My guinea pig won't eat or drink, but he tries to. He grinds his teeth to, what should I do?

Question

I just had a different guinea pig die a couple weeks ago, and he is showing the same sypmtoms. I am not quite sure what to do or if there is anything to do. I thought I might force feed him, but I didn't know if that would cause him more stress or not. what should I do?

Answer 1

I have a 3 year degree in vet and that means he has overgrown molars which means you need to take him to the vet and give him something hard to chew on.He might be drooling or having diahirrea but that is only side affects of the molars.

Answer 2

Teeth grinding is usually a sign of sever pain in Guinea Pigs. The most common cause of these symptoms is vitamin C deficiency. DO NOT FORCE FEED HIM. If he has vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) he probably stays in one spot in his cage because it is too painful to move. Put his food and water right next to him and do not touch or startle him. Every movement can be excruciating to him at this point. Get vitamin C chewable tabs immediately. Do not give him multivitamins or any type that goes in the water. If you get 100mg Vitamin C tabs, break it into halves and and give him once or twice a day for the next few days, if he lives that long. If you take him to the vet, they can give him a vitamin shot and it will work much faster. He will start feeling better within hours, but it will take weeks for him to be back to normal, if he is still savable. If he won't eat the tab, crush it and mix with a spoonfull of water or gatorade and squirt it into the corner of his mouth. Try not to get his fur and bedding wet. Put more vitamin C in the mixture if you can't get a lot of it in his mouth at a time. From now on, give him 25 mg Vit C every day and read about what veggies can be fed to him to naturally provide vitC. VitC only starts to evaporate as soon as it hits the air, so they rarely get enough of it from thier pellets.
If your guinea pig is scratching himself, shaking, and/or having seizures, it is probably mites under the skin. You can have the vet inject him with ivermectin for 3 treatments. This will need to be done with ALL the guinea pigs in the area, it is contagious. Good Luck!

Answer 3

You should never force feed an animal. You need to get the guinea pig to a vet immediately!

Answer 4

I had tons of guinea pigs when I was growing up and unfortunately the thing is guinea pigs have really messed up intestines and get constipated really easily, many of them die from this. I think I had four die from it myself before a vet informed my mother and I of their condition. There really isn't a whole lot you can do for them.

Answer 5

You need to take you guinea pig to the vet NOW. If a pig is ill, it doesn't take long for it to go downhill.

Answer 6

before you take him to a vet, make sure there isnt anything lodged across the roof of his mouth cuz some friends of mine had that happen to their dog... but if not then take him to a vet and see whats wrong, dont force feed him

Answer 7

let it roam out side a bit, how would you feel being cooped up in cage all day all night? or he might be lonley. ask a vet..
if it cost more to treat him than it is to buy a snake, just go for the snake insted..lol, im j/k. but take it to a vet...

Answer 8

Give him a salt block and a piece of wood to chew on. It sounds like his teeth are really bugging him. Irritation with their teeth will prevent them from eating.

Answer 9

He needs his teeth filed down. You can do this yourself with a file or take it to the vet.

Answer 10

I am not sure if this will work but try giving it a shot of steroids from the vet...it worked for my cat.