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Picky Little Guinea Pig?

Vickyg

Vickyg

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
May 11, 2017
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Location
Port Talbot
I'm looking for some advice please from someone who has had experience with this issue.
I adopted a baby guinea pig (which will be eventually integrated into a group) and the vet said she had pasturella as she had nasal discharge. She apparently had it before I got her too. She is back on baytril and after a further check from the vet she was given the all clear but just to keep an eye on her weight as she was a bit light before, but was slowly gaining weight.
I continue to monitor her weight and its very up and down. She really doesn't seem to each much of anything. I know she is only about 14 weeks old (i believe) so appetite isn't going to be as big as a standard piggy but nether the less, still a concern. I have tried her with pellets, ready grass, hay, dried herby mix, treats, spring greens and broccoli. She doesn't touch any of this. I even put a small piece of apple in to see if it would stimulate her but no. She has had a little carrot, she likes this a little but no major interest. The only thing she seems to have an appetite for is celery, but not the most nutrition for her. When she eats this, her weight goes up, if I don't put it in, she seems to eat little or nothing.
Do I just be stubborn and leave the above in there until she finally gives in and eats it?
Or is the baytril suppressing her appetite?
I don't want to stress her by taking her to the vets again but feel I might have to.

All advice most grateful

IMG_20180124_101846.webp
 
Also forgot to say I tried kale and Brussel sprouts too, but didn't touch them
 
Vickyg said:
I'm looking for some advice please from someone who has had experience with this issue.
I adopted a baby guinea pig (which will be eventually integrated into a group) and the vet said she had pasturella as she had nasal discharge. She apparently had it before I got her too. She is back on baytril and after a further check from the vet she was given the all clear but just to keep an eye on her weight as she was a bit light before, but was slowly gaining weight.
I continue to monitor her weight and its very up and down. She really doesn't seem to each much of anything. I know she is only about 14 weeks old (i believe) so appetite isn't going to be as big as a standard piggy but nether the less, still a concern. I have tried her with pellets, ready grass, hay, dried herby mix, treats, spring greens and broccoli. She doesn't touch any of this. I even put a small piece of apple in to see if it would stimulate her but no. She has had a little carrot, she likes this a little but no major interest. The only thing she seems to have an appetite for is celery, but not the most nutrition for her. When she eats this, her weight goes up, if I don't put it in, she seems to eat little or nothing.
Do I just be stubborn and leave the above in there until she finally gives in and eats it?
Or is the baytril suppressing her appetite?
I don't want to stress her by taking her to the vets again but feel I might have to.

All advice most grateful

View attachment 79573
Click to expand...

Hi

Has your vet had the discharge lab checked to make sure that it is really pasteurella and not just a URI? Pasteurella is pretty rare in guinea pigs and usually only contracted when in close contact with rabbits.

Please keep offering her top up syringe feed and either give her some poo soup (water in which you have soaked fresh poos from a healthy guinea pig) or invest in a course of fibreplex to help get her bayril battered guts going again.
This antibiotic is more prone to affect the gut bacteria that are integral to the digestive process than most other antibiotics. Fibreplex is a kind of super-probiotic with other ingredients that help to boost and stabilise gut activity.
Information on syringe feed and fibreplex in our guide: Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
 
I don’t really have any advice for this, but I just wanted to say your piggy looks just like Pearl (gold/yellow one in my profile picture)! The paws are a little different, though.
 
Is it advisable to get her on a probiotic or gut stimulant? Not giving advice, just asking.
It's good that she's eating some thing even if it is only celery. It's a starter.
 
Thank you for all your advice
I'm taking her back to the vets later as still not happy with her eating
 
Vickyg said:
Thank you for all your advice
I'm taking her back to the vets later as still not happy with her eating
Click to expand...

Please top her up with syringe feed or mushed up pellets and weigh her daily to control her food intake.

You can give a pinch of probiotics either one hour before or 1-2 hours after the antibiotic to help prop up the guts. Baytril is an appetite dampener/killer, which doesn't help; especially when you are dealing with a respiratory infection, whether that is URI (which is not at all uncommon in shop piggies) or pasteurella (which is rare). You can find information on recovery foods and probiotics in the syringe feeding link. We recommend to always have some at home for an emergency as guinea pigs can go downhill very quickly.
First Aid Kit For Guinea Pigs
 
Thank you
I have tried the probiotic but she wasn't having it.
Will start on the syringe feeding
 
The vet has kept her in for observations to view her (lack of) eating habits and weight gains and loss.
Poor little Popcorn!

Thank you all kindly
 
Little popcorn ate for the vets overnight! They were happy to release her.
I have now made an area up next to the group she will be integrated in, in the hope it might make her feel better and she can learn from the older ones.
Just need to keep an eye on her weight to make sure.

Thank you all kindly x
 
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