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Critical Care for New Piggy

gonebanhannahs

gonebanhannahs

New Born Pup
Joined
Feb 21, 2023
Messages
19
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35
Points
80
Location
Ohio
Hello everyone!

I've posted one other time regarding my new piggies, but I've got quite the situation here.

I recently adopted 4 baby guinea pigs from a nearby rescue, and while I understand there's a transition period where the piggies will need to get comfy and feel safe, I feel this is beyond that. Please forgive the long story, but I feel like all the information is necessary for advice.

All of the piggies did amazing yesterday, they came out of hiding quickly and seemed to be happy and love the space they have. (2x6 attached to a 2x3 kitchen area) I started slowly introducing the veggies I'll be providing for them daily.

I even saw some excited (or maybe startled) popcorning yesterday. They're full of baby piggy energy and have been doing some zoomies around the cage to burn off energy.

While zooming and popping around yesterday, Oonagh (una) sort of threw her body into a wooden bridge I have set up in the cage and she made a small cough sound and she's been barely moving ever since. She won't come out to eat or drink, she doesn't make any sounds at all or even run when I approach her like the other piggies do. She was staying under the wooden bridge but all the piggies like to run through there and all of them gravitate towards it and hide when I first come in the room. I wanted her to be more comfortable especially if she was in pain so I moved her to her own soft and fluffy bed hidey (in the same cage) and she won't leave the hide. Again, I don't know that she wasn't ill beforehand and went downhill, or if she somehow injured herself.

I was up all night monitoring her and she didn't even attempt to leave to eat or drink. I've tried hand feeding her and she rejects anything I try.

I spoke with the vet and I'm currently syringe feeding her Oxbow critical care until her appointment tomorrow at 9:30 am. We don't have an exotic emergency vet near us and this is the only time she can be seen. She's eating the critical care pretty well, she's taking that from the syringe, we're both making a complete mess of it but she's trying.

My question is, is there anything else I can do for her today and tonight until her vet appointment in the morning to make her comfortable? Has anyone else had an experience like this?
 
gonebanhannahs said:
Hello everyone!

I've posted one other time regarding my new piggies, but I've got quite the situation here.

I recently adopted 4 baby guinea pigs from a nearby rescue, and while I understand there's a transition period where the piggies will need to get comfy and feel safe, I feel this is beyond that. Please forgive the long story, but I feel like all the information is necessary for advice.

All of the piggies did amazing yesterday, they came out of hiding quickly and seemed to be happy and love the space they have. (2x6 attached to a 2x3 kitchen area) I started slowly introducing the veggies I'll be providing for them daily.

I even saw some excited (or maybe startled) popcorning yesterday. They're full of baby piggy energy and have been doing some zoomies around the cage to burn off energy.

While zooming and popping around yesterday, Oonagh (una) sort of threw her body into a wooden bridge I have set up in the cage and she made a small cough sound and she's been barely moving ever since. She won't come out to eat or drink, she doesn't make any sounds at all or even run when I approach her like the other piggies do. She was staying under the wooden bridge but all the piggies like to run through there and all of them gravitate towards it and hide when I first come in the room. I wanted her to be more comfortable especially if she was in pain so I moved her to her own soft and fluffy bed hidey (in the same cage) and she won't leave the hide. Again, I don't know that she wasn't ill beforehand and went downhill, or if she somehow injured herself.

I was up all night monitoring her and she didn't even attempt to leave to eat or drink. I've tried hand feeding her and she rejects anything I try.

I spoke with the vet and I'm currently syringe feeding her Oxbow critical care until her appointment tomorrow at 9:30 am. We don't have an exotic emergency vet near us and this is the only time she can be seen. She's eating the critical care pretty well, she's taking that from the syringe, we're both making a complete mess of it but she's trying.

My question is, is there anything else I can do for her today and tonight until her vet appointment in the morning to make her comfortable? Has anyone else had an experience like this?
Click to expand...

Hi
I am very sorry for the accident; it hope that it is more the scare and your presence than an accident.

Please syringe feed and also offer water, as much as she is willing to take from a syringe (don't force any in).
Here is our detailed practical feeding and medicating guide and our one-stop emergency/crisis and bridging care information collection (something you may want bookmark, just in case), which will hopefully help you. Please place some hay close to her for her to nibble on. If she is willing to eat from a syringe and is cooperating, then the pain cannot be too bad. You could see whether she's rather take the feed from a bowl.
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

Have you given her a quick body check to check whether she has any mobility issues with her legs/lower body?
 
I have, I don't see any physical injuries or abnormalities that indicate she's hurt. I have some fresh hay in her hidey in case she's feeling up to eating it on her own but no luck yet.
 
gonebanhannahs said:
I have, I don't see any physical injuries or abnormalities that indicate she's hurt. I have some fresh hay in her hidey in case she's feeling up to eating it on her own but no luck yet.
Click to expand...

It is hopefully just the scare. See whether she is eating independently if things are close to her hide but do so from a good distance so she doesn't feel watched.
 
I've been using my kiddos old baby monitor so I'm not hovering and making myself too noticeable for them to move freely and do their thing.
 
Quick little update:

She hasn't touched the hay in her hidey or moved from her spot, I had to move her for a syringe feeding, but shes not moving on her own or seeking out any food or water. She refused the last CC syringe, I tried putting it in a little bowl for her so we'll see if she's interested in that.
 
Oonagh was seen by the vet this morning and they ruled out any broken bones. There is nerve damage in her back right leg, however.

She's starting metacam and will take that for the next 7 days, and I'm supposed to continue the CC syringe feedings until She's eating again on her own.

After her first dose of the metacam, she actually came out of her hidey and ate a few pieces of hay. 🥲 so that's incredible progress from where we were yesterday.
 
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