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My Guinea Pig swallowed some plastic :-(

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Elisak

Elisak

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Hi

Last night my guinea pig Lola managed to get hold of my boyfriend's Poppy Day poppy and chewed off the end of the stem (probably 2cm long) :-( we couldn't find it so presume she swallowed it, think she mistook it for parsley. Will it cause any damage? Do they pass these sorts of things? She seems fine and is still eating, pop corning, drinking etc. This morning she seems exactly her usual self, grumpy as usual! I am worried if it was sharp it may do some internal damage. Am I just over-worrying?

Any help/advice greatly appreciated.

Elisak
 
What a silly piggy rolleyes

hopefully all will be well and there will not be a problem. However, as is the case with swallowing all non-food items, there is always the potential for an issue e.g. blockage or if internal injury if she swallowed a sharp bit. At the moment she sounds well but I would encourage you give the vet a call and take their advice. They may just want you to observe her for if she stops eating or pooping or they may want to see her to check her over. A phone call to them will hopefully reassure you or at least stop you worrying.

Let us know how she gets on - and if she starts to poop poppys!
 
She'll have probably nibbled it so shouldn't be a problem but I'd keep an eye on her for next 24 hours just in case.

The worst stuff for them to swallow is the shrink wrap that some veg is wrapped in, particularly cucumbers. I now take the plastic of them completely before slicing them.
 
Don't panic! Most often, nothing happens; keep an eye on her for 24 hours. By then it should have safely passed the whole digestive tract. See your vets or emergency vets asap in case she is suddenly looking unwell.
 
The risk is always that it will cause an intestinal blockage, so watch to make sure she is pooping and not bloated. But she very likely will just pass it normally and be just fine. If it makes you feel any better, one of my kids once left the hay bag too close to the cage bars and Linney ate a huge hunk of the plastic bag in order to get to the hay, and she was okay, except for a stressed out mom, so I think it will be fine.
 
Thanks everyone for reassurance - can't wait to get home from work to see if she is OK, I am sure from what you all said that she will be fine but will keep an eye on her. No more going near poppies for Lola! :-)
 
Try not to stress too much, we have all been there at some point... They always eat what they shouldn't rolleyes
 
I am sure she will be fine but like others have said, just keep a close eye on her.

My piggies are nortortious for chewing plastic bags if they get hold of them. Eliza even ate a piece of cord from my mums drawstring bag once mallethead
 
My Rory zones in on plastic but I think it's because he knows it's forbidden and therefore MUST be worth having. He chews the plastic parts of his cage and has never had an issue. Am sure she'll be fine but monitoring is best to be sure.
 
My boys have just been free-ranging for the first time and as Toby was chewing on the edge of the carpet I thought of the response that I put on this thread at the beginning. It made me chuckle - piggies eat everything don't they?!?!? If we phoned the vet every time they did then we would never be off the phone! You live and learn! :)
 
Great news!

@AbiS - Toby rolleyes :))
 
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