Weird behavior

Question
recently my guinea pig stoped eating and drinking. She hasn't eaten in 2 days and i keep puting food in the cage but she doesn't eat it. Do u know wat is wrong with her?

Answer
Billy,

Ring your vet ASAP. Anything could be wrong with her, maybe a dental problem, a respiratory problem...no-one knows until you get her to a vet.

Just putting food into the cage isn't helping her; if she doesn't eat or drink for more than a day, let alone two, she is very susceptible to severe digestion problems which could - worst case scenario - cause death. You need to hand-feed her around every four hours, day and night, until you get to a vet. Hand-feeding means:

* Giving her one needleless syringe full of water every 2-4 hours;
* Giving her one needleless syringe full of a blend of veggies and water every 4-6 hours (liquidise some orange especially as this encourages the digestion to start up again). Just add water to the veggie blend until it is thin enought to push through the syringe;
* Giving her one needleless syringe full of fibre-rich food and water every 4 hours. Fibre-rich foods include hay and hay pellets (dry feed - NO mixes with seeds and things as these will cause choking).

If you can, get some Oxbow Critical Care in, as this is exactly what piggies need when they are not eating or drinking and will make your job as a carer and temporary medic to your piggie a little eaiser.

Aim to give her some water and a fibre-rich blend now, then some water and the veggie blend in 4 hours, then some water and the fibre-rich blend in another 4 hours, then the water and a veggie blend... and continue this - day and night - until you get to a vet.

Don't force the whole lot down her as this can cause choking and other serious problems. Ease the syringe in the side of her mouth - never the front near her incisors, and push back past the fleshy cheeks VERY carefully and gently until you feel her biting the syringe with her molars. When this happens, very slowly and gently dispense the contents of the syringe. If she stops chewing, stop syringing, because when she chews she swallows.  If she won't take more than a mouthful the first few times, then don't force her and fight her to get the whole lot into her. Remember her digestion has been redundant for two whole days now, and it might be painful for her to force too much into her at once. Gently increase the amount she takes rather than expecting her to take a full syringe just like that.

I do suggest getting to an emergency vet in the next day, otherwise whatever illness your piggie has may be much more advanced and difficult to treat.

If you require further help or advice, let me know and I will be glad to assist.

Best Wishes,

- Laura
www.cavy-care.com