Hi everyone I own a 3 year old female guinea pig named Maki. Recently I've noticed that she's a little smaller than usual and the family is pointing it out. I also noticed that before she would never squeak as much because she was a little too sassy and shy, but now whenever I get up, open the door, basically anything or anyone that goes in her peripheral vision she will squeak constantly. Whenever I take her out for floor time she will do the usual which is roam around and find little things to chew on, but she always tugs on the carpet for some reason. She still eats regularly and while everything is provided for her she is getting skinny. Has anyone ever had this happen to them? I'm really worried and I'll be taking her to the vet soon, but not sure when.
Hi and welcome!
Please start to weigh Maki daily at the same time in the feeding cycle rather than the usual weekly weight and health check that we recommend.
Start offering her syringe feed and water if she has lost over 50g/2 oz. Guinea pigs that have a pain issue, usually drop hay as the first food group. As hay makes up to 80% of the daily food intake, and you can't control it, your guinea pig can actually quite quickly lose a lot of weight even if she is seemingly eating normally. Hence why weighing is so important a tool of monitoring guinea pig health.
Our detailed step-by-step syringe feeding guide will help you on that score with all the tips that you need to make it work, including what you can do with what you have got at home or easily available. It is absolutely vital that you keep the weight up and the guts going as much as possible, as that greatly improves your guinea pig's chances for a good recovery.
The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
First Aid Kit For Guinea Pigs
I would strongly recommend to have her checked by a preferably knowledgeable vet. We have got a recommended UK vets locator on the top bar, but can provide a link for recommended guinea pigs vets in some other countries if wished.
It is impossible to say for us whether the speaking is related to the weight loss or not, but any major change in weight or behaviour should be investigated.
Since we have members and enquiries from all over the world, you can help us a lot by adding your country, state/province or UK county to your details (please don't add your exact location for your own protection!), so we can always tailor any advice and recommendations to what is available, doable and relevant where you are straight away instead of keeping things a general as possible. Please click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. That way, your location is always visible underneath your avatar picture in every post. Thank you!
