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Advice my guinea pig is really unwell

Jadem

Jadem

New Born Pup
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my guinea pig stopped eating and drinking water he hasn’t moved from his hut. I took him the vet yesterday and the checkup was all ok but the vet I go to does not do blood tests and X-rays. I gave him some food and water in a syringe yesterday. I gave him some water today in a syringe and he started to twitch it sounded like he was choking/ going to throw up. He stopped twitching and settled so I put him back in his hut and he started making strange noises very husky sounding noise. Does anybody have any advice as to what this might be. He is 3.5 years old and there is a strange smell coming from him and discharge.
 
Please have him seen by an emergency vet again today.

If he is still able to swallow then you need to syringe feed him a recovery feed or mushed pellets. They need to be fed every 2-3 hours and given approximately 60-90ml of syringe feed in each 24 hour period.
Make sure you switch from the routine weekly weight checks and instead weigh him daily so you can be sure he is getting enough syringe feeds each day so he doesn’t lose weight.

If he is not able to swallow at all then he is very poorly I’m afraid.
Piggies cannot be sick so if food or water is coming back out then it is because it cannot go down often due to a blockage somewhere in the system.

Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
Weight - Monitoring and Management
 
Sending healing vibes to your piggy. Good luck. I hope you can get him seen again 🤞🏻
 
Thank you everybody I am focusing on making sure my surviving guinea pig is happy. Does anybody have advice I have read to keep him quarantined for 2-4 weeks to make sure there is not infection before introducing another guinea pig. He is 3.4 years old and not neutered I’m not sure where to look for another guinea pig ideally a male around the same age but I’ve also read it can be difficult to bond males. My surviving guinea pig was the dominant of the 2 and the more inquisitive so I’m worried he may not do well waiting 2-4 weeks of quarantine.
 
I’m so sorry for your loss.

If there is a risk it was something contagious then there would be benefit in giving a few weeks in case he has also became unwell. However if he struggles being alone then you may need to forego quarantining him and get him a new friend straight away.

The important thing would be to make sure you switch from the routine weekly weight checks and instead weigh him daily. This will help identify if he is reducing hay intake which can be due to a brewing illness but also a piggy who is becoming lonely may also reduce the amount they eat.

Bonding males is not so difficult, no harder than bonding sows. Two piggies need to be character compatible regardless of their sex.
The best way to find a compatible friend is to contact some rescue centres as they can help in finding a submissive boy to bond with your piggy thereby maximising the chances of a successful bond. If the bond does fail you would have their support in returning the piggy and trying another.
If you were to buy a piggy and the bond failed then the two would need to live in separate but side by side cages.

The guides below will help further

Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
Weight - Monitoring and Management
 
He is still eating and drinking, walking around his cage thankfully. However I’m more worried about the longterm affect. I’ve contacted rescue centres, and I am hoping he will be okay being alone for a few weeks, to make sure there is no infection, before trying to introduce him to another guinea pig.
 
They usually are ok alone for a few weeks but it’s the weight checks which are important and a good part of your guide to how well he is coping.

Hopefully you will find a friend for him soon
 
Thank you for your advice I will keep track of his weight and continue to make sure he is eating and drinking.
I am away on holiday for 3 weeks as of 2nd Feb. Unfortunately we did not know one of my piggies would have gotten ill and passed away. Usually I would have left both with somebody I trusted. However given the circumstances I have found a guinea pig boarding company, who would happily look after chewy, and they have explained all guinea pigs are in the same shed so chewy will be able to see and hear them. Will this be good for him until I can find a friend for him to bond with?
 
Hope you find a friend for Chewy soon after your holiday.
Enjoy your holiday despite your concern for him.
It sounds as if you’re doing the very best for him.
 
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