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8-9 Year Old Male Stopped Eating And Drinking

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Sarah1

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Hi! I am based in the UK and just after a little bit of advice. I have a male guinea pig who is 8-9 years old now. He has done absolutley brilliantly, loosing his sole mate 4 years ago I thought he might deteriorate and not last much longer, but he has. However, over the past two days his usual appetite for food has gone. He has stopped eating and drinking. He tries the food but them its like he doesn't have the energy to go through with it. I am realistic that maybe he doesn't have much longer left, so I am making a fuss of him, trying to encourage him with wet foot/water and have made him really comfortable. I have checked and he doesn't appear impacted, but when my helper is out of bed I am going to check again, that way I can look properly whilst he is beiong held by someone else.

I know it would really stress him out going to the vets, he has never liked being handled at the best of times, and I'm not optimistic they would really be able to do anything for him. Does anyone have any advice?

Thank you in advance.
Sarah
 
Can you give a rough idea of your location please in the UK? It could be that you have a very nice cavy savvy vet in your area that might be able to take a look at your boy without stressing him out :) That's a fantastic age & hopefully he will be around for a good while yet x
 
I've had a look and cannot seem to find one that really specialises in guinea pigs, but other may know more :) I'm based in Sheffield! Yes he has lived such a long time, I'm super proud of him. x
 
Hi and welcome!

I am very sorry for your dilemma. It is always very upsetting when you come to the point of deciding when to call it shots.

In your situation, you have to either start syringe feeding asap and having him vet checked in order to see whether it is something treatable you can pull him through or to let him die, but making very sure that he is not in any discomfort/pain, and to have him put to sleep at any time if that is the case. Sadly, the body does not always close down quite as peacefully as you'd wish, so you have to brace for that possibility and be willing to go through with it. It can well be that your vet can only tell you that the kindest thing is to let him go right there and then if/when you have him seen.
PS: If your boy refuses most emphatically to take any syringe feed or if he is very apathetic, then it is very likely that his body is already in the process of closing down and he is no longer able to process food.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Let your boy's comfort and wellbeing be the guide in your decision above your own feelings. That way, you will be able to live with the inevitable feelings of guilt and doubt that are part and parcel for these kind of decisions in long term and be able to let him go in peace.
 
Hi Wiebke, thank you so much for reply. These are exactly the dilemmas I am facing with at the moment! I'm trying to make him confortable, his breathing is slightly laboured so I am going to see how he goes. I think if we take him to the vets they will advice to have him euthanized. I have handled him gently and he doesn't appear in pain from that, and believe me he has indcated before when he has been in pain. He does appear to be loosing weight, but that is unsuprising given his lack of eating. IThanks so much.
 
If his sides are heaving when he is breathing (diaphragmic breathing), then it is usually the heart that is going. Otherwise, he may have got a URI (respiratory infection) or pneumonia that can both hit out of the blue and strike hard, especially in a guinea pig with a lowered immune system.
 
Yes his sides are heaving slightly, however, I will watch out incase its UTI or pneumonia. Poor little man.
 
Sarah1 said:
Yes his sides are heaving slightly, however, I will watch out incase its UTI or pneumonia. Poor little man.
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If it is respiratory infection (URI) or pneumonia, you need to have it treated asap, as otherwise it will be too late once it gets to total loss of appetite. Can you hold him to your ear to have a listen whether his lungs are free?
 
I have listened to him breathing and there is no crackling, it sounded pretty clear to be honest. Occasionally I hear what sounds like a click, but i cannot work out if its him with his teeth as he used to do this when held or his chest.
 
Sarah1 said:
I have listened to him breathing and there is no crackling, it sounded pretty clear to be honest. Occasionally I hear what sounds like a click, but i cannot work out if its him with his teeth as he used to do this when held or his chest.
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Then it looks rather like the heart may have started to go. :(
 
Oh no! Do you think the click could be a chest thing or am I clutching at staws? It just sounds like he is breathing really heavy, almost a sigh!
 
Sarah1 said:
Oh no! Do you think the click could be a chest thing or am I clutching at staws? It just sounds like he is breathing really heavy, almost a sigh!
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As I am not a vet and can't listen to your boy myself, I simply cannot tell; I am sorry. I can only go on my own experiences with dying piggies of mine.
 
No I'm very grateful for your advice. To be honest I fear it is his heart giving up. I'm just clutching at straws. He is so lovely but just a shadow of himself, I guess when considering human years he is so old and probably tired by now. I think it will be a long night with him.
 
For those following this. We are taking Fuzz to the vets, It's going to stress him out but I feel he is suffering, which is awful. I will let you know how we get on but I'm afraid its a one way trip for him. :(
 
Oh he sounds as if you have loved him and given him a good life and I am sure that you will do right by him no matter what :luv:

Sending hugs to you both :hug:
 
Thank you everyone, and for making me feel so welcome as i'm new to this forum. Fuzz is home now with some antibiotics and critical care food. The vet thinks that if he doesn't improve in the next 24-48 hours then to take him back and maybe it will be time for guinea pig heaven. She just kept saying, wow hes so old! Bless him. He will be getting snuggly with us later while we try to encourage him to eat. He's having some much needed respite atm from being handled earlier. X
 
Well there is hope then :) I would also suggest perhaps diuretics like Frusemide which will help clear his chest if he has a lot of fluid on his lungs x
 
Thank you Poppy'sMum. The vet didn't think his chest sounded too bad, but that is a good point. Thank you.
 
You're welcome, I'll keep him in my thoughts :) I lost one at 7 years old & I know you get very attached to them xx
 
Sarah1 said:
Thank you everyone, and for making me feel so welcome as i'm new to this forum. Fuzz is home now with some antibiotics and critical care food. The vet thinks that if he doesn't improve in the next 24-48 hours then to take him back and maybe it will be time for guinea pig heaven. She just kept saying, wow hes so old! Bless him. He will be getting snuggly with us later while we try to encourage him to eat. He's having some much needed respite atm from being handled earlier. X
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Glad to hear Fuzz is home and getting some medicine. Now all you can do is love him like you always have and as to what happens next then
none of us have any power over that.

We will be thinking of you and sending our love and hugs to you both.
 
Sending you huge hugs - I lost my 4 year old boy Nuggets this morning - unexpected and very quick - I am currently nursing his nearly 6 year old wifepig Noodles with critical care pain killers and gut stimulants as she isn't eating by herself - I was prepared for her to go go to rainbow bridge but nuggets was a shock - the next 48 hrs are crucial for her too - so I know what you are going through - x
 
Aww thank you so much everybody, we have made Fuzz comfy and will hope for the best. So sorry to hear of your loss Tan. As Poppy'sMum said, we all get very attached so I can imagine how hard it is. When we lost Fuzz's partner bud it was sudden too. Sending lots of love, hugs and healing to all he poorly little pigs out there! :hug:xx
 
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Fingers crossed sending you hugs. They break our hearts these little piggies they are such funny lovely characters. x
 
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Yes that's so true brillmini. We have a little rabbit too who is brilliant, but guinea pigs just have special little characters too! X
 
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