Loss Of Appetite

[Emz1999]

My piggy was fine this morning. She had her normal breakfast of hay + veggies and happily ate a blueberry when I offered her one at lunchtime. When it came to her afternoon quota of nuggets she joined in with my other piggy and squeaked and chewed her cage (all typical behaviours of her) but when I came to check on her before I had my dinner this evening her nuggets were all left almost untouched. I've offered some more kale, and she's had bits of that and went and picked up a small piece of carrot and carried that back to her house. She gave it a few licks and then turned her nose up from it.

I then went to the garden to collect some grass for her and handfed her on my lap. She was eager as usual to eat the grass and ate all of it that I had collected. She gave me the usual runaround when I was trying to pick her up and her fur isn't ruffled. Earlier this afternoon though I did pick her up when she had her paws up against the bar and she was chewing it asking for food. I'm wondering now if she hurt her mouth and didn't let go of it before I picked her up, although I was pretty sure she had. She seems very normal apart from the fact that she won't eat her normal food and is hiding away in her igloo instead of napping in the open like she normally will.

Me and mum have decided to leave her overnight and see if she slowly nips away at her food and if she refuses breakfast tomorrow then she'll be taken to the vet. Usually I don't see pigs deteriorate through the day which is why I believe she might have hurt herself. Does this sound like it can possibly be true? The change occurred over a 2 hour period between 2-4.

 

[Jesse's pigs]

It's possible she chipped a tooth on the bars whilst chewing - have you checked her teeth? That could be why she didn't eat the harder carrot or pellets but munched grass. I agree with what you're doing regarding the vets.

 

[Emz1999]

It's possible she chipped a tooth on the bars whilst chewing - have you checked her teeth? That could be why she didn't eat the harder carrot or pellets but munched grass. I agree with what you're doing regarding the vets.

Thanks for your reply. I tried doing this but I had difficulty getting her to open her mouth. I'm glad you agree with waiting overnight for the vets. Most websites make it seem like an urgency to take them to the vet as soon as they stop eating so I felt like I was doing the wrong thing.

 

[Wiebke]

My piggy was fine this morning. She had her normal breakfast of hay + veggies and happily ate a blueberry when I offered her one at lunchtime. When it came to her afternoon quota of nuggets she joined in with my other piggy and squeaked and chewed her cage (all typical behaviours of her) but when I came to check on her before I had my dinner this evening her nuggets were all left almost untouched. I've offered some more kale, and she's had bits of that and went and picked up a small piece of carrot and carried that back to her house. She gave it a few licks and then turned her nose up from it.

I then went to the garden to collect some grass for her and handfed her on my lap. She was eager as usual to eat the grass and ate all of it that I had collected. She gave me the usual runaround when I was trying to pick her up and her fur isn't ruffled. Earlier this afternoon though I did pick her up when she had her paws up against the bar and she was chewing it asking for food. I'm wondering now if she hurt her mouth and didn't let go of it before I picked her up, although I was pretty sure she had. She seems very normal apart from the fact that she won't eat her normal food and is hiding away in her igloo instead of napping in the open like she normally will.

Me and mum have decided to leave her overnight and see if she slowly nips away at her food and if she refuses breakfast tomorrow then she'll be taken to the vet. Usually I don't see pigs deteriorate through the day which is why I believe she might have hurt herself. Does this sound like it can possibly be true? The change occurred over a 2 hour period between 2-4.

Please step in with top-up syringe feeding and watering asap and switch to weighing daily a to the same in order to monitor the food intake. Up to 80% is hay, which you simply cannot observe and control. Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Guinea pigs can go downhill within a day; it can have many different causes. I have lost two of mine that way just in the last few weeks.

 

[Jesse's pigs]

It can be a worrying time and going to the vets the next day as opposed to never or a few days is better but if you can go quicker it is advised. I agree with @Wiebke regarding the syringe feeding until you see the vet just to keep the gut moving. I know when I whittled about Mo I had to wait till the next day to see a vet and it was a stressful time! You'll have to keep us updated on her.

 

[Emz1999]

It can be a worrying time and going to the vets the next day as opposed to never or a few days is better but if you can go quicker it is advised. I agree with @Wiebke regarding the syringe feeding until you see the vet just to keep the gut moving. I know when I whittled about Mo I had to wait till the next day to see a vet and it was a stressful time! You'll have to keep us updated on her.

We were out of syringe feed so the vet gave us some more when she went. She was found to be amnemic, so her organs were already getting bad. She's about 5-6 years old anyway, so any extra amount of time I feel blessed with, but if she decides its time to sleep, it's time to sleep.

So anyway, after the vet on Thursday morning she was given syringe feed in the morning and at lunch (I don’t think she liked it, because straight after she ate a piece of old leftover cucumber). She was a recluse the full day. Then when I came in this morning the following day she was out and squeaking with my other one for hay so I gave her the usual amount and she ate it all. Same with her veg and same with her pellets this afternoon.

She's lost quite a bit of weight over her day of not eating. But she's chosen to find the energy for a few more days at least, and she's very interested in the sights and smells of the house again and drinking and eating as much as she can
But for the time being, I'm trying my best to help this time be the best for her. If the pain seems unbearable for her, then we'll consider next steps.

Thank you all who've have replied.

 

[Wiebke]

We were out of syringe feed so the vet gave us some more when she went. She was found to be amnemic, so her organs were already getting bad. She's about 5-6 years old anyway, so any extra amount of time I feel blessed with, but if she decides its time to sleep, it's time to sleep.

So anyway, after the vet on Thursday morning she was given syringe feed in the morning and at lunch (I don’t think she liked it, because straight after she ate a piece of old leftover cucumber). She was a recluse the full day. Then when I came in this morning the following day she was out and squeaking with my other one for hay so I gave her the usual amount and she ate it all. Same with her veg and same with her pellets this afternoon.

As long as she has the will to live and is taking syringe feed voluntarily, then it is fine to support her. Has she got painkiller?

The day to let her go is the day she refuses to eat and to take interest in the world. But it is often not quite as easy as that, as it is often rather quite some up and down; you have to take it day by day. Can you mix the recovery food with mushed up pellets for a more familiar taste? that often works for my piggies with a dodgy appetite.
She's lost quite a bit of weight over her day of not eating. But she's chosen to find the energy for a few more days at least, and she's very interested in the sights and smells of the house again and drinking and eating as much as she can
But for the time being, I'm trying my best to help this time be the best for her. If the pain seems unbearable for her, then we'll consider next steps.

Thank you all who've have replied.