Refusing To Eat.

[Amberc321]

Recently my Guinea pig Percy had a swollen neck and when we took him to the vet she gave him some antibiotics as she said he had an abscess due to food being trapped in his tooth. I've been giving him his antibiotics but he didn't seem to be perking up I just figured he was still just abit upset he hadn't been to keen on his food but I figured he was eating and just presumed that he was only doing so when really needed ( I personally thought there was no way Elvis was eating all that food to himself) well it turns out maybe I was wrong I left my guineas in the care of my mum for two days while I worked nights away and as I've come back Percy looks even worse and wouldn't take food from me I sat in with him for a good 3 hours with food to tempt him he wouldn't take anything! I've booked him into the vet for 6pm tomorrow as that was the only time but something in the pit of my stomach tells me it's too late!
If he hasn't eaten for the past few days properly is this too late? Do I need to take the day off work and stand outside the vets and beg them to see him? If I took the day off it would mean loosing my job but if anyone more knowledgable thinks this needs to be done I will.
I know I should have never left him in someone else's care whilst he was poorly :/

 

[Adelle]

Do you have any critical care or recovery mix at home? If not then try mushing his pellets up in water and syringing them to him, little bits at a time but it is important to keep his guts moving. It may be the antibiotics as some do suppress the appetite but it may be related to his illness. Either way i would try get him seen in the morning- a guinea pig that wont eat is an emergency and is life threatening so they should accomodate for this.

Heres the complete syringe feeding guide- please read this.

Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Try and weigh him if you can also.

Good luck with the vet, please keep us updated

 

[Freela]

It's important to start syringing him food, as Adelle has said above. The syringe feeding guide will be a big help in how to do it safely and in proper amounts. Dental abscesses are really painful and often guinea pigs will not eat due to the pain. They rarely clear up with antibiotics alone because guinea pigs form very thick pus... they generally need to be lanced and drained. Typically the vet will make a small incision through the outer part of the abscess on the cheek/neck and will express all the pus. After that it is important for the wound to be left open to continue to drain, and so that you can clean it and express any more pus that builds up. What antibiotic is he on? Baytril is often given but isn't that great for treating abscesses. My vet gives chloramphenicol and I've had a pig treated successfully that way, but my understanding is that Zithromax (azithromycin) is the best antibiotic for clearing abscesses after they've been opened.

Lots of luck at the vet with your little guy, and I hope you are able to get some food into him!

 

[Wiebke]

Recently my Guinea pig Percy had a swollen neck and when we took him to the vet she gave him some antibiotics as she said he had an abscess due to food being trapped in his tooth. I've been giving him his antibiotics but he didn't seem to be perking up I just figured he was still just abit upset he hadn't been to keen on his food but I figured he was eating and just presumed that he was only doing so when really needed ( I personally thought there was no way Elvis was eating all that food to himself) well it turns out maybe I was wrong I left my guineas in the care of my mum for two days while I worked nights away and as I've come back Percy looks even worse and wouldn't take food from me I sat in with him for a good 3 hours with food to tempt him he wouldn't take anything! I've booked him into the vet for 6pm tomorrow as that was the only time but something in the pit of my stomach tells me it's too late!
If he hasn't eaten for the past few days properly is this too late? Do I need to take the day off work and stand outside the vets and beg them to see him? If I took the day off it would mean loosing my job but if anyone more knowledgable thinks this needs to be done I will.
I know I should have never left him in someone else's care whilst he was poorly :/

Please start syringe feeding and water asap, little but often, as much as you can! Always contact your vet promptly if there is no improvement or a deterioration during treatment.
Would your mum be able to take your boy sooner as an emergency?
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

 

[Amberc321]

He went to the vet she's given him stronger antibiotics and some recovery plus to feed him with a syringe but he doesn't like it or want to eat it. Does anyone know if like puréeing and veg and syrige feeding him that will help him? And if so what veg/ fruit would be best

 

[helen105281]

You could try mushing his pellets with warm water instead if he doesn't like the recovery food. Have a look at our guide that Wiebke has linked to above.