Showing No Interest In Most Veggies...

[Chancey]

Hi there,

A week ago my partner and I were lucky to bring home three little piggies - Daisy, Clover and Poppy - all of which are around the eleven week old mark. Yesterday we had to take them to the vet, as they've been sneezing and coughing (as well as scratching a lot) and he said all of their temperatures were high - so they've been given medication for an infection. My main concern now is their diet - they haven't stopped eating completely (though are a lot less active - they seem to be sleeping a lot more) still munching on hay and pellets but haven't shown as much interest in veggies, at least not the green kind.

I've given a selection of these over the week (slowly introducing):

• Green / Yellow / Red bell peppers
• Romaine / Little gem lettuce
• Coriander
• Cucumber
• Small amount of carrot
• Small amount of cherry tomatoes
• Kale
• Parsley
• Apple (once this week)
• Swede
• I have dill in but still yet to attempt

- I think there may be a couple others that have slipped my mind at the moment though.

Out of those choices, all three only seemed to have been interested in the peppers and kale (carrot, and apple too on the occasion that they had them). 2/3 were interested in the cherry tomato and I think 1/3 with the cucumber...

I've been placing the lettuce and coriander in the bowls for the last 2-3 days and they've shown no interest even though I'm persisting, and I've tried the parsley and swede a couple of times with no success either. So I'm a little concern about variety of their diet, as well as if they are getting enough Vitamin C that they need. Does anyone have any tips on introducing, or help with finding something else that I can give them daily, or almost daily instead? I've researched quite a bit and looked at the lists on here but still feel a little lost with what would be best for them in this case!

Thank you for your time!

 

[Gem789]

@sport_billy could you move this to the health and illness section please so it gets more views

 

[Swissgreys]

The things you are offering sound fine, and it also sounds like they have pellets and unlimited hay (which is actually the most important thing).
If they have only been home for a week and are also unwell, chances are they are just feeling a little overwhelmed with everything right now.

I would start offering a small amount of 2 - 3 types of fresh food twice a day.
Don't put too much or too many different things in there - just give them a chance to slowly get used to the concept of different fresh veggies.
After an hour clear away any uneaten fresh food.
I think it took my lot a good few weeks to really get the hang of fresh food, and now they scream like air raid sirens if I am late with their breakfast buffet.

 

[Kylie80]

My two were the other way around, scoffed their veg from the get go and took absolutely forever to get into pellets and hay but perseverance is the key and to keep offering it and they will eventually start eating their veg and then never stop wheeking for it. Maybe they will eat more when they are feeling a little bit better with their infections and being in a new environment. I love my two but sometimes they are cute little balls of stress.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi there,

A week ago my partner and I were lucky to bring home three little piggies - Daisy, Clover and Poppy - all of which are around the eleven week old mark. Yesterday we had to take them to the vet, as they've been sneezing and coughing (as well as scratching a lot) and he said all of their temperatures were high - so they've been given medication for an infection. My main concern now is their diet - they haven't stopped eating completely (though are a lot less active - they seem to be sleeping a lot more) still munching on hay and pellets but haven't shown as much interest in veggies, at least not the green kind.

I've given a selection of these over the week (slowly introducing):

• Green / Yellow / Red bell peppers
• Romaine / Little gem lettuce
• Coriander
• Cucumber
• Small amount of carrot
• Small amount of cherry tomatoes
• Kale
• Parsley
• Apple (once this week)
• Swede
• I have dill in but still yet to attempt

- I think there may be a couple others that have slipped my mind at the moment though.

Out of those choices, all three only seemed to have been interested in the peppers and kale (carrot, and apple too on the occasion that they had them). 2/3 were interested in the cherry tomato and I think 1/3 with the cucumber...

I've been placing the lettuce and coriander in the bowls for the last 2-3 days and they've shown no interest even though I'm persisting, and I've tried the parsley and swede a couple of times with no success either. So I'm a little concern about variety of their diet, as well as if they are getting enough Vitamin C that they need. Does anyone have any tips on introducing, or help with finding something else that I can give them daily, or almost daily instead? I've researched quite a bit and looked at the lists on here but still feel a little lost with what would be best for them in this case!

Thank you for your time!

Please weigh daily at the same time to Monitor their actual Food intake (up 80%should be hay, which is impossible to judge) and if necessary start Syringe feeding and watering to make sure that their guts Keep going and they retain the strength to fight an infection. Antibiotics can dampen the Appetite further. Hay is usually the first Food Group that is dropped.
Dissolve a bit of probiotics from a pet shop in 1 ml of water and syringe that 1-2 hours after giving the antibiotic.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide (also contains Information on probiotics and other Support products)
Administering Medications

Introduce any veg only slowly and gradually so the guts can get used to them. Normally this happens through mum's milk, but if mum and your piggies have never had any veg before, their guts will not be used to process them and can react with diarrhea.
Please take the time to read through this guide here, too.
Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet

 

[Freela]

As they are new acquisitions, it's possible that they are not sure what they are yet if veggies have not previously been offered. Several of my pigs took several attempts to eat veggies, as they didn't seem to realize they were food (presumably never having had them before.) In fact, our present younger pig, Hadley, really didn't start eating most vegetables until she saw our older pig obviously wolfing them down. Keep on introducing them gradually and hopefully once one takes the plunge and figures out they are edible, the others will too.

 

[Chancey]

Thank you all for your responses!

They've been doing a lot better recently - they seem happy enough to eat them now. I've changed the amount I've put and instead feed them an extra time a day - as I've noticed they prefer to have it an extra time than slightly more in the bowl (though it's full ) as there is always veggies - even ones they really like, that will just be sitting there. But definite progress as they seem to have taken to lettuce, coriander and cucumber recently!

I have another quick question: I'm recently changing the brand of their Timothy Hay from Pets at Home to Oxbow as it seems to be a much better brand to use - should I also introduce it slowly to them? As you would veggies and pellets? Or would it be okay to do a complete change?

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you all for your responses!

They've been doing a lot better recently - they seem happy enough to eat them now. I've changed the amount I've put and instead feed them an extra time a day - as I've noticed they prefer to have it an extra time than slightly more in the bowl (though it's full ) as there is always veggies - even ones they really like, that will just be sitting there. But definite progress as they seem to have taken to lettuce, coriander and cucumber recently!

I have another quick question: I'm recently changing the brand of their Timothy Hay from Pets at Home to Oxbow as it seems to be a much better brand to use - should I also introduce it slowly to them? As you would veggies and pellets? Or would it be okay to do a complete change?

Try a handful first. Ideally they should like the new one better and then shift accordingly.

 

[Chancey]

Try a handful first. Ideally they should like the new one better and then shift accordingly.

Thank you so much! I'll definitely do that and gauge their reactions!

 

[Kylie80]

My two love the oxbow timothy hay so hopefully yours will too

 

[Coconut piggy]

My piggy went through the same thing. She wasn't used to eating veg, since I got her from a pet store (which I'll never do again). Eventually, she seemed to grow fond of them and now she gets angry at me if I am late to give them to her. This might be your case if you got the piggies from somewhere that wasn't feeding the correct foods. If they are eating hay though, that is good. Hay is the most important thing!

 

[Kylie80]

My piggy went through the same thing. She wasn't used to eating veg, since I got her from a pet store (which I'll never do again). Eventually, she seemed to grow fond of them and now she gets angry at me if I am late to give them to her. This might be your case if you got the piggies from somewhere that wasn't feeding the correct foods. If they are eating hay though, that is good. Hay is the most important thing!

I got my two from a pet store too and I dont think they had ever seen veg before either, they ate them but they were fussy. Now they eat everything. We were not even told they had to eat hay or pellets. Imagine my suprise.

 

[Chancey]

My piggy went through the same thing. She wasn't used to eating veg, since I got her from a pet store (which I'll never do again). Eventually, she seemed to grow fond of them and now she gets angry at me if I am late to give them to her. This might be your case if you got the piggies from somewhere that wasn't feeding the correct foods. If they are eating hay though, that is good. Hay is the most important thing!

I got my two from a pet store too and I dont think they had ever seen veg before either, they ate them but they were fussy. Now they eat everything. We were not even told they had to eat hay or pellets. Imagine my suprise.

I got my three from a pet store as well, and I didn't recall seeing any veggies placed out for them at that branch. We visited another store recently to purchase their pellets and passed the habitat that contained some of their current Guinea Pigs and although they had veg, there was absolutely no care by the looks of how the veg was prepared for them. It was massive, unclean and it seemed like they just shoved it all in without cutting anything to be honest - especially the carrot. With it being so high in sugar, I was surprised to see about three big carrots tossed in for three little piggies. I'm definitely looking to adopt/rehome a couple more in the future instead - once we have more space for piggies to have a room of their own! It's just a shame to see how they're kept in stores, especially as the ones around my area aren't hidden from drafts as well. D:

My three are all complete characters now though! They're such a noisy trio, I can't even leave the kitchen without them noticing and expecting something! It's such a huge difference and they're definitely warming up to new things - hoping to slowly expand to give them more variety soon.

And I'm definitely hoping they'll love the Oxbow Timothy because the vast difference between that and Pets at Home is incredible. We've also started giving them a bowl of Oxbow Orchard Grass to go along with their unlimited Timothy Hay to see how they fancy that one (and by the empty bowl every time I go in - I'm thinking they like it!)

 

[Kylie80]

I got my three from a pet store as well, and I didn't recall seeing any veggies placed out for them at that branch. We visited another store recently to purchase their pellets and passed the habitat that contained some of their current Guinea Pigs and although they had veg, there was absolutely no care by the looks of how the veg was prepared for them. It was massive, unclean and it seemed like they just shoved it all in without cutting anything to be honest - especially the carrot. With it being so high in sugar, I was surprised to see about three big carrots tossed in for three little piggies. I'm definitely looking to adopt/rehome a couple more in the future instead - once we have more space for piggies to have a room of their own! It's just a shame to see how they're kept in stores, especially as the ones around my area aren't hidden from drafts as well. D:

My three are all complete characters now though! They're such a noisy trio, I can't even leave the kitchen without them noticing and expecting something! It's such a huge difference and they're definitely warming up to new things - hoping to slowly expand to give them more variety soon.

And I'm definitely hoping they'll love the Oxbow Timothy because the vast difference between that and Pets at Home is incredible. We've also started giving them a bowl of Oxbow Orchard Grass to go along with their unlimited Timothy Hay to see how they fancy that one (and by the empty bowl every time I go in - I'm thinking they like it!)

Oxbow orchard grass is a massive hit with my girls. They go nuts for it.

 

[chesca_27]

Oreo goes crazy for Oxbow. I bought a massive bag of the Timothy hay (good price from my Northampton vet) to help his dental issues and as a 'Christmas present'. I stopped feeding Pets At Home hay because I didn't like the quality. I've heard horror stories from here about people finding bird wings or dead mice in their hay. Oxbow is nothing but the best .

I got Oreo about 5 and a half years ago from Pets at Home. My local one has always been ok with pet care, but not great. The piggies always have a large bottle, veg and unlimited hay, along with adequate hiding places and are put nearer the bag of the store where it's a bit warmer. Although the veg doesn't seem well prepared (not chopped) or particularly good quality (Oreo shares our vegetables so he gets the best).

Luckily, Oreo was already used to veg when I got him. Breeding standards aren't so great there - I believe bad genetics killed Toffee (possibly a heart condition) and left Oreo with a weak immune system.

 

[Chancey]

Oxbow orchard grass is a massive hit with my girls. They go nuts for it.

Is it possible to give them Orchard grass instead of Timothy hay? (As my piggies definitely seem to prefer that one - though they have been finishing the bowl of Oxbow Timothy that I'm also slowly introducing!) Or would it be best to have both and do unlimited Timothy with occasional Orchard?

Oreo goes crazy for Oxbow. I bought a massive bag of the Timothy hay (good price from my Northampton vet) to help his dental issues and as a 'Christmas present'. I stopped feeding Pets At Home hay because I didn't like the quality. I've heard horror stories from here about people finding bird wings or dead mice in their hay. Oxbow is nothing but the best .

I got Oreo about 5 and a half years ago from Pets at Home. My local one has always been ok with pet care, but not great. The piggies always have a large bottle, veg and unlimited hay, along with adequate hiding places and are put nearer the bag of the store where it's a bit warmer. Although the veg doesn't seem well prepared (not chopped) or particularly good quality (Oreo shares our vegetables so he gets the best).

Luckily, Oreo was already used to veg when I got him. Breeding standards aren't so great there - I believe bad genetics killed Toffee (possibly a heart condition) and left Oreo with a weak immune system.

Oh my word, I hadn't heard any horror stories like that! that really is worrying... I'm honestly just shocked about the colour difference as well. I had presumed Timothy hay may just be darker than I thought it would, as all the Pets at Home ones they sold were like that, that was until Oxbow - it's so green and healthy!

Thinking back, I don't even recall seeing unlimited hay in the place our piggies were :\ but that may have been an oversight on my part, as surely they must have since that is crucial for them...

Sorry for bombarding all the questions, what pellets do you use for your piggies? We've stayed on Pets at Home ones while they were ill, as with introducing the veggies and now new hay, I wanted to do it staggered to avoid too much upset on their stomachs, but I would like to look at changing it to something that will possibly provide a little more for them?