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Skinny pig weighs 415g, please support me.

N

Nellybelly

New Born Pup
Joined
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Location
Burton on trent
Hi everyone,

I really want to do my best by them, please stay with me and support me. Any advice or kind words to keep me going.

I have taken on 3 boars last night. I have never owned Guinea pigs before.
The family I took them from asked me for help as I have a farm yard of animals. They have kept them fed pellets, lots of hay and watered, a reptile lamp and clean their cage/kitchens twice a week.
They all have skin problems which I have put coconut oil on them and it is looking a lot better.

I didn’t realise how poorly one was. I cleaned them up, cut their nails and weighed them.

I have separated the poorly one.
I have started syringe feeding critical care every 2 hours and my daughter stays up late so she fed him at 1am and I fed at 7am.

No poops in cage this morning apart from 3 tiny not normal poops.

I can add photos but they are not pretty.

Please stay with me on this journey, I am determined to get the pig well again.
 
Well done for taking them in.

First and very importantly get them to a vet ideally today. If they are in a bad state and not eating them they need vet help first and foremost and they should be seen as an emergency.

Please don’t attempt to home treat anything like the skin issues - coconut oil isn’t going to help. It will just hide the evidence a vet needs to make a diagnosis of their actual issue and can then interfere with getting the right treatment.
Piggies should not be kept with reptile lamps so the vet needs to be made aware of this.

Carry out the daily weight checks and syringe feeding to keep weight stable ie no losses. Weight gain will take a lot longer and won’t usually happen until health issues are dealt with and they are eating a good hay based diet

Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Ensure their diet is 75-80%.
One cup of veg per pig per day.
Just one tablespoon of plain pellets per pig per day.

If they haven’t been fed veg, then please ensure you introduce anything new very slowly so as to not overwhelm the digestion. One veg in tiny amounts at a time and ensure they are ok with it before trying anything new.

Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
New Owners' Essential Information and Practical Tips Starter Collection

Obviously their immediate care and health is the priority. But Longer term…
How old are they?
If they are older, happy together and have always been together hopefully they will be ok.
But it is important to make you aware that if they are young, that three boars together doesn’t usually work out. You will want to watch their bond as they settle and become well again that things remain harmonious between them and that there are no fights or bullying. Boars generally only work in pairs and a trio usually ends up needing to be separated at some point (occasionally somebody will get lucky with a trio though). Ensure the poorly one isn’t poorly as a result of bullying and not being allowed to eat enough hay (should that be the case separation would be needed).
Make sure they have an exceptionally large space - 3 metres by 1 metre is the recommended size to attempt a boar trio and to allow enough territory per pig to help minimise issues.
Ensure at least three of every item is in the cage and that all hides have two doors. Nothing single exit or dead ends as it can risk fights occurring in dead spaces with a piggy feeling trapped.
 
Piggies&buns said:
Well done for taking them in.

First and very importantly get them to a vet ideally today. If they are in a bad state and not eating them they need vet help first and foremost and they should be seen as an emergency.

Please don’t attempt to home treat anything like the skin issues - coconut oil isn’t going to help. It will just hide the evidence a vet needs to make a diagnosis of their actual issue and can then interfere with getting the right treatment.
Piggies should not be kept with reptile lamps so the vet needs to be made aware of this.

Carry out the daily weight checks and syringe feeding to keep weight stable.

Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Ensure their diet is 75-80%.
One cup of veg per pig per day.
Just one tablespoon of plain pellets per pig per day.

If they haven’t been fed veg, then please ensure you introduce anything new very slowly so as to not overwhelm the digestion. One veg in tiny amounts at a time and ensure they are ok with it before trying anything new.

Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
New Owners' Essential Information and Practical Tips Starter Collection

Obviously their immediate care and health is the priority. But Longer term…
How old are they?
If they are older, happy together and have always been together hopefully they will be ok.
But it is important to make you aware that if they are young, that three boars together doesn’t usually work out. You will want to watch their bond as they settle and become well again that things remain harmonious between them and that there are no fights or bullying. Boars generally only work in pairs and a trio usually ends up needing to be separated at some point (occasionally somebody will get lucky with a trio though). Ensure the poorly one isn’t poorly as a result of bullying and not being allowed to eat enough hay (should that be the case separation would be needed).
Make sure they have an exceptionally large space - 3 metres by 1 metre is the recommended size to attempt a boar trio and to allow enough territory per pig to help minimise issues.
Ensure at least three of every item is in the cage and that all hides have two doors. Nothing single exit or dead ends as it can risk fights occurring in dead spaces with a piggy feeling trapped.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for your reply. I will stop putting coconut oil on them and try and get them to a vets, I called my vets but they need an exotic vet.
 
I really don’t think the owners were malicious, I just don’t think they knew what to do.
I am waiting for an exotic vet to get back to me. 🤞
 
Welcome to the forum and the mostly wonderful world of guinea pigs.
Well done for taking them on. You are definitely in the best place for accurate advice from some very experienced people. I'm not one of them but I and my Beastie Boys offer support and healing rumbles ❤️
 
Recommended Guinea Pig Vets

I've linked our vets list for you above in case there is a recommended one there near you. They don't necessarily need an exotic vet a general vet with an interest and experience of guinea pigs can be jus as good. Another avenue to try is if you have a rescue near you ask them what vet they use for their guinea pigs.

Well done for taking them in, I hope they get well very soon.
 
Here is what he currently looks like and his feeding timetable and estimated intake in ml’s. It’s currently taking 1 hour to feed 10ml’s.
 

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Oh yes he does look sore.

You won’t know how much syringe feed he needs per day until tomorrow onwards. You need to compare his weight this morning to his weight tomorrow morning to gauge whether he has had enough syringe feed and whether he has eaten any hay/enough hay independently.

60-90ml is what you are aiming for per day if he isn’t eating any hay for himself
 
Piggies&buns said:
Oh yes he does look sore.

You won’t know how much syringe feed he needs per day until tomorrow onwards. You need to compare his weight this morning to his weight tomorrow morning to gauge whether he has had enough syringe feed and whether he has eaten any hay/enough hay independently.

60-90ml is what you are aiming for per day if he isn’t eating any hay for himself
Click to expand...
Thank you, he is struggling with the 10ml per feed. I will keep this post updated. I need as much support as I can get. 🤦‍♀️
 
fluffysal said:
It's worth checking out vets for pets as they can tend to see guinea pigs often.
Click to expand...

fluffysal said:
It's worth checking out vets for pets as they can tend to see guinea pigs often.
Click to expand...
I have rang my vets (live stock vet) and he said I needed an exotic vet. I did ring up the nearest towns local vets for pets and he said a exotic vets too but I looked at the list on here and the next town over has a vets for pets who see’s Guinea pigs, they have said to keep doing what I am doing and come in first thing Monday.
This forum has been a godsend. I really wouldn’t have a clue. Thank you.
 
Nellybelly said:
Thank you, he is struggling with the 10ml per feed. I will keep this post updated. I need as much support as I can get. 🤦‍♀️
Click to expand...

I assume he isn’t eating anything at all for himself?
Have you had chance to read our syringe feeding guide?

Regarding what I said about separating if three together didn’t work out, just to say that now you have separated him, it could be best to not try to reintroduce him to the pair.
Make sure his cage is beside the other two so that they can still interact between the bars.
 
Poor little guy, So very nice of you to care for them. We are all rooting for you and the little piggies.
 
Piggies&buns said:
I assume he isn’t eating anything at all for himself?
Have you had chance to read our syringe feeding guide?

Regarding what I said about separating if three together didn’t work out, just to say that now you have separated him, it could be best to not try to reintroduce him to the pair.
Make sure his cage is beside the other two so that they can still interact between the bars.
Click to expand...
Yes, luckily I found your guides when I googled because I really didn’t have a clue. I don’t think I could have asked for more comprehensive, understandable guides. I can’t thank this site enough and everyone’s input.
 
Welcome to The forum, just wanted to offer my support, you are doing so well, taking care of these boys.
Syringe feeding can be tough.
The guides on here are very helpful, and easy to understand.
 
Poor little guy. Do you know how old they are? They are so lucky you took them in. Dont really have any advice, just wants to give my support ❤️
 
Welcome to the forum, it’s a pity you had to join us with such a sad case:no:

The kind experienced folk here offer incredible advice and support, fingers and paws crossed for you and the little chap!
 
Well done for taking the poor piggies in, I hope you can get them.the right treatment.
Would you be able to take them to Ellie Whitehead the Guinea pig Vet in Matlock? She isn't an exotic vet but specialises in guinea pigs so will have more experience with them than most exotic vets who deal mostly with more unusual pets than guineas.
 
I just wanted to let everyone know Spot started pooping again yesterday (small poops) was being fed every 2 hours and was taking to it like a champ (as long as his nose was stroked). I thought we were on the up. He sadly passed away in the night.
Thank you everyone for their support. Absolutely gutted. I really thought he was on the up.
 
I'm so sorry, you tried your best and he passed knowing love.
Popcorn high over the rainbow bridge sweet Spot ❤️🌈
 
I'm so sorry to hear that- you put so much time and effort into looking after him.
He would've known love during his last days.
RIP Spot ❤
 
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