PLEASE LOOK HERE I THINK MY GUINEA PIG MIGHT DIE!?

Question

my guinea pig is very young and is not eating any of her timothy hay or oranges! im afraid that if she dosnt eat these things soon she might die! please give me some advice on how i can get her to eat these things!

Answer 1

It took my pigs a while to get used to eating things besides their pellets because that was all they had before I adopted them. Keep offering the hay and fresh fruit and veg. Eventually they will discover what they like. Animals are frequently reluctant to eat new foods - that is how they avoid eating toxins in the wild. Just be patient with them in their learning process.

Oranges are ok but once a week. Your pig cannot overdose on vitamin C - excess vitamin C is shed by the body. It can, however, cause overgrowth in the bowel because of the high sugar. Also, the high acidity can cause blistering in your pigs mouth. Better foods are kale, parsley, tomatoes, bell peppers, carrots, cucumber, celery etc. Bell peppers in particular are extremely high in vitamin C, but do not give your pigs the seeds.

You might try adding vitamin C to the water if you are concerned. I used to buy the drops but my vet suggested just crushing up a 500mg tablet per liter of water and they drink that fine. You need to change the water daily because vitamin C loses its efficaciousness very easily.

Here is a site on what you can feed (and not feed) your cavey:

http://www.kornage.co.uk/feeding_guinea_...

Answer 2

I had guinea pigs when i was younger, and the store we got them at said the best way to keep them healthy is giving them food with lots of vitamins, BUT NOT FRUITS. Give them veggies like spinach, and carrots. The oranges she might not eat just cus she knows that they aren't good for her.

I have rats right now, and I buy yogurt dips, that have vitimins in them that are actually good for your pets. Guinea pigs can eat them just the same. And they LOVE them. Only 2-3 a day though, if that.

If notice weight loss then you should be concered. But I'm sure that if she gets hungry enough, she will eat. Animals have instincts and those instincts tell them to stay alive.

Good luck with everything.

I hope I helped.

Take care.

Answer 3

ask a professional at a pet store. try different things to feed him like vegetables or fruit

Answer 4

as long as you are feeding her guinea pig food and she's eating that, she'll survive. my pig didn't have any kind of hay or fruit and she survived. you really shouldn't feed them fruits and veggies all the time, that causes diarrhea and that will lead to dehydration and she will die from that.  

Answer 5

i had the same problem with my rabbit.

you need to dissolve the pellets from the guinea pig food and put it on the oranges. she likes the taste of the pellets, and will probably like the taste of the oranges. you can also buy orange flavored baby food and mix that in there with her guinea pig food

about the hay..... try different kinds of hay until you find one that she likes. young guinea pigs are not supposed to eat tough hay until they are older. she should be eating alfalfa grass right now. when she is around 6-8 weeks old, you can gradually start with the timothy hay

Answer 6

You also need to be feeding her gueania pig pellet food. Don't feed her oranges but once a week she could overdose on vitamen C. She needs to eat the timmothy hay  as it helps her digest her food. I put it in the bowl and smush it down.

Answer 7

is that all your giving her? maybe she doesnt like those treats try giving her some food from pet stores that are for guinea pigs.

Answer 8

Can you check your guinea pig to see what her teeth look like?

You should see 4 incisors out the front, and you can feel for molars at the back.

If her teeth are all there she shouldnt have any problems eating the hay- perhaps she is eating it when you are not there?

Is she eating other types of food? If you are feeding her guinea pig pellets and a good guinea pig mix of dry food it should compensate for the nutrients found in the hay.

Why are you feeding her oranges? I have never fed these to my pets and they are all quite healthy.

Guinea pigs need vitamin C in their diets, but there are plenty of fruit and veggies you can try to feed her. I find carrots and red capsicums are great for Vitamin C and my piggies love them.

If you are really concerned, take her to your vet but if she is eating and drinking and pooing normally she should be fine.

Answer 9

As long as she is eating, and eating enough to maintain her weight, then you don't need to panic.  It is very important that she eats hay but sometimes it can take a while for a guinea pig to get used to hay and veggies.  They are often not given these foods in pet stores and so they don't know that it is good food yet.

You need to weigh her regularly you can use a small kitchen scale.  That way you can be sure that she is putting on weight like she should as a young pig.  Make sure you always have hay available and offer a variety of different veggies.  Oranges don't actually have very much vitamin C in them and are very acidic and high in sugar.  There are many other veggies (like red peppers) that are a better choice.

If she looks at all lethargic, hunched over or puffed up then go to the vet right away.  If she stops eating entirely go to the vet.

You can find the best care information on guinea pigs here:

http://www.guinealynx.info

Answer 10

Those are good food for guinea pigs: Vitamin C in the oranges and extra fiber in the timothy hay. But that's not all you should give her. Make sure she also has some normal guinea pig feed. You can buy it at any pet store.

Add: Well, she's not going to die as long as she eats the normal guinea pig feed! Hay and oranges are just little extras that are good, if she'll eat them. Don't worry, and makes sure she has water too.