Your guinea pig was designed to consume and excrete waste regularly; therefore if they don’t do this as expected it is cause for alarm. Please refer to this link for a breakdown of what normal poo looks like, and book an appointment with your vet as soon as possible.
As soon as they see a veterinarian, treatment can begin more quickly. There may be several causes why your pig has stopped eating or drinking.
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1. They’re not hungry
Guinea pigs depend on food to stay alive, as failing to do so will quickly degrade them due to lack of essential nutrients in their bodies. They must also consume sufficient amounts of water every day in order to stay hydrated.
If your guinea pig has stopped drinking, try filling up their water bottle or bowl to encourage them. Additionally, electrolyte solutions (available at pet stores) contain sugar for additional energy boosting purposes and should help them drink again more regularly.
As it’s normal for guinea pigs to experience stress or mourn the loss of an individual companion, they can sometimes lose their appetite. Be patient and offer daily supplies of hay as well as fresh vegetables if necessary. If they continue not drinking at all, visit a vet immediately as dehydration could set in; in which case, you may need to syringe feed them until they regain the ability to eat naturally again; see one as soon as possible for professional help.
2. They’re not thirsty
If a guinea pig is refusing water but eating and moving around normally, this could simply be because they’re not thirsty. But if they appear lethargic and seem weight loss is happening rapidly then this could be indicative of dehydration.
Make sure your cage does not get too hot, as this could decrease their desire to drink. Also leave an extra bowl of fresh, cool water in their cage just in case they do become thirsty; particularly if they have not had anything to drink recently.
Stresses such as being newly acquired or living in an altered environment may make guinea pigs resistant to drinking, leading them to resist drinking at all. If this is the case for yours, try talking to them to try to ease them or feeding some water directly via syringe feeding them some.
3. They’re not moving
Guinea pigs need both fresh vegetables and hay daily as part of their diet, to prevent dehydration. Lack of hydration slows their digestive tract down and may result in health issues; so make sure there’s plenty of water each day for their care.
If your guinea pig stops drinking water, it is vital that they visit their veterinarian immediately as this could indicate a blockage or serious health problem such as GI stasis.
Guinea pigs who lose weight, stop eating, and become lethargic are in severe distress and should be seen immediately by a veterinarian who specializes in caring for guinea pigs. A vet experienced in treating them can often get them back on the path toward recovery quickly; until you can make it in for medical assistance try offering small amounts of water via syringe – hopefully this will help your guinea pig feel better and resume eating regularly again!
4. They’re not pooping
Not eating or drinking properly is a serious health risk for any pet, and in guineas in particular it can quickly lead to intestinal stasis which could prove fatal in less than 24 hours. When this occurs you must call your local vet immediately as this constitutes a medical emergency and act swiftly in order to save their life.
Guinea pigs are coprophagic, which means that they eat their own poop (and often the anal sac it comes from). If your guinea pig’s poop appears greenish this could be due to cecal pellets which they re-ingest for nutritional health, creating soft and smellier waste than typical guinea pig feces.
Guinea pigs tend to become very thirsty after devouring their high-fiber, grassy hay diet, drinking up to 10% of their body weight daily in water! A large supply of clean, fresh water is necessary in order for them to maintain health and stay hydrated.