I’ve got two gineau pigs and had them for around a year and a half always been very squeeky and lively expecially when they hear me coming but today my one gineau pig has been very quiet and didn’t come if of its bed for food which is not normal for her she was comepetely fine yesterday like boatman. when I try to pick her up she usually try’s to run but she’s just been sat there doing nothing not playing with any of her toys I’ve also noticed her breath has a bit of a funny smell I’m quite worried can anyone help with similar experiences ?
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Change in behaviour and appetite
- Thread starter Mttab231
- Start date
Zorro1
Adult Guinea Pig
I've never experienced anything like you've just described so unfortunately I can't help you by sharing personal experience. A lot of health issues can impact guinea pigs so the best thing to do when you suspect something is wrong, is to take it to the vet. Not eating and staying in one spot for a long time are both behaviors that defiantly say something is wrong.
With guinea pig health, as soon as you suspect something may be wrong you need to take it to the vet. Guinea pigs are masters of hiding their health problems, so as soon as you see a behavioral change (such as not eating) something has gotten bad enough that they can't hide their illness any more. Basically, the quicker you get to a vet, the sooner the treatment and the better it'll be for the guinea pig.
With guinea pig health, as soon as you suspect something may be wrong you need to take it to the vet. Guinea pigs are masters of hiding their health problems, so as soon as you see a behavioral change (such as not eating) something has gotten bad enough that they can't hide their illness any more. Basically, the quicker you get to a vet, the sooner the treatment and the better it'll be for the guinea pig.
Livia Rabideau
Adult Guinea Pig
If she is not eating, you need to syringe feed critical care or mashed up pellets. I would get her to a vet asap. Can you look in her mouth? I hope she feels better soon!
Popcorns & Wheeks
Teenage Guinea Pig
Hi, sorry to hear your piggie isn't well. If your piggie has stopped eating, you need to step in with syringe feeding right away. Either critical care or pellets in warm water, mashed up and allowed to cool.
If she is completely off hay, it's important to try and feed her at least 40-50 ml of syringe food everyday, maybe around 5ml every 3 hours. Obviously make time for your rest time too, as looking after a sick piggie is exhausting.
Syringe feed her water too when she will take it. She will get water in the syringe food so do not force feed her too much water. Please start out with just a small amount of feed/water like 0.3ml at first just to see if she is able to swallow and to avoid choking.
You can also try adding some probiotics to her syringe food to try get her apetite up and keep her guts going. Probiotics do a good job at keeping the gut happy and stable.
Piggies can go downhill very quickly, so one day they may be fine and the next not good at all. With them being prey animals, they are very good at hiding their illnesses until they cannot any longer. Unfortunately by this time their illness may be rather advanced. If you are concerned I would definitely have her seen by a vet. I hope your piggie is OK.
If she is completely off hay, it's important to try and feed her at least 40-50 ml of syringe food everyday, maybe around 5ml every 3 hours. Obviously make time for your rest time too, as looking after a sick piggie is exhausting.
Syringe feed her water too when she will take it. She will get water in the syringe food so do not force feed her too much water. Please start out with just a small amount of feed/water like 0.3ml at first just to see if she is able to swallow and to avoid choking.
You can also try adding some probiotics to her syringe food to try get her apetite up and keep her guts going. Probiotics do a good job at keeping the gut happy and stable.
Piggies can go downhill very quickly, so one day they may be fine and the next not good at all. With them being prey animals, they are very good at hiding their illnesses until they cannot any longer. Unfortunately by this time their illness may be rather advanced. If you are concerned I would definitely have her seen by a vet. I hope your piggie is OK.
Please make a vet appointment
and then step in with support while you wait for the appointment.
Any change in behaviour and certainly change in appetite is concerning.
Please switch from the routine weekly weight checks and instead start weighing her daily so you can monitor hay intake. Step in with syringe feeding to keep her weight stable and ensure enough food is going in.
The guides below detail everything further
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
and then step in with support while you wait for the appointment.
Any change in behaviour and certainly change in appetite is concerning.
Please switch from the routine weekly weight checks and instead start weighing her daily so you can monitor hay intake. Step in with syringe feeding to keep her weight stable and ensure enough food is going in.
The guides below detail everything further
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
Merab
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Hope you can see a vet soon and get your piggy treated