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Piggie not eating

P

Piggiemummy5

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Dec 26, 2025
Messages
6
Reaction score
19
Points
75
Location
Scotland
Hi everyone, looking for a bit of advice for my male guinea pig. On 23rd December we found a lump next to his front paw which was bleeding. We rushed him to the vet where he was taken into emergency surgery to remove the tumour. The surgery went well and his wound looks like it is healing perfectly.

Since the surgery, he has been really lethargic and hasn’t been eating or drinking. We have been trying our best to feed him recovery plus but he either spits it out or pushes it to the top of his mouth and won’t swallow it. We had him back to the vet today (26th) who told us his temperature was very low and his bowels were blocked up. They kept him in for a while to give him fluids, antibiotics and painkillers by injections and put him in the incubator to get his body temperature up. We have to take him back in tomorrow morning to see if there is any improvement.

We have a heat pad in his cage and a fan heater facing the cage to help keep his body temperature up but I am looking to see if anyone has experienced anything similar who can advise on how to get him to start eating and drinking himself. We give him recovery plus every 2 hours (including throughout the night). Is there anything we can do to entice him to eat the recovery food and his veggies?

We are both so nervous to take him back to the vets tomorrow as I know if he doesn’t start eating himself, we are going to run out of options. Any advice would be greatly appreciated🙁.
 
Hello and welcome to the forum. I’m sorry your boy is so unwell.

Keep trying the syringe feed. Little and often. You have to try and keep his stomach working. Is he eating nothing for himself? How about a little clean grass, some herbs like coriander or basil (they usually can’t resist these).

It’s great you have a heat pad in the cage with him.

Unfortunately some piggies (one of mine included) have an adverse reaction to the anaesthetic. There is no way of knowing this beforehand. Hopefully he will start to perk up before the vets tomorrow. Good luck. I’m sending healing vibes to you piggy. ❤️
 
weepweeps said:
Hello and welcome to the forum. I’m sorry your boy is so unwell.

Keep trying the syringe feed. Little and often. You have to try and keep his stomach working. Is he eating nothing for himself? How about a little clean grass, some herbs like coriander or basil (they usually can’t resist these).

It’s great you have a heat pad in the cage with him.

Unfortunately some piggies (one of mine included) have an adverse reaction to the anaesthetic. There is no way of knowing this beforehand. Hopefully he will start to perk up before the vets tomorrow. Good luck. I’m sending healing vibes to you piggy. ❤️
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Thank you. He’s not eating anything on his own. He has had surgeries in the past and recovered really well from them but is really struggling this time. He is 5.5 years old now so not sure if he’s struggling so much due to his age. We’ve got a dose of gut stimulant to give him tonight so hoping that will help him too. I just don’t want him suffering.🙁
 
Sending healing vibes to your piggy too.

He maybe can't swallow any more? I know from sad experience how awful that is... Yes you should keep offering syringe food for a while anyway but not attempt to actually force it down. There were times I regretted trying so hard with a particular piggy when the piggy was showing he/she was shutting down. I'm not there, I can't see your piggy so I can't say how it is.

His age could be a contributing factor, yes. Some piggies are elderly at 5, some are elderly at 8. It varies. If he's had operations before that could have taken a toll, in my medically-uneducated opinion.

Hugs to you.
 
Mrs Tiggy Winkle said:
Sending healing vibes to your piggy too.

He maybe can't swallow any more? I know from sad experience how awful that is... Yes you should keep offering syringe food for a while anyway but not attempt to actually force it down. There were times I regretted trying so hard with a particular piggy when the piggy was showing he/she was shutting down. I'm not there, I can't see your piggy so I can't say how it is.

His age could be a contributing factor, yes. Some piggies are elderly at 5, some are elderly at 8. It varies. If he's had operations before that could have taken a toll, in my medically-uneducated opinion.

Hugs to you.
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I do think he is starting to give up. He’s making very slight movements with his head but that is it. Really wish I could do more to help him. I really feel for his brother too as he doesn’t want to leave his side. He really isn’t well at all🙁
 
It's lovely that his brother is by his side. Sometimes the other guinea(s) give up, go away and ignore the poorly piggy. Hugs of virtual kind and comforting vibes to All of you.
 
Piggiemummy5 said:
I do think he is starting to give up. He’s making very slight movements with his head but that is it. Really wish I could do more to help him. I really feel for his brother too as he doesn’t want to leave his side. He really isn’t well at all🙁
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I’m so sorry. I agree. Don’t force him to eat if he really can’t. I hope he’s ok.
 
Piggiemummy5 said:
Hi everyone, looking for a bit of advice for my male guinea pig. On 23rd December we found a lump next to his front paw which was bleeding. We rushed him to the vet where he was taken into emergency surgery to remove the tumour. The surgery went well and his wound looks like it is healing perfectly.

Since the surgery, he has been really lethargic and hasn’t been eating or drinking. We have been trying our best to feed him recovery plus but he either spits it out or pushes it to the top of his mouth and won’t swallow it. We had him back to the vet today (26th) who told us his temperature was very low and his bowels were blocked up. They kept him in for a while to give him fluids, antibiotics and painkillers by injections and put him in the incubator to get his body temperature up. We have to take him back in tomorrow morning to see if there is any improvement.

We have a heat pad in his cage and a fan heater facing the cage to help keep his body temperature up but I am looking to see if anyone has experienced anything similar who can advise on how to get him to start eating and drinking himself. We give him recovery plus every 2 hours (including throughout the night). Is there anything we can do to entice him to eat the recovery food and his veggies?

We are both so nervous to take him back to the vets tomorrow as I know if he doesn’t start eating himself, we are going to run out of options. Any advice would be greatly appreciated🙁.
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BIG HUGS

Having lost my Myfina to a blockage that developed over Christmas Day on this day 7 years ago while we were getting ready for a several hours' wait to be seen for emergency pts I totally feel for you.

I trule hate having to bring this up but not being able to swallow can be an indication that your piggy has stopped being able to process food and the body is closing down; hence the low body temperature - it is very often a sign that the blood circulation is no longer working as it should.

If you have a microwaveable or heatable pad or water bottle, please only half-heat it so it is warm but not hot. Reheat/replace rather more regularly but always give your piggy the chance to wiggle away if they get to hot. Gentle warmth is the biggest gift you can give a very ill or dying piggy.

You can find more detailed step-by-step information in this link here so you have a better idea what to brace for as a natural death can be a lot more physical that you would expect; especially when it is the first time you are confronted with it.
Is My Guinea Pig Dying?
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

My feeling is that he is already a fair way along on his journey to the Bridge.

My thoughts are with you.
 
Wiebke said:
BIG HUGS

Having lost my Myfina to a blockage that developed over Christmas Day on this day 7 years ago while we were getting ready for a several hours' wait to be seen for emergency pts I totally feel for you.

I trule hate having to bring this up but not being able to swallow can be an indication that your piggy has stopped being able to process food and the body is closing down; hence the low body temperature - it is very often a sign that the blood circulation is no longer working as it should.

If you have a microwaveable or heatable pad or water bottle, please only half-heat it so it is warm but not hot. Reheat/replace rather more regularly but always give your piggy the chance to wiggle away if they get to hot. Gentle warmth is the biggest gift you can give a very ill or dying piggy.

You can find more detailed step-by-step information in this link here so you have a better idea what to brace for as a natural death can be a lot more physical that you would expect; especially when it is the first time you are confronted with it.
Is My Guinea Pig Dying?
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

My feeling is that he is already a fair way along on his journey to the Bridge.

My thoughts are with you.
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Thank you for this. He’s is getting lots of cuddles from myself and my partner just now. I really don’t think he is going to make it through the night🙁. He has had a great and happy life but it is just so hard seeing him struggle. He will always be my wee baby💛
 
Piggiemummy5 said:
Thank you for this. He’s is getting lots of cuddles from myself and my partner just now. I really don’t think he is going to make it through the night🙁. He has had a great and happy life but it is just so hard seeing him struggle. He will always be my wee baby💛
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Please do not exclude his mate and - unless he is fitting - let him pass in quiet. Your love will still be with him but in my own experience it seems easier if they don't have that immediate pressure in the later stages. I've had several piggies who kept flopping over or were fitting pass away the moment I had to give into my urges and go to the toilet. That is not accidental.

Concentrate on sending them warm and soothing, but gentle thoughts.
You can find more practical tips in the dying guide link.
 
Wiebke said:
Please do not exclude his mate and - unless he is fitting - let him pass in quiet. Your love will still be with him but in my own experience it seems easier if they don't have that immediate pressure in the later stages. I've had several piggies who kept flopping over or were fitting pass away the moment I had to give into my urges and go to the toilet. That is not accidental.

Concentrate on sending them warm and soothing, but gentle thoughts.
You can find more practical tips in the dying guide link.
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He is back in the cage now with his brother. We both wanted a chance to give him a cuddle incase he doesn’t make it through the night🙁
 
Totally understandable. Sorry you are going through this. Thinking of you.
 
Piggiemummy5 said:
Thank you everyone for your kind words. My poor boy past away wrapped in his favourite blanket next to his brother. Absolutely heart broken. I’m just glad he isn’t in pain anymore. RIP my little scruff ball🥺💛
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BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry. You have done all the right things and have not failed your precious boy in any way.

Once you have hard areas inside the gut or body, the game is usually over when it comes to guinea pigs. If this happens over Christmas, it is usually even more emotional and stressful, and you also have to fight with overloaded emergency services. :( :( :(

Be kind with yourselves, try not to overthink or blame yourselves for what has happened. We only ever have our pets on a lease from above that can be withdrawn without warning at any time. We can never choose when, what from and under which circumstances the end comes; that is quite simply not within our control. We are just wired as humans to reflect everything back onto ourselves.

However, what is in within your control and what really counts is all the many happy todays filled with love and in good care and company by which piggies measure a happy life by. And you have certainly given that in abundance! ❤️

As somebody who has had to take a leaf out of her own piggies' book and live life in the same way, I can assure you that it really makes a difference and that there is nothing like the inner happiness from living in the moment and enjoying the good things that come your way to add quality to every single day and make it count. That normal everyday life well lived is what you are giving your piggies. :tu:

Give yourselves time to absorb the shock and to grieve. It is OK not to be OK for a little while. If you struggle, you are welcome to make use of our new End of Life and Bereavement Support Corner where we provide understanding community support for owners and help with all the little large questions and issues that come up.

Here is our information for what you can do for a bereaved companion; including in the immediate aftermath. What we recommend, especially with closely bonded piggies, to not clean the cage and to especially leave the cosy or blanket of the passed companion there for them to snuggle into for comfort and to allow the scent to fade naturally for about up to a week. Just poo patrol but given them the space to grieve in their own way. It may be hard to bear to see a little one withdrawn and not wanting lots of fuss or cuddles, but respect them for that. Step in only with those that stop eating and drinking or are giving up on life altogether.
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Processing and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
 
I am so very sorry your boy had to cross The Rainbow Bridge 🌈
Popcorn happily sweet boy and watch over those you've left behind 🌈
 
So very sorry for your loss.
You gave him the gift of a good death, enfolded in love and surrounded by those who loved him.
Be gentle with yourselves as you grieve.
Hugs 🤗
 
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