Guineapig stopped eating and losing weight

[dobson156]

Hi everyone. One of my 3 and half years old male guinea pigs has over the last 2 weeks started losing a lot of weight, at first he just slowed down eating - but now he's eating very little at all. He's probably lost about 1/3 of his body weight and is very quite boney now, especially compared to his healthy brother. In addition to his weight loss he has also had crusty eyes on they also seem quite blood shot.

I've taken him to the vet although nothing really conclusive; the vets current thinking is that it is likely to to be some sort of tooth/mouth infection which is making eating unpleasant for him. The vet has given him anti-inflammatories for week - which he's had 2 days of so far without any noticeable improvement.

The anti inflammatories are syringe fed to him. He actually seems to like this, I am wondering if it's worth also syringe feeding him some other food just to give him so energy.

Is there anything else I can be doing for him? Any advice or input would be great appreciated

 

[Piggies&buns]

Please do urgently syringe feed him a recovery feed or mushed pellets. Guinea pigs need their diet to be 80% hay so any reduction in hay intake can quickly become a big problem. When piggies lose 50g of weight then you go on alert and start syringe feeding, so if he has lost more than that then it is essential he is syringe fed immediately.
Switch to weighing him every day so you can monitor that he is getting enough syringe feed in each 24 hour period to stabilise his weight.

The guides below will help

All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links

What else are they going to do to check for possible source of issues if they think he has a mouth issue?
Have his teeth been properly checked?
You say he has been given anti-inflammatories but has he been given any antibiotics in case there is an infection anywhere in his body?

 

[Bill & Ted]

Hello and welcome to the forum
So sorry to hear one of your piggies is I’ll. Where abouts in the UK are you? Are you anywhere near Northampton?

There are two marvellous vets at The Cat and Rabbit Clinic who are the go to vets for anything dental in the UK Simon and Kim Maddock are amazing vets and will check out his mouth and teeth and can do any dental work if needed consciously there and then so nasty anaesthetics to deal with afterwards, it’s reasonably priced too. I can thoroughly recommend them along with many other forum members (they are great guinea pig vets with all other illnesses too!)
CAT AND RABBIT CARE CLINIC | Northlands Vets

 

[dobson156]

Thank you so much for your reply.

I have been weighing daily, from the point I noticed he'd lost a fair bit of weight hes gone form 980g to 860g. But he'd already lost enough weigh for me to notice. His brother is ~1.3kg - but he has a lot put weight on because I've ensure that there is ample food around since the ill gpigs started losing weight.

Is this a good product to syringe feed him, its the only thing I can find that has a high chance of arriving by tomorrow?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oxbow-Critical-Care-Herbivores-Pack/dp/B004W7511K?th=1

I'll start syringe feeding as soon as I get back from work today on mush up pellets, would adding some ground up oats also be good as they contain a lot of energy?

> Have his teeth been properly checked?

Vet said his teeth are slightly wonky but not too long, its on the list of things they're gonna try if he shows no improvement with the anti inflams. Not sure how overly long teeth would cause issues with his eyes - that'd suggest an infection of some sort?

> What else are they going to do to check for possible source of issues if they think he has a mouth issue?

The vet checked everything he could externally and also checked inside his mouth with a scope of some kind. Apparently there was nothing conclusive except that he had some food back there. Apologies I don't remember all of the details.

> but has he been given any antibiotics in case there is an infection anywhere in his body?

Not yet. Just anti inflams for the first week. I'll push for them when i go back in.

Is there anything I need to know about starting syringe feeding after he's not been eating frequently for a while - I know their digestive systems can shut down - I don't want to cause him extra distress by shocking him?

 

[dobson156]

Hello and welcome to the forum
So sorry to hear one of your piggies is I’ll. Where abouts in the UK are you? Are you anywhere near Northampton?

There are two marvellous vets at The Cat and Rabbit Clinic who are the go to vets for anything dental in the UK Simon and Kim Maddock are amazing vets and will check out his mouth and teeth and can do any dental work if needed consciously there and then so nasty anaesthetics to deal with afterwards, it’s reasonably priced too. I can thoroughly recommend them along with many other forum members (they are great guinea pig vets with all other illnesses too!)
CAT AND RABBIT CARE CLINIC | Northlands Vets

I am in the high peak outside of Manchester. I am going to try syringe feeding as per the other user comments and try my current vet again - see whether anti biotics are an option for him.

 

[Bill & Ted]

That Critical Care is perfect, you can also try Emeraid herbivore too. I would see how you go firstly, you could offer plain oats in a bowl first to see if he will try them. A little Mashed banana mixed with CC if he liked banana.
There is a really good vet who deals with many dental problems and is very skilled with guinea pigs. Teeth are very difficult to “get right” and we often see the results of dentals that have made the problem even worse so please condier travelling to an experienced vet who is successful with guinea pig dentistry.

Recommended Guinea Pig Vet | The Guinea Pig Vet | England Ellie Whithead

Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Here is our complete syringe feeding guide


Today's instructional video on our Facebook page - Syringe feeding

 

[dobson156]

Ok, I'll order some of that. In the meantime I try and mush some stuff up and syringe feed it to him.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Ok, I'll order some of that. In the meantime I try and mush some stuff up and syringe feed it to him.

Yes you can soak pellets in warm water and mush up for him

 

[Wiebke]

Ok, I'll order some of that. In the meantime I try and mush some stuff up and syringe feed it to him.

Hi

I am very sorry. Wishing you and your boy all the best. Mystery weight and appetite loss is my least favourite symptom because so many very different issues can be behind it; and some are very hard to diagnose.

Our Syinge feeding and medicating guide contains all the necessary advice and little how-to tips from dealing with an emergency to videos and pictures.
Additionally, here is our emergency and crisis care information collection, in case you need it, so you know what you can do if things get worse before you can see your vet again or if a crisis falls into our nighttime hours: Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

 

[dobson156]

Thank you everyone for you input and advice this has been very helpful. Going to rush home from work and try and get him to take in some food.

I've ordered that food I've linked above and hopefully it'll arrive tomorrow.

I'll report back how ever it goes.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Have a good read of the guides they really helped me in a similar situation

 

[Wiebke]

Please take the time to read the guide links in this thread.

We are to keep on supporting you for as long as neceaary in this thread but we cannot repeat all the really helpful little things from scratch in every thread.

Fingers crossed for your poorly boy!

 

[dobson156]

Hi everyone, a bit of an update.

I read over the guides and prepped a bunch of different foods for him to try. Mushed up pellets, blended cucumber & a mashed up banana as well as some water.

He took to the water, cucumber and banana, but didn't seem to fussed about the pellets.

I was loading the food into syringe from little dishes and whilst filling it up he strolls over to the one with the mashed up banana and starts eating it of his own accord. I let him eat as much as he wanted and also syringed him some water (I aren't actually sure whether or not hes been drinking - I don't think he has or at least not as much).

Not sure what to make of this, but at least he's go some calories in him, I'll repeat it again a few hours and give him

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone, a bit of an update.

I read over the guides and prepped a bunch of different foods for him to try. Mushed up pellets, blended cucumber & a mashed up banana as well as some water.

He took to the water, cucumber and banana, but didn't seem to fussed about the pellets.

I was loading the food into syringe from little dishes and whilst filling it up he strolls over to the one with the mashed up banana and starts eating it of his own accord. I let him eat as much as he wanted and also syringed him some water (I aren't actually sure whether or not hes been drinking - I don't think he has or at least not as much).

Not sure what to make of this, but at least he's go some calories in him, I'll repeat it again a few hours and give him

You can for a day or two get away with just feeding veg but what your piggy needs is fibre, especially hay/grass, which makes three quarters of what a piggy eats in a day because otherwise you'll add a tummy upset to all the other woes. They also eat much less than they should if you leave it just to them.

When feeding a piggy off their food, you need to be tough. Keep in mind that you are battling for their life and that a little fresh food is nice but it won't get them through. It is never pleasant but your piggies will forgive you once they have recovered.

 

[Piggies&buns]

It’s good he has tried to eat something but do try to get the pellets or a proper recovery feed into him as it is that which has the fibre he needs to replace the reduced hay intake, and that which will keep the gut functioning properly. Fruit and veg isn’t enough.

 

[dobson156]

You can for a day or two get away with just feeding veg but what your piggy needs is fibre, especially hay/grass, which makes three quarters of what a piggy eats in a day because otherwise you'll add a tummy upset to all the other woes. They also eat much less than they should if you leave it just to them.

When feeding a piggy off their food, you need to be tough. Keep in mind that you are battling for their life and that a little fresh food is nice but it won't get them through. It is never pleasant but your piggies will forgive you once they have recovered.

Hopefully the "Oxbow" stuff should arrive tomorrow at which point I'll be feeding him mostly. I am just happy to see consume something for now.

Haha I am not too worried about annoying him.

 

[dobson156]

It’s good he has tried to eat something but do try to get the pellets or a proper recovery feed into him as it is that which has the fibre he needs to replace the reduced hay intake, and that which will keep the gut functioning properly. Fruit and veg isn’t enough.

Noted, hopefully that Oxbow stuff should arrive tomorrow which I think is mostly hay. I think I might try and mix some oats & pellets into the banana when I see if he'll eat again before the day is done.

 

[dobson156]

Hi everyone, I've got some bad news. Fela died last night. Thanks for all your help yesterday but I guess it was too little too late or his issues were bigger than first thought.

He was only 3 1/2 and was born the same time as his brother so I am going to have to think carefully about what to do with him so he is not lonely.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone, I've got some bad news. Fela died last night. Thanks for all your help yesterday but I guess it was too little too late or his issues were bigger than first thought.

He was only 3 1/2 and was born the same time as his brother so I am going to have to think carefully about what to do with him so he is not lonely.

BIG HUGS

I am ever so sorry. It is all our own nightmare.

Sadly, the only way you will be able to find out what has really happened would be a post mortem examination at the vet's. Things can sadly go wrong in younger piggies and it can happen even with good care and prompt vet visits, as I know from my own experiences. Guinea pigs are small animals with a very fast metabolism; when things go seriously wrong, they do so in fast forward.

Please be kind with yourself in the coming days. Feelings of failure and guilt are characteristic for the onset of the grieving process; you wouldn't have them if you weren't a loving and caring owner - in fact they are an expression of how much you care. They are usually stronger after a unexpected/tragic/traumatic passing.
You are not a bad owner because of what has happened. You have given your boy a happy life, which is how he measures it; guinea pigs don't have a concept for an average life expectancy.
Here is some helpful information for yourself: Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

As long as the brother keeps eating and drinking, you have ideally between 1-4 weeks to find new companionship but if you are opting for a special solution, it is worth waiting even longer if your boy can handle it; I have had to wait for 2 months on occasion for a personality match but it has been worth it. He will be grieving himself deeply for a few days but should come out of it, if not with a sparkle.
Here is some very practical advice on what you can do for your remaining boy right now and in the next weeks and practical aspects you want to consider. I hope that you will find it helpful.

Please consider going rescue, if you can get to one. There are so many lovely overlooked boars of all ages desperate for a new home. Adult-adult boar bonds past the big hormones are about as stable as a sow bond if they are personality matched. Please contact any rescues within your reach soon as they will be closed over the holiday period, and sometimes even from December.
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig

Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs (help on navigating the minefield and how to avoid the most common pitfalls)
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/guinea-pig-forum-recommended-rescues.196734/

Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities (includes a chapters on challenges specific to bereaved singles, companionship options and how to spot the signs that your boy is transferring his social needs fully onto you)
A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)

 

[Bill & Ted]

I’m so sorry to hear Fela did not make it, sending big h7gs to you You tried so hard but sometimes everything is stacked against us

Sleep tight little man

 

[dobson156]

BIG HUGS

Thank you very much for your response. I am feeling a bit like I shoulda/coulda/woulda done things differently if I'd know it was going change this quickly.

I am going to ask around my local area this weekend and see if anyone has a solo guinea pig I can adopt failing that an older rescue/adoption would be my preference before getting a pup to keep Herbie company.

Herbie seems quite confused but he'll get lots of attention over the next few days; he still seems to be eating and drinking.