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What is going on with this piggie?

LollyJJ

LollyJJ

Adult Guinea Pig
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Mr Pedro is now 4yrs old and a few days after we got back after being away for a week on holiday he was not himself.

On Saturday morning he took no interest in his morning nuggets and I found a small chain of sausage link poos. He sat in his hidey and didn't move . Weighed him and he had lost around 80g down from his previous weight of 1230g. I fortunately managed to get a vet appointment for the same day before they closed.

Vet couldn't find anything obviously wrong and prescribed metacam just in case and Excel Burgess dual care - tried feeding them dry, he wouldn't touch them so syringe fed them.

Perked up yesterday, managed a rumble strut and has since been eating hay, hay cake, coriander, grass, pea flake and a few porridge oats, drinking too.

Weight wise he hasn't lost any more - he seemed a bit honky yesterday when I could hear him munching on hay, but haven't noticed that today. Strangely still not interested in the nuggets . He has chewed cardboard today as well, and vet checked teeth as I did think perhaps nuggets are too hard with a sore mouth or dental probs. Poos are a little soft but mostly normal size and shape now.

Should I persevere with the syringe feeding even though he is not interested and tries to push it away? By comparison brother Basil has tried a bit of the mashed up food and is quite keen for more.

I have no clue what might have caused this, any ideas, or what the problem might be?

I'm also worried as I'm due to go away for a few days, so will try and get another vet appointment before I go I think.
 
I’m sorry to hear he is worrying you.
This kind of thing can be tricky- no real symptoms but unexplained weight loss. Its good if he hadn’t lost any more weight, but all you can really do is monitor and see if he either improves or if obvious symptoms present themselves.
It probably is a good idea to check with the vet again before you go away if you are at all worried.

I hope he is ok
 
Thanks @Piggies&buns. Feel I'm failing miserably with the syringe feeding, he is really resisting it. I thought I would try having Basil next to him but he hoovers up whatever is dropped!

Yes I will definitely ring up and get a vet appointment tomorrow.
 
This the cheeky chappies now, just trying to finish this feed.....
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How much syringe feed are you getting into him?
Is he resisting because he is eating enough independently?
 
That's what I wondered, but again Basil is fine but wants the syringe! Pedro is a typical.piggie always on the look out for anything except the nuggets and this, so very out of character. I know I shouldn't be too worried about him missing out on the nuggets as they only get the daily tablespoon each but it's not like him.

He's just had about 10mls
 
I can see why you would be concerned if it is out of character but you are right, not eating the pellets is not worrying provided he is eating plenty of hay.
 
LollyJJ said:
That's what I wondered, but again Basil is fine but wants the syringe! Pedro is a typical.piggie always on the look out for anything except the nuggets and this, so very out of character. I know I shouldn't be too worried about him missing out on the nuggets as they only get the daily tablespoon each but it's not like him.

He's just had about 10mls
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Hi

The syringe feed is there to replace any missed hay, which is making over three quarters of the daily food intake and which you cannot control by eye. Veg, pellets and any treats only replace the role that wild forage used to have in the diet their wild ancestors developed on.

Please switch from the once weekly weigh-in to weighing first thing on your kitchen scales every morning for best day to day comparison re. his actual food intake and how much/how often you need to feed him over the course of the day (even once during the night if he isn't eating at all).

Our very helpful syringe feeding guide (which also contains how-to tricks on how to deal with more uncooperative customers) will explain it all better: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Mystery weight loss is my least favourite symptoms since so many wildly different things can be behind it and it can be so difficult to diagnose them without any obvious clues. Very often a major pain issue is behind it.

Just in case you need it if there is a sudden further deterioration: Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

All the best.
 
No advice but hope you get to the bottom of it. It’s very worrying when they can’t tell you what’s wrong. Even hiding it from the vet, naughty piggy! 😊🥰 xx
 
Still none the wiser, but he's back to his usual self this morning. Waiting for nuggets - unlike the last few days. He did go off for water in between eating each one and then I syringe fed about 15mls of these to him. These are grain free Science Selective and that was easier to give. The Excel Burgess Dual care ones smelt horrible, so I don't blame him for not wanting that!

I don't think I need to take him to the vet again now. I weighed him this morning and he's put 40g back on. Will keep a close eye on him anyway.

Thanks for the help and support.
 
Pleased Mr Pedro is back to himself and put some weight on ! He’s a very handsome piggy ❤️❤️
 
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