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Guinea pig ill

Kimberley jennick

Kimberley jennick

New Born Pup
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Hi people I've been on here for 6months but only been looking through new feed. I'm looking for some help with my eldest Guinea pig he eating and drinking but seems to lost a lot of weight since the passing of his brother that was in another cage next to him I've put a teddy bear in the cage with Ernie previous as him brother passed 2 years ago, it's only since is other brother next to him in another cage that passed that Ernie has gone down hill I've given him vituim C and fruit food but he still not being him self he sleepy to the point he got sores on his feet which I've applied cream every day 3-4 times a day. I know he's in pain I've made thing more comfortable for his by putting everything on the floor of his cage so that he can reach as when he does more he fall's over due to previous ear infections which has been treat. He gets poo that are to big to pass which I have treat it is brother that passed 2 years ago had the same problems with is poo. I just trying to keep Ernie healthy but everything seems to block my way today he started to have squeaking nose coming from his throat and then being sick with clear liquid he is eating I need help to treat him as I don't want to loose my best friend of 5 year's together, I've also recently re-home two new male and they are in a cage next to my eldest Guinea pig I've covered my eldest cage from them to stop Ernie from getting stressed out
 
Please see a vet.

Guinea pigs cannot be sick so if he is bringing up liquid it may be that he is not swallowing properly.

He is losing weight because he isn’t getting enough hay or fibre.
Please stop giving him the fruit food and instead syringe feed him a fibre rich recovery feed or mush his normal pellets up with water and syringe that to him. Too much fruit isn’t good for them and will upset his digestive system.

His feet also need to be checked. .
If he has open sores and wounds and is potentially bumblefoot, then he needs vet treatment.
What are you putting on his feet? Its best to always see a vet and not apply anything yourself because you could inadvertently make things worse.

Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links
Weight - Monitoring and Management
 
Hello. I’m so sorry your piggy is unwell. I think a trip to the vets is essential as it sounds like he has been poorly for a little while. Keep us posted. Take care.
 
I agree you need to see the vet - he is getting old and they get extra problems. The clear liquid from the mouth is the most worrying. We do not recommend feeding a lot of fruit at all - you are supplementing with vitC already and fruit is very acid on their gums - some worse than others. There is a lot of vitC in good quality hay and grass. He might just have a very sore mouth at this point where eating anything hurts him. If he is losing weight you might need to mush up his feed like the above post mentioned... this might not need to be syringed into him - if they are hungry and can eat they will just eat it from a bowl or spoon.

Foot problems: If bedding has recently changed this can cause foot problems sometimes. If he is on the same bedding as usual and the foot problem is a new thing there are two suggestions from me:
One of my older girls used to get a sore on her front foot very easily. She had arthritis and it made the feet puff up so they were tender and the skin spilt easily, so arthritis made her more prone to the foot problem. You can get anti-inflammatory painkiller with active ingredient meloxicam (UK brands are metacam or loxicom) which is used for arthritis long-term but must be the correct dose, so we have to see a vet for this. It reduces swelling and helps with pain.
The other thing is urine-scald... this can make the pads of the feet red and sore - then maybe the skin breaks and ulcers develop. This can come on if piggy is for some reason leaking urine (so especially seen on back feet) - maybe it is as simple as long hair which should be kept short round the back so as not to soak up urine, but maybe there is a urine infection (pain when peeing, sometimes squeaking or chirping when peeing, sometimes blood in urine - looks red on white tissue, piggy wet round the privates as they try to hold in urine but it drips out - so girls look like a wet bottom and boys have a wet tummy underneath). These can be treated with piggy antibiotics and painkiller again. Sometimes, sadly, there is a bladder stone which causes a lot of pain and dripping urine... the outcome here is not good for our old boys. These can be spotted using x-ray.

To help him best a vet appointment is really what you need. Good luck old boy - esp with your impaction issues. George knows what it's like to be unbunged... he recommends a little bowl of warm water and a cotton wool pad - if you can squoosh a little water into the sack and loosen everything off it helps clear the decks more easily! x
 
Hi!

Please see a vet ASAP. The salivation is most worrying.

Rodents don't have a vomit reflex; if they are bringing up liquid and food, then because they can no long swallow or have a blockage; either from overgrown teeth (which are ground down by the silica in hay/grass fibre, which makes the biggest part of their daily food intake). The massive weight loss means that he has not been getting enough fibrous food for a while now and is in acute danger of dying if his body has not started to close down already.
You need syringe feed hay fibre based food and not lots of fruit that will additionally cause tummy upsets and is too soft to grind down the crucial back teeth and that also could cause mouth sores (another potential cause for excess salivating).
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Caring for Older Piggies and Facing the End - A practical and supportive information collection


Sores on the foot are likely bumblefoot (podermatitis) and will need stronger treatment than a little creaming. Please bring him inside immediately and make sure that he is kept on bedding that you can change twice daily and that he kept warm.
Bumblefoot can happen in older piggies with mobility issues that are increasingly sitting in their own waste and unable to take the weight off their weight bearing front feet if they cannot use their back feet much anymore to use as lifting springs.
More information on bumblefoot and care for older piggies:
Guinea Lynx :: Pododermatitis
Looking after guinea pigs with limited or no mobility
Caring for Older Piggies and Facing the End - A practical and supportive information collection

Fingers very firmly crossed! PLEASE take the time to read the very helpful practical care and information links this thread.
 
Hi everyone I'm very sad/up set to tell you all that my little prince have passed away tonight after a long hard fight to keep him healthy, well and comfortable he was truly my little fighter he was very old and he wouldn't fight anymore he over the bright beautiful rainbow with his two other brothers.
I've previously took him to the vets in January but the one I normal take him to are rubbish they don't understand what I'm trying to tell them also rang loads of vet to get him seen to professional vet but wouldn't take anymore pets in.
Thank you for all your advice.
Ernie had the best life/care as possible as he had everything that he needed .e.g. lots of hay,food and fibre that he needed I've also got a Guinea pig book that I've got since I had him and is other two brother for 5years

I'm hoping to hear of you all very soon and I'll keep you up to date with the other two Guinea pig that I rehomed back in January after Ernie other brother passed away.......
 
Ernie was food syringe all the time, he would get better then after he got better he would go down hill the following week, I would also use cotton ball in water to smooth is feet then run small bath water to wash his belly and bum, would really try my best to keep him comfortable as possible.
If anyone could recommend a vets in the UK would be a massive help for next time it happens to the other two
I really miss Ernie so much as he was my best friend, my son and everything he would be spoilt 😭💙🌈
 
I’m so sorry you lost beautiful Ernie. Popcorn high at the bridge with your brothers. Take care ❤️
 
So sorry for your loss.
You gave him the best possible care and a loving home.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve
 
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