Guinea pig losing weight again after illness

[Cavy chaos]

Hi everyone,

A week ago my guinea need a period of syringe feeding as he suddenly stopped eating and drinking and was lethargic. He recovered his energy and started eating and he gained weight steadily to 1023gm. However today his weight has dropped to 996gm this morning, and this afternoon 975gm. He seems to be eating though. The only thing I have done differently is put him out in on the grass as it has finally stopped raining. Is grass less nutritious? should I give him some supplemental feeds? He is still pooping but they are very small. He doesnt feel bloated, and he is use to grass and I will cut some and bring it in if it is bad weather. Any suggestions?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone,

A week ago my guinea need a period of syringe feeding as he suddenly stopped eating and drinking and was lethargic. He recovered his energy and started eating and he gained weight steadily to 1023gm. However today his weight has dropped to 996gm this morning, and this afternoon 975gm. He seems to be eating though. The only thing I have done differently is put him out in on the grass as it has finally stopped raining. Is grass less nutritious? should I give him some supplemental feeds? He is still pooping but they are very small. He doesnt feel bloated, and he is use to grass and I will cut some and bring it in if it is bad weather. Any suggestions?

Hi!

Small poops today mean that your boy must have stopped eating as much hay yesterday and grass today - they reflect what has happened yesterday and not just now.
Please keep in mind that hay and grass are making around 80% of the daily food intake (they are the mainstay on which dental growth and the digestive system with two runs through the gut) have actually been laid for. Unfortunately, you cannot control the hay intake by eye. Fresh growing grass is very nutritious and actually high in vitamin C but hard to break down. 1 small bowl of green veg and 1 tablespoon of pellets replace the role of supplementary wild forage for other trace elements that grass/hay cannot supply. However, hay is often the first food group impacted by loss of a appetite for some reason.

Please go back to top up syringe feeding and contact your vets again in the weight loss persists.
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

It can be that the medical treatment has not been able to address the source of the problem but only suppress symptoms temporarily.

All the best!

 

[Cavy chaos]

I have ordered probiotics and more critical care, I have enough until amazon arrives. I have no idea what the vet is going to do as they cant find anything that might be causing this. Poor bumble is a super pig. X

 

[Wiebke]

I have ordered probiotics and more critical care, I have enough until amazon arrives. I have no idea what the vet is going to do as they cant find anything that might be causing this. Poor bumble is a super pig. X

I am very sorry. Finding out what is causing a health issue can often be difficult.

Here is our recommended vets locator. Perhaps you have one of them within your reach?
Rescue Locator