Guina pig has become listless and inactive

[CavyMum58]

Hello... I have a 4.5 year old boar who has not had much energy recently and I think just not feeling well. He has not stopped eating and actually wants to sleep and rest in the hay bin/ litter box almost all day, nibbling off and on. He has slowly been reaching this point for at least a week. Yesterday he and his cagemate had a tussle and he got a small cut on his nose. I separated them for the night. This morning he seemed fine and they had both calmed down a lot, so I put them back together and watched them while I was here. They were actually relaxed, eating beside each other, with no aggression. So I left them. But this afternoon when I got home, although they were both still resting, my bigger guy who got the nose bite has been very sluggish. He is still nibling hay and he got excited about and ate some veggies, but not as much as normal. Otherwise he has just been laying in a hidey and completely ignoring his cagemate. It isn't a major change but enough to worry me. I think if he is still like this in the morning I will call the vet, who is an exotics vet, although probably not the most experienced. I think I'm just venting here a bit because of anxiety, but if you have any thoughts to share it would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear this.
Definitely have him seen by a vet - it’s important there any change in behaviour is seen as it can be an early sign of a problem and getting ahead of it can make a big difference.

Other steps are to increase weight checks so that you are weighing him every morning, and stepping in with syringe feeding - it’s good you can see him eating hay but as hay intake can’t be gauged by eye, it can appear they are eating it but they aren’t always eating enough.

I hope he is ok

Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Weight monitoring and management

 

[weepweeps]

I’m sorry your piggy is poorly. Good luck at the vets I hope it’s something easily treated.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

Wishing you all the best for your vet visit.

Please step in with feeding support if your piggy is still willing to accept and swallow any feed and offered water.
How to Improvise Feeding Support in an Emergency

I am holding you and your piggy in my thoughts.

 

[CavyMum58]

I’m sorry to hear this.
Definitely have him seen by a vet - it’s important there any change in behaviour is seen as it can be an early sign of a problem and getting ahead of it can make a big difference.

Other steps are to increase weight checks so that you are weighing him every morning, and stepping in with syringe feeding - it’s good you can see him eating hay but as hay intake can’t be gauged by eye, it can appear they are eating it but they aren’t always eating enough.

I hope he is ok

Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Weight monitoring and management

Thank you so much... I will definitely start daily weighing and syringe feed if it has dropped. He became a bit more active and "normal" as the evening went on but I'm keeping a close eye on him. I appreciate your prompt reply and suggestions!