Anorexia

Anorexia is defined as a lack or loss of appetite for food. In guinea pigs this can be due to a variety of reasons. Whilst the underlying cause needs addressing, the guinea pig will also require supportive treatment while they aren’t eating properly.

Yes, it is an emergency!

Guinea pigs have a digestive system much like a horse that needs a constant throughput of food. Any length of time without food can cause the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to slow down and stop altogether which is known and GI hypomotility or GI stasis. The condition is painful and there may be bloating or an impaction depending on the cause. This can lead to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and far more seriously, hepatic lipidosis.

Hepatic lipidosis describes the changes seen in the liver when an animal, especially a previously overweight one, mobilizes fat during periods of anorexia. This can cause severe liver damage, which can prove to be rapidly fatal.

It’s extremely important that if your guinea pig stops eating or seems to be eating less and producing fewer, smaller or harder droppings, you should book an appointment to see your veterinarian straight away. The sooner the problem is treated, the easier it is to get guinea pigs eating again.

Guinea pigs are a prey species and are extremely sensitive to stress and pain. Any pain or stressful occurrence can cause a guinea pig to become anorexic. Reasons may include the following, but this list isn’t exhaustive:

• Dental, abdominal or other pain source.
• Loss of a companion.
• Insufficient dietary fibre.
• Excessive carbohydrates in the diet.
• Sudden change in environmental temperature.
• Predators in or around the guinea pig’s environment.
• Respiratory disease – guinea pigs are obligate nose breathers, so if their nose is blocked, they struggle to breathe, and eating is therefore difficult.
• Unfamiliar/change to food.
• Lack of fibre within the diet which causes the GI tract to slow down.
• A blockage within the GI tract.
• A move to a new home.
• Trip to the veterinary practice.

Sometimes it’s not immediately obvious, and the cause(s) may be numerous. It’s important to try and get to the cause of the problem, so adjustments or medical treatment can be implemented to try and resolve the problem, and stop it happening again.

Medical anorexia is normally a gradual occurrence happening over several days or even weeks. Often your guinea pig will begin to eat less and less, and if left without treatment will stop eating altogether. The droppings will become fewer and often smaller and harder, until they too cease production altogether.

If your guinea pig is in pain, they may grind their teeth together harshly.

The exception to the rule is blockages; these are often acute (fast occurring) and the guinea pig often deteriorates quickly.

Anorexia bought on by stress may also be sudden, especially if the guinea pig has lost their companion or has been stressed by predators visiting the garden.

Prevention is always better than cure, so it’s important to feed your guinea pig a high fibre diet consisting of lots of grass and hay. Avoid stress as much as possible and always provide free access to water.

Don’t let your guinea pig become overweight or make any sudden changes to their diet or environment.

Seek veterinary attention urgently!

Never wait to see what your guinea pig is like tomorrow. Guinea pigs will rapidly deteriorate and waiting to see what happens can sometimes mean the difference between life and death.

Observe your guinea pig for signs of pain and discomfort. Are they grinding their teeth in pain? Are they pressing their abdomen (tummy) on the ground? Is there any saliva from the mouth? Have their droppings become smaller, harder and been fewer of them? Are they hiding away? Not wanting to be around companions?

Try and provide your veterinarian with as much information as possible.

It is important that anorexic guinea pigs are supported to help prevent complete GI stasis, hepatic lipidosis and the serious risk of death. Offering tempting food (freshly picked grass, greens, herbs, etc), syringe feeding, fluid therapy, pain relief (if the problem is medical) and prokinetic medication to help get the GI tract moving again are all the mainstay of treatment.

Some guinea pigs who are mildly anorexic may be treatable at home, and your veterinarian will give you medication to give to your guinea pig. Try to get your guinea pig moving around, as this can help to get the GI tract moving again.

Some guinea pigs may need admitting into the veterinary practice for nursing support, medical procedures (dentals, imaging, blood tests, etc) in order to get to the cause of the problem and treat them. It can take days or even weeks before a guinea pig will start eating again, but if they seem to be coping with the treatment and not suffering unduly then it’s worthwhile to persevere.

If your guinea pig lives with another guinea pig, it’s better to try and keep them together. A bonded pair offer each other security and support. An already ill guinea pig is likely to deteriorate if separated from their partner.

However, it can be difficult to determine what one guinea pig is eating and who is passing feces when more than one guinea pig is kept together. So, it may be necessary to separate them, but so they can still see and smell each other. Placing one inside a large carrier placed inside the other guinea pig’s environment can often work well.

This depends upon the cause. Causes such as dental disease are generally lifelong and can lead to repeated bouts of anorexia. It’s important to try and spot signs at an early stage.

Other causes such as predators in the garden, the loss of a companion, or lack of fibre in the diet can be short-term and once the underlying cause is corrected, the guinea pig should be at no higher risk of further episodes of anorexia than any other guinea pig.