Rescued A Malnourished Guinea Pig

[DMBernard]

Hello,

I recently rescued a pig from a shelter who got him from someone on Craigslist. He is extremely malnourished - very skinny, lethargic, and sunken eyes. I don't notice any difficulty breathing, running nose, or bloody urine, so I think he just wasn't fed. I've set up a vet appointment as soon as possible to check him over and see if his teeth need to be ground down (I think they do).

Ive given him hay, pellets, and fresh veggies. He's eating a bit, but not as much as I'd like. Plus, the rescue has had him for a week and he still seems pretty bad. I'm wondering if you all have any advice.

Thanks.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello,

I recently rescued a pig from a shelter who got him from someone on Craigslist. He is extremely malnourished - very skinny, lethargic, and sunken eyes. I don't notice any difficulty breathing, running nose, or bloody urine, so I think he just wasn't fed. I've set up a vet appointment as soon as possible to check him over and see if his teeth need to be ground down (I think they do).

Ive given him hay, pellets, and fresh veggies. He's eating a bit, but not as much as I'd like. Plus, the rescue has had him for a week and he still seems pretty bad. I'm wondering if you all have any advice.

Thanks.

Hi! Please start syringe feeding and watering him, and also add some extra vitamin to it. Be careful when introducing vegetables to a guinea pig that may not have had any before. Do so slowly one by one in small quantities.
Greens like fresh herbs that are full of trace elements and fresh herbs are ideal. Kale and a few spinach leaves are also good as start-up veg although they should not fed too much in a regular diet because of their high calcium content. Offer lots of hay, which should make up to 80% of the daily food intake and see whether he is eating that. Weigh him daily at the same time in the feeding cycle to monitor his food intake. How are his poos looking?
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide - has also got a section on supporting dental piggies and one on support products like recovery brands, probiotics and vitamin C.

How are his front teeth looking? Are do they have an even edge which means that they are still self-sharpening and that the crucial teeth at the back are still working normally or are they slanted, uneven, curved, which points towards overgrown premolars. Is he chewing very slowly or just taking food in his mouth and then dropping it again? Is his chin wet after he has eaten?

Here are some general guides which you may find helpful in settling him in and communicating with your boy: New Owners' " How To" Starter Kit

I am tagging in our experts in fostering and in looking after guinea pigs with chronic dental issues for you.
@furryfriends (TEAS) @MintyAndGarry (TEAS) @pig in the city

Since we have members from all over the world, we find it very helpful if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details, so it appears under your username in ever post you make and allows us to tailor any advice and recommendations to what is available and relevant for where you are. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thank you!

 

[DMBernard]

He is successfully eating, just slowly. He's also drinking lots of water. I checked his teeth; they don't seem uneven, just long. I had issues seeing the back teeth because he's so skittish - I don't think he's been handles at all and I don't want to stress him too much.

I gave him lots of hay, which he has mostly been eating, and pellets as well as some of the veggies you recommended. I've started syringe feeding him Critical Care, like you recommended. (I've syringe fed sick pigs before.)

 

[DMBernard]

Also, I forgot to add, he hasn't actually pooped yet... Which is very worrisome. Also, there is blood in his urine now. I'm taking him to the vet as soon as possible.

 

[pig in the city]

You are doing a fantastic job but as you say a vets visit is needed urgently. I suspect he is in discomfort when eating because he eats slowly. Pain relief in the form of metacam will also help with any bladder issues, also he needs a gut stimulant. Poor lad, l do hope you can bring him round

 

[Adelle]

How did u get on at the vet? You are doing a grand job with him, but I would contact the rescue as he shouldn't have been rehomed in that condition!

 

[Wiebke]

I hope that you can get him seen soon at a good vets. Have you pulled him out of a shelter that doesn't provide any medical care, as any decent rescue with a non-kill policy will only rehome healthy, quarantined and medically treated pets?

It will help us a lot of you could please add your country, state/province or UK county to your details, so we can help you most efficiently. Click on your username on the top, then go to personal details and scroll down to location to make it appear under your username to the left of every post you make. We have members from all over the world and from very different backgrounds, conditions, climates as well as vet and rescue access; it would save a lot of time if we could give you any advice with your particulars in mind straight away.

 

[DMBernard]

Sorry for the late reply! Stuff has been busy (I go back to my last semester of college soon)

The little piggy, who I've named Eggsy, is doing a big better. I took him to the vet and she checked his teeth for malocclusion - which there is none, yay! He does have a UTI, though. She also checked for mites, bladder stones, and tumors and found nothing. His breathing seemed fine, and she palpated his stomach and said his digestion seemed OK.

He's on Ditrim and a pain killer, and I'm continuing to force feed him Critical Care until he eats on his own more. He's currently 1 lb, 14 oz, which is about two more ounces than he was when I got him. I'd feel better if he was at least 2 lb though.

As for the shelter, it's a bit of a long story. I was looking for a new friend for my other boar, Charles, who recently lost his buddy to lymphoma. My friend found Eggsy on Craigslist, and I was wary of adopting off of Craigslist, but he reminded of my departed piggy so I gave in. The lady on Craiglist said she gave him to this shelter, which is two hours away from my home. (I'm from the Chicago area. I update my location, sorry for not doing so earlier!)

I visited him at one of the shelters events at Petsmart. I was shocked by how ill he seemed. The lady at the shelter also told me that they don't have an exotic animal vet near them at all, and that one base check up was $75, so I got the strong impression that he wasn't going to be taken to the vet by them. Also, he was kept in the same cage as other pigs despite his symptoms (!). I contacted the shelter now that hes been diagnosed to let them know to sterilize the cages and keep an eye on his old cagemates.

Anyway, I decided to adopt him, even though I'm running the risk that he won't get along with Charles when he's better. I have the resources and time to keep two separate cages, though.

 

[Wiebke]

Sorry for the late reply! Stuff has been busy (I go back to my last semester of college soon)

The little piggy, who I've named Eggsy, is doing a big better. I took him to the vet and she checked his teeth for malocclusion - which there is none, yay! He does have a UTI, though. She also checked for mites, bladder stones, and tumors and found nothing. His breathing seemed fine, and she palpated his stomach and said his digestion seemed OK.

He's on Ditrim and a pain killer, and I'm continuing to force feed him Critical Care until he eats on his own more. He's currently 1 lb, 14 oz, which is about two more ounces than he was when I got him. I'd feel better if he was at least 2 lb though.

As for the shelter, it's a bit of a long story. I was looking for a new friend for my other boar, Charles, who recently lost his buddy to lymphoma. My friend found Eggsy on Craigslist, and I was wary of adopting off of Craigslist, but he reminded of my departed piggy so I gave in. The lady on Craiglist said she gave him to this shelter, which is two hours away from my home. (I'm from the Chicago area. I update my location, sorry for not doing so earlier!)

I visited him at one of the shelters events at Petsmart. I was shocked by how ill he seemed. The lady at the shelter also told me that they don't have an exotic animal vet near them at all, and that one base check up was $75, so I got the strong impression that he wasn't going to be taken to the vet by them. Also, he was kept in the same cage as other pigs despite his symptoms (!). I contacted the shelter now that hes been diagnosed to let them know to sterilize the cages and keep an eye on his old cagemates.

Anyway, I decided to adopt him, even though I'm running the risk that he won't get along with Charles when he's better. I have the resources and time to keep two separate cages, though.

He is lucky to have found you!

Continue to top him up as much as he will take. If he is eating well enough on his own, let him take the formula feed from a spoon, so you can be sure that you do not overstuff him. Make sure that you offer him plenty of water, but again not more than he is willing to take. The more hay he is eating on his own, the better.
Monitor his food intake by weighing him once daily at the same time. Cheap kitchen scales from the supermarket are perfectly fine for the job.

If you can, offer him some fresh herbs and also some vitamin C (use 1/8-1/4 of a human tablet if necessary) to help boost his immune system. You can add a pinch of probiotics from a pet shop to his feed formula to support the guts as antibiotics can be an appetite dampener.

All the best! We have got lots of bonding tips and information when the time comes, but in the end it always comes down to whether the two boys click or not.

 

[DMBernard]

Thanks! I'll definitely heed your advice. And I have high hopes for the bonding. Charles is a very gentle, submissive piggy who gets a long with most.