What are her chances?

[nbhalla19]

I have a female guinea pig who is 6 years old. Over the last year her weight has gradually gone down. I'd say like 80 to 100 grams over a year time. She was still eating, active, etc. She was just getting pickier it seemed. She is older for a guinea pig, so I figured it was due to her age. I took her for a physical to the vet 6-9 months ago said she was fine. However, the last week or two I noticed she was eating a lot less and her weight went down 80-100 grams within those two weeks. So I took her to the vet. Said she has a URI and all. He gave me antibiotics for her and said to give a variety of foods to get her to eat. Left her overnight. When I brought her back it seemed she was 20 grams less than when I brought her in. The vet said when she was there she was nibbling on food but not eating much. Since I brought her back, I've been giving her the antibiotics. She has been nibbling still and drinking water. I've been force feeding her food with a syringe and all though. She is still reasonably active in terms of moving and all. Her weight is a few grams heavier than what it was when I got her from the vet, probably due to the force feeding. Last night though I saw her eat more hay and drink more water and her weight went up 10 more grams. I am preparing for it, I know she is older and all, but could she make it through? I figure if the medicine help get rid of her URI, she will eat normally like she was again.

 

[Wiebke]

I have a female guinea pig who is 6 years old. Over the last year her weight has gradually gone down. I'd say like 80 to 100 grams over a year time. She was still eating, active, etc. She was just getting pickier it seemed. She is older for a guinea pig, so I figured it was due to her age. I took her for a physical to the vet 6-9 months ago said she was fine. However, the last week or two I noticed she was eating a lot less and her weight went down 80-100 grams within those two weeks. So I took her to the vet. Said she has a URI and all. He gave me antibiotics for her and said to give a variety of foods to get her to eat. Left her overnight. When I brought her back it seemed she was 20 grams less than when I brought her in. The vet said when she was there she was nibbling on food but not eating much. Since I brought her back, I've been giving her the antibiotics. She has been nibbling still and drinking water. I've been force feeding her food with a syringe and all though. She is still reasonably active in terms of moving and all. Her weight is a few grams heavier than what it was when I got her from the vet, probably due to the force feeding. Last night though I saw her eat more hay and drink more water and her weight went up 10 more grams. I am preparing for it, I know she is older and all, but could she make it through? I figure if the medicine help get rid of her URI, she will eat normally like she was again.

Hi

That is the million dollar question we all would like to know but that nobody can answer. All you can do is to support her for as long as needed. As long as she has interest in food and her weight is stable - which is your first objective -, you are certainly in with a chance but nobody will be able to tell you more or be able to give the assurance you crave, sadly, because none of us can see into the future - as much as we all would like a little sneak peek at the outcome.

I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed for your old lady.

As an aside, personally, I am rather sensitive to the American use of 'force feeding' for what we call 'syringe feeding' on this UK based forum. Force feeding does in no way reflect the amount of love, care and respect that we all give our piggies and how careful we are when we are using syringe-based formula feed. Force feeding in the UK has historically very strong negative connotations with the struggle for women's voting rights.
Caring for Older Piggies and Facing the End - A practical and supportive information collection (see last chapter)