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Teddy’s not eating 😔

xToNix

xToNix

Junior Guinea Pig
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I always give my pigs a little something before I go to bed. Last night Teddy wasn’t interested. He eventually ate half a piece of cucumber. He ate his dinner absolutely fine a few hours before. This morning he’s very much the same, having a sniff at the food but all he’s eaten is a green bean, a piece of chard and a pellet. I’ve given him a bit of metacam in case he’s in pain but I can’t see or feel anything obviously wrong. He is an old boy, approximately 6-7. I’ve made him an apt with a vet at 3:15, sadly not an exotic vet as the specialists have been furloughed. I’m going to mix some pellets with water and syringe that into him to keep his guts going. How often would you recommend I do that if he still won’t eat? He’s not really interested in his hay either :(
 
xToNix said:
I always give my pigs a little something before I go to bed. Last night Teddy wasn’t interested. He eventually ate half a piece of cucumber. He ate his dinner absolutely fine a few hours before. This morning he’s very much the same, having a sniff at the food but all he’s eaten is a green bean, a piece of chard and a pellet. I’ve given him a bit of metacam in case he’s in pain but I can’t see or feel anything obviously wrong. He is an old boy, approximately 6-7. I’ve made him an apt with a vet at 3:15, sadly not an exotic vet as the specialists have been furloughed. I’m going to mix some pellets with water and syringe that into him to keep his guts going. How often would you recommend I do that if he still won’t eat? He’s not really interested in his hay either :(
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Hi

I am very sorry! All the best for your vet trip. I hope that it is something that can be addressed more easily. Please mention to the vet that you have given metacam.

Please follow the advice in our emergency and syringe feeding guides; you may want to bookmark them or the link to our emergency and crisis care collection.
We have made the guides as precise and detailed as possible. Ideally you feed every 2 hours to any piggy that is not eating and once or twice during the night. You are aiming for up to 60 ml in 24 hours but want to get as close to 40 ml as possible in an acute crisis.
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Here is the link to our emergency information collection: Emergency Resources and Critical Illness Care - Contents list and subforum link
 
Poor Teddy, hope you can find out whats troubling him and get him sorted and better soon x
 
Thanks everyone. The vet said he’s a little dehydrated (it has been so warm this week) but thinks the main issue is bloat :/ I’m not totally convinced but will go with it for now. I have been giving them spring greens which they’ve not had for a while, not much but will cut it out just in case as that’s the only thing he’s had different. Teddy has been eating little bits throughout the day and does seem a bit perkier so fingers crossed the meds help. He’s been given ranitidine and metoclopramide and the vet wants to see him again tomorrow evening. Thank you everyone for your messages xx
 
xToNix said:
Thanks everyone. The vet said he’s a little dehydrated (it has been so warm this week) but thinks the main issue is bloat :/ I’m not totally convinced but will go with it for now. I have been giving them spring greens which they’ve not had for a while, not much but will cut it out just in case as that’s the only thing he’s had different. Teddy has been eating little bits throughout the day and does seem a bit perkier so fingers crossed the meds help. He’s been given ranitidine and metoclopramide and the vet wants to see him again tomorrow evening. Thank you everyone for your messages xx
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Poor little Teddy. Spring greens were the one thing with my RB Rupert after he’d been unwell (with other issues) that set off his bloaty troubles too, if that’s the issue. Bless him, hope the meds help and he’s back to his usual self very soon x
 
alpacasqueak said:
Poor little Teddy. Spring greens were the one thing with my RB Rupert after he’d been unwell (with other issues) that set off his bloaty troubles too, if that’s the issue. Bless him, hope the meds help and he’s back to his usual self very soon x
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Aw did they? :/ I’ll definitely avoid them now. I very rarely give them anything cruciferous for fear of bloat. Thank you 🤞🏻he wasn’t interested in his dinner so gave him some critical care and he’s had a bit of a nibble on some hay. Just keeping an eye on him now x
 
xToNix said:
Aw did they? :/ I’ll definitely avoid them now. I very rarely give them anything cruciferous for fear of bloat. Thank you 🤞🏻he wasn’t interested in his dinner so gave him some critical care and he’s had a bit of a nibble on some hay. Just keeping an eye on him now x
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It might be a completely different issue with Teddy of course. Rupert had eaten them for years then suddenly went really strange with them and got bloaty twice after he was ill so knew it was definitely them! I’ve only let my three have them a few times recently, not fed in a year as made me paranoid! :doh:
How’s he doing today? x
 
alpacasqueak said:
Why is that? For the bloaty reasons etc?!
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I have found it causes bloat and also soft poos. I don't feed celery either, as I've identified that as causing digestive issues too. I also limit the amount of cucumber I feed too, as that can make them quite gassy too.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
I have found it causes bloat and also soft poos. I don't feed celery either, as I've identified that as causing digestive issues too. I also limit the amount of cucumber I feed too, as that can make them quite gassy too.
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Good to know, thank you. It’s a rarity here but think it’ll be non-existent now then! Celery is too but these three aren’t keen on it anyway!x
 
alpacasqueak said:
Good to know, thank you. It’s a rarity here but think it’ll be non-existent now then! Celery is too but these three aren’t keen on it anyway!x
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I really can't see how anyone, human or furry, can eat celery! Vile stuff!
 
alpacasqueak said:
It might be a completely different issue with Teddy of course. Rupert had eaten them for years then suddenly went really strange with them and got bloaty twice after he was ill so knew it was definitely them! I’ve only let my three have them a few times recently, not fed in a year as made me paranoid! :doh:
How’s he doing today? x
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I bet. Definitely not worth the risk.

He’s not too bad thank you. He wasn’t interested in his dinner last night so I gave him some critical care. Once I’ve given him that he does tend to tuck into some hay on his own accord and will slowly nibble at some veg. Similar story with his breakfast. I’m keeping him separate from his cage-mate for now so I can monitor poos which are few and far between tbh so I’ve been syringe feeding every few hours. Other than that he seems ok and is fighting me more and more on the syringe feeding. The vet wants to see him again this evening so we’ll see what he says x
 
xToNix said:
I bet. Definitely not worth the risk.

He’s not too bad thank you. He wasn’t interested in his dinner last night so I gave him some critical care. Once I’ve given him that he does tend to tuck into some hay on his own accord and will slowly nibble at some veg. Similar story with his breakfast. I’m keeping him separate from his cage-mate for now so I can monitor poos which are few and far between tbh so I’ve been syringe feeding every few hours. Other than that he seems ok and is fighting me more and more on the syringe feeding. The vet wants to see him again this evening so we’ll see what he says x
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Glad he’s ok x
Yes I’m trying the same with my poorly Jess atm, just keep offering things and they seem a bit more interesting if it seems ‘new’ etc. Really hope he perks up. Is he interested in mashed/soaked pellets instead? My Jess kicks off if CCs around but will tuck into some soaked pellets or mush off a spoon when she’s feeling rubbish. A syringe makes her so stressed I just offer little and often, found that good with bloaty Rupert too but obviously you don’t get much else done throughout the day! :doh:
Good luck with the vets, what a nightmare for you both but hope he’ll be feeling better now the meds are starting to kick in a bit. Thinking of you both x
 
alpacasqueak said:
Glad he’s ok x
Yes I’m trying the same with my poorly Jess atm, just keep offering things and they seem a bit more interesting if it seems ‘new’ etc. Really hope he perks up. Is he interested in mashed/soaked pellets instead? My Jess kicks off if CCs around but will tuck into some soaked pellets or mush off a spoon when she’s feeling rubbish. A syringe makes her so stressed I just offer little and often, found that good with bloaty Rupert too but obviously you don’t get much else done throughout the day! :doh:
Good luck with the vets, what a nightmare for you both but hope he’ll be feeling better now the meds are starting to kick in a bit. Thinking of you both x
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I get that, the staple of their diet is peppers, they’re probably just sick of the same old thing 😄 what’s wrong with Jess? I haven’t tried that yet but will keep it in mind. Because he was so disinterested I’ve just been forcing things down him! But yeah syringe feeding can definitely stress them out so it’s great she’ll eat some stuff without being forced. No you definitely don’t and not much sleep either 😄 I’m lucky that I’m working from home at the moment so that’s made things a lot easier but shhh don’t tell work lol. He’s definitely improving, was up the bars for his dinner tonight which was great to see :) had to take him out the cage as he’s not as quick as normal so just making sure Sooty doesn’t steal the rest of it! 😄 thank you. I hope Jess gets better soon xx
 
Thank you everyone for your kind words. He’s not out of the woods yet but definitely heading in the right direction :)
 
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