guinea pig - blanks

Question
We recently got one of our guinea pigs back by unfortunate means we had given him and his sister to our neighbors kids and the dad in a angry fit smashed the cage and injured the male.  He has a ruptured eye and a cracked skull, the vets have done all they can for him, Well at least out vet has.  What we are wondering is he isn't eating on his own and is inactive.  How can you tell if a guinea pig is in pain?  We are debating letting him be put to sleep if hes going be in pain from now on,  any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Hi Christina,

What a sad tale. I hope your neighbour is now banned by law from keeping animals for the rest of his life.

When they are in pain, guinea pigs have a "puffed up" appearance. They may also rock themselves back and forth, squeak or whine in pain every now and then, or whince/bite when you try to touch them in the painful place. The best thing to do will be to seek the advice of a specialist small animal or exotic pet vet - they will know whether anything else can be done to improve his quality of life, and whether it is best to let him live out his life or put him out of his misery.

The chances are, if he has undergone surgery, then the vet feels he has a good chance of a happy life. If they are simply treating him for pain, then they may recommend he is put to sleep. All good vets will be honest with you about an animal's chance of survival, and will tell you what is best for your pet rather than what may be the most appealing option for you. A guinea pig in severe pain will simply rock itself to sleep when it decides to give up, but this can mean undue suffering, depending on the extent of the injuries.

It may be that he isn't eating or moving on his own because he is psychologically damaged, rather than for physical reasons. You need to show this little piggy that humans are to be trusted and can making loving and caring owners. Cuddle him, pet him, talk to him, and feed him his favourite foods. Make him feel part of a family again. Try feeding him fresh parsley - guinea pigs go crazy for this, and make sure that he is reinjesting his "special poos". If not, remove them from the sac for him or offer him some of his ordinary pellets to eat. Make him feel safe and loved - and let him have the companionship of other guinea pigs if you can.

I hope this helps with your decision.

If you have any other questions - just ask.

Jenny.