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Guinea Pig barely moving and refusing to eat

maby

maby

New Born Pup
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stockton, ca
My guinea pig, which was absolutely fine yesterday, has stopped any sort of activity and doesn't eat much. We didn't have any hay for a few days, which breaks my heart, but we didn't have any money for it at the time. This has happened before, and he's been completely fine, so I don't think that's what has caused his lethargy. He still had a few morsels everyday, but it wasn't much. He's a huuuuuge foodie, and he loves to eat, but he just leaves his veggies, hay, and pellets alone. When I first put them in there, he nibbled at them, but didn't eat much more than a couple bites.

I pressed lightly on his abdomen to check if he had any discomfort, and he didn't really seem to care, so I don't think it's bladder stones or bloat. He's been sitting in a corner of his cage, with his fur puffed up, for the past few hours. I'm genuinely so worried, and he's not even 3 years old yet. I don't think that he's been drinking much water either.

I figured taking him out of his cage would get him to start moving, and luckily, it did. He ran around on my floor for around 10 minutes, nibbling at stray pieces of hay every once in a while, but as soon as he was back in his cage he went back to sitting hunched up in a corner or his hidey.

I know that I need to take him to the vet, but I genuinely don't have the money right now. It would cost as much as my rent to get him checked out, and my mom barely makes minimum wage, so we've really been tight on money lately. I couldn't bear to lose him, and I just don't know what to do. My other 4 guinea pigs are completely fine and happy, which is so confusing to me. He hasn't lost any weight, and even looks a little bigger than normal since I fed him a lot yesterday.

Do you guys have any idea of what would help or what's wrong with him? I know it's hard to assume based on my description, but anything will help. As long as it will make him feel better. Thanks so much.
 
I'm sorry to hear your piggie isn't feeling well, I'm also sorry about the financial situation, I completely empathise with that as I struggle sometimes too. Ideally he does need to see a vet if you are really worried, some vets offer payment plans so perhaps you could ask? Or ask a friend or relative if you can borrow the money.

If he's not eating you should start syringe feeding, piggies need to eat constantly and without food the gut will shut down pretty quickly and can be fatal. I obviously can't make a diagnosis so take this with a grain of salt, but based on what you've said, my first thought would be maybe the lack of hay, even just for a few days could've caused his gut to slow down with the lack of fibre.

It's good you have other piggies, it sounds gross but you can essentially make your own probiotic by taking the poop (preferably cecal poops, the ones they re-eat, but any will do) of a healthy piggie, mixing with water and syringing it to your poorly piggie. Sometimes that helps get the gut and appetite back on track, and its free!

You can also make your own syringe feed out of his regular pellets and water until you can buy critical care. If you have an enclosed garden with fresh grass that hasn't been pooped or peed on by other animals you can try feeding him that too, also good when you have no hay.

I hope your piggie feels better soon.
 
I can only agree with above and I too am sorry to hear of your situation.

Because hay is their main food source, 80% of what they need to eat in a day, a few strands of hay is not going have been enough to keep him going so it could be down to lack of hay or he may be unwell in another way and requiring treatment for that.
A vet will be needed to find out what is going on though. Sitting puffed up does usually indicate some pain or discomfort somewhere in the body. It may not be something you can find by pressing on him.

Please switch to daily weight checks and step in with syringe feeding. This is the only home measure you can take to keep gut function and ensure enough food is going in.


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
 
Sorry your boy is poorly 😔 Unfortunately it does sound like he is in pain and a vet is really needed here. Some vets do payment plans if you call around? If you call them and explain the situation they may be able to help you. Maybe you could borrow from someone?
Make sure to begin syringe feeding in the meantime. @Piggies&buns has posted a link to the syringe feeding guide in their post above.
Good luck ❤️🤞
 
I hope you can get to the vets very soon. Good luck. I know it’s not always easy.
 
thank you guys so much for your recommendations! i suspect it may be bloat but he doesn't seem to be in too much pain from it. ive begun syringe feeding him, and although he doesnt like it, he is downing the food. i made a whole bunch of a pellet-water mix in my blender, until i can buy some critical care (which will most likely come this weekend) and I'm curious to if we can store it? i made a whoooole lot of it and ill just throw it put if itll get soiled. if he doesnt get better within the next few days, ill try and convince my mok to let me take him to the vet.
 
Please try and convince your mum to book him in soon rather than waiting a few days. Although they’re delightful, they’re also very sneaky and good at hiding illnesses!

Hope he feels better soon.
 
Siikibam said:
Please try and convince your mum to book him in soon rather than waiting a few days. Although they’re delightful, they’re also very sneaky and good at hiding illnesses!

Hope he feels better soon.
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i tried to convince her this morning and she said it would be too much money, but I'm working on getting her to agree! he's still not eating on his own and kind of just sleeps in a corner all day, but I'm glad that he at least has something in his tummy. i also tried to syringe a little water in his mouth since he isnt drinking any, but i pray that he can sit it out long enough for me to go to a vet.

there aren't any exotic vets near where i live, so ill have to do a little searching!
 
Perhaps you could show your mum this thread? She is responsible for getting immediate vet care for a sick pet by law if you are under age.
Bloat can be extremely serious, and can in some cases kill, if this even is bloat.
It will cost your mum a lot more for emergency care if he goes down hill, which he most probably will if he doesn't see a vet now. Any vet is better than.one at this point.
His symptoms indicate he is in pain, he can't be left for a few days to see if he improves.
Good luck.
 
Your piggie really does need to see a vet asap. When piggies stop eating they can go downhill very quickly, developing stasis which can be fatal.

As above please step in with syringe feeding critical care or mashed up pellets, pellets mashed up with warm water and allowed to cool. Aim for around 40-50 ml per day, giving him it every 3 hours or so. Also try to get a little water into him if you can. You can also add some probiotics to the syringe food to try and get his apetite back, probiotics do a good job and keeping the guts stable and working.

When feeding food/water start out with a small amount, around 0.3ml just to see if he can swallow it ok and to avoid choking.

I agree, you mother really does have a duty of care to have your piggie seen by a vet. Any vet is better than none. I really hope 🙏 he will be OK.
 
If you suspect bloat you could also try giving him some gripe water but if it is severe you really do need medicine from a vet such as emeprid and a painkiller such as metacam/loxicom as bloat is extremely painful.
 
If you suspect bloat then your piggy really does need a vet asap. Bloat is a very serious condition, is painful and comes in waves.
Switch to daily weight checks and ensure you are syringe feeding enough - it is a minimum of 40-60ml per day to keep the weight stable. Feed as much as he will take every two hours but in a very poorly piggy it can need to be in much smaller amounts and more often depending on how much they take at each sitting.

This is our guide which details bloat
Digestive Disorders: Not Eating - Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement)
 
he sadly passed away on my chest about 20 minutes ago 💔 ive been crying nonstop knowing that there wasnt much i could do with no money, but i still feel so horrible. i want to get him taxidermied or cremated, but i dont know how to preserve him until i can. what do i do? my poor baby 💔
 
maby said:
he sadly passed away on my chest about 20 minutes ago 💔 ive been crying nonstop knowing that there wasnt much i could do with no money, but i still feel so horrible. i want to get him taxidermied or cremated, but i dont know how to preserve him until i can. what do i do? my poor baby 💔
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I am sorry to hear your poor boy has passed away, this is terrible. I am not sure about taxidermy but there are quite a few places that do pet cremation around. I have no idea how you can preserve him apart from taking him to the vets to be held there until the crematorium could collect him. I don't want to upset you any further but can you consider only getting more pets when you/your parents are able to provide vet care for them in their time of need. As you or your pets really don't want to go through another ordeal like this again. Again, I'm sorry for your loss. Sleep tight little one ♥️
 
Popcorns & Wheeks said:
I am sorry to hear your poor boy has passed away, this is terrible. I am not sure about taxidermy but there are quite a few places that do pet cremation around. I have no idea how you can preserve him apart from taking him to the vets to be held there until the crematorium could collect him. I don't want to upset you any further but can you consider only getting more pets when you/your parents are able to provide vet care for them in their time of need. As you or your pets really don't want to go through another ordeal like this again. Again, I'm sorry for your loss. Sleep tight little one ♥️
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we were really well off about a year ago, when i got my last three guinea pigs, and we werent worried about vet bills because at the time we could pay for them. i really wish i wouldve asked my mom to set aside some money during that time, but one of my parents lost their jobs earlier last year and it's been really rough since. i never wouldve expected this to happen, as he was only three years old. thank you so much ❤️
 
hopefully i can get him to the crematory that ive chosen within the next 3 days, but until then, he's resting in my freezer. I'm going to see if my mom can take a couple hours off of work so she can take me, but he's inside a plastic bag wrapped in his favorite blankie(outside of bag so it doesnt freeze on top of him), laid inside a box. hopefully tomorrow! thank you guys so much!
 
Same thing happened with my piggy, I read throughout this entire thread and stayed awake until 3 am but she died 2 hours after I really got worried. There are no clinics for exotic animals here in Greece so I wasn't able to contact anyone and the vet university witch does investigate exotic animals was closed. The problem is my other piggy, she is ok now not knowing what's happening but I've heard they fall in depression. Is there anything I can do to at least save her from death?
 
AIRPIEGAMING said:
Same thing happened with my piggy, I read throughout this entire thread and stayed awake until 3 am but she died 2 hours after I really got worried. There are no clinics for exotic animals here in Greece so I wasn't able to contact anyone and the vet university witch does investigate exotic animals was closed. The problem is my other piggy, she is ok now not knowing what's happening but I've heard they fall in depression. Is there anything I can do to at least save her from death?
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Hello, I am so sorry for your loss. Is there any chance of you getting your remaining piggie a friend? As guinea pigs are very social animals they do need company of their own kind, this would probably spare her from falling into depression.
 
Popcorns & Wheeks said:
Hello, I am so sorry for your loss. Is there any chance of you getting your remaining piggie a friend? As guinea pigs are very social animals they do need company of their own kind, this would probably spare her from falling into depression.
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Unfortunately no, we cannot afford getting another piggy unfortunately. Would just being with her and playing with her help?
 
In my experience, piggies really do need company of their own kind. I got my first piggie Heidi and after a few months had to take her to the vet as she was extremely lethargic and not herself at all. It turned out she was depressed so I immediately rushed out and got my second piggie Ruby, and in all honesty money was tight as I had just lost my job due to covid but I had no choice, once I knew she needed a friend it had to be done. Around 11 weeks later, I ended up with another 3 piggies, Dexter, Delilah and Susie! Ruby was only pregnant when I got her! So I went from one to two to five. Unfortunately now I am back to two after losing three in late 2022 in tragic circumstances. God rest their souls. Hopefully someone else on the forum can give you further advice. I really hope she will be ok. Just give her lots of attention. How old is she? How long have you had her?
 
Popcorns & Wheeks said:
In my experience, piggies really do need company of their own kind. I got my first piggie Heidi and after a few months had to take her to the vet as she was extremely lethargic and not herself at all. It turned out she was depressed so I immediately rushed out and got my second piggie Ruby, and in all honesty money was tight as I had just lost my job due to covid but I had no choice, once I knew she needed a friend it had to be done. Around 11 weeks later, I ended up with another 3 piggies, Dexter, Delilah and Susie! Ruby was only pregnant when I got her! So I went from one to two to five. Unfortunately now I am back to two after losing three in late 2022 in tragic circumstances. God rest their souls. Hopefully someone else on the forum can give you further advice. I really hope she will be ok. Just give her lot of attention.
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Thank you for your quick response, I will give her as much attention as I can but of she gets depressed, it's game over.
 
That isn't always the case but if she does, I know its difficult but would you consider rehoming her with someone trusted who has other piggies? That's the last thing I would want to do but it could be the answer if she does get depressed.
 
Popcorns & Wheeks said:
That isn't always the case but if she does, I know its difficult but would you consider rehoming her with someone trusted who has other piggies? That's the last thing I would want to do but it could be the answer if she does get depressed.
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Not really, I mean I do live in Greece and exotic animals are really rare. We dont even have a proper vet for that type of animals. I hope she doesn't get depressed, I will show her attention though
 
I’m so sorry you have lost your piggy.

How old is your remaining piggy? You sound like a wonderful piggy owner. I’d keep a close eye on her. I hope she copes ok with the loss of her friend. 🤞🏻
 
weepweeps said:
I’m so sorry you have lost your piggy.

How old is your remaining piggy? You sound like a wonderful piggy owner. I’d keep a close eye on her. I hope she copes ok with the loss of her friend. 🤞🏻
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Thanks! She is 3 years old, (we thought she was a boy so we called her Oliver and then she got used to it lol), same thing happened with my other piggy, Prince.
 
Bless her. 3 is still young. She could be alone for another 3-4 years. Is there definitely no chance of a new friend for her?
 
I’m so so sorry for all of your losses, I am a New Guinea pig owner I have had my boy for 4 months. I see how important it is for him to have a friend and thankfully I believe you can get him one within the next month. I also was scammed by the pet store because the said the cage was good however it doesn’t meet the size standard and it was 300$. Anyway before I got my piggy I had gotten a hamster who sadly passed after only two weeks. I was told then it was my fault because he did have everything he needed but it was something very sad. Opie seems to not be to sad alone right now only sometimes getting scared if I move to sudden. I will be getting a c&c cage set up as well for my new piggy so they can live together
 
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