Guinea pig isnt eating.

[augustulix]

Hello. So my guinea pig all of the sudden stopped eating or drinking. He seems like he wants to eat and when i bring him his favourite - romaine lettuce, he nibbles on it and then walks away. He isnt even eating grass which he is crazy about. I already called a vet and he said to check his teeth and if they seem okay to call him tommorow afternoon, but I'm scared to wait that long since he hasnt eaten properly in two days. What should i do?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Please step in and syringe feed your piggy urgently.
He will also need to be seen by a vet for a hands on check.
Weigh him daily so you can ensure you are syringe feeding enough.

If possible I would also suggest you find an experienced vet. If the vet has told you to check his teeth yourself, then I would be concerned. Its impossible for an owner to see the molars - it has to be done using specialist tools and often sedation.

The guides below will help further with syringe feeding

Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Weight - Monitoring and Management

It would also be useful if you could add your country to your profile as it enables us to tailor our advice more easily

 

[augustulix]

Please step in and syringe feed your piggy urgently.
He will also need to be seen by a vet for a hands on check.
Weigh him daily so you can ensure you are syringe feeding enough.

If possible I would also suggest you find an experienced vet. If the vet has told you to check his teeth yourself, then I would be concerned. Its impossible for an owner to see the molars - it has to be done using specialist tools and often sedation.

The guides below will help further with syringe feeding

Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Weight - Monitoring and Management

It would also be useful if you could add your country to your profile as it enables us to tailor our advice

Please step in and syringe feed your piggy urgently.
He will also need to be seen by a vet for a hands on check.
Weigh him daily so you can ensure you are syringe feeding enough.

If possible I would also suggest you find an experienced vet. If the vet has told you to check his teeth yourself, then I would be concerned. Its impossible for an owner to see the molars - it has to be done using specialist tools and often sedation.

The guides below will help further with syringe feeding

Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Weight - Monitoring and Management

It would also be useful if you could add your country to your profile as it enables us to tailor our advice more easily

thank you very very much. I will try syringe feeding him right now. Hes a very stubborn guinea pig so ill see how it goes but ill try to get as much food in his system as i can.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Use his normal pellets and mush them up with warm water if you don’t have recovery feed such as critical care or emeraid in stock. It’s essential your piggy has the fibre to keep the guts functioning.
If he isn’t eating any hay for himself, then you are aiming for at least 40ml of syringe feed in a 24 hour period. The daily weight checks are essential (weigh him at the same time each day) as it your only gauge of knowing if you are getting enough food into him and keeping his weight as stable as possible

Please do get the vet to see him.

 

[Merab]

Hope you can get a vet appointment quickly.
Holding you in my thoughts

 

[weepweeps]

Good luck with the feeding. Fingers crossed you can get him seen tomorrow

 

[augustulix]

Update on my boy. Hes doing pretty good. I syringe fed him for a day and went to the vet this evening. The vet prescribed him some antibiotics and said that his teeth look great, but he feels bloated. Hes wanting to eat more right now so that good

 

[Piggies&buns]

Has he given any other medication for the bloat?

Antibiotics can upset their their tummies and disrupt their appetite so it is advisable to give a probiotic either 1-2 hours before or after an antibiotic dose.

Continue to weigh him every day and syringe feed accordingly unless and until he eats enough hay to maintain his weight himself.

This is our guide on bloat
Digestive Disorders: Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement) And Not Eating

 

[weepweeps]

That’s great. Hope he continues to improve.