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New guinea pig parent, is this normal?

So there could be a difference between your scales and the vets scales so it makes it hard to gauge until you have a few checks with the same set of scales. There is a daily fluctuation which is perfectly normal ie difference between a full/empty bladder can make a difference.

You syringe feed as much as is necessary to keep her weight stable each day - there is not really a calculation per 100g of body weight. This is because it also depends on how much hay they are still eating independently. You literally go by the daily weight checks and find the amount which keeps her stable, so if she loses day on day then she isn’t eating enough (be it independent hay intake and/or syringe feed) . (As she is small you can’t afford for her to lose a which weight as we would normally consider weight loss).
Feed her as much as she will take at each sitting today, weigh her tomorrow to see whether she has had enough to keep her stable. Adjust tomorrow if necessary.

You absolutely can use normal pellets - they are considered emergency syringe feed. They have the benefit of being a familiar taste so they can be ready accepted. The downside is the fibre content of pellets is lower than a proper recovery feed. (If syringe feeding ends up going on a long time then you would want to use a proper recovery feed to ensure sufficient fibre intake).
You have to cut the tapered end off the syringe as pellet mush is more coarse and doesn’t go through a syringe as easily.

Yes offer some plain water with each feed but please be very careful in doing so. Let her lick at the end of the syringe (or even the holding her normal drinking bottle to her mouth and see if she wants to have some) rather than push water into her mouth.
 
Thank you again for all the advice 💕

So far today I’ve only managed to get about 10ml of syringe-fed food into her. She’s completely uninterested in it and not attempting to eat/drink anything else on her own.

My heart is telling me to take her back to the vets, but my head isn’t sure if I just need to give her a bit more time to respond to the meds and syringe feeds. I’m honestly so frustrated and worried — she seemed so much better last weekend, and this sudden downturn has really thrown me. She actually seems worse than she did before.

Her sister, on the other hand, is completely fine — full of energy and eating non-stop — which makes it all the more confusing and upsetti
ng. 💔
 
amhmcrm said:
My heart is telling me to take her back to the vets, but my head isn’t sure if I just need to give her a bit more time to respond to the meds and syringe feeds. I’m honestly so frustrated and worried — she seemed so much better last weekend, and this sudden downturn has really thrown me. She actually seems worse than she did before.
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I'd follow your heart on this one. Sometimes hearts know better than heads. Better once too many times at the vet's than once too few. Especially with little animals like guineas who can deteriorate fast and irreversibly 😭 if you leave things too long. Been there, done that.
 
Thank you, I have done so. She will be seeing them at 1615 today. They have mentioned that the medicine ideally needs more time. But have suggested we bring her in for another check up and reassurance.

Just feel so broken 💔 😭 as she's only roughly 12weeks old and we've only had her for 4weeks. She's been dealt such a bad hand.

They're so well cared for. And obviously her sister is thriving. So it's hard to see her like this as she has been such a little character at times.

They actually belong to my 9 year old (but of course I help her look after them). My heart breaks for her too😭
 
Absolutely devastated to be writing this but sadly Oreo didn't make it to the vet. About 30mins before her appointment I found he lying on her side. Looked like she was struggling to breathe. Hubby took her to the vet but she died on the way.😭

We're all heartbroken. And wondering what we could have done differently.
 
I am so very sorry to read that Oreo didn’t make it.
You did everything possible for her and filled her life with love and care.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve.
Holding you in my heart ♥️
 
amhmcrm said:
We're all heartbroken. And wondering what we could have done differently.
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Probably there was nothing you could have done differently. I'm assuming Oreo really was dealt a bad hand, as you wrote in a post further upthread.

How devastating for you and your family.
 
Oh I'm so so sorry 😥
She passed away knowing how loved she was, it really sounds like there was nothing else you could have done.
For such a young piggy to pass like this, I wonder if she had a problem since birth? Something that eventually would have reared it's head whatever you tried.

RIP little Oreo 🌈❤️
 
I am so sorry Oreo crossed The Rainbow Bridge 🌈 popcorn happily sweet girl 🌈
 
Wheekallweek said:
Oh I'm so so sorry 😥
She passed away knowing how loved she was, it really sounds like there was nothing else you could have done.
For such a young piggy to pass like this, I wonder if she had a problem since birth? Something that eventually would have reared it's head whatever you tried.

RIP little Oreo 🌈❤️
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The vet did mention it may have been a birth defect

It's just so heartbreaking. We may have only had her for 4 weeks but she left a little imprint on our hearts. We are devastated.

We're now wondering what the next steps are as we realise we can't leave her sister (Peanut) alone. But we also don't want to have replace Oreo so quickly. 😔
 
Peanut will be ok for a few weeks if she is eating still.
Don't change the bedding for a week or so to let Oreo's scent stay with her whilst she grieves x😔
 
Thank you.

Thank you to everyone who has been so incredibly supportive and helpful.

We really do appreciate it.
 
I appreciate it is hard to think about another piggy so soon. Normally we say they are ok alone for up to 4 weeks but given peanut is so young she actually needs a friend much sooner. Babies should not be alone. I know that’s hard to think about for you but it’s in peanut’s best interest.
 
Piggies&buns said:
I appreciate it is hard to think about another piggy so soon. Normally we say they are ok alone for up to 4 weeks but given peanut is so young she actually needs a friend much sooner. Babies should not be alone. I know that’s hard to think about for you but it’s in peanut’s best interest.
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It really is so hard. 😔

We'll endeavour to get her a friend asap.

Do you have any advice, she is of course only roughly 12weeks old. Should we try to get another youngster? Or maybe a slightly older sow?

Is they're any tips to helping them bond?

Thanks
 
amhmcrm said:
It really is so hard. 😔

We'll endeavour to get her a friend asap.

Do you have any advice, she is of course only roughly 12weeks old. Should we try to get another youngster? Or maybe a slightly older sow?

Is they're any tips to helping them bond?

Thanks
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I'm sorry your post seems to have been missed, and especially that you lost your little one. Popcorn free, Peanut 🌈

The usual recommendation when needing to find a new friend for a bereaved piggy, is to go to a rescue where she can meet other piggies and hopefully be bonded with one. Would you be able to take her to one of the forum recommended rescues? https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/guinea-pig-forum-recommended-rescues.196734/
You could explain that you have a very young sow who is bereaved and on her own.
Bonding is all about compatibility rather than similarity in age, but very young piggies are usually more desperate for piggy company which should make it easier.
 
Of course compatibility is the most important criteria but I've heard it's best to get an adult for a baby because an adult can teach guinea pig things especially group behaviour and guinea communication which another baby can't. If the adult has been properly socialised and hasn't lived alone until then, that is. A rescue would hopefully know the rough history of their guineas, though may not if e.g. the guinea was literally dumped on the doorstep.

How Is your 9yo daughter doing?
 
Thank you so much for your kind message.

I’ve been in contact with Pennywell Farm in Devon and am waiting for someone to get back to me about the possibility of adoption — or at least some advice on where locally might be able to help us find a suitable companion for Peanut.

Thankfully, Peanut seems to be coping well for now. She’s eating, drinking, popcorning, and wheeking as usual, and her weight has stayed stable.

My daughter is doing okay, thank you for asking. Her heart still aches, of course. I’ve ordered her a slate memorial plaque with Oreo’s face etched on it, which we’ll place in a nice spot in the garden. I’ve also made her a photo book so she can keep all those happy memories close.

We may have only had Oreo for four short weeks, but we absolutely adored her — she’ll always be part of our family. 💕
 
Qualcast&Flymo said:
I'm sorry your post seems to have been missed, and especially that you lost your little one. Popcorn free, Peanut 🌈

The usual recommendation when needing to find a new friend for a bereaved piggy, is to go to a rescue where she can meet other piggies and hopefully be bonded with one. Would you be able to take her to one of the forum recommended rescues? https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/guinea-pig-forum-recommended-rescues.196734/
You could explain that you have a very young sow who is bereaved and on her own.
Bonding is all about compatibility rather than similarity in age, but very young piggies are usually more desperate for piggy company which should make it easier.
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Thank you so much for your kind message and for sharing that link.

It was actually Oreo who passed, but I really appreciate your lovely words all the same. 💕

I’ll definitely look into the recommended rescues — I’ve also contacted Pennywell Farm in Devon, who may be able to advise or help with adoption. Peanut is still quite young, so I think meeting potential companions in person sounds like the best idea to make sure the match is right for her. Assuming I can find somewhere that offers this.

Thankfully Peanut seems to be coping okay at the moment. But I’d love for her to have another friend soon. Thank you again for pointing me in the right direction.
 
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