Stopped eating Veg

[Lucy2103]

Hello,
My guinea pig has really gone off her veg the last couple of weeks. She loves her hay and is still eating this however when I put a variety of veg in, she'll have a nibble then go back to the hay. Should I be worried? Also noticed very recently I've seen her twice look as though she's heaving as though she's trying to bring something up, terrified me the first time, but then she was fine and I think she spat something out.
Thank you

 

[Wiebke]

Hello,
My guinea pig has really gone off her veg the last couple of weeks. She loves her hay and is still eating this however when I put a variety of veg in, she'll have a nibble then go back to the hay. Should I be worried? Also noticed very recently I've seen her twice look as though she's heaving as though she's trying to bring something up, terrified me the first time, but then she was fine and I think she spat something out.
Thank you

Hi!

Have you switched from weighing once weekly to weighing daily at the same time because you can never control the actual food intake just by eye.

If not, please do and see a vet. Noticeable changes in the feeding pattern mean that something is not right.
The weighing will also help you judge how much support in terms of feeding top etc. your piggy will need until the vet appointment.
Weight - Monitoring and Management
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

All the best!

 

[Lucy2103]

Hi!

Have you switched from weighing once weekly to weighing daily at the same time because you can never control the actual food intake just by eye.

If not, please do and see a vet. Noticeable changes in the feeding pattern mean that something is not right.
The weighing will also help you judge how much support in terms of feeding top etc. your piggy will need until the vet appointment.
Weight - Monitoring and Management
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

All the best!

Shes fine other than that and sits eating her hay for majority of the day, has a nibble of the veg but isn't as bothered by it. You mentioned vet, what are you suggesting could be wrong as other than going off the veg she is eating her hay.
Thank you

 

[Engel]

As she's going off her food I'd get her in at the vet. Could be a number of things. Teeth issues, gut issues, she could be in pain in some way.

I'd definitely start weighing her daily. Just because you've seen her chewing hay doesn't mean that she's actually eating it.

Does she have a cage mate?

 

[Wiebke]

Shes fine other than that and sits eating her hay for majority of the day, has a nibble of the veg but isn't as bothered by it. You mentioned vet, what are you suggesting could be wrong as other than going off the veg she is eating her hay.
Thank you

Sitting on the hay and nibbling/chewing on crud can be very deceptive, as I have learned to my own cost. Please step in with weighing daily on your kitchen scales.

It will take a hands-on vet examination and if needed further tests to work out what is going wrong. Unfortunately so many different issues start with partial and increasing loss of appetite that wild guessing on our behalf won't be helping you at all. It is one of the most common illness symptoms and often the first one you notice.
There is generally either a pain/discomfort issue or a mechinal food processing issue of some sort at the bottom of it.

 

[Lucy2103]

As she's going off her food I'd get her in at the vet. Could be a number of things. Teeth issues, gut issues, she could be in pain in some way.

I'd definitely start weighing her daily. Just because you've seen her chewing hay doesn't mean that she's actually eating it.

Does she have a cage mate?

Yes I have 2 females. She is eating hay. She goes crazy for hay, loves it and sits eating it every time I add more. I never let them run out but they're fussy, they won't eat any that goes on the floor of their cage, so I'm regularly topping up their hay box with fresh even though they never run out

 

[Lucy2103]

Sitting on the hay and nibbling/chewing on crud can be very deceptive, as I have learned to my own cost. Please step in with weighing daily on your kitchen scales.

It will take a hands-on vet examination and if needed further tests to work out what is going wrong. Unfortunately so many different issues start with partial and increasing loss of appetite that wild guessing on our behalf won't be helping you at all. It is one of the most common illness symptoms and often the first one you notice.
There is generally either a pain/discomfort issue or a mechinal food processing issue of some sort at the bottom of it.

The newest food I've introduced is Bell pepper within the last 3 weeks or so. Since then she's not fussed by romaine lettuce... maybe the pepper is just too good? She is still eating the lettuce but not bothered by it and it just seemed odd as she normally loves it. Can pepper upset the gut at all? I know pepper is a bit harsh on humans stomachs but all the guinea pigs groups say bell pepper is the best for vitamin C and no calcium

 

[Lucy2103]

They've put on 60g each in a week. They're 5 months old

 

[Siikibam]

Have you switched to weighing her daily? Has her weight been stable, increasing or decreasing? I would get her seen just for peace of mind.