Guinea pig HELP!

[spunkysmokey]

I know this is not a guinea pig forum but anyone who would have any idea or advice about this please reply.

I have a guinea pig who is 3 1/2 years old he has been healthy all his life but since a month or two ago he’s had really smelly poops, which now I’m wondering could be a sign of infection in the intestine?

He has lost muscle in his hips, it just feels like bones, he’s not eating much now. Yesterday I had to cut up his carrot into small piece so he could eat it, it looked like he was chewing on leather otherwise. His teeth are perfectly healthy though!  Now he will almost eat nothing not carrot or grape (which I gave him yesterday with no problem)  he hasn’t lost any weight in the last two days but I’m really worried!!!

I’m trying to remain optimistic about this and so is my vet, but the word cancer keeps appearing in my head. My vet has checked his teeth twice and says they are perfectly healthy and does not see any sign of infection, he’s still lively and runs around if I try to pick him up (which he hates lol) I don’t know what to think… I’m afraid of losing my little scooter… 

[Mikey]

Has he been tested for parasites? Have you gotten a poop test done? An xray? Has he eaten something lately that he shouldnt have eaten? New items added to his diet?

[Gina.Jenny]

Hi, sorry to hear poor scooter is like this.

Like bunnies, piggies need to keep food moving through their gut to stay healthy, unlike bunnies, but like us, piggies cannot make their own vitamin c , but need it in their diet. So its important to keep food going through, and if possible, something with vitamin c. Wet dark leafy veg or herbs such as parsley and coriander/cilantro are good, but only if they are something he is used to, introducing new foods to a poorly bun or pig isn’t generally ideal. Having said that, he does need calories, a small, ie a dessert spoon, of porridge oats might be worth trying, if you have some in the house? they are easy to eat and high in calories. Another good food to feed a poorly pig is any part of a dandelion, the flower, stalk and leaves are all good. If he wont eat anything. then try feeding critical care, your vet might have some in? is he drinking and peeing OK?

[jerseygirl]

Is coccidia very common with Guinea Pigs? The weight loss and smellier poop make me think of that or some other intestinal parasite.

[spunkysmokey]

He is eating mostly apple, not carrot anymore, I did give him some parsley and he ate that which is good. He is not eating any hay which is a little concerning, he drinks, poops not sure if I’ve seen any pee but I just cleaned his cage this morning so I can keep an eye on that. last night he was making cooing noises kind of like a pigeon then it would get louder and then he would make a loud hacking sound, chew on something in his mouth and then that sound would stop for a while. I’m wondering if he could have URI which was my first thought, but he does not have any nasal discharge. so Im am starting to think it could be a problem with his intestines. Could it be something like fly strike? he has no fly larva on him or in his cage but could maybe he have some in him? I don’t know what he has really. it started with his left eye, it looked crusty so I would clean it with a warm cloth everyday for maybe a week, I thought he might have something in it. The vet gave me some antibiotic cream for his eye and now that is better but it is a little sunken in.

[Mikey]

To me, it sounds like a parasite. I think a vet can test this through blood tests and poop samples.

[LongEaredLions]

How recently have you gone to the vet, and what was the method of checking the teeth? Like bunnies, piggies have back teeth that are usually not visible unless the animal is placed under sedation.
My first thought would be scurvy (lack of vitamin C) piggies cannot metabolize their own vitamin C, and as they get older sometimes they need more. Scurvy can cause tooth sensitivity and other symtoms you mentioned. I would give your guinea pig as much vitamin C as you can-oxbow has tablets that work really well, and you can crush them up.
Some other possibilities mentioned are likely as well. You might consider seeing a new vet if your current one offers no new suggestions.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Hope you get this figured out. ((((((Feel Better little piggy!!!)))))

[spunkysmokey]

LongEaredLions  I am giving him as much parsley as he’ll eat and now his chin is always wet so something with his teeth? is he drooling? I don’t know… I’ll look into scurvy! thanks! 

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