Not Moving Or Eating

[joedixon7]

We have a guinea pig who is around 3 years old, and a few days ago just stopped acting like herself. She has been taken to a veterinary hospital, and we were told to constantly feed her with a vegetable mush to keep food going to her. We've been going at this for a few days, but no visible improvement has been made. Any advice on what we should do?

 

[Gem789]

We have a guinea pig who is around 3 years old, and a few days ago just stopped acting like herself. She has been taken to a veterinary hospital, and we were told to constantly feed her with a vegetable mush to keep food going to her. We've been going at this for a few days, but no visible improvement has been made. Any advice on what we should do?

Is his weight keeping stable? If not you need to increase the amount you are feeding.I would recommend trying a different vet.Investigation is needed to find out what is going on.Is he on pain relief?

 

[joedixon7]

Is his weight keeping stable? If not you need to increase the amount you are feeding.I would recommend trying a different vet.Investigation is needed to find out what is going on.Is he on pain relief?

I should have probably gone into more detail with this.
My sister checked her weight on the first day she became noticeably ill, and it seemed to have decreased. She did have medication for a spot that was on her back, and had been taking that for a couple of days until this happened. While the spot seems to have gone, we aren't sure on how long we can keep syringe feeding her. The medication was not pain relief, and she is not currently on pain relief.

 

[Gem789]

I should have probably gone into more detail with this.
My sister checked her weight on the first day she became noticeably ill, and it seemed to have decreased. She did have medication for a spot that was on her back, and had been taking that for a couple of days until this happened. While the spot seems to have gone, we aren't sure on how long we can keep syringe feeding her. The medication was not pain relief, and she is not currently on pain relief.

Ok 1st I would ask your vet for pain relief.Most of the time when’s pig stops eating it’s because of pain x

 

[Reenie]

I'm no expert, but is it anti biotics? I believe this can affect their appetite and should be supported with a probiotic for the gut. @Wiebke would give better advice on this.

 

[Wiebke]

We have a guinea pig who is around 3 years old, and a few days ago just stopped acting like herself. She has been taken to a veterinary hospital, and we were told to constantly feed her with a vegetable mush to keep food going to her. We've been going at this for a few days, but no visible improvement has been made. Any advice on what we should do?

Have the vets any idea what is causing it? What medication is he on? Has he got gut stimulants, painkillers and are you feeding enough? Have they checked for his gut movement, heart, airways, painful areas, any internal tumours, gas in the stomach etc.?

From feeding mushed veg instead of hay/fibre based recovery care (hay makes 80% of the daily food intake while too much vegetable can make guinea pigs ill), I assume that your vets are not very experienced with guinea pigs? if you can, please switch to a herbivore recovery formula like Critical Care or give mushed up pellets as an emergency stop gap measure.

You need to feed 40-60 ml over the course of 24 hours to keep a guinea pig alive. A healthy guinea pig in its prime eats about the equivalent of 120 ml in solids and liquids.
Here are our detailed illustrated tips: Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Since we have members and enquiries from all the world, we find it very helpful if you please added your country, state/country or UK county to your details so we can tailor any advice to what is available and relevant to you (i.e. climate, brands, knowledgeable vet or rescue access etc.) Please click on your username on the top bar, go to personal details and scroll down to location. this makes it appear with every post you make. Thank you!

 

[joedixon7]

Have the vets any idea what is causing it? What medication is he on? Has he got gut stimulants, painkillers and are you feeding enough? Have they checked for his gut movement, heart, airways, painful areas, any internal tumours, gas in the stomach etc.?

From feeding mushed veg instead of hay/fibre based recovery care (hay makes 80% of the daily food intake while too much vegetable can make guinea pigs ill), I assume that your vets are not very experienced with guinea pigs? if you can, please switch to a herbivore recovery formula like Critical Care or give mushed up pellets as an emergency stop gap measure.

You need to feed 40-60 ml over the course of 24 hours to keep a guinea pig alive. A healthy guinea pig in its prime eats about the equivalent of 120 ml in solids and liquids.
Here are our detailed illustrated tips: Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Since we have members and enquiries from all the world, we find it very helpful if you please added your country, state/country or UK county to your details so we can tailor any advice to what is available and relevant to you (i.e. climate, brands, knowledgeable vet or rescue access etc.) Please click on your username on the top bar, go to personal details and scroll down to location. this makes it appear with every post you make. Thank you!

I would try everything you said, but she died while I was at school We're all upset because none of us were around to feed her or help her, but we reckon she could have had a bloat, since her stomach felt quite large compared to what it has been. It's disappointing because the vets couldn't give a diagnosis for something that could have been prevented. It doesn't matter now though.

 

[Wiebke]

I am ever so sorry that you have been failed by your vets. It sounded like bloat; severe bloat can kill, but she may have had a chance with appropriate support.

 

[joedixon7]

I am ever so sorry that you have been failed by your vets. It sounded like bloat; severe bloat can kill, but she may have had a chance with appropriate support.

I know, we're all really upset about it. Even the other two girls we have know that something isn't right.

 

[Wiebke]

I know, we're all really upset about it. Even the other two girls we have know that something isn't right.

Guinea pigs have a much finer sense for when something is wrong. They would have known long before you. my own guinea pigs have often alerted me to something that was not right by changes in behaviour towards a mate of theirs. Yours will have known and will have taken their leave from their friend by now. You may find that they are rather quiet and withdrawn for a while.
Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig

You are most welcome to post a tribute to your girl in our Rainbow Bridge section.

We have got a recommended UK vet locator on the top bar, but can provide a link to recommended vets in some other countries if wished. It can really make the difference between life and death.