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My guinea pig is abit lifeless. Help?

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Jazze

Jazze

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This is just a post to see If I'm doing the right things before we take him to the Vets tomorrow.

So I came downstairs this morning and noticed my guinea pig Leo (the brown one) looked abit lifeless. Ive done a few things to make sure he wasnt just feeling abit depressed. Ive read up on several sites and I just dont know what to think. Leo and Bowie are both 4 years in October. Is 4 Old? Ive noticed alot of People say "5-8 is old". Our guinea pigs are kept inside too.

So far Ive:

-Changed the bedding
-Changed the water
-Changed the food
-Took Bowie (my other pig) away to give Leo some space
-Given him a bath
- cuddled him abit.
-Tried to give him some fresh food. But he didnt touch it.

While I was cuddling him, He made a funny sort of gasping noise. Ive tried to check his breathing against my other pig and I don't know if its just me or if Leo is breathing slightly slower then Bowie.

Leo did eat last night. He had some Fresh food and was fine until I came down this morning.

Ive just rushed out to buy some Dry food. We havent fed them dry food since Bowie kept having problems going to the toilet and the Vets said maybe try and ween him off of dry food as some times It might not agree with there stomach.

I gave Leo some dry and he started gobbling it down. I dont know If this is a good thing or not. We put him back with Bowie and Leo seemed a little bit better.

Ive checked Leo over:
-Ive checked his teeth they are fine. He isn't wet under his mouth.
-Ive noticed that his eyes are VERY slity.
-He seems VERY weak.
-his ears are drooped.
-He has finally done a Wee, But ive not seen him pass poo through yet.

He keeps perking up but then goes all dull and lifeless again.

We are taking him to the Vets first thing in the morning (Its sunday today and they are not open in my area.)

Any other suggestions would be great and really appreciated. Thanks.

At the moment Leo is Sleeping in his little cosy bed.
 
Your piggy needs to see a very as a matter or urgency, piggies should be pooing all the time and as they are prey animals they hide illness very well, if you have started noticing signs he is very poorly.

If you ring your normal vets number there should be an out of hours service number you can ring, if not please google your nearest out of hours service.
 
Connie said:
Your piggy needs to see a very as a matter or urgency, piggies should be pooing all the time and as they are prey animals they hide illness very well, if you have started noticing signs he is very poorly.

If you ring your normal vets number there should be an out of hours service number you can ring, if not please google your nearest out of hours service.
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Thank you for the advice. I'll ring to see if they are in.

Ive just checked him again. He is still in his bed and his eyes are more then half closed. He is breathing but once every so often his whole back puffs up violently.
 
The sooner you can have him seen the better. It sounds like leo is severely ill. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for him!
 
Pellets are important to piggies - a good brand has all the nutrients they require including Vitamin C which they cannot make themselves. Lack of Vit. C results in scurvy and limb problems (legs become stiff and painful)
Please get Leo seen to asap - he sounds desperately poorly. It may be something simply treatable like a URI which will require antibiotics. If it is this, ask for Probiotics as well.
Keep us informed of things please - we're here to offer advice and help wherever possible x>>
Paws crossed here for you and the little man xoxo
 
He has just started to eat some Hay. He is with my sister (His mum) His eyes are more open again.

He keeps going lifeless but once he comes around he picks up. Do you think his vitamin c levels drops which made him abit unstable?

We have been giving his Green Peppers which contain Vitamin C so he has been getting some. So I'm not sure. His eyes keep going really sunk.

Ive just rung the Doctors. Ive spoken to two vets. And they both said to get him down soon. They are wanting £194 off me. And I dont have that money! Ive read forums saying it is wrong to not pay! And I agree! But I just cant pay that, If I could I would! :(

My vets arent opening until tomorrow. And thats the best I can do. I want to punch myself for not being a better mum. But I just dont know what to do.

He is cuddling down and going to sleep. I'm not sure if he just wants to sleep, I'm too scared to let him sleep just incase he doesnt wake up again T_T
 
I know its alot of money but if you leave your guinny , you are failing him by not getting him checked, if i was you i would look again on the internet and find a vet or take him, you might not have him in the morning if you leave it to late.
 
Angelah said:
I know its alot of money but if you leave your guinny , you are failing him by not getting him checked, if i was you i would look again on the internet and find a vet or take him, you might not have him in the morning if you leave it to late.
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The royal veterinary College in potters Bar is charging £80.50.

He is perking up. But when we put him in his cage all he does is go to sleep. I cant work out if he is just depressed or really ill.

We are sorting things out and are hoping to get him to the potters bar clinc soon today. We are organising transport to take us there (as we dont drive) and payment for the treatment...Somehow. :(
 
Jazze said:
He has just started to eat some Hay. He is with my sister (His mum) His eyes are more open again.

He keeps going lifeless but once he comes around he picks up. Do you think his vitamin c levels drops which made him abit unstable?

We have been giving his Green Peppers which contain Vitamin C so he has been getting some. So I'm not sure. His eyes keep going really sunk.

Ive just rung the Doctors. Ive spoken to two vets. And they both said to get him down soon. They are wanting £194 off me. And I dont have that money! Ive read forums saying it is wrong to not pay! And I agree! But I just cant pay that, If I could I would! :(

My vets arent opening until tomorrow. And thats the best I can do. I want to punch myself for not being a better mum. But I just dont know what to do.

He is cuddling down and going to sleep. I'm not sure if he just wants to sleep, I'm too scared to let him sleep just incase he doesnt wake up again T_T
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Most practises will let you pay larger bills in instalments and this is one reason we keep a vet fund for our piggies for emergencies.
This may be of help to you but would still get Leo seen asap -

http://www.guinealynx.info/emergency.html

Piggies can deteriorate so very quickly if they're not well especially if they are off their food as they develop gut stasis which may prove fatal :...
 
I really feel for you, it's a very difficult situation to be in and it's easy for us all to say please take him to the vets but if you haven't got that kind of money, you haven't got it-you can't pluck it from a tree (if only).
Would it be possible to discuss paying in an instalment?

This is exactly why I've started a vets fund for my Piggys.

I have my fingers crossed that the little guy pulls through whatever is going on.
 
I really hope everything turns out alright for the little guy! I know how heart-breaking it is to see a piggie not being their normal self and I really do hope he gets better soon!

Lots of hugs and healing vibes for Leo!
 
thats good you found the royal vetinary college, hopefully they will get him better for you
 
Amysmom said:
I really feel for you, it's a very difficult situation to be in and it's easy for us all to say please take him to the vets but if you haven't got that kind of money, you haven't got it-you can't pluck it from a tree (if only).
Would it be possible to discuss paying in an instalment?

This is exactly why I've started a vets fund for my Piggys.

I have my fingers crossed that the little guy pulls through whatever is going on.
Click to expand...

I'm glad someone understands. I know all of you do. <3

I know now, And I will start my own fund for my boys. They have always been well apart from Bowie having a bad tummy once. But now this. Its just a complete SHOCK.

Thank you everyone.

--Update. when he has a bath, After he tends to poo ALOT. we have given him a bath and it doesnt look like he has pooed once. Only once has he passed urine through since the bath (about an hour ago).

My sister has just rubbed his bum abit to make him feel comfortable and she said he purred slightly. This is the first purr he has done today. Normally he cant stop purring :(
 
He needs to see a vet ASAP. As mentioned a lot of vets will let you pay large bills in instalments.

I hope you can get him seen to as he does sound very poorly. Not pooing is very serious in guinea pigs!


Hopefully he'll be ok.
 
Just a quick update.

Leo is apparently fine.

He was just cold. Little Leo cost me £99 to tell me ...He's cold. xD

He now has a cute cosy little den made in the cage and while we were at the vets they gave him a dose of warm fluid. They have also given him some healthy food.

hopefully everything will be better now. we have moved them from the dining room to the living room and cranked the heating up.

Thanks everyone for your support <3
 
It is such a relief. I just am scared for when Winter hits.
Does anyone have good tips for indoor piggies in the winter?

Its strange. Ive never had this trouble before with the coldness.

I'm so glad everything is fine now. x)

Do guinea pigs normally act like they are dying when they are cold? I never knew this! D:
 
Its just strange. He is still acting like he is dying abit.

Its hard to explain...

He isnt moving but he might just be sleepy from going through all those injections today.
 
I don't want to worry you, but I'm concerned that Leo may be cold as a result of whatever is going on, rather than him just being cold, is making him act like this.

Do you know what the vet gave Leo?
 
This doesn't sound right to me. Is he kept indoors or out? It doesn't sound like he is just cold. Yes what did the vet give him? Fingers crossed for him
 
Where abouts in Herts are you? are you anywhere near Broxbourne? There is a montly piggy clinic held at Vets and Pets and the next one is this coming Saturday. I help out there and the lady that runs it has said she would waive the £10 clinic fee if you wanted your Leo to be seen. Xray and medication etc would be extra of course. The clinic is run with a very cavy savvy vet.

The vet did the right thing putting warm fluids through Leo, but the cause of why he is ill needs looking at expecially the possibility of gut stasis. Has he done any poos yet? He needs to be kept warm , given plenty of fluids and an xray is needed to check for gas or a gut blockage. If you could get him on something that vibrates that could help dispurse any gas. For example, a washing machine on full spin, electric toothbrush down the sides and underbelly. He also needs some form of pain relief.

Is he eating? his teeth also need checking to see if his incisors are straight with no slant. Most important thing to look at though is why there is no bowel movement if he is still not passing any poos.
 
Really sorry to hear about your piggie.......
I do hope you can find out exactly what is going on!

HEALING VIBES XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
Leo <3 R.I.P.

Sadly. while this site has been offline.

Leo finally passed away after 3 weeks of being in pain.

He passed on Saturday the 6th.

We are all devastated. Bowie is most most upset having lost his soul mate and lover.

I'm so thankful for all the lovely comments.

-- The vet gave him warm fluids via an injection.
And we were feeding him this powder medicine for 2 weeks. By the third week he wasn't eating much. However Leo did pick up a few days before he passed. But then suddenly dropped drastically. On the Saturday morning I decided it was time and I was going to take him to the vets to be put down.
As I slowly moved him from the cage to his bed, He started having a heart attack. Which finally ended little Leo's life.

In all honesty. I'm glad everything happened how it did. He went were he knew his family loved him, Not in some scary vets.

We buried him in something ive seen in a guinea pig magazine called a "piggy pot". We decorated it with flowers. I do have some pictures Once i get time I will upload it. It really does look beautiful.

Thank you everyone <3
 
oh ive just read through all this, I'm so sorry for your loss, rip leo, sleep well sweet thing xx

ps, the pot sounds very special x
 
I feel a little angry that the vet just said 'he was cold'.
RIP little fella!
I really understand how you must feel!
My first piggy Darwin had almost the exact same problem!
I burried him in the garden and now a pretty flower grows there.
On 30th it will be my first year without him!
 
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