T
Tash
I have two male guinea pigs over a year old and for some reason one of them has recently been lying flat out, coughing and has slight diarrhoea but is still eating but only hay and is still drinking.. Can anyone help please?
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daftscotslass
Senior Guinea Pig
It could be a number of things and the best advice is to go to a vet as soon as possible because piggies can go downhill very quickly.
teadragon
Adult Guinea Pig
Have a look at the emergency page on Guinea Lynx for symptoms that your piggie is sick. I'd be concerned about the coughing and diarrhea, the latter which can be life threatening.
http://www.guinealynx.info/emergency.html
The treatment for diarrhea is to limit your pigs diet to just hay, pellets and water (withholding veggies) and giving your pig a probiotic until it's cleared up, but because your pig is also coughing, I'm reluctant to tell you to just wait and see.
DO start hand feeding immediatly; the poops could mean that your pig isn't eating enough fibre, especially if you say he's only eating hay (which is good) but not so good if his output is affected. Guinea pigs need to eat a certain amount of food to keep their guts moving smoothly, if they start to reduce how much they eat their GI tract will slow down allowing the food to ferment which could lead to bloat - a serious condition where air is trapped in the GI tract (sometimes the stomach).
Directions are here: http://www.guinealynx.info/handfeeding.html
You should aim for about 15-20ml of pellet mash or critical care every 3-4 hours, via syringe. It does take practice but it's necessary, especially if your piggies illness will require a lot of long term cage.
Do get him to the vet as soon as possible, what I've told you will only make him feel better and keep him alive and in good condition until you can get him to the vet. Tomorrow is Sunday, but with a pig who isn't eating as well as he would normally I'd say yes to taking him to an emergency vet open on the weekend.
If you call your current vet (that may have eVet opening hours) they may have a number that you can call on Sunday which will direct you to a surgery open.
http://www.guinealynx.info/emergency.html
The treatment for diarrhea is to limit your pigs diet to just hay, pellets and water (withholding veggies) and giving your pig a probiotic until it's cleared up, but because your pig is also coughing, I'm reluctant to tell you to just wait and see.
DO start hand feeding immediatly; the poops could mean that your pig isn't eating enough fibre, especially if you say he's only eating hay (which is good) but not so good if his output is affected. Guinea pigs need to eat a certain amount of food to keep their guts moving smoothly, if they start to reduce how much they eat their GI tract will slow down allowing the food to ferment which could lead to bloat - a serious condition where air is trapped in the GI tract (sometimes the stomach).
Directions are here: http://www.guinealynx.info/handfeeding.html
You should aim for about 15-20ml of pellet mash or critical care every 3-4 hours, via syringe. It does take practice but it's necessary, especially if your piggies illness will require a lot of long term cage.
Do get him to the vet as soon as possible, what I've told you will only make him feel better and keep him alive and in good condition until you can get him to the vet. Tomorrow is Sunday, but with a pig who isn't eating as well as he would normally I'd say yes to taking him to an emergency vet open on the weekend.
If you call your current vet (that may have eVet opening hours) they may have a number that you can call on Sunday which will direct you to a surgery open.
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