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Unresponsive guinea pig

Nutter Butter

Nutter Butter

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jun 22, 2020
Messages
57
Reaction score
26
Points
195
Location
North Carolina (USA)
Recently, my guinea pig (Nutter Butter) has become much less active. She eats a significantly less amount of food than normal, she doesn't move around the cage as much, and squeaks whenever she has to move. I personally believe that her teeth are too long since food had been falling out of her mouth a few weeks ago but it seemed to improve a bit. Now, she refuses to eat (unless in small amounts) and is becoming extremely picky. There’s also been a decrease in fecal production and I’ve heard that these symptoms are non specific signs of disease. I’m planning on getting her to a vet tomorrow as soon as possible. In the mean time, what should I do and what do you think is happening? I’m really worried about Nutter Butter.
 
Hi!
I'm sorry to hear that Nutter Butter is very poorly. Please get her to a vet as soon as possible. If she’s been acting sick for a while now it’s a matter of urgency to get her to a vet. In the meantime please step in with syringe feeding with critical care or if you don’t have any soaked pellets will do the job. She Must eat in order to keep her gut moving to keep her alive. It’s not a good sign if she isn’t pooping frequently, Please see if you can get her to a vet today.

Most forum members are U.K. based, so they are asleep right now. Which means you won’t get many replies. But everyone will agree that it’s a matter of urgency to get Nutter Butter to a vet today.

good luck, wishing you and your piggy all the best:hug:
 
Good advise above. You should also start weighing her daily at the same time to see whether she’s losing or maintaining. Then adjust the syringe feeding accordingly. Less poo output (1-2 days behind) means she hasn’t been eating enough hay.

When did she seem to start eating less? You have to remember they’re prey animals so hide their illnesses well. Do get her to the vet as soon as possible. Perhaps think about seeing an out-of-hours vet if they’re available there.
 
Siikibam said:
Good advise above. You should also start weighing her daily at the same time to see whether she’s losing or maintaining. Then adjust the syringe feeding accordingly. Less poo output (1-2 days behind) means she hasn’t been eating enough hay.

When did she seem to start eating less? You have to remember they’re prey animals so hide their illnesses well. Do get her to the vet as soon as possible. Perhaps think about seeing an out-of-hours vet if they’re available there.
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Hey guys! Thanks for the reply’s and tips. Nutter Butter is going to see the vet today around the afternoon. She’s been eating a few veggies and treats I gave her and has been eating a tiny bit of hay. Unfortunately, I don’t have the equipment to syringe feed her but once we get out of this mess, I’ll be sure to purchase the equipment. Thanks for so much support!
 
Nutter Butter said:
Hey guys! Thanks for the reply’s and tips. Nutter Butter is going to see the vet today around the afternoon. She’s been eating a few veggies and treats I gave her and has been eating a tiny bit of hay. Unfortunately, I don’t have the equipment to syringe feed her but once we get out of this mess, I’ll be sure to purchase the equipment. Thanks for so much support!
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Eating veg and treats is not enough, a piggy who isn’t eating hay needs a fibre source to keep the guts functioning, so support feeding is essential.
Can you try mushing us some pellets with water and feeding her from a spoon, it’s really so important
 
Well done for getting a vet appointment.
It sounds like she really need her teeth to be properly checked as if food is falling out of her mouth she may have a dental issue.

Please let us know how you get on.
 
Swissgreys said:
Well done for getting a vet appointment.
It sounds like she really need her teeth to be properly checked as if food is falling out of her mouth she may have a dental issue.

Please let us know how you get on.
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I’m so sorry guys, my parents won’t let me go to a guinea pig vet until next week. I don’t think I’ll be able to order critical care either and we’ve run out of guinea pig pellets.
 
Nutter Butter said:
I’m so sorry guys, my parents won’t let me go to a guinea pig vet until next week.
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Your piggy needs help. If she isnt eating enough then she will become very poorly.. Your parents have a duty to provide vet care when it is needed.
Weigh her daily and you will need to syringe feed her to keep her guts working. She really does need a vet.
Without treatment dental problems get worse, the less hay they eat the more the teeth overgrow.
Do read the guides I linked in earlier on how to feed her.
 
Piggies&buns said:
Your piggy needs help. If she isnt eating enough then she will become very poorly.. Your parents have a duty to provide vet care when it is needed.
Weigh her daily and you will need to syringe feed her to keep her guts working. She really does need a vet.
Without treatment dental problems get worse, the less hay they eat the more the teeth overgrow.
Do read the guides I linked in earlier on how to feed her.
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I’ve ordered Critical Care and the needed equipment. Until it arrives on Wednesday, I’ll try to feed her mashed pellets and hay.
 
You will need to feed her every couple of hours and aim for 60mls of feed in a 24 hour period if she isn’t eating hay (the guides explain). Weigh her daily as if she loses weight then she isn’t being fed enough. If she isn’t eating anything you will likely need to get up in the night as well. Lack of poop output means not enough food is going in.
Feeding is only an emergency measure though, she needs to see a vet soon, next week is too long to wait for a piggy who isn’t eating.
Read the guides that have been linked in
 
Piggies&buns said:
You will need to feed her every couple of hours and aim for 60mls of feed in a 24 hour period if she isn’t eating hay (the guides explain). Weigh her daily as if she loses weight then she isn’t being fed enough. If she isn’t eating anything you will likely need to get up in the night as well. Lack of poop output means not enough food is going in.
Feeding is only an emergency measure though, she needs to see a vet soon, next week is too long to wait for a piggy who isn’t eating.
Read the guides that have been linked in
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my parents said that the what list for guinea pig check ups is too long to squeeze in a time, I’ll try my best to keep her happy until then. The appointment is next Monday
 
If your pig is not eating she will die before next Monday. She needs to see a vet urgently.
 
Can you email the vets with the issue and then follow up with a phone call? Call while you’re parents are there and try to get an appointment for this week? She really does need to be seen this week and not next. If she’s not eating enough and not getting enough in terms of syringe feeding then weight loss and gut issues will be major by then. Please try and tell them how important it is. Hope they change their minds.
 
Nutter Butter has a light runny nose now... I have a feeling this is a bad omen. On the other hand, I just realized the pellets we had been feeding Nutter Butter contained Timothy hay which, I’m sure it’s not a 100% full proof substitute, but atleast she got a few nutrients into her.. I assume Nutter Butter has a bit of a cold now so I’m keeping her wrapped in warm towels in the mean time. I’m determined to watch her 24/7 for any new symptoms. Wish her luck (she’s still eating a few pellets every day since they’re softer)
 

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It sounds like you are doing the very best you can for her given that you are reliant on your parents to help you arrange/pay for vet care. Must be a very difficult position for you to be in, but best of luck to both you and Nutter Butter ❤️
 
Fantasimo said:
It sounds like you are doing the very best you can for her given that you are reliant on your parents to help you arrange/pay for vet care. Must be a very difficult position for you to be in, but best of luck to both you and Nutter Butter ❤
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Aw, that’s so kind. Thank you and everybody for your support and kind words! My dad is going to get her some more pellets soon so she can go back to snacking on some treats! (Hopefully)
 
Pellets can not replace hay. Hay makes up at least 80% of their diet with pellets only amounting to 5%. So you really can’t replace hay with anything. Make sure she’s not excessively warm either. They don’t get colds like us humans. I would try and bring the appointment forward to tomorrow if possible - maybe they have a cancellation and could get you in. No harm in trying.

Please weigh her daily at the same time and be sure to syringe feed her to help maintain her weight. Treats aren’t enough, she needs to be eating hay and having something with fibre.

Good luck and hopefully it won’t get worse between now and your appointment.
 
Siikibam said:
Pellets can not replace hay. Hay makes up at least 80% of their diet with pellets only amounting to 5%. So you really can’t replace hay with anything. Make sure she’s not excessively warm either. They don’t get colds like us humans. I would try and bring the appointment forward to tomorrow if possible - maybe they have a cancellation and could get you in. No harm in trying.

Please weigh her daily at the same time and be sure to syringe feed her to help maintain her weight. Treats aren’t enough, she needs to be eating hay and having something with fibre.

Good luck and hopefully it won’t get worse between now and your appointment.
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Oh my goodness, When I checked on her, she could barley stand up. I immediately fed her hay mashed with pellets and she’s...getting a tiny bit better. I’ll try to adjust the vet appointment date
 
Please tell your parents it’s now become extremely important you get her to the vet sharpish. I don’t know if you have any emergency vets open at night where you are so have a check and see. If that’s not an option then she must see a vet in the morning, not wait till Wednesday. Ring them at opening time and see if you can get an emergency appointment.

Hay is more important than pellets so it’s difficult if she’s not eating that. Are you feeding her mushed pellets? How much each hour? Needs to be minimum 60ml in 24 hours.

Fingers crossed and good luck for the night.

PS set a 2 hourly alarm rather than not sleep. Else you won’t function tomorrow.
 
And addition to siikibam’s advice, guinea pigs don’t get colds. They get bacterial respiratory infections. Keeping her wrapped in warm blankets could make her get too hot.
 
Thanks for the advice, I’m planning on bombarding the vet we have with emergency calls. My parents might no be as enthusiastic though so they might reject the request. I’ll get them to call the vet to ask them to tell us if anybody has canceled a appointment though. Unfortunately, It’s also a work day for my parents so I hope i can convince one of them to leave
 
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