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Please help my piggies

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MaxandChip

My hardy little guinea pigs have stayed out all winter - I have kept a very close eye on them since the weather turned colder - but with a hutch hugger and loads of bedding they seemed to be doing ok. (They have a downstairs run and an upstairs bed)Today the weather has turned warmer, but I found them cold and lethargic this morning - at first glance I thought they were dead, then little Chip gave a faint squeak. I got them in as quick as I could and brought their body temp back up by wrapping them in blankets and putting a warm hot water bottle under them. They seem to be responding, I have been giving drops of water and Max has had a little mashed banana but they are still letharcic and lying on their sides.

I wish, wish, wish I had brought them in - I took some advice from another guinea pig owner who said they would be fine outside and as I didn't have an indoor run I took it day by day, what surprises me is that it is now that the temparature has risen that this has happened

Please can anyone suggest anything that may help, I really don't want to lose them
 
I would take them to the vet asap. How is their breathing?
 
Hi, welcome to the forum. I am sorry your boys have taken such a sudden turn for the worse. I do think whoever advised you it was safe to keep them outdoors was very irresponsible, but I know that you'll learn from this and hopefully keep them indoors for the rest of the winter.

Often, something as simple as a temperature change can trigger such symptoms and illnesses. Temperatures were very low for quite a while, so the weather simply warming up by a few degrees may have something to do with your boys' current condition.

Keeping them hydrated is good, and keeping them warm. Definitely keep them indoors. Are they eating?
 
Their breathing seems fine, maybe a little slow but their little hearts are beating away fine now, I was worried they would stop. I have contacted a vet and am waiting to hear from a 'small exotic' animal specialist I am surprised how hard it is to get someone who deals with guinea pigs - or maybe that is just where I live? I can't get to a vets just now as I don't have transport, so just trying to do what I can for the minute

If they get through this they will definitely be satying in until I am sure they are fit to go back out. I was worried about taking them in as I also have a cat. They were out all last winter and fine.

I feel terrible and don't know why this has happened now, when it has been so cold. Should I just leave them be in the warm and quiet? My husband said that they may need to rest and recuiperate and I may be making things worse if I disturb them, but I am so worried to leave them.
 
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I have managed to get Max to take a little mashed banana but Chip has only taken a few drops of water.
Can anyone suggest what would be the best food to give them to help them?
 
It is a widespread problem, finding a good guinea pig vet. The root of the problem is usually seen to be in the training. There are, however, some brilliant piggie vets around, so it's worth asking around. Whereabouts are you - perhaps someone on the forum can recommend a vet in your area?

You could also try ringing Vedra, of the Cambridge Cavy Trust guinea pig hospital. They are based in Huntingdon but there are trained rodentologists - who have trained at the hospital - across much of the UK. Although not vets, their specialised skill is well worth seeking.
www.britishassociationofrodentologists.co.uk
 
Sorry to hear your piggies are poorly, as others have said outdoors is not good for them. Try offering them what you know to be their favourite foods, and maybe don't have them too warm, as the change in temperature going up, not just down is not too good either. Hope they pull through for you. x
 
It is not easy to find a good vet; if you can count yourself lucky!

In normal mild winters, guinea pigs can stay outside when well protected, but sadly, this is not a normal winter.

Sending my best wishes to your poorly boys; I hope that they can make it, but as I have only ever kept guinea pigs indoors I'd rather you went to more qualified people for advice.
 
Hoping the wee mites bounce back, I'm keeping everything crossed.
 
can you syringe some fluids?

Poor guys, I also think whoever told you that was very irresponsible.

I am hoping they make a recovery!

I have a few cats and as long as they are safe in their cage in a short time the cats get bored (although I would never leave them alone with them outside of their cage)

Where are you?
 
Anything they eat is good. To start with, try tempting them with anything fruit/vegetable you have in the house. If you can't get one to take any food, try dioralyte or equivalent, or any fruit juice, to get some energy into him. Even mixing sugar into the water would be good.

The best recovery food is 'critical care' or 'science recovery' powdered food. This is mixed with warm water and fed with a syringe. Since you probably can't obtain that immediately, you can grind up some of their pellets and mix that with warm water. It can be ground with a coffee grinder or, in a pinch, a rolling pin (although that is rather hard work). Alternatively soften the pellets with boiling water in a cup, and, obviously, allow to cool before feeding.The mixture should be fairly thick (just thin enough that you can get it through the syringe).
 
Hi guys thanks so much! I feel like such an idiot and wish i had come to a forum before _ I had reservations about leaving them out but as I said they seemed to be ok. I was given the advice by a lady in the pet shop who told me she had kept guinea pigs and they were kept out all winter, in snow or shine. She even suggested i din't need a hutch hugger, but it may just have saved them (fingers crossed)

Max is up now and he is eating his dry food and some lettuce. I have moved him into a washing basket with some straw. I am still v worried about Chip, I can barely get him to take a drink of water, I will try that idea of popping some fruit juice or sugar in. Chip seemed the stronger of the two this morning when I first warmed them up, so maybe he is just at the stage Max was at earlier and needing loads of cosy rest. I have a wee pet carrier upstairs so they will be safe in there tonight, then tomorrow I will get onto an indoor hutch.

Thank you all for your concern, I feel like such an idiot and so irresponsable! Praying Chip will be ok too
 
MaxandChip said:
Hi guys thanks so much! I feel like such an idiot and wish i had come to a forum before _ I had reservations about leaving them out but as I said they seemed to be ok. I was given the advice by a lady in the pet shop who told me she had kept guinea pigs and they were kept out all winter, in snow or shine. She even suggested i din't need a hutch hugger, but it may just have saved them (fingers crossed)

Max is up now and he is eating his dry food and some lettuce. I have moved him into a washing basket with some straw. I am still v worried about Chip, I can barely get him to take a drink of water, I will try that idea of popping some fruit juice or sugar in. Chip seemed the stronger of the two this morning when I first warmed them up, so maybe he is just at the stage Max was at earlier and needing loads of cosy rest. I have a wee pet carrier upstairs so they will be safe in there tonight, then tomorrow I will get onto an indoor hutch.

Thank you all for your concern, I feel like such an idiot and so irresponsable! Praying Chip will be ok too
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Why Straw? Do you not use hay?
 
It is very hard to judge things when nursing a very sick rodent and you may be checking on them more often than you think. Try checking every hour for changes and keep a note pad and note down the last time you checked. Every hour should be sufficient and you will not run the risk of disturbing them too much. When they are eating on their own change to two hours. This will give them time to recuperate.
 
I should probably add that one wouldn't ordinarily give sugar to a guinea pig. This is a special case, just to give them a bit of a jump start.
 
Thanks everyone for your concern - how I wish I had found you all sooner! Was only when I was desperatly searching for help i came across the forum!
I have spoken to a vet who suggests along the same lines as a lot of you - fruit juice and baby food!

Re the straw/hay question - i bed them in barley straw but give them meadow hay to eat - is this wrong? The straw is sold as natural pet bedding.

Max is definitely perking up _ I just hope that Chip will yet too. WIll try and leave him in peace _ I have been checking him far too much - it's just worry!
 
MaxandChip said:
Thanks everyone for your concern - how I wish I had found you all sooner! Was only when I was desperatly searching for help i came across the forum!
I have spoken to a vet who suggests along the same lines as a lot of you - fruit juice and baby food!

Re the straw/hay question - i bed them in barley straw but give them meadow hay to eat - is this wrong? The straw is sold as natural pet bedding.

Max is definitely perking up _ I just hope that Chip will yet too. WIll try and leave him in peace _ I have been checking him far too much - it's just worry!
Click to expand...

Straw can sometimes hurt there eyes and I was concerned you weren't giving them hay.. Does he have hay to eat in the box and food? Give him all his favourite foods to get him eating :)!
 
Obviously this is a longer-term thing, but if you are able I would strongly suggest phoning an animal feeds place or farm shop and asking about buying bales of hay. This way you can bed them on hay as well which is really better than straw as they can eat everything!
 
Yay Max and cmon Chip!

Keep us informed wont you poor guys.

I ditto the hay thing, they do need it to eat (you can bed them down on fleece as well as hay)

When I got my first two guinea pigs i was told by the pet shop to treat fruit and vegetables as sweets and feed once, maybe twice a week!! That's for an animal that doesn't retain vitamin C and they gave me the cheapest mix to feed with no added vitamin C! I dread to think what would have happened to my guineas if I hadn't come here.

It's awful that some pet shops give dodgy advice!
 
RIP Chip

Hi all and thanks again for your thoughts and concern.

We lost Chip. the wee man passed away just before 4pm. My sons had not long come home from school and we all sat and stroked him.
He had started to struggle to breathe and I think he took a seizure. He then started to move his legs like he was running. Finally he slowed down, his breathing slowed and he slowly shut his eyes. My eldest is devestated as Chip was 'his' while Max was my younger sons. To me it almost feels like he waited till the boys came home.

Max is doing ever so well now thanks to all the good advice I was given, he was the one I was most worried about this morning but has pulled through - I am just concerned now about him being alone? Will he be ok?

Re the hay, straw again - they enjoyed plenty of fresh hay and I had considered getting farm hay ( I have a horse so no problems there!) my concern there was hay mites, do these not bother them? I have read various things about guinea pigs and mites...

So RIP poor wee Chip. I feel as awful as anyone can feel that I let him and my boys down so badly. I am going to get a second opinion every time from now on - and Max will spend every winter in cosy luxury. I will get some pics up soon in memory of my wee boy and look forward to learning more from you guys
 
So sorry to hear about Chip. What you describe sounds like normal passing away for a guinea. I'm sorry he didn't pull through.

It would be best for Max if he could have a new friend, his best match would be with a baby boar (if there is a rescue near you they might help you match him up!). However as you don't know what caused Chip's death it might be worth waiting a week or two just in case it was anything catching.

So sorry for your loss

Sophie
x
 
Any risk of hay mites is negligible compared to the fact that hay is an essential part of the diet.
 
I'm so sorry you lost, him I was hoping so much that he would be ok. I am pleased Max is doing well now, big hugs to you and him. xx
 
hi, just been reading your thread and i'm so sorry that Chip didn't make it.8...
big hug to you and your sons and lots of encouragment to Max. Lets hope he's getting back to his piggie self super fast.

fran x
 
So sorry that little Chip didn't pull through. Stick with the forum, there is much better advice here than any pet shop owner can give you. Hopefully Max will go from strength to strength now. x
 
So sorry Chip didn't make it poor little fella 8...

big hugs to you, your boys and Max - keep on fighting little fella (your forum piggy friends Maurice and Jules are wishing you to keep getting better)
 
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