Guinea pigs tend to be very eager eaters, so any lack of appetite should be taken very seriously. If your guinea pig suddenly stops eating, take him immediately to a veterinarian.
Early identification and treatment are vitally important.
Contents
Causes
If a guinea pig stops eating and drinking, they could quickly find themselves in dire trouble. Their bodies need constant access to essential nutrients in order to function normally and their digestive system must function freely – without food, this process halts, leading to dangerous conditions like “gastrointestinal stasis”.
Gastrointestinal stasis can be caused by many different things, including pain, stress, lack of fiber in their diet, dental disease, blockages in their stomach or intestinal tract, trauma injury, dehydration and dehydration. Other telltale signs that your pet isn’t eating include anal fecal staining around their anal area, weight loss, dull eyes and diarrhea – telltale indicators they might not be eating!
If your guinea pig displays any of these symptoms, it is time to visit a veterinarian immediately. They will perform a comprehensive physical exam and may suggest blood tests or radiographs; additionally they can hand feed your pet as needed to keep them alive.
Treatment
If your guinea pig has stopped eating or drinking, it is critical that they visit an exotic vet immediately – particularly one familiar with exotics that offers xrays and ultrasounds – in case there are bladder or kidney stones present that could rapidly worsen unless treated immediately.
Guinea pigs, being strict herbivores, depend on indigestible fiber to keep their digestive tract moving at an appropriate pace and prevent intestinal impaction (GI stasis). If your guinea pig refuses food or even water, this constitutes a medical emergency that needs urgent veterinary attention.
As a temporary solution, pet recovery food designed for guinea pigs can often provide relief quickly. You can purchase this online or from local vets; additionally it’s wise to keep an emergency supply on hand at home in case of emergencies. Weigh your guinea pig daily if they are being force fed so any weight changes can be detected quickly.
Home Remedies
If your pig hasn’t eaten for more than 24 hours, take them immediately to a veterinarian. He or she will perform a weight check, request radiographs of their stomach area for possible blockages, and request critical care feedings to maintain some source of nutrition in their system. In the interim, use syringe feeding as needed until their health improves.
Stressed guinea pigs may stop eating and drinking due to overcrowded cages, illness or too much petting. If you know the source of their anxiety try and address it as quickly as possible in order to provide as comfortable an environment as possible for them.
Emergency food may also be available commercially or made yourself at home by mixing some regular pellets with water and creating a soupy solution that can be safely administered via a syringe without risk of choking. Doing this quickly could save the life of your piglet if given in time.
Veterinarian Care
Your first priority should be taking your guinea pig immediately to a veterinarian, who will perform tests to weigh, x-ray and treat for possible blockages in its digestive system. In the interim, encourage drinking water regularly while giving critical care; Guinea pigs cannot survive very long without eating!
Dental problems are another frequent reason for guinea pigs to stop eating and drinking, often as a result of teeth overgrowth. Their teeth continually expand over their lives and must be maintained through regular grooming in order to prevent pain that might prevent them from eating and drinking properly.
Abscesses are infected swellings that contain pus and bacteria, and can appear anywhere from skin, lymph nodes, muscles, teeth and bones to organs such as lymph nodes or lymph glands. They are usually the result of bacterial infection and require surgery in order to drain out affected tissue or drain abscesses altogether; vaccination may also help protect against similar future episodes.
