greensn
Junior Guinea Pig
I've had my boy Louie for 2 years now--he was left at the pet store I work at and abducted into my rescue, where I foster failed him in about a week--and the vet said he was 2-3 years old. He's always been a BIG boy. Probably 3 pounds (1.36 kg), not fat by any means. He's always been a great eater--hay, pellets, and veggies--and I've always prided him on never having health issues (I had 2 pigs with chronic health issues, one was a rescue, who I had to put to sleep almost 2 weeks ago, one is doing fine). Well, in August, I noticed Louie began to lose weight, and kept losing weight. He was still eating some, so I finally got a gram scale and watched the weight continue to drop. At the same time as this, my pig Stewie, who I just lost two weeks ago, was suffering from mites and an ear infection (which ultimately spread to his brain) so I was at the vet one or two times a week with him. I did get Louie into the vet almost a month ago where the vet couldn't find anything wrong with him other than the weight loss, but he was still above two pounds (~1 kg). The vet said we could do tests if he dropped below 1 kg. Well, he did.
I brought him to a different vet who accepted Care Credit and I've had a good experience with in the past. He did blood tests on him and when he was under anesthesia inspected his back molars, which looked fine (two different vets looked at them), and gave his front teeth a little trim. That was about a week and a half ago. The blood tests came back normal, other than his liver enzymes, which were elevated. He did say that it could be secondary, and that liver disease was common in guinea pigs--but I think it's secondary. I don't know why he stopped eating though. This new vet who saw him said that even if we did x-rays or an ultrasound on his liver, there probably isn't anything we can do. I'm not ready to lose another pig--he's been so healthy and could have another two years given his age.
It is important to add that he is a single pig, because he is aggressive towards other guinea pigs, but he is in the same room as my two other bonded pigs (that's where Stewie lived before he passed away), and they're in my living room/office where I am most of the time. They have large C&C's--Louie's is a 4x2, and cages are cleaned every 3 days and spot cleaned as needed. The environment is clean, warm, and safe. I didn't make any changes with Louie before this happened--no new food, bedding, arrangements, nothing.
I need a second opinion. I did find a vet with a zoologist near me who can see him Monday, and they are highly recommended for small pets. While I do have Care Credit, money is still tight for me, and I only want to see another vet if there's really nothing I can do.
Aside from teeth/malocclusion, what else can cause a healthy pig to stop eating? What options do I have?
Anything helps! Thank you!
I brought him to a different vet who accepted Care Credit and I've had a good experience with in the past. He did blood tests on him and when he was under anesthesia inspected his back molars, which looked fine (two different vets looked at them), and gave his front teeth a little trim. That was about a week and a half ago. The blood tests came back normal, other than his liver enzymes, which were elevated. He did say that it could be secondary, and that liver disease was common in guinea pigs--but I think it's secondary. I don't know why he stopped eating though. This new vet who saw him said that even if we did x-rays or an ultrasound on his liver, there probably isn't anything we can do. I'm not ready to lose another pig--he's been so healthy and could have another two years given his age.
It is important to add that he is a single pig, because he is aggressive towards other guinea pigs, but he is in the same room as my two other bonded pigs (that's where Stewie lived before he passed away), and they're in my living room/office where I am most of the time. They have large C&C's--Louie's is a 4x2, and cages are cleaned every 3 days and spot cleaned as needed. The environment is clean, warm, and safe. I didn't make any changes with Louie before this happened--no new food, bedding, arrangements, nothing.
I need a second opinion. I did find a vet with a zoologist near me who can see him Monday, and they are highly recommended for small pets. While I do have Care Credit, money is still tight for me, and I only want to see another vet if there's really nothing I can do.
Aside from teeth/malocclusion, what else can cause a healthy pig to stop eating? What options do I have?
Anything helps! Thank you!
