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My guinea pig is dying

SydneySharkk

SydneySharkk

Junior Guinea Pig
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I’m writing this at 10:12Pm while I’m holding my guinea pig XiaoXiao. She’s dying and I can tell. She got sick maybe a month ago and I brought her to the vets where they trimmed her overgrown back teeth and gave me antibiotics for her uri. She got better, but for the last week she hasn’t been doing too well. I thought she was gaining weight, but now she feels even skinnier than ever. I thought she was eating enough, but I guess not. I’ve been giving her critical care for the past few days. She was acting completely normal this morning (but still looking sick) and then I found her laying down in her house a couple hours ago (usually she runs right up to the front) I’ve just been holding her, syringe feeding her the critical care, warm water, offering her veggies, but she hasn’t taken much. I tried to put her back in the cage but when I pet her down she couldn’t even stand back up. She keeps twitching around on my lap, like she’s trying to stand up. I’m pretty sure it was the pregnancy 3 months ago that started this, I wish I could have just sexed my one pig correctly and this would have been fine. I don’t really have a question or anything, except, can I do anything else? No vets are open. I just wanted somewhere to put everything out there, sorry that this is a bummer. I don’t have much hope she’ll survive the night. I’m so so sorry XiaoXiao, Excuse my language, but I’ve got to smarten up and take care of my animals. I’m so sorry my little mouse 💔💔💔 is there anything I can really do?

**edited by mod**
 
I am so sorry you are going through this.
If she isn't able to stand then please don't try and syringe feed her - chances are she is now too ill to take any food.
All you can do is keep her warm and comfort her. She will know you are there and that she isn't alone.

If she does make it until the vets are open it may be kinder to consider going and having them help her go to sleep.
Sending lots of peaceful thoughts your way.
 
I agree and am so sorry you are going through this. All you can do is keep her warm and comfortable and if she is still alive by the time the vets open, take her to help her in her way to the rainbow bridge.

Please don’t syringe feed her anymore as it will do no good and just stress her out.

Don’t blame yourself for the pregnancy. Chances are, that had nothing to do with her getting so poorly and even if it did, it isn’t your fault x
 
SydneySharkk said:
I’m writing this at 10:12Pm while I’m holding my guinea pig XiaoXiao. She’s dying and I can tell. She got sick maybe a month ago and I brought her to the vets where they trimmed her overgrown back teeth and gave me antibiotics for her uri. She got better, but for the last week she hasn’t been doing too well. I thought she was gaining weight, but now she feels even skinnier than ever. I thought she was eating enough, but I guess not. I’ve been giving her critical care for the past few days. She was acting completely normal this morning (but still looking sick) and then I found her laying down in her house a couple hours ago (usually she runs right up to the front) I’ve just been holding her, syringe feeding her the critical care, warm water, offering her veggies, but she hasn’t taken much. I tried to put her back in the cage but when I pet her down she couldn’t even stand back up. She keeps twitching around on my lap, like she’s trying to stand up. I’m pretty sure it was the pregnancy 3 months ago that started this, I wish I could have just sexed my one pig correctly and this would have been fine. I don’t really have a question or anything, except, can I do anything else? No vets are open. I just wanted somewhere to put everything out there, sorry that this is a bummer. I don’t have much hope she’ll survive the night. I’m so so sorry XiaoXiao, Excuse my language, but I’ve got to fucking smarten up and take care of my animals. I’m so sorry my little mouse 💔💔💔 is there anything I can really do?
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I am ever so sorry!

Please keep her warm, but not hot and as comfortable as you can. Do not force any feed into her of she is too weak/no longer able to process it. Unfortunately it is not all that uncommon that something will give in a guinea pig with underlying major health problems; when the chips are down, they are only small and rather fragile animals - even though we tend to forget that because of their big personalities.
It sounds like she is already nearly at the bridge... :(

Here is our emergency/crisis care guide in which we have bundled all the advice and information you need, including a chapter on how to spot and what to do if your piggy's body has started to close down: Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

You can find our emergency care advice either in its subsection off Health/Illness, right at the top of this section or via the guide shortcut on the top bar.

Please be kind to yourself; you have done your best for Xiao Xiao. Take the time to read this guide here. You should find it very helpful in the coming hours, days and weeks: Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
 
Thanks everyone. I’ve been cuddling with her for over 4 hours and I just put her back in her cage with her sisters. I don’t know if that’s recommended, but I know she really likes being with them. If she’s to pass away at night I think it might be best for her to be with them? It’s 2:40 here now and I’ve been falling asleep while I’ve been holding her, that’s why I put her back. I was feeding her and giving her water, she still really wanted to eat, and she was trying to rip the syringe and banana from my hands, so maybe that’s a good sign? I figure she needs sleep now, I’ll check up on her in about 2 hours. I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but they kind of are. She was up and walking again when I put her back. I don’t know, I think I need some sleep :/ I’ll reply again in 2 hours.
 
I just had her wrapped in a towel, sitting on my lap for about 2 hours, she would poke her head out when she wanted critical care/water/banana/lettuce. I’d have to let her try all the things before I found out which one she wanted.
 

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It’s 4:34 Am, I just checked on her. She’s still alive, she was sleeping in one of the houses, so I think I’ll just leave her, wait until later to offer her more food. I’m just really tired.
 
It’s good that she is still wanting to eat, in my experience when a pig is passing they don’t want to eat at all. Is she peeing or pooping at all? Hopefully you can soon get her to the vets. Thinking of you.
 
Siikibam said:
How is she doing? ❣
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Whoops I thought I sent this, guess not. She’s ok right now. Her eyes look a lot brighter than yesterday. She’s snacking on lettuce, carrots, grass, and I’m still feeding her critical care. I’m cleaning the girls cage right now. And I don’t know if I’m going crazy, but she does feel heavier than yesterday. I keep forgetting to grab my scale.
 
4GorgeousGuineas said:
It’s good that she is still wanting to eat, in my experience when a pig is passing they don’t want to eat at all. Is she peeing or pooping at all? Hopefully you can soon get her to the vets. Thinking of you.
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From when I have been holding her she’s made a few small poops, but not many. And she has been peeing a lot from what I’ve seen. I had to fold an extra towel under her last night when I had her on my lap, I didn’t want her to pee on my bed haha. She did drink lots of water last night, so that’s probably why.
 
Merab's Slave said:
What a rollercoaster of emotion for you.
Glad she's feeling better.
Hope that continues.
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Thanks, I kind of hate that I have hope now, but I’ll be hand/syringe feeding her everyday, and hopefully that’s all she needs to get better. I’ll update again later.
 
So I was sitting with her again for like an hour, and I fed her “a lot” of banana, she got maybe the first inch or so of the banana down. She wasn’t interested in the critical care or water or tomato and only nibbled on the lettuce. I’ll try again after I eat my supper. Is it ok that I’ve been feeding her banana pretty frequently? Should I go to the store and see if they have anything she might be interested in? What should I look for?
 
I’ve also ordered some stuff off amazon that should hopefully get here in a few days. I got that Sherwood recovery food, it’s supposed to be better than critical care, plus I thought she might get tired of critical care anyway. I also got a bigger syringe, the ones I’m using are just little disposable ones the vets gave me when I was there last. I also got ivermectin, just as a precaution, and I heard it’s good to have. And I ordered cbd cream that the LA guinea pig rescue recommends, so maybe it will perk her up a bit, and I can always use it on my other pigs in the future, don’t know when that one will get here though.
 
I went out and picked some weeds and grass for her to eat, she hasn’t been wanting critical care, but she’s chowing down on the weeds. hopefully that stirs her appetite. (No pesticides or anything)
 
Whoops I tried to send a picture but it doesn’t want to send. :(
Anyways, It takes her an awful long time to chew things, could it be that she’s just having trouble swallowing? Because she’s so weak? She is eating, she’s just taking her time.
 
SydneySharkk said:
Whoops I tried to send a picture but it doesn’t want to send. :(
Anyways, It takes her an awful long time to chew things, could it be that she’s just having trouble swallowing? Because she’s so weak? She is eating, she’s just taking her time.
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She may have some problems with her teeth.

Am tagging @furryfriends (TEAS) and @Wiebke as these are the best people to advise
 
So glad your piggie is improving, that's really good news :nod:
Regarding food, banana is okay, usually in small quantities as it's high carb and high calorie, but perhaps as your pig has lost weight and been very poorly a higher quantity is ok. A variety of fresh food would probably be best for her if she'll take it, small quantities of herbs such as parsley and cilantro. Wild plants such as wild strawberry leaves, young bramble leaves and of course grass are good if you can get them.
If her tummy has been upset by whatever she had, probiotics such as Pro-c and fibreplex might be helpful too.
 
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