Urgent! Respond As Soon As You Can!

[Jared]

Hello everyone! I'm new here, and this is the only place I thought I could ask this specific of a question. My guinea pig, Ruby, has had diarrhea and major hair loss along her sides and around her face. Her appetite hasn't decreased and she is drinking her whole water bottle at least three times a day. I am thinking she doesn't have enough vitamin C. Any help would be nice. I will delete any judgmental or rude comments.

 

[AlbiePercy]

Hello, and welcome to the forum. I'm not very experienced with piggie illness, but perhaps you could provide more info to help when the experienced members of the forum are awake again.
How long has she been having the diahorrea and does she have any formed stools at all?
What sort of diet does Ruby have? Does she have easy access to hay, pellets and fresh veg? What does her daily diet look like?
Are you sure she's drinking all the water in her bottle and it's not spilling?
For the time being, I would remove any fresh veg from her diet as this could upset her tummy some more, but like I said, I'm definitely not an expert!

 

[Tiamolly123]

Hello everyone! I'm new here, and this is the only place I thought I could ask this specific of a question. My guinea pig, Ruby, has had diarrhea and major hair loss along her sides and around her face. Her appetite hasn't decreased and she is drinking her whole water bottle at least three times a day. I am thinking she doesn't have enough vitamin C. Any help would be nice. I will delete any judgmental or rude comments.

We don't do judgement or rude here Jared. Hi & welcome to our group, we are a friendly bunch. How old is Ruby & how long has she been having the diarrrora. Could you put your location on your profile please it helps to help you if we know your area.

 

[Tiamolly123]

We don't do judgement or rude here Jared. Hi & welcome to our group, we are a friendly bunch. How old is Ruby & how long has she been having the diarrrora. Could you put your location on your profile please it helps to help you if we know your area.

Forgot to ask how long has the hair loss been going for.

 

[GPcrazy]

She definitely needs to go see a piggy savvy vet. Hair loss along the sides could indicate ovarian cysts or some other hormonal imbalance. Also, drinking her full water bottle three times in a day also indicates something not right. Please take her to the vet as soon as possible.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello everyone! I'm new here, and this is the only place I thought I could ask this specific of a question. My guinea pig, Ruby, has had diarrhea and major hair loss along her sides and around her face. Her appetite hasn't decreased and she is drinking her whole water bottle at least three times a day. I am thinking she doesn't have enough vitamin C. Any help would be nice. I will delete any judgmental or rude comments.

Hi and welcome

Can you please add your country to your details, so we can help you better. Click on the username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thank you. We have got members and enquiries from all over the world.

What kind of diet is your guinea pig on and how long have these symptoms gone on? Just how soft are the stools?

Unfortunately for you, your guinea pig urgently needs vet care!
Any fluid diarrhea needs to be seen by a vet ( as do any soft poos that do not firm up within a day if a guinea pig is taken off fresh veg); as needs major hair loss (yours argues for an advanced untreated fungal skin infection rather than mange mites, ovarian cysts or scurvy - however, this is only a guess of mine); excessive drinking either points to kidney failure or acute diabetes. Diarrhea is dehydrating in itself.

Any of these issues on its own is serious enough to warrant a vet visit, but we legally and practically cannot replace a vet visit and a vet diagnosis without being qualified nor able to see and handle the guinea pig in question and being entitled to prescribe appropriate medical treatment. We can only point out avenues to discuss with a vet and to tell you when you need to see a vet.

There is likely one underlying major issue that has over time weakened the immune system. It is however not something that a little extra vitamin C can cure and that really needs a vet to sort out.

Until you can be seen, you need to take your guinea pig off any fresh food and put it on unlimited hay (which should make up to 80% of the daily food intake anyway); if necessary, support it with mushed up syringed pellets to help stop the diarrhea and re-balance the guts. Switch from the usual weekly weigh-in to weighing daily at the same time in order to monitor the daily food intake and note down any ongoing weight loss. This will hopefully go towards keeping your piggy alive and steadying its guts until it can be seen by a vet, but it won't address the underlying issue that is causing the diarrhea.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

 

[Tiamolly123]

I echo Wiebke you need to get her to a vet asap you would be devastated if she died, you have to give her every chance you sound like a good mum to me. You know how much mums worry. Good luck, let us know how you get on!

 

[Veggies Galore]

Message to this poster - you titled this thread as urgent - and rightly so . Guinea pigs are very good at hiding their illness and, when they are ill , can go downhill very rapidly . I can only hope you are either checking this thread as a guest - and this is why you have not logged in for nearly 12 hours - or that you have taken your guinea pig to a vet and have started treatment as advised by your vet.

You have received good advice from the above posters - these people have contributed voluntarily because they want to help you and your Guinea Pig . We would all be delighted if you could let us know how your Guinea Pig is doing .