Sick guinea pig, possible respiratory infection

[Jo79]

Hello, I need some help. I have 2 guinea pigs about 2.5- 3 years old. Yesterday I noticed one not eating when I put the morning veggies in and hardly moving. when I picked her up she just sat there usually they do a lap round the cage before I can catch them. We put them in the carrier and went straight up to the vets to find it’s not open again now till Monday.

I’ve noticed her breathing is funny, she is making funny noises and round her nose is crusty I’ve tried crushing pellets with water she isn’t interested. Managed to get her to have a few drops of water but that was it. She has been nudging food and sometimes picks it up but won’t chew or swallow it.

I thought she wasn’t going to make it through the night but she is still here. She seems to be a little perkier this morning. Has had 2 basil leaves and a slice of cucumber which is an improvement on yesterday. I know that is no where near enough though. That’s why I’m here wanting some suggestions and advice from you knowledgeable lot Thank you

 

[Mother Hubbard]

Hi, you need to seek vet treatment straight away. Vets operate a 24/7hr emergency facility if your pigs are already registered them you will be able to bring them into the surgery, so best to call them and listen to their out of hours message.

Sadly if your pig is not eating then their system shuts down quickly and needs food to keep them going and syringe feeding needs a steady, firm and practiced hand in my opinion.

So please contact your vets.
Paws crossed.

 

[VickiA]

Your piggy really needs to see a vet as a matter of urgency, any piggy with I would arrange to phone your vets and note the emergency number on their answering system. All vets have to arrange out of hour cover, so there will be an emergency vet who you can call. Also some P@H have Vets 4 Pets. They are open 7 days a week.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello, I need some help. I have 2 guinea pigs about 2.5- 3 years old. Yesterday I noticed one not eating when I put the morning veggies in and hardly moving. when I picked her up she just sat there usually they do a lap round the cage before I can catch them. We put them in the carrier and went straight up to the vets to find it’s not open again now till Monday.

I’ve noticed her breathing is funny, she is making funny noises and round her nose is crusty I’ve tried crushing pellets with water she isn’t interested. Managed to get her to have a few drops of water but that was it. She has been nudging food and sometimes picks it up but won’t chew or swallow it.

I thought she wasn’t going to make it through the night but she is still here. She seems to be a little perkier this morning. Has had 2 basil leaves and a slice of cucumber which is an improvement on yesterday. I know that is no where near enough though. That’s why I’m here wanting some suggestions and advice from you knowledgeable lot Thank you

Please google for 24 hour or out of hours vets in your area or listen to the message on your vet's answering machine. The sooner your piggy can see a vet and get an antibiotic, the higher its survival chances.

Please step in with syringe feeding ASAP; the need to breathe comes before the need to drink and only thirdly the need to eat. That is why a serious respiratory tract infection causes loss of appetite, which is a killer in itself.
Please ask for some recovery formula powder; but until then you can use mushed up pellets as long as you cut off the syringe tip as shown in guide to allow fibre to come through. You are aiming at 40-60 ml in 24 hours, as much as your girl will take in one go without you pushing in too much. You have to be very careful that nothing is going down the wrong way. Give 0.1-0.3 ml and try to get as close to 5-10 ml in each session; every 2 hours round the clock if you struggle. You can get needle-free 1 ml syringes and dioralyte (to help with hydration) from a pharmacy if you can't see a vet today.
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Administering Medications And Syringe Feed
First Aid Kit For Guinea Pigs

Bring your guinea pigs indoors if they aren't yet and keep them warm, but not boiling hot. Place a bowl of steaming water next to the cage and keep it refreshed to help ease the breathing.
Guinea pigs are not hardy and struggle with the extremes of weather and quick jumps in temperature; they should be treated like tender plants.
Cold Weather Care For Guinea Pigs

If your piggies are new, then please follow the advice in this guide here to reclaim any vet cost. The guide also contains information on URI.
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)