Is this an emergency?

[Chlolouise]

I noticed today my Guinea pig has lost a little bit of weight. Nothing too extreme but enough to the point I picked up on it. He’s struggling to eat even though he’s trying to and I’ve also noticed he isn’t pooping much. He’s normally a bit of a menace and likes to torment the other pigs but he’s staying away in a corner and just sitting around. I was unable to get him to an out of our vets. The soonest appointment with his vets is on Saturday. Will he be ok to wait for 2 days?

 

[Princess Dustmop]

A little bit isn't a very specific quantity; it's best to assess weight with actual numbers. (A kitchen scale works well.) If he's not pooping much, then his consumption has likely been decreased for at least a couple days. Furthermore, changes in behaviours are always concerning. I would recommend offering syringe feed to supplement intake, since he's struggling to eat on his own.
Saturday is still pretty far away ... if that's the soonest possible, then it is what it is, and you'll have to do your best to provide stopgap care, such as syringe feeding, and monitor for status and changes. If there is a way to get him into a vet earlier, I'd try to get him in.

 

[Piggies&buns]

We need to know the exact amount of weight he has lost and over what time period.
Poop putout is 1-2 days behind food intake so by the time you see less poop they already haven’t been eating for a lot longer than you think (which is why the routine weight checks are so important).
If you’ve only been able to tell how much he’s lost through touching him ie you haven’t been weighing, then the amount of loss is probably more than you think.
A change in behaviour is also of concern.

Weight loss is considered loss when they lose 50g or more.
100g of loss in a day or so is considered an emergency and will not wait.

This is why knowing the exact amount is important.

From what you’ve said - lack of poop, weight loss, trying to eat but can’t - he needs to be syringe feed a recovery feed or mushed pellets. You will need to increase the weight checks to daily. Weigh him on kitchen scales every morning. Syringe feed as much as is necessary in a day to keep his weight stable - this is a minimum of 40-60ml each day but he could need as much as 100ml. It can mean syringe feeding every two hours.

Of course, he needs to see the vet so it’s good you’ve been able to get an appointment.

The guides below explains everything further

Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

You say he’s a menace and torments the other pigs.
How many other piggies does he live with?
What sexes are the other pigs?
How old are they?

I'm just wondering (through your use of the plural ’pigs’) if you are trying to keep more than two boys together. If so, then that may be an issue and why you describe him as a menace and tormenting the others. Boars can only be kept in pairs and any more than two together usually fails requiring the piggies to be separated.

 

[Chlolouise]

We need to know the exact amount of weight he has lost and over what time period.
Poop putout is 1-2 days behind food intake so by the time you see less poop they already haven’t been eating for a lot longer than you think (which is why the routine weight checks are so important).
If you’ve only been able to tell how much he’s lost through touching him ie you haven’t been weighing, then the amount of loss is probably more than you think.
A change in behaviour is also of concern.

Weight loss is considered loss when they lose 50g or more.
100g of loss in a day or so is considered an emergency and will not wait.

This is why knowing the exact amount is important.

From what you’ve said - lack of poop, weight loss, trying to eat but can’t - he needs to be syringe feed a recovery feed or mushed pellets. You will need to increase the weight checks to daily. Weigh him on kitchen scales every morning. Syringe feed as much as is necessary in a day to keep his weight stable - this is a minimum of 40-60ml each day but he could need as much as 100ml. It can mean syringe feeding every two hours.

Of course, he needs to see the vet so it’s good you’ve been able to get an appointment.

The guides below explains everything further

Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

You say he’s a menace and torments the other pigs.
How many other piggies does he live with?
What sexes are the other pigs?
How old are they?

I'm just wondering (through your use of the plural ’pigs’) if you are trying to keep more than two boys together. If so, then that may be an issue and why you describe him as a menace and tormenting the others. Boars can only be kept in pairs and any more than two together usually fails requiring the piggies to be separated.

Thanks so much for this I’ll keep everything you said in mind!

Yes he is kept with 3 other boys but they surprisingly get on well. They were separated in pairs but we managed to bond the four of them together. This particular Guinea pig just has a big personality.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thanks so much for this I’ll keep everything you said in mind!

Yes he is kept with 3 other boys but they surprisingly get on well. They were separated in pairs but we managed to bond the four of them together. This particular Guinea pig just has a big personality.

How much weight has he lost? The actual number is vital to knowing what to do.
You can use mushed pellets to syringe feed if you don’t have proper recovery feed.


How old are they?
A boar quartet is usually highly unstable and needs a cage of 400x100cm at least. So keep a very close eye and be prepared for potentially four single piggies if it goes wrong, particularly if they are young as most boar quartets won’t survive. I’d be watching them closely as you describe him as a menace and tormenting the others - whether he is actually stressed being amongst so many boars, perhaps he’s the dominant unsure of his position or in a battle with the other piggy who was the dominant in the other pair.

 

[Chlolouise]

A little bit isn't a very specific quantity; it's best to assess weight with actual numbers. (A kitchen scale works well.) If he's not pooping much, then his consumption has likely been decreased for at least a couple days. Furthermore, changes in behaviours are always concerning. I would recommend offering syringe feed to supplement intake, since he's struggling to eat on his own.
Saturday is still pretty far away ... if that's the soonest possible, then it is what it is, and you'll have to do your best to provide stopgap care, such as syringe feeding, and monitor for status and changes. If there is a way to get him into a vet earlier, I'd try to get him in.

Thank you so much

How old are they?
A boar quartet is highly unstable and needs a cage of 400x100cm at least.
If you describe him as being a menace and tormenting the others then it doesn’t sound as if things are particularly harmonious between them. Two dominant boars in a quartet is when trouble starts.

How much weight has he lost? The actual number is vital to knowing what to do.

How old are they?
A boar quartet is highly unstable and needs a cage of 400x100cm at least.
If you describe him as being a menace and tormenting the others then it doesn’t sound as if things are particularly harmonious between them. Two dominant boars in a quartet is when trouble starts.

How much weight has he lost? The actual number is vital to knowing what to do.

when I say a menace I just mean he’s very playful with them and us he likes to play and is always running around (often playing with toys and popcorning) while the other three are more chilled out. They have a space of 3m x 1.5m I made sure they had a healthy amount of space. He’s lost around 40grams from last time he was checked which was around a week ago.

 

[Piggies&buns]

As I say, keep a close eye on them. We haven’t seen a quartet work on here in a very long time.

40g is starting to get right to the point of concern particularly when his lack of poop output, being withdrawn and difficulty eating is factored in. As mentioned, you need to weigh him once every day and syringe feed from now.

 

[Chlolouise]

As I say, keep a close eye on them. We haven’t seen a quartet work on here in a very long time.

40g is starting to get right to the point of concern particularly when his lack of poop output, being withdrawn and difficulty eating is factored in. As mentioned, you need to weigh him once every day and syringe feed from now.

I’ll definitely do as much as I can until tomorrow morning thank you for the advice.

It was a long process it took around 2 months for them to fully bond but they never fought or anything during the bonding process. It was particularly good that only one of them (the sick one) is dominant. I think should two of them had been dominant it would never have worked. I did a lot of research and just tried to stay persistent until they were 100% happy in each others presence and I think the amount of space they have definitely helps.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’ll definitely do as much as I can until tomorrow morning thank you for the advice.

It was a long process it took around 2 months for them to fully bond but they never fought or anything during the bonding process. It was particularly good that only one of them (the sick one) is dominant. I think should two of them had been dominant it would never have worked. I did a lot of research and just tried to stay persistent until they were 100% happy in each others presence and I think the amount of space they have definitely helps.

There would have been a dominant in the other pair but it sounds as if he has stepped down which rarely happens.
How old are they?

 

[Chlolouise]

There would have been a dominant in the other pair but it sounds as if he has stepped down which rarely happens.
How old are they?

A 2 year old, two 1 year old and an 8 month old

 

[Piggies&buns]

A 2 year old, two 1 year old and an 8 month old

Ah right it’s the three youngsters (who are still in their teens), that you will need to watch in particular then. Where piggies of that age are involved we would never recommend merging two pairs.
If you can get them all to be adults and still be together then there may be a chance they’ll be ok longer term, but you will need to have a separation plan in mind at all times.

Which age piggy is the one who is unwell?

Let us know what the vet says.

 

[Chlolouise]

Ah right it’s the three youngsters (who are still in their teens), that you will need to watch in particular then. Where piggies of that age are involved we would never recommend merging two pairs.
If you can get them all to be adults and still be together then there may be a chance they’ll be ok longer term, but you will need to have a separation plan in mind at all times.

Which age piggy is the one who is unwell?

Let us know what the vet says.

The cage actually has a doorway in the middle on the chance that they fall out I can separate them quickly and they still have enough space while I put together a separate enclosure. It’s the older one that’s unwell

 

[Piggies&buns]

The cage actually has a doorway in the middle on the chance that they fall out I can separate them quickly and they still have enough space while I put together a separate enclosure. It’s the older one that’s unwell

Now is the time to watch them then. If the older is the dominant then when the dominant is unwell the next one down can sometimes seize the opportunity to take over which can then break the herd (if he is no longer able to defend his position).

 

[Chlolouise]

Now is the time to watch them then. If the older is the dominant then when the dominant is unwell the next one down can sometimes seize the opportunity to take over which can then break the herd (if he is no longer able to defend his position).

I will keep a close eye on them. Thank you!

 

[Wiebke]

I noticed today my Guinea pig has lost a little bit of weight. Nothing too extreme but enough to the point I picked up on it. He’s struggling to eat even though he’s trying to and I’ve also noticed he isn’t pooping much. He’s normally a bit of a menace and likes to torment the other pigs but he’s staying away in a corner and just sitting around. I was unable to get him to an out of our vets. The soonest appointment with his vets is on Saturday. Will he be ok to wait for 2 days?

Hi

You have done the right thing to book the earliest vet appointment available, ideally before the weekend if your piggy is suddenly withdrawn/very changed in personality. Guinea pig illness can develop quite quickly but without any visible symptoms a vet can struggle to diagnose. It is not yet at the stage of a here and now life or death emergency.

We count weight loss only over 50g since the difference between a full and an empty belly and bladder is around 40g.
Please step in with feeding and watering support accordingly to his food intake if you notice your piggy not eating much hay (which makes over three quarters of what a piggy eats in a day) and being rather lethargic. It is the missing hay intake that you are replacing.

Here are some helpful links for how soon to see a vet and stepping in with support care:
How Soon Should My Guinea Pig See A Vet? - A Quick Guide
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment (including how to improvise in an emergency)
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

All the best.

 

[Chlolouise]

Hi

You have done the right thing to book the earliest vet appointment available, ideally before the weekend if your piggy is suddenly withdrawn/very changed in personality. Guinea pig illness can develop quite quickly but without any visible symptoms a vet can struggle to diagnose. It is not yet at the stage of a here and now life or death emergency.

We count weight loss only over 50g since the difference between a full and an empty belly and bladder is around 40g.
Please step in with feeding and watering support accordingly to his food intake if you notice your piggy not eating much hay (which makes over three quarters of what a piggy eats in a day) and being rather lethargic. It is the missing hay intake that you are replacing.

Here are some helpful links for how soon to see a vet and stepping in with support care:
How Soon Should My Guinea Pig See A Vet? - A Quick Guide
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment (including how to improvise in an emergency)
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

All the best.

Thank you for this. I have managed to get him in in the next half an hour as they said it sounds more urgent than they thought. Fingers crossed he will be ok

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for this. I have managed to get him in in the next half an hour as they said it sounds more urgent than they thought. Fingers crossed he will be ok

That is great; especially if he has gone downhill more quickly or may be in major pain.

 

[Chlolouise]

Hi, I took my Guinea pig (Sid) to the vets and they have give me sachets to syringe feed him to get him better along side medication.

I have watched lots of videos on how is best to do it but I’m struggling to get him to eat it and he needs food in his stomach before he can have his pain meds.

Any advice?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, I took my Guinea pig (Sid) to the vets and they have give me sachets to syringe feed him to get him better along side medication.

I have watched lots of videos on how is best to do it but I’m struggling to get him to eat it and he needs food in his stomach before he can have his pain meds.

Any advice?

Hi

Please give Sid pain meds first and then the feeding will hopefully get a little easier. Guinea pig digestion is working differently to a human's or to that of predatory pets.

Until then you have to push through. Use the tips in our medicating guide on how to hold an uncooperative piggy and try to get at least 5 ml of feed into him in one session. It is neither pleasant or fast with a piggy that is totally off food - all those videos can be very misleading as they rely on at least a modicum of compliance, which you have obviously not got.
It also means that your boy is feeling seriously ill. Feed every two hours during the day with a piggy totally off their food and aim for at least for 40 ml in 24 hours, ideally 60 ml or more.
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

What painkiller have you been prescribed, at which concentration and dosage? Guinea pigs need a lot more painkiller than other pet species because the absorption in the body is lower. If the painkiller is in the cosmetic range, then it won't help much.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for you and Sid.

 

[Chlolouise]

Hi

Please give Sid pain meds first and then the feeding will hopefully get a little easier. Guinea pig digestion is working differently to a human's or to that of predatory pets.

Until then you have to push through. Use the tips in our medicating guide on how to hold an uncooperative piggy and try to get at least 5 ml of feed into him in one session. It is neither pleasant or fast with a piggy that is totally off food - all those videos can be very misleading as they rely on at least a modicum of compliance, which you have obviously not got.
It also means that your boy is feeling seriously ill. Feed every two hours during the day with a piggy totally off their food and aim for at least for 40 ml in 24 hours, ideally 60 ml or more.
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

What painkiller have you been prescribed, at which concentration and dosage? Guinea pigs need a lot more painkiller than other pet species because the absorption in the body is lower. If the painkiller is in the cosmetic range, then it won't help much.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for you and Sid.

Thank you for this. The vet said I couldn’t give him the medicine until he had some food. He’s now had around 5mls of the food so I’ve give him the medicine.

It’s meloxicam and he’s prescribed 0.26mls once a day and Emeprid for his digestion which is 0.5mls twice a day.

He weighs 0.65kg (bad I know) so am I right in saying he needs around 10mg of the food?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thank you for this. The vet said I couldn’t give him the medicine until he had some food. He’s now had around 5mls of the food so I’ve give him the medicine.

It’s meloxicam and he’s prescribed 0.26mls once a day and Emeprid for his digestion which is 0.5mls twice a day.

He weighs 0.65kg (bad I know) so am I right in saying he needs around 10mg of the food?

He needs as much food as is necessary to keep his weight stable - a minimum of 40-60ml per day.

Once a day painkiller is not usually enough for piggies. Is that the cat meloxicom (0.5mg/ml)?

 

[Chlolouise]

He needs as much food as is necessary to keep his weight stable - a minimum of 40-60ml per day.

Once a day painkiller is not usually enough for piggies. Is that the cat meloxicom (0.5mg/ml)?

Yes I believe it is. Sorry yeah that’s what I meant the vet said 4x a day but didn’t say how many ml

 

[Merab]

I found that adding a small piece of mashed banana to the syringe feed helped.
They also prefer Oxbow Aniseed flavour critical care and either refuse or resist anything else.

I also put a dish of the syringe feed in the cage as well.

Also a small dish of raw oats mixed with grated carrot or sweet potato goes down well and helps encourage eating. I pop a ramekin dish with this in the cage. Cage mates help to eat it but that’s ok.

Hope Sid recovers quickly

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes I believe it is. Sorry yeah that’s what I meant the vet said 4x a day but didn’t say how many ml

It depends how much he takes at each sitting - it’s not necessarily possible to say 4 times a day. It might be well be 4 times a day but if he only takes a little at each sitting then he may need to be fed six times a day (fed every two hours for example) to get a good amount in and the amount required to keep his weight stable.
It’s not an exact science.

 

[Chlolouise]

I found that adding a small piece of mashed banana to the syringe feed helped.
They also prefer Oxbow Aniseed flavour critical care and either refuse or resist anything else.

I also put a dish of the syringe feed in the cage as well.

Also a small dish of raw oats mixed with grated carrot or sweet potato goes down well and helps encourage eating. I pop a ramekin dish with this in the cage. Cage mates help to eat it but that’s ok.

Hope Sid recovers quickly

Thank you! I’ll try these ideas however he isn’t a big fan of bananas

 

[ScrufflesRules]

Sometimes it helps to get their cagemate to try some critical care next to the poorly piggy too- in the past I have found it triggers the 'I want some too!' reflex in otherwise reluctant piggies.
The linked guides above are literal lifesavers.
Do you have someone who can help you with syringe feeding?
Remember to keep on offering fresh food and hay too, no matter how many times your pig turns it down.
Hugs, I know how difficult it is.

I also agree that one painkiller a day won't be enough- could you ask your vet to increase it to twice a day? That way he should feel comfortable throughout the day, making it easier for you to feed him.

 

[Chlolouise]

Sometimes it helps to get their cagemate to try some critical care next to the poorly piggy too- in the past I have found it triggers the 'I want some too!' reflex in otherwise reluctant piggies.
The linked guides above are literal lifesavers.
Do you have someone who can help you with syringe feeding?
Remember to keep on offering fresh food and hay too, no matter how many times your pig turns it down.
Hugs, I know how difficult it is.

I also agree that one painkiller a day won't be enough- could you ask your vet to increase it to twice a day? That way he should feel comfortable throughout the day, making it easier for you to feed him.

 

[Chlolouise]

It’s only me who’s caring for him which makes it even harder.

I’ll try those tips thank you! I’ll also give the vets a call

 

[Chlolouise]

I’ve posted a lot on here in the past day but I just wanted to know how long it will take for my piggie to pick up when starting on the critical care.

He’s really not taking to it well and in the past 5 hours he’s only had around 12ml of it.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’ve posted a lot on here in the past day but I just wanted to know how long it will take for my piggie to pick up when starting on the critical care.

He’s really not taking to it well and in the past 5 hours he’s only had around 12ml of it.

It doesn’t really work like that.
Critical care is replacing his hay intake to keep his system functioning. It won’t make him better as such. However it is a vital part of the home care you can provide. Without enough food his body will find it much harder to deal with whatever is causing him to be unwell.

You need to give the medication he is taking chance to work in making him feel better and resolving whatever the issue is.
He is on a gut stimulant and pain medication (albeit a low dose of pain meds), what exactly did the vet say they thought was wrong with him?

I’ve merged the new threads you had started back to your original post. Can we ask that you keep new information relating to this matter on this one thread. It makes things much easier for us if all the background is kept together in one place, we can provide you with ongoing support .