Georgiemaka
Junior Guinea Pig
so one of my guinea pigs, (Guss) has been acting very off lately, he just lays down with his head resting and makes a chirping noise (it sounds like he’s in pain) and when he wheaks it sounds very wheasy, any help?
-
Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement
Sick Guinea Pig?
- Thread starter Georgiemaka
- Start date
Georgiemaka
Junior Guinea Pig
Here is him laying his head down, when he is on my bed he walks all over it but now he just lays still...
eileen
Forum Donator 2025/26
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2013
- Messages
- 7,532
- Reaction score
- 10,174
- Points
- 1,945
- Location
- North West Leicestershire
I would suggest you get Gus seen by a vet,in case of any breathing issues eg chest infection,URI,irritaion of the sinuses.
Betsy
Anniversary Herd
If he isn't his usual happy self then a vet check is recommended.
Janice C
Adult Guinea Pig
Vet ASAP! Only your Vet can diagnose illness but if he has changed in behaviour and you can hear a wheeze please get him seen. Piggies hide illness so well that he could have been ill for a while.
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2017
- Messages
- 54,488
- Reaction score
- 76,694
- Points
- 3,465
- Location
- East Riding of Yorksire
He needs to see a vet.
Let us know what happens.
Let us know what happens.
Tiamolly123
Senior Guinea Pig
You need to get him to the vet it could be an URI, you'll feel a lot better when you know what it is.
Georgiemaka
Junior Guinea Pig
Ok Thankyou, I’ll make an appointment at the vets!
Tiamolly123
Senior Guinea Pig
Don't forget to let as know what's wrong with Gus. Good luck
All the best!
Respiratory infection (URI) can kill, so it is always important for any vet to address that aspect first and foremost with an antibiotic if there is the least suspicion.
If the lungs are congested, a diuretic can additionally help. If your vet is not happy about the weight/gut movement, a gut stimulant may be of use. Please make sure to ask.
Please switch from weighing weekly to weighing daily at the same time. The need to breathe comes before the need to drink and only thirdly the need to eat. This means that any breathing problems cause loss of appetite. If your piggy has not been eaten much for a while, the guts will slow down and eventually stop working altogether. Lethargy is a sign of that.
As soon as your guinea pig has lost more than 50g weight, you need to step in with syringe feeding fibre. In an emergency, this can be mushed up pellets. 1 ml needle-less syringes you can get from a pharmacy or your vet; please prep the tip as shown in the syringe feeding guide. Please take the time to read these guides. Our step-by-step syringe feeding guide is illustrated.
Not Eating And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Respiratory infection (URI) can kill, so it is always important for any vet to address that aspect first and foremost with an antibiotic if there is the least suspicion.
If the lungs are congested, a diuretic can additionally help. If your vet is not happy about the weight/gut movement, a gut stimulant may be of use. Please make sure to ask.
Please switch from weighing weekly to weighing daily at the same time. The need to breathe comes before the need to drink and only thirdly the need to eat. This means that any breathing problems cause loss of appetite. If your piggy has not been eaten much for a while, the guts will slow down and eventually stop working altogether. Lethargy is a sign of that.
As soon as your guinea pig has lost more than 50g weight, you need to step in with syringe feeding fibre. In an emergency, this can be mushed up pellets. 1 ml needle-less syringes you can get from a pharmacy or your vet; please prep the tip as shown in the syringe feeding guide. Please take the time to read these guides. Our step-by-step syringe feeding guide is illustrated.
Not Eating And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Georgiemaka
Junior Guinea Pig
Sorry for the late reply, guss is doing a lot better now, thanks to the vet!
Tiamolly123
Senior Guinea Pig
That's brilliant news, hope he continues to improve. 