I hav 2 lil beauty girlies who have stolen my heart, but they will not eat hay or veggies

[Jennifer1981]

We adopted 2 beautiful little girlies. I am so in love with them but when we got them we found out they don't eat any hay at all. We just lost our beautiful boy Timmy and I had fed him critical care since last July. I feel so sick and sad inside. When we picked up these sweet little loves, I realized they are severely under weight and completely malnutrition. Since we have had them I have been feeding them both critical care by syringe every 2 hours. I have tried everything the vet told us and they still will only eat kibbles and critical care. I have tried mixing the criticalcare in their hay but nothing idols working. I just can't go on feeding them critical care for the rest of their lives. They are under 1. Plus they won't eat any vegetables either. I feel so sad I love them. If anyone knows what I could do, I would appreciate any advice. I don't want to give them to the s.p.c.a. But I can't afford money wise or my own wellbeing to feed them criti al care for the rest of their lives. The owner before us starved them. I really want to keep them, please if anyone knows what to do other than critical care I will do anything I can do to help them. I have a have a huge lump in my throat and my heart is heavy. I have tried everything I know how to do.

 

[Betsy]

If they have never seen hay and veggies before or seen another piggy eat it the won't realise it's food. Young piggies learn what is safe to eat from older piggies usually their Mothers. If the previous owner only ever fed the kibble then they only know that as food. Not sure how to advise you on getting them to eat hay and veg as never experienced that before. I'm sure someone will be along soon who can help. @PigglePuggle?

What did the vet advise you to do?

 

[Jennifer1981]

Thank you for your support,I really appreciate it. I am so sad, they are so sweet. For some reason no matter what I do they just won't eat their hay. I have tried alpha ha hay, orxchord hay and Timothy hay. No matter what I do they just want kibbles . Or their critical care. Oh my I don't know what else todo. I really hope people won't judge me. I have been syringe feeding them every two hours around the clock. I tried backing off. Nothing I do is working. And feel so terrible.

 

[Jennifer1981]

He advised critical care. I have been doing its since May 2

 

[rudent]

Please don't feel like anyone would judge you -- this isn't your fault and it sounds like you're doing everything you can. This is a unique situation as most guinea pigs LOVE veggies. How much kibble do they eat? Did the vet check the piggies' teeth? Perhaps you could try a range of veggies as finding one they seem interested in might be the first step in convincing them to try new foods. Hoping someone else can provide more input.

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

So sorry you are going through this. How are you offering the hay? In a hayrack/limited area? If so I would try putting it in piles everywhere. Piggies like to burrow, play and sleep in it and wonder around grazing here and there. If there is plenty of it everywhere they will b more inclined to give it a nibble.
Keep trying with the veg, offer a small amount at a time and remove after a few hours if not eaten. Try them with many different types over a period of days.
If you have access to fresh grass cut them some and try that, it a the most natural thing for them to eat and a firm favourite with most piggies. If they take to it build up the amount you feed gradually.
If they have never eaten hay their back teeth may have become overgrown as they need the hay/grass to keep them with down, if this is th case eating many foods including hay will be difficult for them, if your vet hasn't checked the teeth already please get them to do so.

 

[Betsy]

No one will ever judge you on this forum. We are here to help.

 

[Freela]

If they haven't seen these items before, they may not realize that they are food items. Pigs can be cautious about new things. I would keep offering them hay (veggies are less urgent) and hopefully over time one will nibble it and see that it's good. Because they are new to you and don't seem to have had the best home prior to you adopting them, it may be worth a vet visit to make sure their teeth are good and there are no outstanding issues, but I really think it's simple unfamiliarity and hopefully as they get more comfortable they will try new things.