A trip to the vet.

[PrayerWarrior]

Just sort of wanted to make this thread to share the story.

I found a female guinea pig about six months old on Craigslist. She was in my city, so I asked my parents and told them about the cage and food she was fed and convinced them. We went and picked her up today.

The cage she had was probably less than a 1x2, judging by the picture. Wire floors and all she had in the cage was one of the cruddy edible log houses that has too much sugar and her water bottle. She was being fed Hartz pellets, but mostly Hartz treats. Never been fed hay, good pellets, or any type of fruit or vegetable. Her owner was unintentionally cruel. Ignorance and bad advice from a petstore; no shocker there.

When we picked her up, I sat her in a towel on my lap, and she wasn't squirmy or trying to get away. Let me pet her and closed her eyes.

Brought her home and put her in her new 2x3 C&C cage with fleece, and got her to eat a tiny amount of pellets and a piece or two of hay. Took her to the vet about an hour later, where she was examined and diagnosed a he.

He had crud in his ears, which the vet cleaned out. Too long nails, which the vet clipped. Stool sample taken and appeared okay given the circumstances. Tested for mites, results negative but being treated anyway. Dry skin and flakes, which the vet said was due to poor nutrition. Given antibiotics for a URI, and pain medicine for all of the above. Vitamin C deficiency and a scab above one of the eyes.

Brought him home and my older brother said he saw the little guy doing laps. :) I'm worried about his eating, though. He nibbled on a bit of lettuce, but wasn't too interested in it. I assume he'll get hungry and start to eat. Is that correct?

[ellenvega]

Sounds like you've got all the bases covered!

If he's never had lettuce or veggies before he probably doesn't know how good it is. Just keep offering a variety of veggies and eventually he should start eating them. A bit of fresh grass may also help tempt his appetite for green things.

Good luck!

[GuineaAddict]

That shocks me about the hay. When I first got guinea's I was ignorant about their true care so I never really gave them hay. Then we started buying it as a treat and the first time my guinea's even smelled it they went nuts and now everytime any of them hears the hay bag being rustled they squeek and hop.

[ellenvega]

If they've never seen it before it takes a bit for them to realize how good it is.

Be sure to provide an unlimited supply of grass or timothy hay at all times. It is essential for their digestive health and to keep their teeth in condition.

[Ziggy&Herald]

Also, if he has a URI, it could make him eat less. If you are still worried after about 12 hours or so, mush up some pellets and mix with a little of water. Then syringe feed. It perked up my little one with a URI. Also giving extra Vit. C by veggies or a dropper will get his immune system kicking. Good Luck, it really sounds like you have saved "His" life.