Starting to dispair a little. Now both pigs aren't eating properly

[Stockyanna]

I've posted a few times recently because I am hitting a wall with what is wrong with my guineapigs. I returned from holiday two months ago and have had problems with eating since. Candy had lost 150 grams in weight and wasn't hardly eating. I got told she had cysts on her kidneys. She then started obsessing over the other female pig (Floss) and getting all hormonal so she has had 3 hormone injections to try and help with that. I had to separate both girls cos candy then started attacking Flossy. I then got a 2nd opinion and the vet said just because she has cysts on her kidneys it doesn't mean it's affecting her. She's lively. She's stroppy. She's full of life. Now flossy is now not eating any of the food I put in there. Don't get me wrong, she's over weight so losing some wouldn't do any harm, but there has to be a reason for this. Both will only eat grass and hay now. But today, they have both left a lot of it. And for my pigs to not greens is just unheard of. I'm majorly concerned. I almost feel like I'm making a nuisance of myself at the vet because they don't know the reason for candy. She's had a scan and an x ray now to not find anything other than the cysts on the kidneys which they think she's always had, and some old food in her stomach so thought it a digestive issue. When I last spoke to the vet her weight had been going up so he was pleased but has now dropped by 90 grams again over the last week or so. I feel like I'm losing her. I've tried probiotic. She won't take syringe feeding and all I've done is make her hide up from me incase I try and shove anything in her mouth. I even made my own recipe that I got on line. But she's not having it. Now flossy isn't eating either, it's making me majorly concerned. They're in separate indoor cages now side by side. Has anybody heard of this disease that is being spread around rabbits and Guineapigs? I've heard that it's getting transported by birds. Because mine will only eat grass currently I feel like I'm putting them more at risk. But I can't stop her eating. I really am at a loss on what to do. Do I make another appointment? For both? I'm already up to £300 in vet bills this month which id do again tomorrow if I could get this sorted. But I don't feel like I'm getting any answers. Should I be concerned here? I'm not sleeping properly and I'm constantly checking the web cam!

 

[sport_billy]

Sorry you are going through this. It sounds most strange. They are both not eating at all? Nothing?

First off I’d be asking for some gut stimulant form the vets keeps everything ticking over and will hopefully make them want to eat emeprid is normally the one of choice and Zantac this will hopefully stop any bloat from gut statis due to not eating.

Whereabouts are you located?

I have not heard of any disease been spread at moment do you have sources for this?

What is the weight loss on both pigs please?

How long have they been separated?

 

[Stockyanna]

Sorry you are going through this. It sounds most strange. They are both not eating at all? Nothing?

First off I’d be asking for some gut stimulant form the vets keeps everything ticking over and will hopefully make them want to eat emeprid is normally the one of choice.

Whereabouts are you located?

I have not heard of any disease been spread at moment do you have sources for this?

Hi. Thanks for coming back to me. I live in Colchester in Essex. I hadn't heard of it either but a friend mentioned that she had heard it. They are eating a little. But hardly anything. No mixture at all. I've now tried several. I am literally just filling their bowls with grass but both haven't eaten much today. I keep perservering with their normal greens but they aren't touching it. Not even cucumber and they normally snatch that off me. Just seems strange that now both of them. Could they be lonely on their own? They can still see and hear each other but I darent risk them fighting

 

[Stockyanna]

Sorry you are going through this. It sounds most strange. They are both not eating at all? Nothing?

First off I’d be asking for some gut stimulant form the vets keeps everything ticking over and will hopefully make them want to eat emeprid is normally the one of choice and Zantac this will hopefully stop any bloat from gut statis due to not eating.

Whereabouts are you located?

I have not heard of any disease been spread at moment do you have sources for this?

What is the weight loss on both pigs please?

How long have they been separated?

Oh they have been separated about five or six weeks now. But I tried each week and candy just went for flossy each time

 

[sport_billy]

It could be lonelyness but would have expected this to have happened previous, they have been eating for five weeks since separation?

Are they eating hay?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!

I am very sorry about this, but loss of appetite is only a symptom that something is not right, which can apply to many different issues.

Have your vets prescribed gut stimulants?
Have your piggies previously been outdoors piggies? We have only ever had about 2-3 cases where worms were found in the over dozen years on our forum, and occasionally worming is used for guinea pigs with ongoing digestive problems.

How is their hay intake? Did you feed damp grass lately?

 

[Stockyanna]

It could be lonelyness but would have expected this to have happened previous, they have been eating for five weeks since separation?

Are they eating hay?

Yes flossy was eating normally up until this week. Candy hasn't been eating normally for two months. Will woof down grass but today both of them haven't touched all of that and that's just unheard of with mine. Trouble is I think flossy is deaf so used to rely on the others more to hear danger (I lost my 5 year old boy about 3 months who) so 3 of them were in one huge cage. But yes eating hay. But not as much as they were. Plus flossy now in her bed all the time and seems quite lifeless. Infact both are tonight

 

[Stockyanna]

Hi!

I am very sorry about this, but loss of appetite is only a symptom that something is not right, which can apply to many different issues.

Have your vets prescribed gut stimulants?
Have your piggies previously been outdoors piggies? We have only ever had about 2-3 cases where worms were found in the over dozen years on our forum, and occasionally worming is used for guinea pigs with ongoing digestive problems.

How is their hay intake? Did you feed damp grass lately?

When you say gut stimulant, sorry what do you mean? They offered a probiotic powder but it stopped them drinking. I then tried another and they wouldn't drink again. I'm now on my 2 syringe of fibreplex but not sure it's doing much. Only candy has had that

 

[sport_billy]

When you say gut stimulant, sorry what do you mean? They offered a probiotic powder but it stopped them drinking. I then tried another and they wouldn't drink again. I'm now on my 2 syringe of fibreplex but not sure it's doing much. Only candy has had that

Zantac and emeprid are gut stimulants.

 

[Stockyanna]

When you say gut stimulant, sorry what do you mean? They offered a probiotic powder but it stopped them drinking. I then tried another and they wouldn't drink again. I'm now on my 2 syringe of fibreplex but not sure it's doing much. Only candy has had that

Sorry didn't see all of this. Yes the grass was wet tonight a little as it had been raining. Does that cause issues then? No never lived outdoors. Always indoor

 

[Stockyanna]

Zantac and emeprid are gut stimulants.

The vet didn't think candy needed Zantac because that is to get the bowel moving and she is pooing ok

 

[sport_billy]

She won’t be pooing if she isn’t eating, as Wiebke said above I’d be asking for those now. Did you read Wiebke reply mentioning worms possibly? Things to speak to the vet about...

Have you checked our recommended vet list Recommended Guinea Pig Vets

 

[Wiebke]

When you say gut stimulant, sorry what do you mean? They offered a probiotic powder but it stopped them drinking. I then tried another and they wouldn't drink again. I'm now on my 2 syringe of fibreplex but not sure it's doing much. Only candy has had that

With gut stimulants I mean emeprid and zantac, which are prescription-only medications from a vet that work on different parts of the digestive system.

Did you add the probiotic powder to the water bottle? Generally piggies don't like any additives in water. I generally add it to any syringe feed or mix with a little water and syringe.

You can find alternatives to probiotics and CC in this link here:
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links

 

[Stockyanna]

With gut stimulants I mean emeprid and zantac, which are prescription-only medications from a vet that work on different parts of the digestive system.

Did you add the probiotic powder to the water bottle? Generally piggies don't like any additives in water. I generally add it to any syringe feed or mix with a little water and syringe.

You can find alternatives to probiotics and CC in this link here:
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links

Yes i tried the water but they didn't drink it. And candy drinks all day so didn't want to risk her not drinking. I'll check it out thank you. Maybe I'll make another appt

 

[Stockyanna]

She won’t be pooing if she isn’t eating, as Wiebke said above I’d be asking for those now. Did you read Wiebke reply mentioning worms possibly? Things to speak to the vet about...

Have you checked our recommended vet list Recommended Guinea Pig Vets

Yes she is eating but not as much as normal amd very very picky. Will only eat grass. Nothing else. Oh and hay. I am seeing Ben at Colne Valley so he is on the recommended list yes. Yes I did see the worm thing but didn't understand it completely. You think they have worms?

 

[sport_billy]

Yes she is eating but not as much as normal amd very very picky. Will only eat grass. Nothing else. Oh and hay. I am seeing Ben at Colne Valley so he is on the recommended list yes. Yes I did see the worm thing but didn't understand it completely. You think they have worms?

Something to talk to Ben about maybe? As they really need to start eating again, I would ask for gut stims for sure

 

[Stockyanna]

Something to talk to Ben about maybe? As they really need to start eating again, I would ask for gut stims for sure

Yes ok I'll book an appt tomorrow thanks