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Sick guinea - dragging leg, soft poops

Chloe21

Chloe21

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hello all!

I'm hoping someone could help me!

I have had a few guinea pigs over the years and I know their behaviour when they are not going to be with us long! My guinea pig Ginger is struggling to walk (dragging the back legs) and refusing water. She is behaving slightly differently to other I'll guinea pigs I have had though because she wasn't eating but currently is eating a fair bit of Romaine Lettuce, carrot and tomato! She WILl NOT drink any water though and her poo is all runny, there has been gurgling sounds too. I am aware that this could be just a different form of the same thing but I was wondering if anyone has experienced the same?

The vets never help me, I'd rather have real advice from real people.

Hope someone can help!

Thanks!
 

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If her poo is runny and she can’t walk properly she needs to see a vet asap.
Only a vet can diagnose and help your girl, the quicker you get to them the better of chance you give your girl.

You can have a look through this thread and see if there are any recommended vets near you.
Recommended Guinea Pig Vets

Please take her off vegetables to try help her stomach.
You can step in with support feeding if she is not eating hay, as hay is 80% of their diet.
Please read these guides to learn a bit more about that.
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
Weight - Monitoring and Management

You can also offer her water, but only a small amount at a time. You do not want her to aspirate (choke).

How old is she? Does she have any cage mates?

All the best x
 
Please see a vet.
We cannot tell you what is wrong with your piggy as we are not vets.

In terms of your home care - Please remove veg from the diet and increase hay intake. You do not want to keep feeding veg while her gut is disturbed. (Tomato and carrot should not feature much in the diet in any event due to the acidity of the tomato and sugars in the carrot (too much sugar can cause a gut disturbance).

As hay is the most important part of the diet you need to be sure she is eating enough. You do this by switching to daily weight checks.
Step in with syringe feeding to support her.
You can also give a probiotic to help replace gut bacteria.

Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Digestive Disorders: Not Eating - Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement)

I hope she is ok
 
Thank you both very much for your advice!

She is nearly 9, that's why I am doubtful of taking her to the vets, I've seen this happen a few times now and there was nothing they could do for any of them :(
 
Claire W said:
I am very sorry that your girl is poorly 😞 Sadly, for the symptoms you are describing she will need to see a vet asap

I can’t add anymore advise to what has already been given but I hope she’s ok x
Click to expand...
Thank you I really appreciate your response x
 
piggl said:
If her poo is runny and she can’t walk properly she needs to see a vet asap.
Only a vet can diagnose and help your girl, the quicker you get to them the better of chance you give your girl.

You can have a look through this thread and see if there are any recommended vets near you.
Recommended Guinea Pig Vets

Please take her off vegetables to try help her stomach.
You can step in with support feeding if she is not eating hay, as hay is 80% of their diet.
Please read these guides to learn a bit more about that.
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
Weight - Monitoring and Management

You can also offer her water, but only a small amount at a time. You do not want her to aspirate (choke).

How old is she? Does she have any cage mates?

All the best x
Click to expand...
She is nearly 9 and her guinea pig mate passed away last year x
 
Claire W said:
9 is a great age. If she really is nearing the end of her life, it may be kindest to have her helped over the rainbow bridge 😞 but it may be something treatable x
Click to expand...
I know yeah she's a little fighter! I will see what a vet thinks, fingers crossed she can have longer x
 
It would be about an hour if I could find a lift! I have a local vets but they're not specialists with guinea pigs :/ I was thinking in the meantime are there any tips at all to make her up her hay intake? She is eating some but now I know about the veg I've removed that and want to do anything I can to help x
 
Cheshire pets are specialists but I understand it may be difficult for you to get there.

If she isn’t eating enough hay and is losing weight, you will need to syringe feed her mushed up pellets or recovery food such as critical care. The thread for syringe feeding has already been linked above by @piggl x
 
Wow, 9 is an amazing age.

In terms of getting them to eat more hay there isn’t much you can do aside from perhaps less treats, I would think if offered less “tastier” things she may be more inclined to eat hay. That of course is not taking into account how her body may be feeling.

If you do not have critical care and do not think she is eating enough hay, backed up by whatever her daily weigh in says, you can make pellet mush as a support feed. Basically helps keep her guts moving and get some extra calories.
There is more about this in one of the guides I attached above.

How long has she been this way? If it’s been a while you may want to think about taking her to an average vet to help bridge that gap between now and when you can see a more specialised vet.
They may be able to provide some sort of gut stimulant or painkiller if she is having trouble moving about on her back legs, but of course you would need a vets assessment and diagnosis to decide what exactly needs to be done.
 
piggl said:
Wow, 9 is an amazing age.

In terms of getting them to eat more hay there isn’t much you can do aside from perhaps less treats, I would think if offered less “tastier” things she may be more inclined to eat hay. That of course is not taking into account how her body may be feeling.

If you do not have critical care and do not think she is eating enough hay, backed up by whatever her daily weigh in says, you can make pellet mush as a support feed. Basically helps keep her guts moving and get some extra calories.
There is more about this in one of the guides I attached above.

How long has she been this way? If it’s been a while you may want to think about taking her to an average vet to help bridge that gap between now and when you can see a more specialised vet.
They may be able to provide some sort of gut stimulant or painkiller if she is having trouble moving about on her back legs, but of course you would need a vets assessment and diagnosis to decide what exactly needs to be done.
Click to expand...
Th
piggl said:
Wow, 9 is an amazing age.

In terms of getting them to eat more hay there isn’t much you can do aside from perhaps less treats, I would think if offered less “tastier” things she may be more inclined to eat hay. That of course is not taking into account how her body may be feeling.

If you do not have critical care and do not think she is eating enough hay, backed up by whatever her daily weigh in says, you can make pellet mush as a support feed. Basically helps keep her guts moving and get some extra calories.
There is more about this in one of the guides I attached above.

How long has she been this way? If it’s been a while you may want to think about taking her to an average vet to help bridge that gap between now and when you can see a more specialised vet.
They may be able to provide some sort of gut stimulant or painkiller if she is having trouble moving about on her back legs, but of course you would need a vets assessment and diagnosis to decide what exactly needs to be done.
Click to expand...

Thank you I will look at the syringe feeding! She's been unwell a few days now, seemed much better on Wednesday and last night but the tummy and legs are worse today. I will take her to the vets and hopefully get some help for her!

In regard to probiotics that I saw mentioned before, is that someone vets give you too? Never been given them before by them!
 
Claire W said:
Cheshire pets are specialists but I understand it may be difficult for you to get there.

If she isn’t eating enough hay and is losing weight, you will need to syringe feed her mushed up pellets or recovery food such as critical care. The thread for syringe feeding has already been linked above by @piggl x
Click to expand...

Okay thank you I will have a read over that x
 
Chloe21 said:
Th

Thank you I will look at the syringe feeding! She's been unwell a few days now, seemed much better on Wednesday and last night but the tummy and legs are worse today. I will take her to the vets and hopefully get some help for her!

In regard to probiotics that I saw mentioned before, is that someone vets give you too? Never been given them before by them!
Click to expand...
Probiotics can be prescribed by vets but there are quite a few sold commercially.

One that works well for me and recommended by many members on here is fibreplex, that can be ordered through amazon or animed direct.
I am aware there are a few others but I will not speak on them as I have not used them personally.

This guide has a list of them and how they work. It also includes a section about ‘pellet mush’.
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links
 
You can buy probiotics from pet shops but your vet will have some.
Fibreplex, pro c, bio lapis are the most commonly used.

Make sure you weigh her daily and syringe feed as much as is needed to replace lost hay intake and keep her weight stable
 
Piggies&buns said:
You can buy probiotics from pet shops but your vet will have some.
Fibreplex, pro c, bio lapis are the most commonly used.

Make sure you weigh her daily and syringe feed as much as is needed to replace lost hay intake and keep her weight stable
Click to expand...
Okay thank you,

I was going to syringe feed her now but I don't have a syringe! 😧 I don't know what to do now!
 
Offer from a teaspoon and see if she will eat it herself

Make sure you do those daily weight checks so you know you’re getting enough feed into her
 
Claire W said:
Cheshire pets are specialists but I understand it may be difficult for you to get there.

If she isn’t eating enough hay and is losing weight, you will need to syringe feed her mushed up pellets or recovery food such as critical care. The thread for syringe feeding has already been linked above by @piggl x
Click to expand...

Any help with what to do if I don't have a syringe? Am taking her to the vets tomorrow morning but until then? X
 
Chloe21 said:
Any help with what to do if I don't have a syringe? Am taking her to the vets tomorrow morning but until then? X
Click to expand...
You can offer her the syringe feed straight from a spoon but if she doesn’t take it from a spoon, there’s not much else you can do without a syringe but the vet should give you a few tomorrow. My vet always gives me several syringes if I ask or with medication and I buy them online.

You can buy Pro c probiotics for small animals from pets at home. You can either mix it with water / recovery food and syringe or sprinkle it on food x
 
Piggies&buns said:
Offer from a teaspoon and see if she will eat it herself

Make sure you do those daily weight checks so you know you’re getting enough feed into her
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for this advice!

I made some nugget mush and she ate some off a spoon! Not loads but she had an interest and she's eating some hay! Will keep going with the nugget stuff because she's not drinking water still as well!
 
Claire W said:
You can offer her the syringe feed straight from a spoon but if she doesn’t take it from a spoon, there’s not much else you can do without a syringe but the vet should give you a few tomorrow. My vet always gives me several syringes if I ask or with medication and I buy them online.

You can buy Pro c probiotics for small animals from pets at home. You can either mix it with water / recovery food and syringe or sprinkle it on food x
Click to expand...
Thank you! 😊 I have made some nugget mush and she ate some off a spoon! Will keep giving her that, I'm concerned she won't get enough water but yes will be at the vets tomorrow so that will be resolved hopefully! X
 
Chloe21 said:
Thank you! 😊 I have made some nugget mush and she ate some off a spoon! Will keep giving her that, I'm concerned she won't get enough water but yes will be at the vets tomorrow so that will be resolved hopefully! X
Click to expand...
It’s great that she has eaten some nugget mush from the spoon. Don’t worry about the water, she will get enough from the nugget mush as that’s made with water x
 
Claire W said:
It’s great that she has eaten some nugget mush from the spoon. Don’t worry about the water, she will get enough from the nugget mush as that’s made with water x
Click to expand...
Yeah that's what I was thinking too! Really made up that she has gone for it! X
 
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