficiency, especially if her mum was already deficient, so she never could build it up. :(
Here is more information on vitamin C deficiency. It is important that you feed at least one vitamin C rich veg every day, once she can work up to it. Good quality pellets are also enriched with vitamin C. You have to take that into account when topping up your guinea pig with additional vitamin C.

Please be careful about long term overdosing, as ironically guinea pigs can develop scurvy (vitamin C deficiency) that have got used to an overdose as soon as that is no longer the case for some reason.
http://www.guinealynx.info/scurvy.html
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...veg-and-fruit-list-with-vitamin-c-grading.42/
 
I fostered a guinea pig girl who also walked funny and did supplement with Vit c. It improved but didn't completely go away, however she was quite happy and healthy. She was very small so I suspected she had had deficiencies of some sort when a baby. She has now been adopted but I know she is still well and happy.

I received another recommendation, if you can travel there's a vet practice in Covilha who sees guinea pigs:
http://www.centroveterinariocovilha.medicalvet.pt/
 
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