Old guinea pig not eating

[PinkHamster]

Over the last two or three days my piggy has virtually stopped eating. She'll have a munch on her hay every now and again but she's stopped eating her vegetables and nuggets. She's also seems quieter than usual.

I've thought it might be because of her age (she's 8) but I'm taking her to the vets tomorrow anyway.

I hope she'll be okay.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Aw poor girl.
8 is a good guinea-pig mileage, Maybe the warmer weather is too draining for her too, but once they stop eating, it's not a good sign.

can you tempt her with cucumber, watermelon, a grape, celery leaves - all nice juicy strong smelling foods that might get her interested in eating.

is your piggie on her own - i saw on another thread that you had a group of sows, is she the last one.

see what your vet says but she might already be looking at what's on the other side of The Bridge

[PinkHamster]

Yeah she's my last one. I did have three - other two died in February and April respectively. I've also heard that when one piggy dies it's not unusual for their cagemate(s) to die soon after.

This morning at around 9 I gave her a bell pepper and a big handful of round lettuce (her favourite) and I got in at around 5 and she hasn't touched any of it Looks like she's took a bit hay from her hay rack but that's it.

She doesn't look like she's in any pain, she just looks tired and sad

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

They hide their illnesses well but they do have a "it's all too much darned effort for me now" look about them when they're ill.

Has she been drinking at all?
Can you give her some water in a syringe (Calpol syringe maybe? If you don;t have young DC , one of your neighbours might have a spare)

Ribena (diluted) might tempt her, give her a boost of sugar too?

[HPparent]

This happened to one of ours. To cut a long story short he had a jaw condition caused by old age, had a very expensive op, and died anyway a few weeks later. You can get a sort of liquid food from the vet but sometimes I think it is kinder just to let them go.

[weegiemum]

8 is a really good age, poor girl.

Sounds like she's on her way our, your girlie.

Keep her comfy and hydrated. Can you hold her in a warm towel and give her a hug.

So sorry, I've held several guineas on that night, it's not easy, but I'm giving you a wee warm hug for you and your guinea xx

[PinkHamster]

Okay so I got her out for a cuddle and after I put her back she seems to have perked up a bit and has started munching on her vegetables. Typical [eyes]. Anyway she's still going to the vet though.

[PinkHamster]

So on Monday and even on Tuesday morning I actually thought she was on her way out too but she started to perk up again about an hour before the vets appointment and started eating some nuggets. Typical! Anyway the vet said she was fine and couldn't find anything wrong with her. He even said she was very healthy for an old piggy and wouldn't be surprised if she lived for another year or so. So now I feel like a tit for thinking she wad dying and taking her to the vet in the first place.

Right now she's actually running around her run happily munching on grass. She keeps looking up at me every so often as if to say I was very silly for thinking she was sick and possibly even dying. No idea why she wouldn't eat previously but she did eat her breakfast this morning.

Even though I feel like a tit for taking her to the vet when she was fine and getting ready for her to go to the bridge I am very glad she has perked up.

[PinkHamster]

was dying.

[weegiemum]

Brilliant news. Will be checking the "Guinness Book Of Records" for "Oldest Guinea Pig"!

[PinkHamster]

Ha ha I think the current official record is 14, but apparently there's one in Australia who is 16. So still a while to go yet

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Pink my guinea-pig keeping has told me that they are the most contrary creatures , and if you are worried about them it's far better to have them checked and heave a sigh of relief than look back and regret missing something.

My DD has a nearly 4yo boar and since last year he's lost and gained weight, he was the dominant boar when we had GP2.
Since GP2 died, we got GP3, had a really hot spell last year, they went on holiday (they enjoyed themselves but it's an unheaval for them). He put on a reassuring amount of winter fat, but now, he's going slim again.

I was looking at him last night, he seems 'bony' his little face is poky and rat like , and he has a couple of the fibrous lumps that they get.
He is eating though, he was first to the supper and the breakfast.
I;m taking him in to have his teeth checked, because although he's eating and poohing, if we are going to have a heatwave, I want him in peak condition - well peak for a saggy middle aged boar )

Glad she's picked up though, and have lots of lovely grazing time .


(On a slightly different note, our elderly cat stopped eating, she's purr at the food bowl but only licked her food. We took her to the vets, she had a blood test and started eating the next day .

I did say to the vet "Cats don't starve themselves do they? They are too selfish -in the nicest way "
"Yes they sometime do" he said )