My guinea pig isn't walking and is in pain

[Shania]

They cant move around. I have to give them water and food and then put them in there in the sleeping blanket

 

[Siikibam]

I know it’s difficult but you have to consider their quality of life. It’s a difficult decision but if they can’t access the vet care they need (not your fault at all, just unfortunate circumstances) then you will have to sadly think about things seriously.

 

[Shania]

Not eating hay at all is an issue I’m afraid. And you say their poo is soft. Is it as much as usual or seems less? How do they feel when you touch their rib cage area? Can you feel each individual rib or can you just feel them and there’s a small layer of ‘meat’ on them?

see my post above re pain relief.

I can feel their rib cage....

 

[Piggies&buns]

They cant move around. I have to give them water and food and then put them in there in the sleeping blanket

This is a huge problem - there is clearly something very wrong here if they can’t move, They need help and if your vet cant provide it, then they are going to be suffering and likely in pain.

Guinea pigs can have metacam for cats or for dogs. The dog version is stronger than the cat version.

So, they are eating their veg and pellets but you aren’t feeding them hay. If you can feel their ribs easily then they aren’t eating enough.
What are the pellets you are feeding them? They don’t look like the ones we get here in the uk, so I’m just curious.

Soft poop is usually caused by a digestive upset - the advice in that situation is take them off all fresh veg and only feed them hay until it settles down.
Are you able to get them hay now? It really is so important that they have lots of it every day.

 

[Shania]

Is there anything you changed before they became ill? Different food, anything at all?

with above re not just giving medicine. It can be very dangerous

Hiii. Yess. I took them to the vet to get their nails trimmed and to get anti parasite on their fur. On the same day thats when they couldnt walk

 

[Siikibam]

As above, if you can feel their ribs then they’re small.

 

[Siikibam]

Hiii. Yess. I took them to the vet to get their nails trimmed and to get anti parasite on their fur. On the same day thats when they couldnt walk

Do you know what anti parasite they were given? And why did they give it?

 

[Shania]

This is a huge problem - there is clearly something very wrong here if they can’t move, They need help and if your vet cant provide it, then they are going to be suffering and likely in pain.

Guinea pigs can have metacam for cats or for dogs. The dog version is stronger than the cat version.

So, they are eating their veg and pellets but you aren’t feeding them hay. If you can feel their ribs easily then they aren’t eating enough.
What are the pellets you are feeding them? They don’t look like the ones we get here in the uk, so I’m just curious.

Soft poop is usually caused by a digestive upset - the advice in that situation is take them off all fresh veg and only feed them hay until it settles down.
Are you able to get them hay now? It really is so important that they have lots of it every day.

Hii. No its night and theres no hay. I do have dried grass tho...

 

[Shania]

Do you know what anti parasite they were given? And why did they give it?

It was just a checkup. The vets said it would keep them clean. Plus the vets even gave my piggies hamster food, which is toxic. My mum had no idea and gave them the food. When i returned from school and found out i immediately removed it.. The vetsss are really inexperienced. Idk what to doo

 

[Piggies&buns]

It was just a checkup. The vets said it would keep them clean. Plus the vets even gave my piggies hamster food, which is toxic. My mum had no idea and gave them the food. When i returned from school and found out i immediately removed it.. The vetsss are really inexperienced. Idk what to doo

Unless they actually have parasites then they don’t need to treating for parasites. If the vet doesn’t know what they are doing with guinea pigs, then they could have given them something unsafe.
Unless you can find a vet who knows how to fix this, then there isn’t much more you can do

 

[Shania]

Unless they actually have parasites then they don’t need to treating for parasites. If the vet doesn’t know what they are doing with guinea pigs, then they could have given them something unsafe.
Unless you can find a vet who knows how to fix this, then there isn’t much more you can do

I really regret bringing my piggies there
.. Is it possible that stress is causing this to my piggy? I really want them to get better. I didny go to school for 4 days because they need a lot of care rn.

 

[Piggies&buns]

It was just a checkup. The vets said it would keep them clean. Plus the vets even gave my piggies hamster food, which is toxic. My mum had no idea and gave them the food. When i returned from school and found out i immediately removed it.. The vetsss are really inexperienced. Idk what to doo

Hamster food contains seeds and ingredients which aren’t good for piggies but it’s unlikely to have caused them not to be able to walk.

What parasite treatment did the vet give to them?

 

[Shania]

Hamster food contains seeds and ingredients which aren’t good for piggies but it’s unlikely to have caused them not to be able to walk.

What parasite treatment did the vet give to them?

I dont really know. I wasnt with them, i was at school. My mum isn't at home rn, ill ask her when she reaches. She went to find hay and she said that she found a foreigner who could give her some. Will my poggies feel better with hay and probiotics?

 

[Piggies&buns]

I dont really know. I wasnt with them, i was at school. My mum isn't at home rn, ill ask her when she reaches. She went to find hay and she said that she found a foreigner who could give her some. Will my poggies feel better with hay and probiotics?

Its good you can get hay. They need to eat lots of hay every single day for their entire lives so please ensure you always have hay for them.
Hay and probiotics alone won’t solve their medical issues though. Only the correct diagnosis and medicine is going to solve what is going wrong

 

[Shania]

Its good you can get hay. They need to eat lots of hay every single day for their entire lives so please ensure you always have hay for them.
Hay and probiotics alone won’t solve their medical issues though. Only the correct diagnosis and medicine is going to solve what is going wrong

Okay thankss a lott... I'm so stressed out rn.. Ill let u kmow if they get any better. Thank youuuuu

 

[DMS260820]

Also they sleep and walk on soft blankets in a large enclosure. I'm not sure about the vit c. I give them vegies and pellets because there's no hay in my country. I occasionally guve them dried grass to try tk replace the hay..

I think there is the problem (no hay) and you might have gave grass when it's in its fermented state, not fully dried to be hay. Guineas need constant fiber from hay going through their systems.

 

[Chickenpies]

Hiii. Nooo. In my country, hay isnt available. Thats the main problem. We dont even have guinea pig vets. I live in mauritius where guinea pigs as pet is quite rare because they are expensive ect... I was feeding them vegies and pellets... The vets dont even know that small hard poop is not healthy. They said it was okay, whhich isnt.. So please is there anything i can do rn?

Hi! Hay is the most essential thing for guinea pigs, it is a source of fibre (helping the gut digest food) and grinds their teeth down (the teeth would be overgrown without). Are there any pet shops near you? I’m not sure what to do, I am so sorry. I really do hope things work out.

 

[Shania]

Hi! Hay is the most essential thing for guinea pigs, it is a source of fibre (helping the gut digest food) and grinds their teeth down (the teeth would be overgrown without). Are there any pet shops near you? I’m not sure what to do, I am so sorry. I really do hope things work out.

Hii. I was able to get a little hay. But my piggies are kinda hungry rn. Should i give them the pellets or let let eat the hay only? Because by eating hay and water, their poop got a bit smaller and hard. My pigies still have difficulty walking but they seem a little better and look like they are in less pain. They eat by themselves and are more energetic. They just dont walk. So shhould i keep the hay only, or give pellets also?

 

[Shania]

This is the hay i got and hopefully this will be enough for today.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Their diet needs to be unlimited hay every day - they should always have hay in their cage all the time. They can then have 50 grams of veg per day and one tablespoon of pellets per day. That is what their diet should be, so giving them hay won’t cause them any problems, it’s the right thing to do.

Giving them hay and water right now did not make their poop hard and small.
Poop output is behind by 1-2 days so it takes a while to see improvement in any gut disturbance
Small poops are because they didn’t eat enough 1-2 days ago as poop output is behind by that amount. Once they start to eat more and more hay their poop will improve over the course of the next few days. Ensure you still give veg and pellets to them in the limited amounts I explain above. Hay needs to be the thing they eat most of.

If they can’t walk, then they still need veterinary help

 

[Shania]

Their diet needs to be unlimited hay every day - they should always have hay in their cage all the time. They can then have 50 grams of veg per day and one tablespoon of pellets per day. That is what their diet should be, so giving them hay won’t cause them any problems, it’s the right thing to do.

Giving them hay and water right now did not make their poop hard and small.
Poop output is behind by 1-2 days so it takes a while to see improvement in any gut disturbance
Small poops are because they didn’t eat enough 1-2 days ago as poop output is behind by that amount. Once they start to eat more and more hay their poop will improve over the course of the next few days. Ensure you still give veg and pellets to them in the limited amounts I explain above. Hay needs to be the thing they eat most of.

If they can’t walk, then they still need veterinary help

Okayyh thanks a lot.. I still couldnt find any exotic vets, theres none here.. Ill make sure they are eatong plenty of hay and I'm giviing them probiotics. My mum is making some calls rn to try to find metacam. I really hope they get better. Thanks a lot

 

[Chickenpies]

Hii. I was able to get a little hay. But my piggies are kinda hungry rn. Should i give them the pellets or let let eat the hay only? Because by eating hay and water, their poop got a bit smaller and hard. My pigies still have difficulty walking but they seem a little better and look like they are in less pain. They eat by themselves and are more energetic. They just dont walk. So shhould i keep the hay only, or give pellets also?

They should have a tablespoon of pellets a day, and hay at all times!

 

[Shania]

They should have a tablespoon of pellets a day, and hay at all times!

Okayy thanks.. Is there a specific way i should massage their belly to help them feel better? Because i read somewhere that massage could help them pass gas. Because my piggies do look a little bloated and one of them has a distended stomach and they do have all signs of bloat.. But I'm not sure because none of the vets themselves knew abbout it

 

[Chickenpies]

Okayy thanks.. Is there a specific way i should massage their belly to help them feel better? Because i read somewhere that massage could help them pass gas. Because my piggies do look a little bloated and one of them has a distended stomach and they do have all signs of bloat.. But I'm not sure because none of the vets themselves knew abbout it

I’m not sure, I haven’t had experience with bloat. I’ll tag people who might be able to help! @Piggies&buns @Wiebke @Siikibam .Hopefully you can get the help you need!

 

[Claire W]

If your piggies are bloated, they really do need to see a vet. Bloat can be fatal if not treated

 

[Shania]

If your piggies are bloated, they really do need to see a vet. Bloat can be fatal if not treated

Yesss as i alreadyy mentionned. I did see 6 vets already and contacted more than 10. I live on a small island with NO experienced guinea pigs vets because thats a rare pet here...

 

[Piggies&buns]

So both of them have got gas/bloat and both of them can’t walk. A vet is needed to diagnose these issues and be able to help them. You can help release mild gas with massage but bloat needs veterinary treatment and medication.
Whatever has caused them to not be able to walk, then pain relief alone may not be enough, it needs investigating as to what has happened.

Without a vet there is very little you can do yourself because you can’t diagnose the problem and you can’t get them the medication they need.

 

[Shania]

Hi. Is it possible they could have a foot injury instead ? Because they are pooping and eating on their own. They are just in pain and cannot walk.

 

[Shania]

So both of them have got gas/bloat and both of them can’t walk. A vet is needed to diagnose these issues and be able to help them. You can help release mild gas with massage but bloat needs veterinary treatment and medication.
Whatever has caused them to not be able to walk, then pain relief alone may not be enough, it needs investigating as to what has happened.

Without a vet there is very little you can do yourself because you can’t diagnose the problem and you can’t get them the medication they need.

Hiiii.. AGAINNN.... There is nooooo veti already went to 6 vets and contaccted more than 10! I live on a small island with no exotic vet... Thats why i dont know what to do...there is also no guinea pig medicines here. My mum is trying to look for metocam rn. And i am giving them hay and probiotics

 

[Piggies&buns]

Hi. Is it possible they could have a foot injury instead ? Because they are pooping and eating on their own. They are just in pain and cannot walk.

If they are pooping and eating then bloat may not be an issue at all. This is why only a vet can diagnose it.
They could have a foot injury but we can’t tell you that, only a vet can. It would be very strange for them both to have injured their feet at the same time.
I’m afraid there is little we can do other than offer support. We can’t diagnose a problem and we can’t tell you what treatmenf they need