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Still not eating!

SqueekEek

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Feb 6, 2019
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(Backstory; Pip had a friend called Squeak who she was bonded to, recently she crossed the rainbow bridge due to a URI and Pip picked up a much more mild early stage version of URI, and luckily seems to be completely fine now. I believed she had acute pining due to the death of Squeak as she would sit and stare and not eat or drink all day. I began syringe feeding and she seemed very healthy and happy, except when put in her cage which had been cleaned and re-arranged multiple times since Squeak's death)

Today...
Pip has got a new friend, Mocha, and although they both were happily following, sniffing and cuddling with each other Pip still isn't eating.

Pip has finished all of her antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication and is completely healthy looking, her eyes are shiny and she has a nice loud squeak. However, despite having a new piggy in the cage she won't eat, drink and often sits in one place and doesn't move. Obviously this concerns me but they have only been socialising for about an hour, how long does it often take and should I continue to syringe feed Pip?

Thank you.
 
Two possibilities spring to mind; 1) Pip is still grieving for Squeak or 2) there might be something else preventing her from eating. Is your vet experienced with piggies or a general vet that doesn't see many pigs? I'm wondering if it could be a mouth or teeth issue. It's common for the front teeth to look slanted, rather than nicely straight, if there's an issue, but I'm not sure if that's always the case. I do know some vets don't have a lot of experience with checking back teeth though, so it's just a thought that you might want to get that checked.
 
I will keep it in mind, but the vet that I visited did a thorough check of her teeth and said that they were a good length in the front and back. :)
 
That's good then! Perhaps it's a more emotional issue, especially if they were closely bonded. Sorry I don't have any answers for that, but hopefully someone else will be along who can offer you some practical advice.
 
i would still keep the syringe feeds going,weight Pip daily to see if she is maintaining her own weight.another vet visit maybe needed if she does not improve,incase there is an underlying cause.I'm sorry you are having a difficult time.
 
Will do, she's at a healthy 850g at the moment :)
 
(Backstory; Pip had a friend called Squeak who she was bonded to, recently she crossed the rainbow bridge due to a URI and Pip picked up a much more mild early stage version of URI, and luckily seems to be completely fine now. I believed she had acute pining due to the death of Squeak as she would sit and stare and not eat or drink all day. I began syringe feeding and she seemed very healthy and happy, except when put in her cage which had been cleaned and re-arranged multiple times since Squeak's death)

Today...
Pip has got a new friend, Mocha, and although they both were happily following, sniffing and cuddling with each other Pip still isn't eating.

Pip has finished all of her antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication and is completely healthy looking, her eyes are shiny and she has a nice loud squeak. However, despite having a new piggy in the cage she won't eat, drink and often sits in one place and doesn't move. Obviously this concerns me but they have only been socialising for about an hour, how long does it often take and should I continue to syringe feed Pip?

Thank you.

Hi!

Please continue syringe feeding as long as necessary.

When berreaced piggies stop eating, acute pining is one option, but a not yet dignosed underlying health problem is another. It can sometimes turn out quite difficult to sort out what exactly you are dealing with as the death is acting as a trigger for both, and not all health problems are obvious. However, a happy new bond can act as a major morale booster even when you are dealing with a medical problem - only that the medical side still needs to be taken care of. Just see how it goes and then take it from there. it sounds like the bonding is going OK.

Also give the piggies time to bond, please.
 
Thank you for the advice, I'll weigh and feed her for a few more days and visit the vet if there is no change :)

Also, you said 'give the guinea pigs time to bond', what exactly do you mean? They are getting along very well but should I separate them for a while? I have read the guides I just want to make sure I'm not doing something accidentally incorrect!
 
If they continue to get on well, you shouldn't separate them. The reason for this is that each time you reintroduce them, they are starting from scratch with the bonding process!
 
Thank you for the advice, I'll weigh and feed her for a few more days and visit the vet if there is no change :)

Also, you said 'give the guinea pigs time to bond', what exactly do you mean? They are getting along very well but should I separate them for a while? I have read the guides I just want to make sure I'm not doing something accidentally incorrect!

Bonding is not just a few hours, it is a process that actually takes several days to several weeks to fully set up a new working group until all the small print is worked out. But once the initial contract is signed, then you need not worry. Please keep them together if at all possible.
 
If Pip is still not eating but settling with a new companion could you add some boosters to her syringe feed, like a scattering of oats in the cage or on the pellets.
I did this for Priscilla when she was getting over a tummy upset and needed to regain weight.
It won't hurt the others either and might help tempt her to eat
 
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