losing weight and hopping

[rowann]

my guinea pig hazel has lost a lot of weight and is bunny hopping around. does anyone know what this might be? shes only 2 and a half

 

[Wiebke]

my guinea pig hazel has lost a lot of weight and is bunny hopping around. does anyone know what this might be? shes only 2 and a half

Hi and welcome!

Please see a piggy savvy vet promptly!

Malnutrition/scurvy can happen because of an unbalanced diet too low in vitamin C and other nutrients, but it can also be caused by underlying issues. In rare cases, early onset arthritis can happen in young guinea pigs. An injury to the spine or neurological problems should also be investigated.
Ask the vet to also check the crucial premolars at the back of the mouth for overgrowing spurs; have a look yourself whether the front teeth are even and self-sharpening and not jagged, slanted or inward growing. If they are not right, then there is usually a problem at the bac.


As your guinea is losing weight, you need to step in with top up feeding in order to stabilise it or at least slow it down until whatever is causing it has been cured. Over 80% of the daily food intake should be unlimited hay, which you cannot control by eye. You can use mushed pellets in an emergency as long as you cut off the tip of your syringe and plunger as shown in our illustrated step by step syringe feeding guide. Needle-less 1 ml syringes can be got from any pharmacy, vet or online (the latter is not as quick, though).
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Administering Medications And Syringe Feed
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

Since we have got members and enquiries from all over the world, we find it very helpful if you please added 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 on the top bar, then go to account details and then down to location. This makes it appear with every post you make and saves everybody time. In your case, it helps us to help you finding a piggy savvy vet if possible. Thank you!

 

[rowann]

my vet cannot take her in until wednesday at 7:00 pm do you think she will last? she is eating her normal amount of food, and drinking.

 

[Merab]

Tell your vet it’s an emergency- you cannot leave a sick piggy as they can deteriorate rapidly

 

[Wiebke]

my vet cannot take her in until wednesday at 7:00 pm do you think she will last? she is eating her normal amount of food, and drinking.

Could you find another vet that can see her sooner? Until then, please weigh her daily at the same time to monitor the food intake. Cheap kitchen scales from a supermarket are perfectly adequate for monitoring quick loss of weight or slow gradual one.
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig
The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight

 

[rowann]

yes i called my other vet, taking her in the morning will keep u updated!

 

[rowann]

i have another guinea pig, do you think i should keep them together or seperate?

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

If they are generally happy together, then yes, take them both for mutual support and comfort. Hope your vet can help.
Editted to add: if you meant that they are currently housed together, but should you separate them while the one is poorly, then I would say only separate if the other one is causing her problems, bullying etc.

 

[Merab]

Hope all goes well at the vets

 

[rowann]

alright, giving her extra vitamin c supplements for 2 weeks good thing i caught this early on before she lost appetite

 

[rowann]

well, good news I'm already starting to see some improvement! hes now coming out of his cage to eat and drink and i changed from bedding to fleece and they seem to like it a lot more thank you guys for all the help!