not eating pellets

[Furrypiggies]

my guinea pig isn’t eating her pellets and I’m not sure what to do, recently my guinea pigs legs stopped working, not completely as she can still wobble a little bit but she’s falls over a lot and drags both her back legs, so I took her to the vet and they told me there wasn’t much options for her and they believed it was a neurological issue.. so they gave me pain medicine to give to her to make her more comfortable and that’s about it. I wasn’t told exactly if she’s dying or not, but now she’s just been laying in one spot and not walking around anymore but that could be just because of her legs, so I have to bring the water bottle over to her multiple times a day otherwise she wouldn’t get any water on her own, I also now have to hand feed her the pellets but this was before she stopped eating them, but now I’m worried is it okay if she’s not eating her pellets? She’s 4 years old, 5 in December so she’s a little old but she’s still eating her hay, veggies and water great, her poops have also been tinier than her usual poops I’m not sure if that means anything, when she did visit the vet earlier this week she was weighed and the vet told me she lost weight she’s currently 1.22 pounds, is that bad for an adult guinea pig? what should I do to help her?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Welcome to the forum and I’m sorry to hear of her health issues.

Not eating pellets in itself is not a problem - pellets are not essential in the diet (some of us, myself included, never feeding them anyway). What is important is hay intake. It is three quarters of their daily food intake.
If she is losing weight then that means she is not eating enough hay - and that is a big problem.
Small poops also indicate not enough hay intake.
If she is losing weight then there is a medical issue somewhere with her - only the vet can identify what it is though.

You need to ensure you weigh your guinea pigs every week as part of routine care, but then switch to daily weight checks so you can monitor hay intake more closely.
If weight is being lost week on week or day on day (anything over 50g of loss requires you to step in) then you need to step in with support feeding a recovery feed (oxbow critical care for example) or mushing the normal pellets with water to make a slurry.
You will note that we refer to weighs in grams on the forum.

You ask whether her weight is ok for an adult guinea pig: The number on the scales only tells you about hay intake. It does not tell you whether she is a good weight for her body size - only checking her heft/BMI. If she feels too thin, ribs can be felt and no fat covering them, then the weight loss may be severe.
You should be able to feel a nice thin layer of fat on the ribs but still be able to feel the ribs.

I have added some guides below to help further. Please take the time to read them. They contain all the practical how-to tips and advice.

Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
How to Improvise Feeding Support in an Emergency
Wiebke's Guide to Poops

 

[CTWC]

Please follow the advice above and perhaps call your vet if you want more answers about your last visit I would hope they can clarify things for you
Could you move the water bottle to allow easier access to it?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome

BIG HUGS

I am very sorry. Please take the time to read the links as they contain all the practical advice and how-to tips that we cannot repeat in full in every thread. The guides are there to help you to try and save her life if that is still possible.

The weight loss is massive because hay is making over three quarters of the daily food intake. Veg, pellets, any forage and treats all together replace the supplementary role that wild forage used to have. Has your vet checked the mouth and the back teeth for potential dental overgrowth due to her not eating hay for quite while before stopping to eat pellets?

It may be that the underlying cause of the loss of appetite and weight has by now developed too far and that the body may have started to close down. We cannot tell you what could be going on and how far it has progressed. All you can do at this stage is to give a try to see whether you can turn things around at the last minute or not.

I am never happy to link in this guide here but you may find it helpful so you are not left wondering and have at least some guidance in case it happens. Our forum is UK based so we are right in the middle of our down time when it is only afternoon and evening for you.
The links below will give you access to necessary, very practical step-by-step how-to information at any time.
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

Is My Guinea Pig Dying?

A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

My thoughts are with you and your precious girl.

 

[weepweeps]

I’m so sorry your piggy is poorly. Sending healing vibes to her and hugs to you.