Not eating and small poo

[fourcavies]

I will call the vet tomorrow and get an appointment but in the meantime I wondered if anyone had thoughts on my Harry’s problem.

His poos have been getting smaller and I noticed yesterday on closer inspection he wasn’t munching his fresh treats, by that I mean he seems interested in offerings often running up to them but not able or willing to bite, I’ve looked in his mouth and I can’t see anything obvious. I’m sure he’s lost weight. He looks like he’s chewing but food isn’t going in like the others. I think it’s been going on a few days, Friday he left a pile of dandelion leaves which is unusual and made me check him more. I’ve also given him carrot peelings, strawberry tops melon and herbs most looks un touched as well as having him on the grass during the day and tucked up with hay at night.

If it’s a dental issue that’s a concern as my last piggies died having his teeth trimmed, I know anaesthetics are dangerous for this guys :-(

Harry is a lovely boy, about four years old and de-sexed.

 

[Wiebke]

I will call the vet tomorrow and get an appointment but in the meantime I wondered if anyone had thoughts on my Harry’s problem.

His poos have been getting smaller and I noticed yesterday on closer inspection he wasn’t munching his fresh treats, by that I mean he seems interested in offerings often running up to them but not able or willing to bite, I’ve looked in his mouth and I can’t see anything obvious. I’m sure he’s lost weight. He looks like he’s chewing but food isn’t going in like the others. I think it’s been going on a few days, Friday he left a pile of dandelion leaves which is unusual and made me check him more. I’ve also given him carrot peelings, strawberry tops melon and herbs most looks un touched as well as having him on the grass during the day and tucked up with hay at night.

If it’s a dental issue that’s a concern as my last piggies died having his teeth trimmed, I know anaesthetics are dangerous for this guys :-(

Harry is a lovely boy, about four years old and de-sexed.

Hi and welcome

Please step in with offering syringe feed (mushed up pellets will do in an emergency as long as you cut off the syringe tip as shown in our syringe feeding guide to allow any fibre to pass through) as well as water via syringe (don't force any down; let him drink and eat from the syringe as much as he wants). Weigh daily to monitor the food intake instead of weekly, keeping in mind that over 80% of what he is eating is hay, which you cannot control by eye. Cheap kitchen scales from the supermarket are adequate for the job.
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig Safely
Weight - Monitoring and Management

It sounds very much like overgrown premolar spurs, which arch over the tongue and trap it. The premolars and molars at the back of the mouth (usually not easily visible) are the crucial teeth. They are very fast growing because they have evolved by being ground down from chewing the very abrasive silica in the hay and grass that guinea pigs live on as the overwhelming mainstay of their diet. It is often a pain issue that causes them to not chew evenly, which in turn leads to the growing of spurs.
The four incisors at the front are used for picking up and cutting. In a balanced dental system they are self-sharpening. Any slant, uneven edge or pointing inward without meeting is generally a sign that the back teeth are overgrown.
Eating much more slowly, ignoring hard foods and picking up food but then letting it fall, drooling are all symptoms of a dental problem or alternatively thrush (fungal mouth infection).

Which country are you in? We can't help you better unless we know. Please add your country, state/UK county to location in account details (accessed by clicking on your username on the top bar). This will make it appear with every post and allow us to tailor any advice to what is available and relevant where you are straight away. We have members and enquiries from all over the world, so our recommendations can vary enormously. Without knowing, we have to keep any advice as general as possible to cover all bases. Thank you!

 

[fourcavies]

Thank you, I’ve got a syringe from my daughters neurogenic, I’ll give it a try now. I’m giving him tiny herb leaves and he is doing something odd like yawning at me. Do I feed him if he needs an anaesthetic? Thank you so much, I’ve been worried all night x

 

[Bill & Ted]

You must keep feeding him to keep his gut alive. Guinea pigs cannot vomit so are fine to keep eating right up to having a general anaesthetic. Please have a look at the guide on syringe feeding, it will really help you through this. Good luck for your little one

Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you, I’ve got a syringe from my daughters neurogenic, I’ll give it a try now. I’m giving him tiny herb leaves and he is doing something odd like yawning at me. Do I feed him if he needs an anaesthetic? Thank you so much, I’ve been worried all night x

Yawning means that he is struggling to swallow; it could be a sign of something stuck at the back of the mouth. Anyway, definitely a vet trip!

Here are our post-op care tips; they also go for dental treatment under anaesthesia. Your piggy may not eat on its own straight away. Guinea pig dental treatment is unfortunately not something that is taught in vet training and experienced dental vets are rare.
Tips For Post-operative Care

Please read the various green links in this thread. They contain helpful illustrated step-by-step information that has been specifically written for inexperienced members to guide you safely through each process.

 

[fourcavies]

Hi and welcome

Please step in with offering syringe feed (mushed up pellets will do in an emergency as long as you cut off the syringe tip as shown in our syringe feeding guide to allow any fibre to pass through) as well as water via syringe (don't force any down; let him drink and eat from the syringe as much as he wants). Weigh daily to monitor the food intake instead of weekly, keeping in mind that over 80% of what he is eating is hay, which you cannot control by eye. Cheap kitchen scales from the supermarket are adequate for the job.
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig Safely
Weight - Monitoring and Management

It sounds very much like overgrown premolar spurs, which arch over the tongue and trap it. The premolars and molars at the back of the mouth (usually not easily visible) are the crucial teeth. They are very fast growing because they have evolved by being ground down from chewing the very abrasive silica in the hay and grass that guinea pigs live on as the overwhelming mainstay of their diet. It is often a pain issue that causes them to not chew evenly, which in turn leads to the growing of spurs.
The four incisors at the front are used for picking up and cutting. In a balanced dental system they are self-sharpening. Any slant, uneven edge or pointing inward without meeting is generally a sign that the back teeth are overgrown.
Eating much more slowly, ignoring hard foods and picking up food but then letting it fall, drooling are all symptoms of a dental problem or alternatively thrush (fungal mouth infection).

Which country are you in? We can't help you better unless we know. Please add your country, state/UK county to location in account details (accessed by clicking on your username on the top bar). This will make it appear with every post and allow us to tailor any advice to what is available and relevant where you are straight away. We have members and enquiries from all over the world, so our recommendations can vary enormously. Without knowing, we have to keep any advice as general as possible to cover all bases. Thank you!

Sadly I had to have Harry put to sleep this morning due to a mass in his ab

Yawning means that he is struggling to swallow; it could be a sign of something stuck at the back of the mouth. Anyway, definitely a vet trip!

Here are our post-op care tips; they also go for dental treatment under anaesthesia. Your piggy may not eat on its own straight away. Guinea pig dental treatment is unfortunately not something that is taught in vet training and experienced dental vets are rare.
Tips For Post-operative Care

Please read the various green links in this thread. They contain helpful illustrated step-by-step information that has been specifically written for inexperienced members to guide you safely through each process.

thank you for your replies, sadly Harry was found to have a large mass in his abdomen, both vets agreed and sadly Harry has passed away.

 

[KathT]

So sorry. It’s sad when you have to let them go suddenly. Popcorn free little Harry.

 

[Wiebke]

Sadly I had to have Harry put to sleep this morning due to a mass in his ab

thank you for your replies, sadly Harry was found to have a large mass in his abdomen, both vets agreed and sadly Harry has passed away.

BIG HUGS

I am very sorry! It the kind of news nobody wants to hear. You did the right thing.

A piggy can refuse to swallow/eat when they are no longer able to process any food. Unfortunately when advising, we can only go by what you are reporting.


Here are our tips on what you can do for any friend of Harry's: Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig

And here is information for yourself to help you with the inevitable shock, soul searching and the rest of the grieving process: Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

We have a Rainbow Bridge section, which is there for anybody who would like to post a tribute to a piggy of theirs. You are welcome to post a tribute to Harry at any time as long as it feels right for you.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Aw, so sorry that you have lost Harry x
Sleep tight little one x