• DONATIONS NOW OPEN! TGPF relies on donations to run. If you'd like to donate towards running costs you can find out more HERE
  • Fresh grass and lawn tips to avoid springtime deaths Click here for details
  • 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? Or Just Lazy?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Chukkin

Chukkin

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Mar 1, 2014
Messages
89
Reaction score
32
Points
155
Location
West Yorkshire
My two sows are now 23 weeks old and gaining weight slowly but surely. Both love their veggies and as soon as I have put the plate of veggies in the cage, they are straight out and eating. This morning, though, Ivory (the more confident of the two) made no appearance when breakfast was served and she is usually the one wheeking when I rustle the veggie bag. I left them for an hour or so then concern got the better of me and I lifted Ivory's pigloo to make sure she was ok. Usually, when I do that, she will run, but even when I put my hand on top of the bedding to see if she was there, she hardly moved. Seeing that she was alive and breathing, I replaced the pigloo and just assumed she was being lazy. It's now been two hours since I put the veggie plate down, and she has appeared and taken one piece of lettuce into the pigloo, but other than that, I haven't seen her.

Is this something I should be worried about?
 
I would keep a very close eye on her, it could be a sign of illness or she might be too hot - is she drinking lots? If she hasn't perked up then a check up at the vets tomorrow wouldn't hurt.
 
I would get her checked by a vet as soon as you can. Has she lost any weight?
 
She has just this minute come out of the pigloo and is eating a pellet. She has never been one to really drink much and although she hasn't gained weight in the last week, she hasn't lost any either. I know it's quite warm outside just now so I have been having the windows open during the day to keep the place cool but the cage is not in a position which gets a draught
 
That's good she has eaten, please weigh her daily at the moment and if she carries on not eating properly she will need to see a vet and you may need to step in with syringe feeding.
 
Ok, thanks for the advice, I will certainly weigh her daily so I can check for weight loss. Seems to be eating a little more, but she just doesn't seem right - I know that sounds silly!
 
Hi, she was the same this morning - no interest where she normally would be out wheeking at the lettuce bag. I then had to leave to attend an exam at university, and when I returned, she was out eating some pellets and has been seen out for about 10 minutes. I weighed her and she weighs the same as when I weighed her last Friday. I will be in for the rest of the week and normally she is more active in the evening, so I will be able to keep a very close eye on her
 
Ok, both girls have now been checked by the vet. He was happy with Ebony, good weight for her age and looking very healthy She was also a super-star and sat still and quiet and made absolutely no fuss, even when turned over. Ivory, who had dropped 10g since yesterday, squeaked and squealed the entire time and after nearly 5 minutes of trying to listen to her heart and lungs amidst the noises she was making, has been diagnosed with a respiratory infection. She has been prescribed Baytrill 2.5% and I have to give her 0.2ml twice a day for a week and take her back for another check-up. I did notice her sneeze a couple of times yesterday... I am really hoping that this helps her and I have caught it quickly before she gets really unwell. Any advice on dealing with a sick piggy other than giving her the medicine?
 
I hope Ivory gets better soon. I would give her a probiotic an hour after the baytril to help line her stomach. I use this one
 
Chukkin said:
Any idea where I can get such a probiotic?
Click to expand...

From the internet (cheaper) or your vet should have probiotic. Some people recommend natural yoghurt (I know the jury is out). However, if you have a second guinea pig, then the cheapest and most effective way is to collect some fresh poos, and to smash them up with some water and syringe feed them. Best probiotic ever! Our lovely Vincent is keeping our lovely Badger well and healthy at the moment (he has been on antibiotics for 3 out of the last 5 months.
 
I'm pretty sure pets at home do a probiotic and it's fairly priced as well.
And I hope your little one feels better too :)
 
Last edited:
...just wanted to add. I'm convinced that Badger wouldn't be as well, if we hadn't done the smashed poo deed. I know it sounds disgusting, but it really is the best. Pets at home probiotics may be quite old. Bio Lapis is quite good, but very expensive. We mix some of the poo with bio lapis and some recovery (so that the bacteria have something to grow on). Badger loves it, and his poos are amazing for a guinea pig on such a long antibiotic treatment.
I think our vet was quite pleased when we suggested it, he said it was the best, but generally people did not want to do it.
 
Cyberpig said:
...just wanted to add. I'm convinced that Badger wouldn't be as well, if we hadn't done the smashed poo deed. I know it sounds disgusting, but it really is the best. Pets at home probiotics may be quite old. Bio Lapis is quite good, but very expensive. We mix some of the poo with bio lapis and some recovery (so that the bacteria have something to grow on). Badger loves it, and his poos are amazing for a guinea pig on such a long antibiotic treatment.
I think our vet was quite pleased when we suggested it, he said it was the best, but generally people did not want to do it.
Click to expand...

While I am not totally against the idea, I must admit it does sound very strange! If I were to try this option, how much poo and how much water? I have two piggies, would it matter which poos they were?
 
Chukkin said:
While I am not totally against the idea, I must admit it does sound very strange! If I were to try this option, how much poo and how much water? I have two piggies, would it matter which poos they were?
Click to expand...

We normally collect 3 to 4 fresh poos (slightly wet), and mix it with a bit of water (maybe 20 - 30 mls). We sometimes mix half a packet of bio lapis and a spoonful of recovery. We leave it to ferment. Badger really loves the mixture, our little one, Schimanski (because of his upper respiratory infection) is not convinced. I have to feed Badger his own poo, because of his paralysis, so it's not that much extra. I will try how to sort out pictures and I will post some stuff or illustrations. Seriously, if you have a healthy guinea pig then it's a money saver and the best probiotic ever!
 
Chukkin said:
Thats what I thought, but delivery is 3-5 days - can I afford to wait that long?
Click to expand...
Use your other guines pig's poo. Three to four, mashed up in some water. Administer with a syringe (you may be suprised how much he likes it). Seriously, I'm not talking nonsense.
 
I use Avipro Plus from Vet UK, and I think they do next do delivery if you pay extra.
 
So, managed to get the morning dose done with little problem - she didn't like it, but was less hassle than the vet had yesterday. While I was holding her to take the medication, I noticed she had discharge coming from her nose and it had started to go a little crusty (sorry). I expected this, due to her illness, but is there something I can do to help her? I gave it a little wipe with a damp tissue - is this the right thing to do, or should I be leaving well alone.

Never had a poorly piggy before, and I just want to get this right since I know that they can go downhill very quickly, and such illnesses can be fatal. I also got a probiotic this morning and will be adding this to the medication regime.
 
Glad you have got probiotic. It needs to be given at least an hour after the antibiotics.

I think it is ok to wipe her nose if it is sore.

As she is snotty it is worth asking your vet for a product called Bislovon which will help clear the mucous.

How is her breathing?
 
Her breathing seems to be normal from a non-vet point of view. I can't hear a wheeze etc. Not sure if her nose was sore - it's not red or anything - I just wanted to clear it a little for her
 
Just keep an eye out for any laboured breathing as that would potentially need diuretic from the vets to clear any fluid.
 
My poor little piggie! Ok, a couple more questions - I have a rare and severe form of asthma (Brittle Asthma) and have to be extremely careful when it comes to catching infections - is there a risk I could pick up something?
Secondly, how should I be treating my healthy piggie? I don't want to end up with two poorly piggies!
 
Hi, I'm curious about feeding poopers. Piggies are so adorable, almost like wind-up toys, but then they start picking poopies and it gets unreal. The first time I saw this, I almost lost my mind! What are the fecal pellets and mush good for?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top