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Loss of appetite - vet says fine

Nicjones99

Nicjones99

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
May 23, 2018
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Location
Bristol, UK
Hi, my 6-month-old guinea pig Clover is subdued and has lost her appetite. She usually wheeks enthusiastically in the morning when I open the fridge but hasn't done this the last few days. She also hasn't touched her veggies, though she has been nibbling a tiny bit of hay (not very enthusiastically). I took her to the vet yesterday and he couldn't find anything wrong, heart, lungs ok, healthy weight, not dehydrated, no apparent problems with teeth, eyes ok, etc. But to me, she's really not herself and I'm worried. I've given her Metacam in case she's in pain, but not sure what else to do. I know how quickly they can go downhill. Any advice/suggestions much appreciated, thanks x
 
I should add that she lives indoors with her cage mate, Blossom (who is the dominant guinea pig and currently getting very fat as Clover isn't eating her veggies). They get along well, no recent changes or stresses to their environment. No change of diet.
 
@Nicjones99 You need to take her to a different vet as something is definitely wrong.

Guineas are different to cats and dogs, they have to have food moving througj their digestive system to survive. If they don't eat for a prolonged period of time their digestive systems shut down and they will die.

If she is not eating at all you need to start syringe feeding her. There is a guide on the forum to show you how to do it.

You also need to start weighing her so you can monitor whether you are feeding enough.

Please ring around some vets now and take her to see one who has experience with guinea pigs. Also, check the vet locator at the top of the forum to see if there is a forum recommended one to try.
 
Jaycey, thank you, I have just booked an appointment with a different vet for this morning - I agree I need a second opinion from a specialist vet. All my instincts are telling me she is not fine, and though at the moment she looks healthy enough I think she will go downhill quickly if we do nothing. I just hope the new vet can find the problem..
 
Glad you have managed to find another vet, not really much to add other than I hope you can find out what is wrong and hope she is feeling better soon! I would agree with syringe feeding, my boy lost a third of his body weight after not really eating much for two days.
 
Reggie&Chunk, thank you for the advice - I've never had to do syringe feeding before - I'll ask the vet to show me. Did your guinea pig recover? Did you ever find out what was wrong?
 
Cant add much jaycey answer is the way to go for sure. Find a vet that knows about guinea pigs and stick with that one. I wouldnt even trust the check over before. Been there and done it at a normal vets, waste of money and valuable pig time.
 
Nicjones99 said:
Hi, my 6-month-old guinea pig Clover is subdued and has lost her appetite. She usually wheeks enthusiastically in the morning when I open the fridge but hasn't done this the last few days. She also hasn't touched her veggies, though she has been nibbling a tiny bit of hay (not very enthusiastically). I took her to the vet yesterday and he couldn't find anything wrong, heart, lungs ok, healthy weight, not dehydrated, no apparent problems with teeth, eyes ok, etc. But to me, she's really not herself and I'm worried. I've given her Metacam in case she's in pain, but not sure what else to do. I know how quickly they can go downhill. Any advice/suggestions much appreciated, thanks x
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Hi!

Apart from seeing another vet, please start support feeding and weighing your guinea pig ASAP. Guinea pigs need to eat in order to keep their guts going. Unlike predators, they are not designed to go without a regular food supply.

These links here tell you exactly how to go about it. You can use mushed up pellets in an emergency as long you cut off the syringe tip as shown in the illustrated syringe feeding guide, which has been specfically written for members with no experience.
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Administering Medications And Syringe Feed
First Aid Kit For Guinea Pigs

Since we have members and enquiries from all over the world and vet access, climate, medical brands etc. vary so widely from country to country, can you please add your country, state/province or UK county to your account details (accessed via clickin on your username on the top bar) so we can always tailor any advice and recommendations to what is available and relevant where you are straight away if your general area appears with every post you make. That saves all of us time and misunderstandings. Our default advice is UK based. Thank You!
 
The syringe feeding guides are very good. I had never had to syringe feed a piggie before Christian's life saving op last year. I followed the guides they are really clear and tell you how to syringe feed your piggie. Don't worry about not being able to follow them they have been written in order to show a complete novice how to do it.

Let us know how you get on. You were right not to trust your other vet. You know your piggy best and if your instinct is telling you there is something wrong, there is something wrong.
 
Thank you everybody for your support - the specialist vet cost a small fortune but was much more thorough, said possible UTI, not critical yet thankfully but losing weight and starting to get dehydrated. Hopefully we have caught her in time. She injected fluid under the skin to help rehydrate, also advised syringe feeding and higher strength pain relief (renitadine). Really hoping this works as not sure I can afford an x-ray and further treatments - I wish I had bought pet insurance as we've had so many vet trips. Not sure what I'm doing wrong - trying so hard to be a good pet owner!
 
Nicjones99 said:
Thank you everybody for your support - the specialist vet cost a small fortune but was much more thorough, said possible UTI, not critical yet thankfully but losing weight and starting to get dehydrated. Hopefully we have caught her in time. She injected fluid under the skin to help rehydrate, also advised syringe feeding and higher strength pain relief (renitadine). Really hoping this works as not sure I can afford an x-ray and further treatments - I wish I had bought pet insurance as we've had so many vet trips. Not sure what I'm doing wrong - trying so hard to be a good pet owner!
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You're doing everything right! These things happen! Nobody could do any more than you have done - pigs get ill just like we do.
 
I fear poor Clover is on her way out - she's gone massively downhill since we came back from the vets. She certainly seems critical now - hardly moving and no energy. We've been syringe feeding but it doesn't seem to have helped - almost feels like it's made it worse as this morning she could still run around, and now she can barely move. The vet gave her painkillers, maybe they have sedated her? She's on my lap but I'm expecting her to stop breathing any minute. Awful. I am gutted.
 
When they are weak and not eating, it really takes it out of them. Just keep doing what you are doing and feed as much as you can, you’re doing everything you possibly can which makes you a good owner!
 
It’s so hard when a piggy is sick.
Reading this thread you’ve done everything right.
Well done on going with your instincts.
I hope Clover does rally but sadly guinea pigs can go downhill very fast no matter what we do.

I believe there is only one company that insures guinea pigs - the best bet is your own vet fund.

Please keep us posted about Clover and remember we are all here to support you too
 
Reggie&Chunk said:
When they are weak and not eating, it really takes it out of them. Just keep doing what you are doing and feed as much as you can, you’re doing everything you possibly can which makes you a good owner!
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Thank you so much for your kind words. When I put her back in the cage with her friend she did wheek a little bit and nibble a small bit of hay so I was encouraged by that. She normally sleeps a lot during the morning/early afternoon so maybe she really needs to rest...... Should we set an alarm so we feed her every 2-3 hours through the night? I'm sort of hoping if she lasts the night she may get stronger again.
 
If she’s not eating then regular feeding is essential.
It’s very tiring- I’ve just had to try and syringe feed one of my girls for a couple of days and give her meds.
It’s exhausting and time consuming but vey important.
Did the vet give you some gut motility drugs?
I’ve been giving Priscilla Emeprid just until she started eating for herself again.
 
Merab's Slave said:
If she’s not eating then regular feeding is essential.
It’s very tiring- I’ve just had to try and syringe feed one of my girls for a couple of days and give her meds.
It’s exhausting and time consuming but vey important.
Did the vet give you some gut motility drugs?
I’ve been giving Priscilla Emeprid just until she started eating for herself again.
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Hi, no she didn't prescribe gut motility drugs, but I've been reading about them and wondering whether she should have. Can you buy them from a shop or would it need another vet visit? We are due back there on Tuesday if she lasts that long... Will keep going with the syringe feeding + water + meds and just keep fingers crossed.
 
It needs a vet visit for them to be prescribed.
I would phone and ask for some you could collect
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
Cant add much jaycey answer is the way to go for sure. Find a vet that knows about guinea pigs and stick with that one. I wouldnt even trust the check over before. Been there and done it at a normal vets, waste of money and valuable pig time.
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I agree 100% about finding a guinea pig specialist - I wish I had gone straight there rather than the other vet first. If I hadn't gone to the new vet this morning we wouldn't have started syringe feeding today or medicating and it would have been too late. I'm hoping we caught her just in time.
 
Hi @Nicjones99 ,you have rinitidine,which is a motility drug!you need to syringe feed every 2 to 3 hours,in order to give your piggie a chance,it is well worth the extra effort.you have done everything possible.I'm sorry your piggie is poorly.:hug:
 
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eileen said:
Hi @Nicjones99 ,you have rinitidine,which is a motility drug!you need to syringe feed every 2 to 3 hours,in order to give your piggie a chance,it is well worth the extra effort.you have done everthing possible.I'm sorry your piggie is poorly.:hug:
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Oh! I thought it was a painkiller/anti-inflammatory. That's good then. Yes, we are planning to syringe feed through the night and hope it does some good. Thanks for your advice and thoughts, it's good to know other people understand.
 
eileen said:
Hi @Nicjones99 ,you have rinitidine,which is a motility drug!you need to syringe feed every 2 to 3 hours,in order to give your piggie a chance,it is well worth the extra effort.you have done everything possible.I'm sorry your piggie is poorly.:hug:
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Thanks @eileen - the only gut motility drug I knew was Emeprid. I didn’t realise Rinitidine is too
 
Betsy said:
Christian was given Ranitidine for his gut motility when he wasn't eating after his op. I had to keep using it for 24 hours after he started eating on his own to keep him eating.
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I'm glad Christian recovered from his op. Hoping it will help Clover too. Will update in the morning.
 
Nicjones99 said:
I'm glad Christian recovered from his op. Hoping it will help Clover too. Will update in the morning.
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He had a massive abscess removal last May (I'm talking the size of an egg) and I had to syringe him day and night every 2-3 hours too it was exhausting and worrying I know what you're going through. I'm sure that with your love and tlc Clover will be back to herself in no time!
 
Nicjones99 said:
Thank you everybody for your support - the specialist vet cost a small fortune but was much more thorough, said possible UTI, not critical yet thankfully but losing weight and starting to get dehydrated. Hopefully we have caught her in time. She injected fluid under the skin to help rehydrate, also advised syringe feeding and higher strength pain relief (renitadine). Really hoping this works as not sure I can afford an x-ray and further treatments - I wish I had bought pet insurance as we've had so many vet trips. Not sure what I'm doing wrong - trying so hard to be a good pet owner!
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I’m not sure you can insure guinea pigs/wether insurance company’s provide cover for piggy’s. Usually when a piggy is in pain they go off their food and become ‘quiet’. Finding out what’s wrong is tricky that’s why a trip to a savvy vet is always recommended. You’ve done absolutely the right thing, hope the overnight feeds go well, it is time consuming I did it for a month/5weeks a year ago. Good luck, I hope your piggy pulls through :)
 
I'm relieved to say Clover survived the night and seems to be responding well to the syringe feeding. She's getting stronger again and putting up more resistance - though her appetite is still not there and she is basically just sitting still most of the time. We still have to work out what the underlying problem is but I'm hopeful if we continue to feed her she will at least make the vet appointment on Tuesday. How much water should I be giving her by syringe each day? Thank you for your support. I'm not sure she would have survived without this group.
 
I give 1 syringe of water for every 2-3 of syringe food. Is Clover on antibiotics? I can't remember. If she is she would benefit from some probiotics too something like Pro-C available from Pets at Home. Just add a pinch to a small amount of water, syringe it up and give it to her around an hour or two after the antibiotics.
 
You could also try tempting her with small pieces of cucumber which is watery.
Following a suggestion from @PigglePuggle I spread some critical care on slices of cucumber for Priscilla last week.
If Clover is beginning to resist syringe feeding that is a good sign
 
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