Hi there, My female guinea pig Brody has started acting strangely this last week. She is getting on now, shes about 4 and a half years, and shares her cage
with a younger female. But she has started to breathe really heavily, and quite fast all the time the last week. Her heart really seems to be pouding too, you
can literally see her chest going 'boom boom boom' :(:(:(
Im taking her to the vet tomorrow morning, but I wondered if this was some kind of infection or whether it is a sign of old age? She is still eating and more than happy to be stroked and handled, but she seems sluggish and bloated and just lies there all the time. :( I am so worried about my beautiful girl.
Yesterday she was out of her cage and just pooped (something she neva does she always jumps bak into her cage) and it was all green and mushy. I havent changed her diet in anyway. Ive been giving her normal food, and carrots and lettuce but nothing more or less than usual. And she is still drinking water regular so could it still be dehydration?
Also her right eye keeps closing. It looks pussy and somehow dry and bulgy all at the same time and she tends to keep it closed. Also, Ive noticed my other piggy noodle acting very strangely around brody. Yesterday I watched for about 10 mins and she seemed to be grooming her, but literally pulling big chunks of her fur our and eating it! And brody looked like she was going 'ouch' each time she pulled another chunk but didnt budge.
Theyre also both eating the newspaper from the bottom of the cage. This is something Ive always put down beneath the saw dust and straw to soak up the wee, and they normally dont bother with it. But the last week or so they have been literally burrowing through the sawdust to pull up and chew the paper! I hate the thought of them being ill from ink or something but I cant think what else I could put at the bottom.
Im very worried about my lady... Ill let you know how the vet goes. But has anyone else noticed this behaviour or have any idea whats happening to her? Thank you!
<edited for readability>
Im taking her to the vet tomorrow morning, but I wondered if this was some kind of infection or whether it is a sign of old age? She is still eating and more than happy to be stroked and handled, but she seems sluggish and bloated and just lies there all the time. :( I am so worried about my beautiful girl.
Yesterday she was out of her cage and just pooped (something she neva does she always jumps bak into her cage) and it was all green and mushy. I havent changed her diet in anyway. Ive been giving her normal food, and carrots and lettuce but nothing more or less than usual. And she is still drinking water regular so could it still be dehydration?
Also her right eye keeps closing. It looks pussy and somehow dry and bulgy all at the same time and she tends to keep it closed. Also, Ive noticed my other piggy noodle acting very strangely around brody. Yesterday I watched for about 10 mins and she seemed to be grooming her, but literally pulling big chunks of her fur our and eating it! And brody looked like she was going 'ouch' each time she pulled another chunk but didnt budge.
Theyre also both eating the newspaper from the bottom of the cage. This is something Ive always put down beneath the saw dust and straw to soak up the wee, and they normally dont bother with it. But the last week or so they have been literally burrowing through the sawdust to pull up and chew the paper! I hate the thought of them being ill from ink or something but I cant think what else I could put at the bottom.
Im very worried about my lady... Ill let you know how the vet goes. But has anyone else noticed this behaviour or have any idea whats happening to her? Thank you!
<edited for readability>
