How can you tell if a guinea pig is dehydrated?

An ill guinea pig may not drink enough water on its own to do well. Your guinea pig may be dehydrated if you see any of these problems: thick sticky saliva, crusty eyes, poor appetite, small amounts of dark colored urine, or hard dry fecal pellets.

How do I get my sick guinea pig to drink water?

A cavy’s health can deteriorate very quickly, so you need to make sure that he’s under the care of a professional if he’s not acting right. Sometimes being sick prevents your little friend from accessing their water bottle. In some cases, switching to a water bowl will encourage your ill piggie to drink more.

How long does it take for a guinea pig to get dehydrated?

A healthy guinea pig may be able to survive up to 24 hours without water, but they will be dehydrated after that time. Furthermore, it is possible that the resulting dehydration can cause semi-permanent or even permanent damage to the guinea pig’s health.

Can I give my guinea pig Pedialyte?

Another way to re-hydrate is to use a children’s electrolyte solution. For example, Pedialyte should work, especially when mixed 50/50 with water. You can again syringe this to your guinea pig. You can also add a second water bottle with the 50/50 mixture.

What can guinea pigs drink besides water?

Guinea pig can have unsweetened apple juice and unsweetened cranberry juice. We really need to emphasize the unsweetened part because fruit juices are already naturally sweet, and you don’t want to give your piggy too much sugar. In fact, even unsweetened juices need to be diluted before you let them drink it.

What do you do if your guinea pig is not drinking?

Guinea pigs need water! Even if they’re not drinking it, you should refresh their water every few days. You never know when a thirst will take them. Like all animals, guinea pigs should always have fresh, clean water to drink.

Can I give my guinea pig Tums?

It is a good source of easily digested protein and calcium. I use the same quantities as listed above but also add one crushed 500mg Tums tablet (for calcium) and use the cereal instead of pellet fines.

What can I do for a sick guinea pig?

Can you give guinea pigs Gatorade?

No, sorry, he needs to eat the guinea pig food. Guinea pigs need a special diet that contains a lot of vitamin C as their body cannot make it on it’s own.

Can guinea pigs eat alfalfa hay?

For guinea pigs younger than 6 months and for enceinte sows, the above diet should be supplemented with unlimited alfalfa-based pellets and daily amounts of alfalfa hay. Alfalfa is high in protein and calcium, which makes it beneficial for growing and lactating guinea pigs.

What is critical care for guinea pigs?

Critical Care is a premium recovery food which can be given to herbivores with poor nutritional status resulting from illness or surgery. This specially-formulated product contains all the essential nutrients of a complete diet as well as high-fiber timothy hay to support proper gut physiology and digestion.

How can I get my sick guinea pig to eat?

Can guinea pigs just eat pellets?

Can I give my guinea pig just pellets? No, that would be cruel. Guinea pigs need clean water daily, high quality fresh hay, grass, a mixture of about a cup of high quality fresh vegetables daily.

Can guinea pigs eat oats?

They are very calorific, so naturally, the piggies tend to like them! I don’t feed them as a rule, but use them if there are piggies who are in need of gaining some weight or adding some condition and add an additional oat bowl, alongside the normal dry food. The won’t do any harm in the quantity you are giving.

What is in guinea pig pellets?

Most guinea pig pellets are alfalfa based. Alfalfa pellets are suitable for young, growing and enceinte guinea pigs. After your guinea pig is about a year old and fully developed (see notes), a timothy based pellet, which provides less calcium, may be a good choice.

Can guinea pigs survive on just hay?

Your guinea pig should have unlimited access to high quality grass hay. Your guinea pig should eat a pile of hay as big as his body every day. Avoid alfalfa hay unless directed by your veterinarian. Instead choose timothy, orchard grass or oat hay.

Do guinea pigs need pellets if they have hay?

Yes, pellets are very important to guinea pigs. They contain the vitamins and minerals that are missing from hay. Vitamin C is especially crucial because guinea pigs cannot manufacture this vitamin, and they need it every day.

Do guinea pigs miss their owners?

Yes, of course they will miss you and their normal routine. Our first family piggy back in the 70ies did a big dance of joy every time he came back home after a holiday. Now my piggies always visibly of relax when I come back from a family visit to another country.

Do guinea pigs like to be held?

Guinea pigs are social animals and enjoy human interaction, including petting, stroking and playing. However, it’s important you learn how to handle your guinea pig correctly to avoid any injuries. It’s not uncommon for guinea pigs to be skittish around their owners.

What is poisonous to guinea pigs?

Make sure you do not feed your guinea pigs the following foods (this is not an exhaustive list): cereals; grains; nuts; seeds; dried beans, corn, and peas; buttercups; garden shrubs (such as hemlock or privet); lilies of any kind; sweet peas; nightshade; oak; avocado; onion grass; onions; potato tops; mushrooms; …

Can guinea pigs tell when you’re crying?

Guinea pigs do know when you’re sad and they usually can tell when you’re feeling that way by how you’re acting and sometimes even by the tone of your voice. They may even act differently if they notice that you’re feeling down and sometimes they might try to comfort you as well.

Can guinea pigs fart?

But, can guinea pigs also fart? Well, sadly yes! This phenomenon is completely normal and natural but did you know that too much gas can become dangerous? Even though their digestive system is broadly similar to ours, guinea pigs are unable to pass large quantity of gas through their intestines.

Do guinea pigs recognize their names?