Need advice

[leah.]

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice. My guinea pig hunni hasn’t been right she isn’t eating or drinking and is getting crusty eyes and nose. This morning was awful and she wouldn’t do anything. Tonight she was a bit better and she was more aware and I managed to get her to take some water and little bit of watermelon as that’s all she would take. Do you think it would be worth taking her to the vet? Do you think they could help? I’ve read online with people saying they done this and it only made them worse due to stress, or they didn’t help. I dunno what to do for the best just want to help her

 

[dhill_cb7]

Hello,

Yes, book a vet appointment asap. Guinea pigs need to eat to keep their gut moving. The crusty nose and eyes is also a sign of sickness.

Experts will be around however this is a UK forum and the majority of members are from Europe which is ahead of the US (all zzzzzz).

 

[Piggies&buns]

Please have your piggy seen by a vet asap. Everything you have described is very concerning.
Going to the vet is not going to make her worse. She may not like the experience, but providing vet care and the correct medication is essential.

Crusty eyes and nose might be a sign of a upper respiratory infection which requires antibiotics. If left untreated they can cause permanent damage or be fatal.

Please urgently step in and syringe feed her either critical care or, if you don’t have any, then use her normal pellets and mush them up with warm water.
Syringe feeding is essential as soon as you notice any weight loss at the weekly weight checks or if they stop eating enough/altogether as they need the fibre constantly going through their guts to keep them functioning. It’s the most important part of home care and it literally can be as valuable in saving their lives as medicinal treat ment. Nibbling at bits of fruit and veg is not enough.
Please switch from the routine weekly weight checks and ensure you weigh her daily so you can be sure she is getting enough critical care in each 24 hour period to keep her weight stable. (This will likely mean feeding every 2-3 hours as much as she will take at each sitting).

The guides below explain more about what to do and how to syringe feed

Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Weight - Monitoring and Management
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links

 

[leah.]

Thanks so much for your advice. I’ve woke up this morning and she is looking a lot better! She is attempting to eat her nuggets and has eaten a whole lettuce leaf and had some water. Going to keep a close eye and take her to get checked out just Incase.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Please do note that eating nuggets or lettuce isn’t enough. Please ensure you weigh her daily to make sure she is eating enough hay (stepping in with syringe feeding if she isn’t) and do have her seen by a vet.

 

[weepweeps]

Good luck at the vets. They can go downhill so quickly. So I wouldn’t leave it. You can add some warm water to her nuggets and leave that in the cage with her but she really needs to be eating hay. Good luck.

 

[Swissgreys]

Thanks so much for your advice. I’ve woke up this morning and she is looking a lot better! She is attempting to eat her nuggets and has eaten a whole lettuce leaf and had some water. Going to keep a close eye and take her to get checked out just Incase.

Please do take her to a vet.
Chances are that a course of antibiotics will properly resolve the issue, and the longer you wait the harder it will be the shift.
Piggies go downhill and loose weight very quickly, so the sooner they are treated for any issues the faster they will bounce back.

 

[Merab]

Hope you can get a vet appointment quickly and your piggy recovers soon.