Sick New baby pig not eating

[sstickly22]

I picked up my baby pig last night, she is 4 weeks old and she has not eaten anything since she has been home. I have tried to force feed her this morning thinking she misses her mom and she needs to get some water in and she just lets the water run down out of her mouth. She I break the quarantine rule and put her with the adults if she is just missing her littermates and mom. What else should I try. I have done apple, parsley, lettuce, mushed pellets and hay.

 

[Kieri]

usually when you first pick up your pig, they will be extremely fearful. i take it you took her directly from her mother?

just put your place in that piggies shoes (or little feet) and imagine her situation. she's no longer with mommy and she's in a new cage she isn't used to.

it'll take her a while, just leave food near her and leave her be. don't try to touch her if she happens to venture out of the hut or around the cage.

you could break the quarantine if you strongly believe she needs to be around other guinea pigs. honestly, that could be it, but keep in mind most new pigs take a while to adjust.

also, if you think she came from a very healthy home, then she could have no health problems, but prepare to pay for a vet bill if she does pass something to your pigs.

i think if you're truly worried and she isn't touching her food or water, you may want to consider introducing her to the other pigs to see if her fear subsides. once again, prepare for vet bills, however i believe the young pig's life is more important than money.

when i got my second pig, i quarantined her for a bit, but i rarely saw her eat and the water level in her bottle never seemed to budge. i feared she could die of water or food deprivation, so i introduced her to my other guinea pig. she was a totally different pig after meeting my other pig. she was eating, drinking, and popcorning. luckily, my new pig didn't infect my other pig, so i'm very happy i made the decision to break the quarantine.

 

[bpatters]

Unless you got her from a shelter or a really crappy home, this is one time I'd break quarantine and put her with the others. Do read Guinea Pigs Social Life first -- the Introductions section is about halfway down. There likely won't be any problems because she's a baby, but adults have occasionally attacked a baby, so you want to be careful.

I say that about breaking quarantine if it were me because I've got enough money set aside to take all of them to the vet if they sick. If you would have trouble with vet bills, then I wouldn't do it.

How long has she been at your house?

 

[lemonham]

You should do your best to make sure she gets water and some food. Do you have any small syringes (without needles) to give her water and mashed food? They usually hate being fed like this but it works to at least get something in her mouth. If you don't have any Critical Care food on hand, take a few pellets in a bowl, add some water and mush it up. Anything to eat to better than nothing.

 

[foggycreekcavy]

I don't think it's necessary to hand feed her at this point. As soon as you put her with the other pigs she will soon be eating and drinking on her own.