I think my old boy is on his last legs :(

[Methe]

He's quite old, I think almost 5 although not 100%. I've bought him in to the house to see of he picks up but he's just turned his nose up at both carrot gratings and coriander so I know it's not good. He is drinking.

No specific symptoms apart from not eating and inevitable weightloss, he just seems to have given up :(

AAAw bless him - it might be the combination of damp and cold outside, it really has been horribly cold today, not good for guineas at all.

My advice is to keep him nice, warm and snuggled in the house, make him a lovely warm bed, - when this happened to ours, I put them in the laundry basket lined with paper and hay and kept an eye on them all the time. Try foods with water in them like cucumber or spinach, or better, fresh grass or dandelions, anything infact to try and tempt him. Keep his fluids up. Sadly, you will see from threads on here, that they do go downhill so very quickly and it is heartbreaking to watch when all you want to do is encourage them and cuddle them better.

Keep an eye on him overnight, keep him warm and safe, hope he has a good nights sleep. X

Oh dear.

I have literally just got back from having to have mine put to sleep. It is horrible.

Hope yours perks up and it is just a blip.

Oh no toffee :( sorry to hear about your pig.

Our pigs live in a fully insulated kids playhouse and its normally really toasty out there. The 3 girls are fine so I think it's just old age but he has bounced back before when I've thought the worst but is not a robust pig at all and he's very fussy with his food at the best of times.

I've just been and picked the freshest rain covered grass from the front garden and he's not interested.

This is the end I think :(

methe your boy is a vetran at 5yo and as guineapiglet says they do suffer at this time of year with the cold and damp.

The next few days will be a make or break for him really, if he doesn't eat it's not good.

You could mash up pellets and warm water and feed him with a spoon or a Calpol syringe.
They aren't the easiest little patients to feed though.
And maybe some Vit C in water if he's not eating.

I really hope he perks up for you.

I'm going to leave him tonight. If he's dying I'd like him to be calm, warm and comfortable.

If he's still here tomorrow ill try some crushed pellets :)

A nice warm hay bed and some favourite treats like apple or parsley.
And if he goes tonight, he'll be snug and in comfort.

Is he out with the girls tonight or indoors?

In with us. When I picked dd upfrom school she said he'd not been in their house when she checked on him this morning and that is unusuall. I checked again about half 3 and he was sitting in the corner on his own and the girls were in their house. H didn't look well so I bought him in then.

I didn't know whether to bring one of his wives in to be with him but didn't because he seemed to want to be in his own.

How is he this morning?

Still with us but only just. He doesn't seem distressed at all. Dh is working from home today so if he starts struggling he'll take him to the vets.

Poor lovely boy :(

Poor thing .

We only took ours because her front legs didn't seem to be working and she wasn't eating as much. Turned out she had a big tumour and it had spread to her lungs making it hard for her to breathe. She was so happy at the vet table, nibbling on his arm, had a lovely cuddle with me, but she was very ill and had hidden it well.

May I gently suggest he is checked out now rather than waiting?

I'm at work till 2 but Dh will take him if he thinks he needs to go :)

I really hope he is just having a quiet time and is soon pop corning all over the place.

Rory Pig passed away this afternoon. Dh and I are going to bury him later on when they children have said their goodbyes.

Bye bye lovely squeaky boy.

Rip dear squeaky Rory :(

I suppose it is a blessing that when a guinea pig has had his or her time, then the passing is usually swift and relatively peaceful.

May he and toffeesponges gp meet up on the other side of the rainbow bridge for fun and games together.

Oh I am very sorry to hear your news{sad}, it did sound like he was struggling last night. At least he went peacefully and much loved, in his own lovely bed. Hope your children will be Ok, maybe a drawing, a little poem or something personal to them to put in with him. Bless him, I am sure there is a lovely guinea heaven somewhere full of these lovely creatures......

Oh no. I have been thinking of you this afternoon. I am so sorry it isn't better news.

RIP Rory. Will be thinking of you later when we bury ToffeePiggy.

Sorry to hear about Rory. I'm sure he's off gallivanting over the bridge with Toffeepig and enjoying endless parsley. Hope your DC are okay.

Thank you all, my dd is very upset but we've had a good talk about Guinea heaven and that seems to be helping.

We buried him in a hay lined hole with a piled of nuggets and a carrot.

We haven't buried ToffeePiggy yet but your last resting place sounds perfect for Rory. I am sure ToffeeePiggy is bossing him around along with her boyfriend.

Very for Rory but TBH if I'd opened this thread and not read this I'd have been more surprised.
It seems when these little creatures have decided to bid farewell , they just get on and do it

At least you know your boy was surrounded by the people who loved him.
To have a peaceful end is the ultimate goodbye to a good guinea friend.

Bye Bye RoryPig.