gpig not eating

Question
Hi Ryan,
we have a 2 1/2 month old female gpig that stopped eating by herself a week ago, also she started shedding a lot of hair.  We took her to the vet who thought it could be vitamin C deficiancy and have since been giving her antibiotics twice a day and feeding her gpig food mush mixed with vitamins with an eye dropper several times a day.  She still has not eaten a thing by herself.  She still takes comfort in her cage mate, a younger female.  How much longer do i continue to feed her?  Thanks for your help.
Thersa

Answer
Hello Theresa and thanks for the question.

I am sorry to hear your pet is ill. I will give you what I can with what I know from your email and ask you some questions.

"Shedding" a lot of hair without scratching or biting would probably rule out lice/mites on the skin. I would check it out though. Check the fur close to the skin for movement and visable mites/lice. Also, before going any further, make sure the GP is in "otherwise good health". Is her fur clean, does she smell proper, are her nails trimmed, is her bowel normal and are her teeth ok? Once you have prepared the GP as above then we can narrow it down some.

What antibiotic is your vet having you give her? If she is NOT responding or is getting worse it could be a pennicilyn derivative. Penn. will KILL GPS! Some vets that do not deal with exotic animals and GPs do not know this. If you find it IS a Penn. antibiotic, STOP GIVING IT IMMEADIATELY. Go to your vet and if antibiotics are needed ask for one of these SAFE ABs:

Bactrim (SMZ-TMP; trimethoprim sulfa; Tribrissen; sulfamethoxazole trimethoprim, Septra)
Baytril (Enrofloxacin)
Chloramphenicol (Chloramphenicol sodium succinate, Chloramphenicol palmitate)
Doxycycline (Vibramycin, Vibravet)

If your GP has not shown improvment in 24 hours, get back to the vet. Other than that, keep feeding her as you have been and weigh her at least twice a day. Any decreases in weight should be deemed serious.

Thanks and write back soon,
Ryan
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