On Oct 23, 11:45 am, Naomi <nomesgrif...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> Hi all, I posted a few weeks ago about our guinea pig, two year-old
> Wiggles who sadly died. Her sister Nubbin was lonely, so we got her a
> new roomie, a grey/white baby (she was six weeks when we got her) whom
> we named Weeble. Nubbin was always the submissive guinea pig, her
> sister would always get to the food first and generally boss Nubbin
> about. After a week or so of Nubbin trying her best to dominate
> Weeble, she became submissive again and was being pushed around by the
> baby. I felt really sorry for poor Nubbin! Over the weekend, Nubbin
> started to show signs of illness. She didn't seem herself, was
> spending most of her time in her house. We paid her lots of attention
> and gave her lots of cuddles, but then she stopped eating/drinking,
> pooping and she had a runny nose/sneezes and a slight crusting in her
> eyes (which I wiped). We took her to the vet yesterday who said her
> bowels were backed up, so she gave her some antibiotics and some
> Science Recovery (liquid feed) to try to get her bowels moving again.
> We gave her the meds and managed to get a large syringe full of the
> Recovery stuff down her last night and again this morning (she seemed
> to like it), she actually seemed like she'd perked up overnight. Then
> a while ago I went to get her out to hold her and keep her warm (it's
> chilly today) and she'd sadly passed away :-( I was really taken aback
> and obviously upset, as she seemed to be getting a bit better...
>
> ... I guess I wanted to ask if it's possible that Nubbin simply pined
> after her sister and "gave up" so to speak, as she didn't seem to form
> any particular bond with Weeble... or if there's something about the
> environment we keep our piggies in that's making them ill (even though
> the two piggies seemingly died of different things). We're going to
> get another house mate for Weeble later, as we don't want her to be on
> her own, but if there's something we're doing wrong with our piggies,
> we need to know so we don't lose any more!
>
> We had Wiggles and Nubbin for over two years with no problems (except
> Wiggles always had droopy/sometimes watery eyes, but the vet couldn't
> find anything wrong with them), so why all of a sudden have they both
> died?
>
> We've started putting a blanket over their cage as the weather has
> turned cold and we thought it'd help keep away draughts, we give them
> lots of attention/ daily veg (though not too much), fresh water...
> They're cleaned out regularly... The only thing I can think of is the
> cold and it's made them poorly, but why haven't they been affected by
> it for the last two years? Is it because we've moved house this year
> and their cage is in a different position?
>
> If anyone has any ideas, let me know, I can't bear to lose any more!!!
>
> Thanks all,
> (sorry for the rather lengthy post),
> Naomi
Hi Naomi
I was really sad to hear your story about little Nubbin. Unfortunately
these creatures do get poorly and can go downhill very quickly. You
musn't think that it's any reflection on the way you have looked after
them. One thing did spring to mind when I read your story however and
your vet should have been more aware of this: When rodents become ill
for whatever reason and stop eating, their guts stop moving, and
whereas in some cases prompt syringe feeding with solids can restart
the guts, metaclopramide should have been administered aswell to
ensure that the guts DID move. Bacterial toxins build up in a blocked
gut and this can often lead to death if not treated quickly enough.
Pleae don't think that any of that was your fault. You are obviously
someone who cares so much for these little creatures, and should carry
on caring for them. I suggest you get another little piggy as a
companion for Weeble. You said that Nubbin may have had a cold, so
don't blame yourself for putting in a new mate. I'm sure Nubbin
enjoyed having Weeble to take her mind off not being well.
Heather
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