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Piggy Won't Eat Hay And Has Lost Weight

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Mr Muffin's Mum

Mr Muffin's Mum

Junior Guinea Pig
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Jun 14, 2014
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Hampshire, England
I took Mr Muffin to the vets because he was losing weight and had soft stools. The vet examined him and booked him in for tests under anaesthetic. While he was under, the vet identified a couple of teeth that could do with filing, and filed them down. He mentioned that Mr Muffin might take a few days to eat hay properly and to cut it up for him until his teeth grow back a little.

The results came back:

AST (SGOT) and Total Bilirubin and Eosinophils all a little high, cholesterol a little low. Vet did say that liver and thyroid were a little high but not alarmingly so.

He had emeprid and zantac which have now finished, and is presently on panacur in case the problem might be worms.

On Wednesday we have to report back to see if he’s any better, vet thinks that by then he will have got used to his teeth and be eating fine.

Unfortunately that’s only 2 days away and Mr Muffin is still refusing to eat hay.

I’m giving him 3 different sorts – his usual Great & Small timothy hay, Alfalfa King timothy hay, and Pettex meadow hay; some as they are and some cut into 1” lengths. Also Wilkinsons hay cookies. All are being ignored.

He’s tucking into his muesli (he’s always eaten Gertie Guinea muesli for the past 6 years, won’t eat nuggets or any other sort) and is also tucking into his veggies, and the grass in his run on the lawn.

I with-held grass and veggies for the past 3 days to try and help the soft stools; however it doesn’t seem to have had any effect, so I’ve given him veggies again today (am I wrong? How long should I keep him off the veg for? I just wanted to see him enjoying his food again).

I’m syringing Critical Care – he acts as though I’m torturing him, and I feel dreadful. I’ve watched the videos again and again, and I’m pretty sure I’m doing it right, but he squirms and struggles and desperately wants to get away.

Weight first thing in the morning before breakfast has been 850g give or take 10g or so, during all of this. He used to be a lot more, so I do need to build him up.

All ideas very welcome. Many thanks for your time, and sorry to have rambled on.
 
Hi, me again - he's out in his run (in the shade) and tucking into pieces of grass and dandelion leaves that I pick and hold in front of him. This inspired me to try holding pieces of hay in front of him - but oh no he didn't want that. So, he's still eating everything except hay. Has anyone else had a similar problem please? Thanks!
 
I would recommend to continue topping him up on fibre with recovery food, mushed pellets or a mix of the two to help firm up his stool. Hay often gets dropped first when their is a pain/dicomfort issue and is being accept last if a guinea pigs has been off its food.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
 
Oh thank you so much, I'll get cracking. I've drafted a letter to read out to the vet tomorrow so that I don't get flustered and forget anything. Thanks again!
 
Would have thought concurrent treatment with Enrofloxacin (Baytril) and Metronidazole (Flagyl) would be appropriate. . . @Adelle
 
Hi again! Lots has happened, have now spent well over £700 at the vets but hey, can't take it with me! Mr Muffin's poops are perfect now, and have been since 7th September when vet prescribed some liver powder, not sure if it's coincidence or not. My problem now is, Mr Muffin still isn't putting on weight. He lost a lot during the dental issues, but I can't get it to go back on. One issue I have is: when I give him critical care between meals, he takes about 5ml okay but thereafter he just dribbles it out. I'm weighing him before and after and he's about 4g heavier each time (but it's fallen off again by the time of the next feed). When he starts the dribbling, is it pointless to carry on trying to feed him? Most of it does tend to go over my lap. Basically I'm hoping that someone can think of something I can do to fatten him up. A GP equivalent of cream cakes perhaps! All ideas very welcome, I hate seeing him so thin. Thanks.
 
@furryfriends (TEAS) @Adelle @helen105281

There are some ideas on energy dense veg which you could mush up. Mushed up pellets are also an idea.

It sounds like Mr Muffin still has got issues in his mouth which prevent him from swallowing well, so the mush builds up in his mouth and then dribbles out.
 
Wiebke said:
@furryfriends (TEAS) @Adelle @helen105281

There are some ideas on energy dense veg which you could mush up. Mushed up pellets are also an idea.

It sounds like Mr Muffin still has got issues in his mouth which prevent him from swallowing well, so the mush builds up in his mouth and then dribbles out.
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Thanks for such a lovely quick reply. I've just been looking at old posts and there is one that said corn on the cob can help. I happen to have one in the fridge so I've just put a 2" chunk in with him. He's ignoring it at the moment but I'll leave it in there. He's scoffing cucumber at the moment. Not going to get fat on that unfortunately.
 
Mr Muffin's Mum said:
Thanks for such a lovely quick reply. I've just been looking at old posts and there is one that said corn on the cob can help. I happen to have one in the fridge so I've just put a 2" chunk in with him. He's ignoring it at the moment but I'll leave it in there. He's scoffing cucumber at the moment. Not going to get fat on that unfortunately.
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Try juiced corn and carrot - he can hopefully cope with that better. But personally, I think that there are still problems. I am sorry that you are having such a tough time.
 
Oats are good for bulking up a piggy that eats well, i dont recommend them for a piggy that doesnt eat much as the oats fill them up, so theyre likely to eat even less.

Will eat grass? That will help. I also had a little trick with one of my sows who was going through a period of ill health and dentals and needed syringe fed for a while.. I tried switching between different brands of syringe food which helped at first but she would soon do what your little guy is doing and just let it fall out of her mouth... I would syringe some into her mouth then quickly give her a pinch of grass, then repeat.. She would just munch it all down together!

Babycorn may he easier for him to eat than corn on the cob, its still as calorie dense.

What is the liver powder? The fact its helping may suggest an ongoing liver issue that isnt being treated directly resulting in his appetite and weight issues. Have the scanned the liver?
 
Adelle said:
Oats are good for bulking up a piggy that eats well, i dont recommend them for a piggy that doesnt eat much as the oats fill them up, so theyre likely to eat even less.

Will eat grass? That will help. I also had a little trick with one of my sows who was going through a period of ill health and dentals and needed syringe fed for a while.. I tried switching between different brands of syringe food which helped at first but she would soon do what your little guy is doing and just let it fall out of her mouth... I would syringe some into her mouth then quickly give her a pinch of grass, then repeat.. She would just munch it all down together!

Babycorn may he easier for him to eat than corn on the cob, its still as calorie dense.

What is the liver powder? The fact its helping may suggest an ongoing liver issue that isnt being treated directly resulting in his appetite and weight issues. Have the scanned the liver?
Click to expand...
Hmm, they can be devious can't they! Yes he does eat grass. He also like dandelion leaves. This morning he's eaten banana skin, savoy cabbage, cucumber, cherry tomato, his muesli soaked in warm water, and gnawed on a chew stick. I've just given him a bath, a very rare event as he's usually so clean but last night we both got covered in spat-out critical care..... babycorn, that's a good idea, he's sometimes eaten them and sometimes not but I'll try again. Liver - something did show up on the scan about his liver, the vet said the reading was fairly high not very high. The liver powder is meant for dogs and I have to give him half a capsule a day. I cut the top of the capsule off and pour it into 2 eggcups, then mix a blob of Ella's Kitchen carrot or apple into it and syringe that into him. It may be a coincidence but his poops have been 100% better since starting it. Thanks for you thoughts. Now to go and get him (and me) dry!
 
Mr Muffin's Mum said:
Hmm, they can be devious can't they! Yes he does eat grass. He also like dandelion leaves. This morning he's eaten banana skin, savoy cabbage, cucumber, cherry tomato, his muesli soaked in warm water, and gnawed on a chew stick. I've just given him a bath, a very rare event as he's usually so clean but last night we both got covered in spat-out critical care..... babycorn, that's a good idea, he's sometimes eaten them and sometimes not but I'll try again. Liver - something did show up on the scan about his liver, the vet said the reading was fairly high not very high. The liver powder is meant for dogs and I have to give him half a capsule a day. I cut the top of the capsule off and pour it into 2 eggcups, then mix a blob of Ella's Kitchen carrot or apple into it and syringe that into him. It may be a coincidence but his poops have been 100% better since starting it. Thanks for you thoughts. Now to go and get him (and me) dry!
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This thread may be of some help..
Jack - Gradual Weight Loss - Liver Problem & Now Possible Uri?
Little jack had liver issues and improved with milk of magnesia.. Sadly he developed further complications and lost his fightt, but that supplement may be worth running past your vet x
 
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