I am hoping someone can help. i have an 8 and a half year old piggie who until very recently was very healthy. in two weeks his weight has dropped 200g and he weighs around 700g. in june he was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection causing a crusty/weepy eye which periodically gets better with drops but it’s very on and off. he also has an ongoing suspected parasitic skin infection. last Wednesday (6 nov) he stopped eating as much as normal and his back left leg ‘gave way’ and he could not walk or weight bear, and seemed to always lay on it which made it worse. he has been diagnosed with arthritis and muscle loss and this is successfully being treated with metacam. he is now walking much better and can weight bear but refuses to eat hay or nuggets. he will eat veggies a few times a day out of my hand but will not eat his hay. as well as this, one of his top teeth is longer than the other. i am going to ring the vets tomorrow but I'm not sure at which point i should contact an exotic vet or guinea pig specialist.
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poorly senior pig - please help
- Thread starter matth3wx
- Start date
I'm so sorry that your old chap has stopped eating. It’s vitally important to step in with syringe feeding to keep his guts moving until you can have him seen by the vet urgently
I’m the link to our emergency care advice
And here is the link to our syringe feeding guide
I’m the link to our emergency care advice
And here is the link to our syringe feeding guide
You can use pellets mashed in warm water as a temporary syringe feed or try offering them off a spoon to try to help your piggy keep eating until you can have him seen by the vet.
Please keep him warm & comfortable and ask for an emergency appointment tomorrow.
Please keep him warm & comfortable and ask for an emergency appointment tomorrow.
thank you. sorry somehow i forgot to mention i have been syringe feeding him! he doesn’t like it at all but does seem to have a bit of an increased appetite after some critical care. thank you for those links i will check them out now 
a call to the vets is first thing on my list tomorrow.
a call to the vets is first thing on my list tomorrow.
Merab
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Welcome to the forum.
Hope you can get a vet appointment tomorrow fand all goes well.
He’s an amazing age which is a tribute to your love and care.
Holding you in my thoughts
Hope you can get a vet appointment tomorrow fand all goes well.
He’s an amazing age which is a tribute to your love and care.
Holding you in my thoughts
thank you. i got him when i was 15 and i’m now 23. he’s been a part of my life for so long!
Ah well done for stepping in with syringe feeding. Good luck at the vets tomorrowthank you. sorry somehow i forgot to mention i have been syringe feeding him! he doesn’t like it at all but does seem to have a bit of an increased appetite after some critical care. thank you for those links i will check them out now
Posyrose
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I'm sorry your poor boy is having a difficult time with his health. I hope his appetite improves and the vets can help tomorrow.
fluffysal
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Welcome to the forum, I'm sorry it's in these circumstances. He's an amazing age do you have any pictures for us to drool over?
My Beastie Boys send healing rumbles
My Beastie Boys send healing rumbles
