Poorly Guinea Pig

[Nut2022]

Hi everyone,

I’m new to this forum/group and after some advice if anyone can help?

My 6 (nearly 7) year old femal Guinea pig Nut isn’t well, I’m not sure what to do. She doesn’t seem to be in any pain, she’s moving around, she’s slowed down a bit in the last year! She looks unwell (hard to explain) and under her chin is very wet. Her mouth looks fine and the wet under her chin doesn’t smell. She’s not eating her favourite snacks/food. This seems to have happened suddenly today as she was ok yesterday. Do you think she’s dying? I don’t no what to do? She is old for a Guinea pig (I think?) and I just want her to be comfortable.

 

[weepweeps]

Hello and welcome to the forum. I’m sorry your piggy is unwell. I’d definitely take her to be checked over by the vet. How is her weight?

 

[Nut2022]

Her weight seems absolutely fine. I’m just Sat keeping an eye on her :-(

 

[weepweeps]

If she’s not eating anything you’ll need to start syringe feeding. You can use her normal pellets mixed with warm water. She might eat some off of a plate.

 

[weepweeps]

It could be her teeth or it could be she can’t swallow anymore. A vet visit is a must.

 

[Free Ranger]

Hi and welcome.
She is an old lady for a guinea pig and has done very well to get so far. You would need to see a vet to find out what is wrong.

It is important that she keeps eating at least a bit of something until you can find out whether she is coming to the end or whether it is something minor and treatable. Try soaking some of her food pellets in water to make them soft and squishy like a sort of porridge. This will help her eat them and also to get some fluids in her. Something like the middle part of cucumber is also high in fluids and soft to eat. There is a link to a syringe feeding guide here... be aware that sometimes piggy doesn't want to eat and they might not take the syringe willingly. I've had pigs who are coming to the end and others who've had something completely curable and they've both argued about the syringe in the same way so it is hard to tell. My healthy pigs have been begging for the soft pellets from the poorly one as they are easy to gobble down!
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

Dribbly chins often indicate a problem with mouth or teeth. Something like an abscess will cause a lump that the vet can feel along the jawline - these cause pain as they chew so they stop eating. Or maybe there is a tooth problem - or maybe it's something simple but painful like something wedged between the teeth and scratching on the gums.

The vet will be able to prescribe antibiotics if you need them but also painkiller/anti-inflammatory (typically loxicom or metacam in the UK) which will help her current situation. My 5 year old is on metacam because he's stiff from arthritis and it makes him much more comfortable. Good luck lovely girl x

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone,

I’m new to this forum/group and after some advice if anyone can help?

My 6 (nearly 7) year old femal Guinea pig Nut isn’t well, I’m not sure what to do. She doesn’t seem to be in any pain, she’s moving around, she’s slowed down a bit in the last year! She looks unwell (hard to explain) and under her chin is very wet. Her mouth looks fine and the wet under her chin doesn’t smell. She’s not eating her favourite snacks/food. This seems to have happened suddenly today as she was ok yesterday. Do you think she’s dying? I don’t no what to do? She is old for a Guinea pig (I think?) and I just want her to be comfortable.

Hi

Please have her vet checked, if possible tomorrow but sooner if she continues to deteriorate quickly and if the salivation becomes excessive/total refusal to take on food.

Something is clearly amiss. A wet chin can be a sign of overgrowing back teeth or a blockage anywhere in the digestive tract between the back of the mouth and the anus so the saliva can no longer pass and has to come up the other way. I've had piggies with a throat infection closing the esophagus, a large lump at the back of the throat that didn't show from the outside, a blockage in the gut or a very gassy and distended stomach (but a perfectly soft gut) and in one case a younger sow losing the ability to swallow neurologically that were all presenting with these symptoms over the years. None of these issues were obvious to a casual examination.

Please see whether she is still willing to take syringe feed. You can improvise with mushed up pellets; our syringe feeding guide tells you how as you need to adapt the syringe.

Follow the the very practical how-to advice in these guides here:
- All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
- Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment (including finding out of hours vet care and looking after very ill piggies)
- How Soon Should My Guinea Pig See A Vet? - A Quick Guide
- A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs (just in case you need to work out whether your piggy has crossed the line of no return and what you can do for her if she suddenly takes a turn for the worst before you can see a vet)

 

[Nut2022]

Hi

Please have her vet checked, if possible tomorrow but sooner if she continues to deteriorate quickly and if the salivation becomes excessive/total refusal to take on food.

Something is clearly amiss. A wet chin can be a sign of overgrowing back teeth or a blockage anywhere in the digestive tract between the back of the mouth and the anus so the saliva can no longer pass and has to come up the other way. I've had piggies with a throat infection closing the esophagus, a large lump at the back of the throat that didn't show from the outside, a blockage in the gut or a very gassy and distended stomach (but a perfectly soft gut) and in one case a younger sow losing the ability to swallow neurologically that were all presenting with these symptoms over the years. None of these issues were obvious to a casual examination.

Please see whether she is still willing to take syringe feed. You can improvise with mushed up pellets.
Follow the the advice in these guides here:
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment (including finding out of hours vet care and looking after very ill piggies)
How Soon Should My Guinea Pig See A Vet? - A Quick Guide
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs (in case you need to work out whether your piggy has crossed the line of she suddenly take a turn for the worse before you can see a vet)

Thank you, great advice.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you, great advice.

All the best and fingers very firmly crossed. I have included practical advice for the worst case scenario as older piggies can sometimes go downhill very quickly so you can find how to best support her at any stage; especially during the night hours when help is not always immediately at hand.

Of course I can't say what is going on - that requires a hands-on vet examination. It can be something completely different.

 

[Nut2022]

If she’s not eating anything you’ll need to start syringe feeding. You can use her normal pellets mixed with warm water. She might eat some off of a plate.

I’ll try that, thank you.

All the best and fingers very firmly crossed. I have included practical advice for the worst case scenario as older piggies can sometimes go downhill very quickly so you can find how to best support her at any stage.

Of course I can't say what is going on - that requires a hands-on vet examination. It can be something completely different.

I’ll be taking her to the vet tomorrow, I’ll sit with her tonight. Fingers crossed she’s going to be ok

 

[Wiebke]

All the best. Firstly, check whether she will take food or not. As long as she still still eating, you can keep her topped up and she is not in immediate danger of dying.