If your guinea pig isn’t eating or moving, they need immediate medical help. Without timely medication, these pets could get very ill and even succumb to illness or even die.
They can become dehydrated and experience gastrointestinal stasis (GI stasis), when their stomach and intestines stop contracting. This is particularly hazardous for herbivores like guinea pigs.
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Causes
Guinea pigs that don’t eat or exercise often become very sick. This is because they’re not getting enough calories, fluids and fiber to maintain a healthy body.
They may be dehydrated or suffering from GI stasis, which causes them to become weak and lose weight. Therefore, you should encourage them to drink as much fluids as possible.
To achieve this goal, add watery vegetables or a solution like Pedialyte to their food. Additionally, they should receive some form of vitamin C.
Guinea pigs cannot synthesize vitamin C on their own, so they must obtain it through food sources. This vitamin plays an essential role in producing collagen – a protein responsible for muscles, skin, and blood vessels – which must be obtained through daily nutrition.
Guinea pigs that are low on this vitamin often display rough hair coats, lose weight, develop diarrhea or succumb to death suddenly. Additionally, they may exhibit a limp or weakness when walking.
Diarrhea
Guinea pigs’ digestive tract can become inflamed with various bacteria, viruses and parasites. Signs of these illnesses may include diarrhea, weight loss, dehydration, lack of appetite and inactivity.
Your veterinarian will perform a physical exam of your guinea pig to identify the cause and severity of their condition. They’ll also need you to provide them with an extensive dietary history as well as a stool sample for testing purposes.
Diarrhea in guinea pigs can be caused by stress or an imbalance of bacteria within their gut. This could be due to poor diet or starvation, antibiotic use, or an infection that disrupts this delicate balance.
Your guinea pig’s health is dependent on proper care and nutrition, as well as good cage hygiene and stress management. Provide them with comfortable bedding materials, a low-stress environment, and plenty of exercise to prevent illness. However, if they become sick it is best to get medical help right away; this could include fluids, syringe feedings, pain management or antibiotics to clear up any infections.
Pain
If your guinea pig isn’t eating or moving around, it could be in pain. Guinea pigs are highly sensitive to pain and this could be the source of their inactivity.
It could also be that your guinea pig is feeling unwell. Sick guinea pigs tend to be lethargic and may try to hide from you more than usual.
Your guinea pig may be experiencing pain from an issue with their teeth. If their teeth are not growing correctly, they won’t be able to chew properly and thus won’t be able to eat properly.
It can be a potentially life-threatening situation if your guinea pig has difficulty urinating or is producing bloody urine. If you notice that they are having trouble peeing or have any of the above symptoms, take them immediately to a vet for diagnosis and treatment.
Stress
Stress can have physical and psychological repercussions. It may cause your heart rate to race, muscles to tighten, and breathing to become rapid.
Our bodies’ ‘fight or flight’ response, designed to help us survive life-threatening situations, can activate in non-threatening circumstances as well. This could result in high blood pressure, digestive issues and depression.
If you observe any of these symptoms in your guinea pig, take them immediately to the veterinarian. A vet can evaluate the situation and identify what’s causing your pet’s illness.
Your guinea pig may be suffering from heat stress or a urinary tract infection (UTI). Urinating blood is usually indicative of one of these conditions and could indicate pain if not addressed promptly.
