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New baby not eating

P

pumpkinandpeanut

Junior Guinea Pig
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We have a 10 week old new baby pig. We quarantined him for 7 days,and fed him what the breeder gave him. We noticed he was relaxed,cuddly and quite quiet.vet check all clear. Introduced to his 6 month old brother yesterday, who hd lost his 6 year old brother a week ago. Intro went well,but now this is our issue
Baby wont eat burgess pellets,I messaged the breeder and he said he had been feeding him dried grass,goat and bunny pellets
Baby doesn't seem keen to eat our haybox tomothy mixed cut hay
Baby doesnt seem interested in much salad(breeder said they dont give it)

Older boy now is happy but is so obsessed with baby,he isnt eating his normal amount

And as owners,we are very worried and stressed
 
It’s a very worrying time when they’re not eating. I’m sure one of our Health and Illness experts will be along soon to give you advice. What is baby eating and are you monitoring his weight? Have you looked at any of the guides on this Forum, there’s a lot of helpful information to be considered while you’re waiting for a more detailed response?
 
I’m sorry to hear this

He will be very stressed from the bonding and being in a new place so that will have an effect on him.
You were clearly doing what you thought best, but quarantine cannot happen for babies under four months old. Their need to constant interaction and companionship is absolutely vital so bonding needed to have been done on the day he was brought home. Obviously there is nothing that can be done about that now (it is still important to mention for anybody else who comes across this thread in the future when understanding quarantine rules for babies under four months old) but it does mean he could be a bit more stressed than a new bonded baby piggy usually is. He now needs to settle in to a new way of life.

Was he eating while you had him in quarantine or has he only stopped eating since bonding/new food?

One important step is to cover the cage with a sheet so he can feel more secure.

Have you weighed him since you have had him?
If not then definitely do so. The only way to know a piggy is eating enough hay is via the weekly (but daily when you have concerns) weight checks.
They often eat when you aren’t looking.
Put hay in all hides and in multiple other places around the cage so he doesn’t have to come out far for food.

Pellets usually needs to be changed over gradually in changing ratios over many days (ie 90% old to 10% new on day one, 80:20 on day 3 etc and so forth until they are fully on new) to allow the gut to get used to a new food. However, the issue you have is that it doesn’t sound like diet has been at all appropriate up until this point so he shouldn’t be eating his old food, your older piggy certainly cannot eat the inapppropriate pellets so you can’t put any old food in the cage for baby to eat. Luckily pellets are the part of the diet which they don’t need so if he doesn’t eat the burgess then it isn’t a problem in that respect. What is a problem is that without veg his only source of vit c will be burgess pellets.

Given he hasn’t been given any veg then he won’t know what it is and needs to learn by being shown by your older piggy. He also now cannot be given much or a very wide variety until his gut gets used to it.
You will need to introduce one very small amount of one type of veg per day so he can get used to its taste but most importantly allow his gut to adjust. New veggies or too much veg at once can cause digestive imbalances and risk diarrhoea.

I’ve added a guide below about how to introduce veg

How to Introduce New or Reintroduce Regular Fresh and Dry Food Safely - The Rules

What I would suggest is that you weigh him every morning so you can ensure he isn’t losing any weight ie if he stays the same then he is definitely eating hay.
If he loses weight (or has lost weight since you last weighed him) then you could need to step in with support feeding him a fibre rich recovery feed to keep him stable but he should learn what he should be eating by watching your older piggy.

Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support Levels

I hope he is ok
 
pumpkinandpeanut said:
We have a 10 week old new baby pig. We quarantined him for 7 days,and fed him what the breeder gave him. We noticed he was relaxed,cuddly and quite quiet.vet check all clear. Introduced to his 6 month old brother yesterday, who hd lost his 6 year old brother a week ago. Intro went well,but now this is our issue
Baby wont eat burgess pellets,I messaged the breeder and he said he had been feeding him dried grass,goat and bunny pellets
Baby doesn't seem keen to eat our haybox tomothy mixed cut hay
Baby doesnt seem interested in much salad(breeder said they dont give it)

Older boy now is happy but is so obsessed with baby,he isnt eating his normal amount

And as owners,we are very worried and stressed
Click to expand...

Hi

Please take a deep breath and try not to panic. Hunger will soon set in after all the initial over-excitement and the baby will take his cues from his older brother and learn quickly from him what is safe to tuck in. Your baby won't starve and won't come to any harm.

Just hold your nerve. ;)

PS: Goat and rabbit pellets without vitamin C reinforcement and no heed to differing guinea pig needs indeed... I don't want to know what they use for cheap straw and veg. :(
 
Piggies&buns said:
I’m sorry to hear this

He will be very stressed from the bonding and being in a new place so that will have an effect on him.
You were clearly doing what you thought best, but quarantine cannot happen for babies under four months old. Their need to constant interaction and companionship is absolutely vital so bonding needed to have been done on the day he was brought home. Obviously there is nothing that can be done about that now (it is still important to mention for anybody else who comes across this thread in the future when understanding quarantine rules for babies under four months old) but it does mean he could be a bit more stressed than a new bonded baby piggy usually is. He now needs to settle in to a new way of life.

Was he eating while you had him in quarantine or has he only stopped eating since bonding/new food?

One important step is to cover the cage with a sheet so he can feel more secure.

Have you weighed him since you have had him?
If not then definitely do so. The only way to know a piggy is eating enough hay is via the weekly (but daily when you have concerns) weight checks.
They often eat when you aren’t looking.
Put hay in all hides and in multiple other places around the cage so he doesn’t have to come out far for food.

Pellets usually needs to be changed over gradually in changing ratios over many days (ie 90% old to 10% new on day one, 80:20 on day 3 etc and so forth until they are fully on new) to allow the gut to get used to a new food. However, the issue you have is that it doesn’t sound like diet has been at all appropriate up until this point so he shouldn’t be eating his old food, your older piggy certainly cannot eat the inapppropriate pellets so you can’t put any old food in the cage for baby to eat. Luckily pellets are the part of the diet which they don’t need so if he doesn’t eat the burgess then it isn’t a problem in that respect. What is a problem is that without veg his only source of vit c will be burgess pellets.

Given he hasn’t been given any veg then he won’t know what it is and needs to learn by being shown by your older piggy. He also now cannot be given much or a very wide variety until his gut gets used to it.
You will need to introduce one very small amount of one type of veg per day so he can get used to its taste but most importantly allow his gut to adjust. New veggies or too much veg at once can cause digestive imbalances and risk diarrhoea.

I’ve added a guide below about how to introduce veg

How to Introduce New or Reintroduce Regular Fresh and Dry Food Safely - The Rules

What I would suggest is that you weigh him every morning so you can ensure he isn’t losing any weight ie if he stays the same then he is definitely eating hay.
If he loses weight (or has lost weight since you last weighed him) then you could need to step in with support feeding him a fibre rich recovery feed to keep him stable but he should learn what he should be eating by watching your older piggy.

Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support Levels

I hope he is ok
Click to expand...
Hi
So the few days he was in my bedroom,he ate the goat and rabbit mix happily,but i dont know if he ate hay as he had a huge pile changed daily

He seems happy with his new brother, but he just doesnt seem to know how to be a pig. He had no interest in pellets and sleeps in hay but doesnt seem to eat it.

He will eat a bit of romaine and pepper.

He has lost weight since we got him which is a big worry and we are feeling extremely anxious
 
The only way to know whether they are eating hay is with the weight checks. If he is losing weight then it means he isn’t eating enough.

What does he weigh?
How much weight has he lost?

But from what you’ve said it sounds like he was likely filling up on the goat/rabbit pellets

Keep a close eye on him over the coming days with weight checks.

Wiebke is right, he won’t starve himself but he also doesn’t know what he is supposed to be eating yet given he doesn’t sound to have been fed at all well by the breeder.
 
I am wondering if your new piggy has been in contact with rabbits or used bowls rabbits had eaten from. I am not sure if guinea pigs can be tested for E. Cunniculi? Rabbits can carry it without symptoms but guinea pigs are more vulnerable to this condition condition.
 
Could you conduct feeding sessions on your lap with using the older boy as an example but in a place where the little one has to observe his brother eating and smelling it on his mouth, and as next step ideally snatching it from his mouth - this is how babies learn what is safe to eat and what not.
Like a baby, he has to learn from scratch what constitutes a proper diet and not the cheapest dregs you can feed piggies on. The best way is to recreate that situation where he is forced to learn. Once he gets, he'll change quite quickly. It is that difficult first hurdle after not having come across decent food, so he doesn't know what it is and he has not learned from his elders that it is edible.
 
Piggies&buns said:
The only way to know whether they are eating hay is with the weight checks. If he is losing weight then it means he isn’t eating enough.

What does he weigh?
How much weight has he lost?

But from what you’ve said it sounds like he was likely filling up on the goat/rabbit pellets

Keep a close eye on him over the coming days with weight checks.

Wiebke is right, he won’t starve himself but he also doesn’t know what he is supposed to be eating yet given he doesn’t sound to have been fed at all well by the breeder.
Click to expand...
Hi

So he was 420 grams,hes now 400 grams

I'm going to try having him on my lap with the older boy as an example and see if that helps



Hes been fed rubbish and I'm really upset. I've never ever had this issue ever with a new piggy
 
pumpkinandpeanut said:
Hi

So he was 420 grams,hes now 400 grams

I'm going to try having him on my lap with the older boy as an example and see if that helps



Hes been fed rubbish and I'm really upset. I've never ever had this issue ever with a new piggy
Click to expand...

HUGS

20g is still within the daily weight swing over 24 hours, depending on whether he has a full or empty belly so please don't panic.

Focus on getting him eating and giving him a happy life in good care. Things are going to calm down and settle down.
 
What did the breeder's place look like? Were there rabbits near the guinea pigs? What did it smell like? I would ring the vet and ask about potential exposure to rabbit diseases and find out what he thinks. I don't want to cause alarm, but it won't do any harm to discuss the issue with your vet. I'm hoping it won't be necessary to do anything and that good food and love will get your piggy popcorning again happily 🥰🐾
 
Sometimes piggies just don’t like a particular nugget too. Ours like the burgess blackcurrant and oregano, but none of them will touch the mint ones!
We also had success with oxbow essentials for very small piggies as they are so tiny - and perhaps a more similar shape/texture to the bunny and goat pellets?
Herbs also seem to go down well, perhaps he might like some coriander?
He’ll get there - remember nuggets are only a small part of the diet.
It would also be worth trying a few types of hay, ours can be fussy. Currently they really like the Norfolk pastures meadow hay.

In the past I’ve tried a hay taster box with six different types in that’s good value, so he can try a few. There was a big handful of each, it was from hay experts.
 
Truffolo said:
What did the breeder's place look like? Were there rabbits near the guinea pigs? What did it smell like? I would ring the vet and ask about potential exposure to rabbit diseases and find out what he thinks. I don't want to cause alarm, but it won't do any harm to discuss the issue with your vet. I'm hoping it won't be necessary to do anything and that good food and love will get your piggy popcorning again happily 🥰🐾
Click to expand...
No bunnies at all at breeders
 
Wheekallweek said:
Sometimes piggies just don’t like a particular nugget too. Ours like the burgess blackcurrant and oregano, but none of them will touch the mint ones!
We also had success with oxbow essentials for very small piggies as they are so tiny - and perhaps a more similar shape/texture to the bunny and goat pellets?
Herbs also seem to go down well, perhaps he might like some coriander?
He’ll get there - remember nuggets are only a small part of the diet.
It would also be worth trying a few types of hay, ours can be fussy. Currently they really like the Norfolk pastures meadow hay.

In the past I’ve tried a hay taster box with six different types in that’s good value, so he can try a few. There was a big handful of each, it was from hay experts.
Click to expand...
I've ordered some baby pellets from oxebow. And put some soft meadow hay in with mixed timothy. He seems very stressed and has some loose stool as we tried some critical care and think it upset him


Also,what do I do with the older one,he is literally losing his mind if he cant see him,and won't leave him to go eat himself
 
It might be better to separate them into different rooms for a couple of days until the baby is eating and pooping better ♥️
 
Mrs Tiggy Winkle said:
I don't know about that. Don't babies need a guinea companion always, preferably an adult?
Click to expand...

Yes they do, plus baby will learn how to eat from the older piggy. Separating them, particularly now they are bonded and given it is a baby involved, would be very problematic all round
 
Update

Saw our vet this morning, as hes lost alot of weight. No physical causes,teeth all good. Vet is concerned. We are on emeprid and critical care, and I have another brand of hay for him to taste. We are going to do around the clock feed and care and re assess on Monday

The vet was horrified at what he was originally being fed
 
I'm sorry to hear this. I hope he will be OK, poor piggy. I hope things go well with the nursing 🙏♥️
 
Oh no I’m sorry to hear this. Sending healing vibes to your baby.

Hopefully this is just a blip between moving between new homes 🤞🏻
 
Another update, we are doing emeprid x3 a day(he doesnt have bloat or stasis)and we have been doing around 20mls of critical care a day,spread out. We have found he loves kale,so he gets a bit of kale after each syringe. He isnt a massive fan of cc,but he eats it and loves a cuddle. We found he like burgess timothy hay with dandelion in it. We have also noticed he is doing more pig like things..so he naps,then get up and nibbles hay. He seems to be watching his big(7 month old brother more ). We did try a small bit of lettuce but he doesnt want it.
We have noticed hes also running about and more excited.
Kinda lost now on what to do next.he still inst interested in any pellets ,which I know,it isnt too important.
But the weight gain is so slow. Hes gained around 4 grams in 2 days(fluctuates in day,but base line has gone up)
Is the critical care (4 ml)at a time,filling him up too much?.
Any tips?
Thank you
 
Offer him as much critical care as he wants but obviously hay is the important bit.
As long as he isn’t losing weight then anything upwards is a bonus at this stage and until he gets better at following what your older piggy is doing.

Remember kale is very high in calcium so make sure he doesn’t get much. Try him with some herbs - coriander is a safe daily herb
 
Thank you,
We have had the worst year,lost one older boy to a windpipe tumor,and our other older boy passed last week,after having bloat for the 4th time, and now this baby.

Hes extremely energetic, had done some popcorning and has started chatting and squeaking,which he has never done.
I'm just sad for him and us,if I'm honest.
Will keep you updated
 
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