Piggy Not Eating Hay Or Dry Food

[Beaniepiggy]

my boy has stopped eating seen by vet given baytril for nasal discharge but apart from that in good health he started to eat fresh food but day 3 of no hay or dry
he isnt squeeking for food either any advice on foods to try?

 

[Wiebke]

my boy has stopped eating seen by vet given baytril for nasal discharge but apart from that in good health he started to eat fresh food but day 3 of no hay or dry
he isnt squeeking for food either any advice on foods to try?

Please start topping him up on syringe feed and water; if you do not have a recovery formula at home, you can used mushed up pellets. Fibre should make the largest part of the food intake in order to keep the guts going (more than 80%); it often gets dropped first when there is a problem, most often a pain issue. You can either give a pinch of probiotics 1-2 hours after the antibiotic to help bolster the guts, or add it to the syringe feed.
Weigh your boy daily at the same time (instead of the usual weekly weigh) in the feeding cycle to monitor his food intake.
Please take the time to read our illustrated step-by-step guide; you will find all the necessary information in there as to how to, how much/how often as well as product information etc.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Since we have members and enquiries from all over the world, we find it very helpful if you please added your country, state/province or UK county, so we can tailor any advice to what is available and relevant where we you are. Click on your username at the top, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thank you!

 

[helen105281]

So did the vet diagnose a URI? if so then it can take a few days for the Baytril to kick in. It is good he has started to eat fresh food though. Pigs can't breathe through their mouths though so if their nose is blocked they tend to eat less. Did the vet give you a probiotic to give alongside the Baytril? this is needed to support his tummy and is usually given at least an hour after the Baytril. You could try some more fancy hays, does he have just he one type? you could try timothy hat or orchard grass, or even oat hay.

You could also try mushing his pellets with warm water and give them in a bowl or hand feed with a syringe. I will post our guide below.

Do you have any Olbas oil? if so put some in a bowl of steaming water next to his cage.

Does he live with another pig?

Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

 

[Beaniepiggy]

So did the vet diagnose a URI? if so then it can take a few days for the Baytril to kick in. It is good he has started to eat fresh food though. Pigs can't breathe through their mouths though so if their nose is blocked they tend to eat less. Did the vet give you a probiotic to give alongside the Baytril? this is needed to support his tummy and is usually given at least an hour after the Baytril. You could try some more fancy hays, does he have just he one type? you could try timothy hat or orchard grass, or even oat hay.

You could also try mushing his pellets with warm water and give them in a bowl or hand feed with a syringe. I will post our guide below.

Do you have any Olbas oil? if so put some in a bowl of steaming water next to his cage.

Does he live with another pig?

Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

He lives on his own as we rescued him and I don't know anything about him other than the vet saying he's about 2 and in good health
He eats if I'm with him then if I move he seems to stop
I've never seen him drink so I soak his veggies in water so he gets fluids that way
Vet didn't give any probiotics either he was a very vocal bit until recently I thought at first bloat as he looked huge but vet said no and he appeared so much better buy now looks so fed up

 

[helen105281]

Are you in Cambridge UK?

If so this probiotic is easily available:

ProC Probiotic 100gm | Pets At Home

I would step in with syringe feeding too if he is not eating much for himself. Is he pooing ok?

 

[Beaniepiggy]

Please start topping him up on syringe feed and water; if you do not have a recovery formula at home, you can used mushed up pellets. Fibre should make the largest part of the food intake in order to keep the guts going (more than 80%); it often gets dropped first when there is a problem, most often a pain issue. You can either give a pinch of probiotics 1-2 hours after the antibiotic to help bolster the guts, or add it to the syringe feed.
Weigh your boy daily at the same time (instead of the usual weekly weigh) in the feeding cycle to monitor his food intake.
Please take the time to read our illustrated step-by-step guide; you will find all the necessary information in there as to how to, how much/how often as well as product information etc.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Since we have members and enquiries from all over the world, we find it very helpful if you please added your country, state/province or UK county, so we can tailor any advice to what is available and relevant where we you are. Click on your username at the top, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thank you!

I mashed up pellets this morning and bought food with added hay and grass he won't touch water so I soak his veggies to get fluids in him
We moved a chair infront of cage to stop the dog putting her nose in as he bites her could this have caused anything I know it sounds silly but he always say with us as cage next to sofa ?
Or maybe he is lonely

 

[Beaniepiggy]

Are you in Cambridge UK?

If so this probiotic is easily available:

ProC Probiotic 100gm | Pets At Home

I would step in with syringe feeding too if he is not eating much for himself. Is he pooing ok?

Are you in Cambridge UK?

If so this probiotic is easily available:

ProC Probiotic 100gm | Pets At Home

I would step in with syringe feeding too if he is not eating much for himself. Is he pooing ok?

yes I'm Cambridge
He's stopped doing a lot of poops today
I'll get probiotics
Vet didn't say uri but as he had coughed and sneezed and has a slight runny nostril as a precaution
He gave injection and I give him a dose daily orally xx

 

[Wiebke]

I mashed up pellets this morning and bought food with added hay and grass he won't touch water so I soak his veggies to get fluids in him
We moved a chair infront of cage to stop the dog putting her nose in as he bites her could this have caused anything I know it sounds silly but he always say with us as cage next to sofa ?
Or maybe he is lonely

How long have you had him? it is good that he is eating veg; if in any doubt, always offer water in a syringe when topping up a guinea pig with syringe feed. Place any hay, pellets and water right next to where he has his hidey, and put a blanket over the top to give your boy a feeling of safety.

Please keep any guinea pigs well away from dogs and cats at all times! An attack can happen in seconds. Guinea pigs are prey animals and find dogs and cats frightening - and they can die from shock!

Here are tips on how to settle in etc. new and frightened guinea pigs, how their instincts work as well as tips for their care. A companion would be great, but it is not quite as straight forward as sticking another guinea in with your boy. You can find information about companionship and the other issues via this link. Please take your time to read through the guides.
" Starter Kit" Of Information Threads For New Owners

 

[Beaniepiggy]

We got him a couple of months ago
He's not scared of the dog he runs to see her and they sniff noses before he nibbles her she's a big softy and can't get into him he is padlocked in cage
Xx

 

[Beaniepiggy]

I've had piggies for years and around cats and dogs just had a break between the last ones and this one and thought I'd ask advice on here as I've always had piggies who were fussy eaters but not gone off hay xx

 

[Wiebke]

It can well be that he is lonely, but it is not the cause of his eating problems. Concentrate on getting on top of his health problem first and only then inform yourself about the safest way of finding a character compatible companion. Your options/risks of things not working out as planned depend very much on where you are.

A healthy guinea pig in the prime of his life needs up to 120 ml in fluid or solid food to maintain its weight; 40-60 ml in a day just to stay alive. Most of it should be fibre. Please take the time to read through our syringe feeding guide. sorry about banging on about it, but it is important. If he is eating all his veg normally, he should not dehydrate, but you have to be aware that serving damp veg is not going to boost the fluid intake much, as most of the water simply has run off by the time he is eating it all.

 

[Beaniepiggy]

It can well be that he is lonely, but it is not the cause of his eating problems. Concentrate on getting on top of his health problem first and only then inform yourself about the safest way of finding a character compatible companion. Your options/risks of things not working out as planned depend very much on where you are.

A healthy guinea pig in the prime of his life needs up to 120 ml in fluid or solid food to maintain its weight; 40-60 ml in a day just to stay alive. Most of it should be fibre. Please take the time to read through our syringe feeding guide. sorry about banging on about it, but it is important. If he is eating all his veg normally, he should not dehydrate, but you have to be aware that serving damp veg is not going to boost the fluid intake much, as most of the water simply has run off by the time he is eating it all.

I leave the veggies in a bowl of water only a little at bottom so while he eats he can get fluids xx

 

[eileen]

it can be very deceptive to how much a piggie is actually eating and drinking.weighting daily will give you a good indicator if he is eating enough.I do hope he gets better soon.It can be a worrying time.

 

[Beaniepiggy]

it can be very deceptive to how much a piggie is actually eating and drinking.weighting daily will give you a good indicator if he is eating enough.I do hope he gets better soon.It can be a worrying time.

Just been to pets at home got different hay and at this moment he is ticking into it I just hope he stays eating it and doesn't walk away like he has done last 2 days xx

 

[Elgifu321]

I have a piggy that isn't eating at the minute. I mashed his pellets and syringe fed him at first but now hes on critical care. I found he loves the carrot puree baby food by Ellas kitchen, its organic and with no added anything except water- also my pig is drinking better from a feeding bottle designed for puppies for some reason? worth a try. Also as the others said, its imperative hes getting fibre as guineas digestive systems need it to keep constantly moving so that they dont shut down. Hope everything works out for you x

 

[Beaniepiggy]

I have a piggy that isn't eating at the minute. I mashed his pellets and syringe fed him at first but now hes on critical care. I found he loves the carrot puree baby food by Ellas kitchen, its organic and with no added anything except water- also my pig is drinking better from a feeding bottle designed for puppies for some reason? worth a try. Also as the others said, its imperative hes getting fibre as guineas digestive systems need it to keep constantly moving so that they dont shut down. Hope everything works out for you x

Thankyou he's eating small amounts of hay and leaves of gem lettuce but not the bit in the middle
Not eaten any dry food yet tho just sleeping Xx