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Urgent, please help me.

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Piggybel

Me and my family went on a camping trip from Tuesday until this morning (Friday), and left my guinea-pig in the care of the pet shop owner I had bought her from. Usually, my guinea-pigs have been fine there, although I have been concerned that they usually drop a little weight.

This time however, when I arrived to collect Minty, I noticed that she seemed very unhappy (squeaking everytime I touched her), and very light. Concerned, I weighed her at home to discover she had dropped 200g and has literally been eating non-stop since I presented her with food. I honestly beleive that she hasn't been fed at the pet shop, but when I mentioned this to my parents they laughed and said that I am "over-reacting" and that she "probably just missed me".

I don't know what to do; I don't think I can trust the pet shop to look after her again, and my parents won't let me take Minty to the vets. I'm convinced she's been starved and am very upset about it. Do you think that 200g is a significant amount of weight to lose over 4 days? I want to ring up about it. Also, do you have any advice about how to handle this situation?


Thank-you,
Isabel.
 
Hi Isabel 200g is a huge amount of weight to lose in such a short time :(

Is she showing any signs of illness? Is she still not happy to be touched?

Is she now eating as she did before she went to the petshop?

She may well have "missed you" but healthy piggies don't starve themselves, they do mourn for lost piggy pals & can lose weight but never have any of mine (past or present) lost weight because i've not been around.

I personally would ring the shop & explain how she's lost weight & ask them how she was whilst she was there as you're taking her to a vet & need all info to give them & see what they say :)
 
Agree with Niki, is she eating now?

200g is 7oz and that is a huge amount of weight loss. 1-2oz you expect now and again 3-4oz it would be wise to consult a vet.

If she is eating I would weigh daily (if parents won't take to vet) and see how she goes. If not eating then you need to get some food into her by syringing mashed pellets or use a teaspoon.

I hope she picks up soon!
 
Hi Niki,
Thanks for replying. My guinea-pig is here with me now, and has been eating non-stop for about 20 minutes. One of her back legs is also not working, and that has finally convinced my parents that something is not right. They have promised to take her down to the vets tommorow if she is showing no signs of improvement.

She squeaks whenever I touch her back right leg, which she is keeping tucked beneath herself... She also squeaks whenever she is picked up, as this sometimes moves the poorly leg. She's not showing any other signs of illness but she does seem constantly ravenous. She's even eating a whole carrot, which she usually hates! My parents aren't allowing me to ring the shop however, as they remain convinced that they are not at fault!
 
Perhaps she has had an accident? A fall in her cage at the shop?

Fingers crossed for her!
 
Yes, perhaps. I think she has probably damaged/pulled a muscle, as a similar thing happened to one of my other guinea-pigs a few years ago when she got her foot caught and hurt herself tugging it out. I shall take her to the vets anyway to get it checked out.
 
Keep spoiling her with lots of her favourite treats and I'm sure she will regain the weight loss. Maybe just handle her when you are weighing her to avoid further stress to the sore limb. One of my piggies is prone to a sore leg when he leaps off his home but always recovers after a couple of days limping. If you have any toys in her cage that she climbs onto, try removing them for a couple of days so she isnt tempted to climb up and jump off. Good luck. It sounds as though she is glad to be back home with you and I'm sure with the care you are giving her she will be back to normal soon..
 
Wishing your lovely lady all the best (hopefully no break in that poorly leg)!

Please show your parents this thread. 200g is an enormous amount of weight loss, about 1/5 of an adult piggies body weight!

Have you checked her drinking? Losing that much, she's probably hasn't had any access to water either and will be very dehydrated. You can check that by feeling her fur - is it waxy and stiff? Make sure she has plenty!
 
I am sorry your little piggie isn't 100%. Please show this thread to your parents, that is a huge amount of weight to have lost and of course the shop are to blame, your piggie was in their care. It's a good sign that she/he is eating but the leg needs to be looked at and not left.

Hope all goes well at the vets.

Joy xx
 
My parents are now taking this very seriously (finally), and have rung the pet shop to find out how her legs and appetite have been whilst we were away. The pet lady said that she has been eating well, but her back legs were kind of "stiff" and, on further conversation, that she thinks the symptoms may be because of ovarian cysts. This runs in my guinea-pigs family, and last year her sister, Toffie, died after experiencing similar things. She now has a vet appointment booked for 6.00 and I shall be taking her shortly. I am very upset but at least I now know it was (probably) not the pet shops fault. Minty is content and is being pampered, and I'm hoping that she'll be ok. I do not want her to be operated on as she is quite old (approaching 7!), but I've heard of injections which can help reduce the size of the cysts. The cysts can explain why she does not like being touched, the rapid weight loss, and the poorly leg/s.

Thank-you for your help, and I'm praying that my little baby will be ok.
 
I hope everything goes well at the vets for you and little piggy, let us know how you get on and I will keep everything crossed for you both.

Joy xx
 
A large weight loss in a short space of time and stiffness in the back legs caused by ovarian cysts..............................?
If the weight loss were caused by cysts then why is she eating so much and putting on weight now she is back home...?
 
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You're right, doesn't sound right to me. If she is eating so much now, that doesn't add up. With something like cysts I would have thought she would have continued to not eat...she's obviously not feeling too bad. Makes you wonder what happened to her leg(s). It could have been a genuine accident.

Joy xx
 
I am so sorry about your pig, you must be so worried, best not to send her back to the pet shop when you go on hols again. I send mine to a local guinea pig rescue for boarding, cause who better to look after your pets and the price is always so reasonable. I hope your pig gets better soon, all the best.
 
I too can't see how it could be ovarian cysts i think it's more likely an injury, poss arthritis. What a wonderful age she is, i hope you get the right diagnosis for Minty; she sounds a right character :)
 
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