Unwell guinea pig

[BrusselnSprout]

Hi everyone,

Just looking for some advice really. One of my pigs hasn’t been himself today. He seemed fine yesterday but this morning he’s just plonked himself in a corner and not walking around like he usually does. I’ve tried to feed him all of his favourite foods, he’ll take them from me and just drop them and lose interest. He looks very tired and his eyes look different. We are taking him to the vet tomorrow but just wondered if there was anything we could do to make him more comfortable today? Just for reference he’ll be 4 years old in November and never had any health issues.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I'm sorry to hear he isn’t well.
Please step in daily weights checks and syringe feeding (and obviously see a vet). Please do call and out of hours vet if he needs help before tomorrow

I hope he is ok

All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

 

[Merab]

Echoing @Piggies&buns advice and offering support.

 

[Claire W]

Aw bless him. I echo the above advise. I hope he'll be ok x

 

[BrusselnSprout]

Thanks so much for your advice. We took him to the vet very early this morning and they said he has a respiratory infection. We’ve got 2 types of antibiotics and some special feed for him. Hopefully he’ll have a speedy recovery

 

[Piggies&buns]

I would recommend you get some probiotic for him also. Antibiotics can upset the gut and the probiotic (poop soup made from the very fresh poops of a healthy companion is also a good thing and can be given in addition to a commercial probiotic) can help settle that.

Make sure you weigh him daily and syringe feed accordingly.

I hope the antibiotics help him quickly.

Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links

 

[Bill & Ted]

Wishing the little man a speedy recovery, keep him topped up if he isn’t eating x

 

[BrusselnSprout]

I would recommend you get some probiotic for him also. Antibiotics can upset the gut and the probiotic (poop soup made from the very fresh poops of a healthy companion is also a good thing and can be given in addition to a commercial probiotic) can help settle that.

Make sure you weigh him daily and syringe feed accordingly.

I hope the antibiotics help him quickly.

Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links

Thanks! We’ve got some critical care and trying to syringe feed him but he’s not taking in very much. Any tips on how to increase his intake? I feel too bad to force feed him

 

[BrusselnSprout]

Wishing the little man a speedy recovery, keep him topped up if he isn’t eating x

Thank you!

 

[Piggies&buns]

The guide I linked in earlier explains syringe feeding, I’ll link it here again for ease - All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

If he is having trouble breathing, then he is going to find eating harder work. Slow and steady is needed.

Your daily weight checks are your guide for how to much to give him as it all depends on how much hay he is eating independently as to how much you need to syringe. And then, the less he takes per sitting, the more sittings you may need to do.

Do look into the probiotic as well - Fibreplex or Pro C are commonly used.