Hi, I got a guinea pig last weekend at a very reliable guinea pig rescue. They even gave her a full exam before I took her home, they felt she was in perfect condition and so did I (I am a fairly experienced owner). After the first day I noticed she was not moving from a corner in her cage, I quickly became anxious that she wasn't eating and drinking, because I hadn't seen her. I got her to eat a carrot and then I gave her water by syringe. Next I set up a camera to monitor any movement...incase she was just shy when I was in the room. She has been eating and drinking very small amounts on her own, but only once every 3-6 hours, verses my other piggie that eats at least once an hour. She is also very inactive in her cage overall. (Also i have started hand feeding her!). Her droppings don't look really bad, but they're a bit mis-shapen and small, which is consistent with the amount she's eating. The strange thing is that she has no other signs of illness, her breathing is good, no discharge, her eyes are bright and not sunken, her fur looks nice. Even weirder than that, she acts healthy when out of her cage...running around, curiously investigating, chewing on anything available, and then I put her back in her cage, she runs to the corner, freezes, and will stay like that for hours then. She's still been eating fresh treats too. I started monitoring her weight as well, and in 24 hrs she didn't loose weight (I haven't had the chance to check her weight yet today, I will check as soon as possible). I have already called 4 vets, the soonest anyone can see her is next Monday. I'm wondering if she developed an eating disorder from the stress of adoption...new environment, loss of her former cage mates etc. She also seemed particularly traumatized after the car ride (which was an hour)...I could almost not get her to move at first, I was so worried she had already passed or something, because she was soooo still. Anyways, I need help please. Any thoughts are appreciated. Also about eating disorders... if that's it, do such disorders resolve themselves after a while or what?
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Guinea pig not eating like she should
- Thread starter HRC.00
- Start date
How old is she?
Is she living in the cage alone or has she been bonded with another piggy?
Hay is the most important part of the diet at 80% so it is essential you monitor she is eating enough hay. Fresh food is supplementary and around 15% so her eating it is very deceptive as if she isn’t eating enough hay then if means her food intake could be dramatically reduced. Do ensure you weigh her daily to be sure she is ewting enough hay to maintain her weight (veg intake alone isnt enough to do so).
If she is found to be reducing hay intake and therefore losing weight, it is essential you step in with syringe feeding a recovery feed or mushed up pellets as an emergency measure
Small/misshapen poops can be due to a digestive upset - too much fresh food on an unprepared tummy for example. Small poop can be because of reduced hay intake. As poop output is 1-2 days behind food intake, small poops today can only tell you that a piggy hasnt eaten enough 1-2 days ago, whereas the daily weight checks give real time information on hay intake.
Weight - Monitoring and Management
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Is she living in the cage alone or has she been bonded with another piggy?
Hay is the most important part of the diet at 80% so it is essential you monitor she is eating enough hay. Fresh food is supplementary and around 15% so her eating it is very deceptive as if she isn’t eating enough hay then if means her food intake could be dramatically reduced. Do ensure you weigh her daily to be sure she is ewting enough hay to maintain her weight (veg intake alone isnt enough to do so).
If she is found to be reducing hay intake and therefore losing weight, it is essential you step in with syringe feeding a recovery feed or mushed up pellets as an emergency measure
Small/misshapen poops can be due to a digestive upset - too much fresh food on an unprepared tummy for example. Small poop can be because of reduced hay intake. As poop output is 1-2 days behind food intake, small poops today can only tell you that a piggy hasnt eaten enough 1-2 days ago, whereas the daily weight checks give real time information on hay intake.
Weight - Monitoring and Management
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
She's 9 monthes old. If she's not loosing weight, do you reccomend not syringe feeding her? I got into a vet today, I was supposed to see an exotic vet...but I think they sent their other doctor in the room, I wasn't real convinced by his treatment methods. He thinks I need to not syringe feed her so she'll "eat on her own" (which the only reason I intervened was because she wasn't already lol) he gave me some drops to "get her system moving" and wants me to give her pineapple and papaya to help flush out her system as well... this is very different advice than advice I've received from other, more trusted vets the last time I had Piggies who weren't eating.
If she isn’t losing weight, then she is eating enough for herself but you must continue to weigh her daily so you can be sure. If she loses weight then you need to step in with syringe feeding a recovery feed or mushed Pellets.
Being told not to syringe feed so she will eat for herself is not good advice . If a piggy isn’t eating enough and you don’t syringe feed, then it won’t encourage her to eat, instead you will end up with a very poorly piggy.
Being told to give pineapple and papaya is also bad advice. Fruit/sugary and acidic items are not good for piggies.
Is she living in the same cage with other piggies?
Being told not to syringe feed so she will eat for herself is not good advice . If a piggy isn’t eating enough and you don’t syringe feed, then it won’t encourage her to eat, instead you will end up with a very poorly piggy.
Being told to give pineapple and papaya is also bad advice. Fruit/sugary and acidic items are not good for piggies.
Is she living in the same cage with other piggies?