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Piggy going lethargic

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Kichi

New Born Pup
Joined
Sep 12, 2020
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Location
Florida
First off do not tell me to go to a vet none of the ones in my area specialize or even care for small animals and I am unable to make it to the ones that do as they are farther away especially with my work schedule restricting my travel

With that out if the way my pig Kichi used be be active a year ago but over the past few months he’s gone down hill despite being a year and a half old. He still eats but he’s a bit weak, he has a platform in his cage that he jumps to and from but now he won’t anymore, he poops fine but when I give him time to fun he wants to hide for up to hours instead of explore.

I don’t have time to be with home because I’m working, he was kinda forced upon me in the first place, I don’t know what to do.

He gets all sorts of fruits and vegetables and hay, he isn’t showing signs of pneumonia or mites and he is recently at his lowest weight of 931 grams.
 
Kichi said:
First off do not tell me to go to a vet none of the ones in my area specialize or even care for small animals and I am unable to make it to the ones that do as they are farther away especially with my work schedule restricting my travel

With that out if the way my pig Kichi used be be active a year ago but over the past few months he’s gone down hill despite being a year and a half old. He still eats but he’s a bit weak, he has a platform in his cage that he jumps to and from but now he won’t anymore, he poops fine but when I give him time to fun he wants to hide for up to hours instead of explore.

I don’t have time to be with home because I’m working, he was kinda forced upon me in the first place, I don’t know what to do.

He gets all sorts of fruits and vegetables and hay, he isn’t showing signs of pneumonia or mites and he is recently at his lowest weight of 931 grams.
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Hi

Unfortunately, your piggy really needs to see a vet to get to the bottom of his weight loss and apathy; he will also need to support feeding. Lethargy is a red alert symptom that something serious is wrong and that your boy is running out of steam.
Can you get in contact with any of these good welfare standard rescues here? They may be able to find him a safe place and appropriate life saving care if you cannot provide it yourself. Guinea Lynx :: US Guinea Pig Rescue and Shelter Organizations

Please be aware that a guinea pig needs to eat hay, hay and more hay. Preferably leafy green veg should only make the equivalent of an afternoon snack and a little fruit should be the odd treat. Carrots is like feeding a bar of chocolate to your piggy.
The wrong diet can cause longer term health problems, like overgrowing back teeth which are ground down by the very abrasive silica in fresh grass and hay - the food guinea pigs have evolved on. Too much veg can cause also digestive problems.
There can of course another reason for his not being well and not eating enough (hence the weight loss and the need to support feed). But without a proper examination we cannot tell you what exactly is wrong and what he medically needs.
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
A guide to vets fees, insurance and payment support.
 
Wiebke said:
Unfortunately, your piggy really needs to see a vet
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That is an impossible option for me, the “best” vet in my area for this, and I spent a whole day driving there, was more invested in charging me than saving my last piggy. $1200 for a simple check up, he’s in good health, 3 weeks later he wasn’t.
 
If you can’t offer him the care he needs then, as she ruined above (and linked 😊) please surrender him to a rescue. Your piggy needs to be seen, I’m afraid there’s nothing else that can be said or recommended. I hope you can sort him out soon. Don’t let him be in pain.
 
Kichi said:
That is an impossible option for me, the “best” vet in my area for this, and I spent a whole day driving there, was more invested in charging me than saving my last piggy. $1200 for a simple check up, he’s in good health, 3 weeks later he wasn’t.
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Unfortunately without access to your piggy, none of us can tell you what is wrong with him and what he needs. There are some strict and - and for all of us rather frustrating - limitations to online support. What you are reporting is too vague to even start guessing what could be wrong - it could be so much.
Piggies have a very fast metabolism; when they are falling ill, they do fall ill much more quickly than larger animals. they are also prey animals, so they are wired to suppress any symptoms for as long as possible. By the time the are looking off, they are already seriously off. :(

I can only ask you to please take the time to read the links both my posts, which contain lots of practical care tips and information to help keep your boy alive until you can sort something for him.
Can you please review your diet, step in with feeding support (the one stop emergency and bridging care guide link contains tips on how you can improvise in the short term) and contact more local help that can take you further with practical support where you are; which is not something we can do being based in the UK.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

PS: I agree that vet fees like that for an exotics vet are ridiculous. That is three times more than I had to pay for a life-saving emergency for one of my own piggies last month (I saw my local general vet for it, though as speed was of essence). Do you have access to a general vet more locally?
I also fully get your frustration at your situation; you care very much or you wouldn't be as frustrated.
 
Update I’ve been giving him orange slices and organic lettuce and he’s doing much better now
 
Kichi said:
Update I’ve been giving him orange slices and organic lettuce and he’s doing much better now
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Please be aware that what your piggy eats for their breakfast, their lunch and their dinner is hay. Veg is about an afternoon lunch and and pellets a dessert. Fruit should be a special treat in very small quantities no more than once or twice a week.

Are you weighing your piggy to make sure that the weight is stable and that your piggy is eating enough hay? Too much fruit and lettuce without hay can cause a tummy upset. Please also be aware that grass and hay are both rich in vitamin C.
 
Wiebke said:
Please be aware that what your piggy eats for their breakfast, their lunch and their dinner is hay. Veg is about an afternoon lunch and and pellets a dessert. Fruit should be a special treat in very small quantities no more than once or twice a week.

Are you weighing your piggy to make sure that the weight is stable and that your piggy is eating enough hay? Too much fruit and lettuce without hay can cause a tummy upset. Please also be aware that grass and hay are both rich in vitamin C.
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Of course I give him plenty of vegetables on rotating and hay the fact he doesn’t sit in one place waiting for the world to end and is moving is an improvement
 
@Kichi there are several vets in your area/state. Give them a call and see if they can see your boy. You also need to consider companionship. If you’ve mentioned it already then ignore that.
 
I finally got my pig Kichi to a vet and it turns out he has a tumor, I need to know how to emotionally deal with this.
 
I’m sorry to hear that. I think you now have time to prepare for that time. Just give him lots of happy todays. They remember the now not what happened yesterday. All the very best to you both.

PS I’m going to merge your threads as it’s about the same thing.
 
Kichi said:
I finally got my pig Kichi to a vet and it turns out he has a tumor, I need to know how to emotionally deal with this.
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HUGS

I am very sorry that you have got the worst news possible. Where is the tumor located?

Please take the time to read this guide here. I have written it specially for people in your situation to help them through this most difficult time. You will hopefully find it very helpful: A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs
 
You know he was doing good but now he’s not, my dad had suggestions for putting him down each was pretty ****** up more than the last and how he did it to my other animals when they got into that condition.

He wants it to be my turn, so what’s the best way.
 
The only thing I can say is to consider his quality of life. If pain etc is not manageable and he’s withdrawing into himself etc then you have to speak to the vet and see how to proceed. If he’s okay, not losing weight too much or repeatedly and doesn’t seem in pain then perhaps you can have more happy today’s for now. I would be guided by the vet.
 
Siikibam said:
The only thing I can say is to consider his quality of life. If pain etc is not manageable and he’s withdrawing into himself etc then you have to speak to the vet and see how to proceed. If he’s okay, not losing weight too much or repeatedly and doesn’t seem in pain then perhaps you can have more happy today’s for now. I would be guided by the vet.
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Can’t make it to the vet, my announcement of his tumor was the first visit I was able to get after months so it is impossible for another one on short notice.
 
How is he acting and how’s his weight? CN you speak to the vet? I’m not saying it’s urgent. Just that if he appears to be going downhill then you will have to speak to/see the vet for further guidance.
 
Hasn’t pooped in 2 days and shows almost all the terminal signs, doesn’t eat from any method, lethargic, clicks teeth
 
If your dad is suggesting that you or he euthanize the guinea pig, please take piggy to the local Humane Society. They have vets that can take care of the piggy and humanely put them down.
 
I keep telling you I don’t have those options. No Humane Society is close by and once again it took months for me to get a simple appointment with the only small animals vet in my area, and I work 12 Hours shifts every day. Going to the vet took the entirety of my day off.

Whatever nice things you have to solve your problems. I. DO. NOT. HAVE.
 
I understand that this is a difficult time, but we are trying to offer suggestions that will help you and your piggy. Could you call around and see if there are any vets that can put down your piggy? They can tell you over the phone how much it costs. I did this when my little elderly bird broke his leg; our exotic vet was going to cost too much and I found someone closer that was able to help at more reasonable rate.

I am sorry that your piggy and you are going through this situation.
 
I’m angry as the only option available to me is to do it myself, which would kill me inside.

My other option is for my dad to do it, but I don’t include that as it is the worst possible choice.
 
Please don’t do that to your piggy. Vets are obliged to treat ill animals so you may just have to take said piggy to any vet that will see them. There is no other option.

Killing him is most certainly not the right way to go about things, whether you or your dad do it. He would suffer and that would be breaking one of their rights - to not suffer.

Another option is to try and get a rescue to take him in. But to b honest that would take too long. He must be seen by a vet, any vet at this point.

I’m sorry to keep repeating myself but there is no other way to go about it. Have you actually tried to get an appointment? Is your dad able to take him in for you at all?
 
Let me remind you that there are laws here in the US against killing your own pet. Both Siikibam and I have given you suggestions about contacting any vet about putting down your piggy/getting help. Call a vet and tell them your situation and see if you can sign over your piggy to them.
 
That’s why I am begging for another option, and I am very limited in what I can do.
 
If you
Kichi said:
I keep telling you I don’t have those options. No Humane Society is close by and once again it took months for me to get a simple appointment with the only small animals vet in my area, and I work 12 Hours shifts every day. Going to the vet took the entirety of my day off.

Whatever nice things you have to solve your problems. I. DO. NOT. HAVE.
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Please take the piggies to the vet. I’ve made the same mistake as you have and my piggies only got worst until I took her to the vet. Your piggy has to be seen before it gets worst!
 
Kichi said:
That’s why I am begging for another option, and I am very limited in what I can do.
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Are you limited because of time? Have you tried doing anything we have suggested? Including googling for rescues, shelters or charities in your area? Or even contacting vets who aren’t experienced in treating guinea pigs (general vets)?

I know Florida is big but here are some other piggy savvy vets. You need to ring around them and general vets.
Veterinarians: Florida - Guinea Lynx Records
 
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Your options are take to a vet or contact a local rescue for help.

You say you want to know your options but everyone is saying your options and you aren't happy with that. The problem is... There are no other options
 
We simply can’t produce any other solutions for you. By law we cannot endorse any form of DIY euthanasia by you or anyone else. The only solutions we can offer are to take your piggy to a vet or to surrender him to a rescue.
 
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