My guinea pig is not going to the bathroom or eating

Question
Hello,
I have a shorthaired, female, about 3-4 year old cavy that lives alone named Snowflake, although she is brown.  We adopted her back in the summer from a little girl that I babysit for when they were moving and she didn't want Snowflake anymore.  She adjusted well but once the school year started I haven't been able to spend that much time with her, like I did during the summer.  The food in her food bowl is pellets, crushed corn, and other things that came in the bag from the pet store, but no seeds.  She always has alfalfa and I give her fruit.  I always keep her water bottle clean and it never is blocked.  The floor of her cage is covered with shavings. However, she is not urinating, passing feces, eating, or drinking that I can see.  While I was holding her, I noticed a (sorry for the detailed-ness) strange, pink, tube-like thing dried to some feces.  It has been there for maybe a day and a half and she has not pooped it out.  She is maybe only a little overweight, but not so much that she can't move around. She leans against me like she misses me, and is hesitant to walk but she will.  She isn't as curious as she used to be, although she never was extremely curious.  Is she just lonely; should I get her a female friend? I know that cavies prefer to not be alone.  Is it something more serious than lonliness? I have checked other websites and none have an answer. I'm worried that she will become dehydrated or starved. What can I do if I can't go to the vet? Or will I have no other chioce?  HELP!!!
Thank you, Jen  

Answer
Hello Jenna,

She really should have a friend but I don't think that's what's causing her problem. If at all possible you really need to try to get her to the vet. Not eating is often the first sign of illness and of course not defecating is from not eating. Anytime a piggy doesn't eat it is serious. When piggies don't eat their tummies stop functioning and they bloat. Food ferments in their tummies as a normal part of their digestion, so when they stop eating, gases build up causing bloat and in time their tummies will rupture and kill them. It usually doesn't take too long for this to happen. So she needs to be force fed at the very least. Crush some pellets and mix them with water and then feed via syringe. If you have some vitamin c you can add to the mixture that would be good. An extra vitamin c boost can help. She really should see the vet though for a diagnosis and medication if needed. Unfortunantly, her symptoms are common to nearly every illness Guinea Pigs get (including simply stress) so it's difficult for me to suggest a certain treatment other than force feeding and extra vitamin c. Also should take a look at her teeth. She may have broken one and that could be your answer. If so, she may need a vet to file them off even so she can eat again. I'm not sure what the pink tube is. Normally I'd think "worms" but they are generally white, not pink. It may just be something she ate that didn't digest well. It's possible it may have even caused a blockage and that's the problem. I'm sorry I couldn't be more specific. Just force feeding until she'll eat on her own again may save her, but it would be taking a big risk and if you can, a vet visit would definantly be best. I wish you and Snowflake the best of luck and I hope she's feeling better soon.

-kkat
http://www.geocities.com/abyssinianguineapigs