My guinea pig is lethargic. Can I give it Gatorade or PediaLyte?

Too much water can also pose a problem, so I would be inclined to allow her to hydrate orally. If there is a veterinarian who sees guinea pigs in your area they may want to give some subcutaneous fluids. This is helpful because it replaces electrolytes in addition to fluid. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hello, and thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear that Shadow is unwell. Guinea pigs often hide their illness until they are very sick, so I would recommend getting him to a guinea pig-savvy vet as soon as possible in the morning. The blockage at his anus may be indicative of constipation, which may be secondary to dehydration due to some other underlying illness, such as dental pain, gut stasis, infection or cancer. The vet will perform a full physical exam, check for dehydration and fever, and may recommend further diagnostic tests such as blood work or x-rays to determine the underlying cause of illness. At minimum, they can try to rehydrate him through fluid therapy, and prescribe pain medication and a special diet to help maintain his nutrition. In the meantime, try to offer him a variety of his favourite foods (hay, veggies, fruits) in order to keep up his strength and hydration. Keep him in a warm, non-drafty area. You can try to gently remove some of the impacted fece

A [guinea pig](https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-you-need-to-know-about-your-new-guinea-pig) that is not eating or drinking needs to be seen by an exotics species veterinarian ASAP. Your guinea pig is at risk of developing (or may already have) a medical condition called Gastrointestinal Stasis (GIS). Without treatment, this can be a fatal condition. GIS is a common condition in guinea pigs and rabbits. Gastrointestinal stasis occurs when the normal emptying of the stomach and passage of food through the intestinal tract slows or stops. Food, fur, and other ingesta then accumulates in the stomach. Without sufficient water intake, the stomach contents become dehydrated, making passage of the contents even more difficult. Anything that causes your guinea pig not to eat/drink, such as disease, dental disease, pain, stress, or starvation, can lead to gastrointestinal stasis. Be sure to have your vet check your guinea pig's teeth for overgrowth or misalignment. A guinea pig's teeth are

Thanks for reaching out about your guinea pig. Being lethargic is a signs of being ill, so a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Providing some heat support could give some comfort but does not replace the need for a veterinary visit. Continue to offer food and water through a syringe. Monitor fecal production and urination. Good luck.

Check her teeth if she will allow. They could be overgrown or misaligned which could affect her appetite. If they look normal, have her examined by your veterinarian to diagnose illness or injury. Clean and sanitize her cage, use fresh bedding and provide plenty of fresh hay and water. Don't forget her Vitamin C supplement.

I am sorry to hear about your guinea pig. It sounds like she definitely needs veterinary attention. There could be many different causes for her symptoms, ranging from infections, GI stasis, and dental issues. I would get her to the vet as soon as possible. In the meantime you can soak some guinea pig pelleted food in water and blenderize it, then use an eye dropper or syringe without a needle to try to feed Caramel to provide some calories.

I would recommend taking her to the vet tonight if you can. Usually by the time a guinea pig shows us they are sick they have been sick For a while and just hiding it. If you cannot tonight I would offer his his favorite treats to make sure he is eating and take her to the veterinarian tomorrow.

Hi, and thanks for your question. This is a quite generic but concerning presentation. Differentials are many, from gastrointestinal diseases (infection/inflammations often dietary related) to any disease that can spread systemically (causing lethargy for example) like infection, and anything that can cause pain/discomfort. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is immediately essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

She should be examined by your veterinarian, or a vet experienced in treating pocket pets, to diagnose illness or injury. Guinea pigs can develop tumors, infections ​of the feet, urinary tract infections or even diabetes. Gastrointestinal upset should also be ruled out. Clean and sanitize her cage, bowls and toys. Discard old chew toys. Fill with fresh, clean bedding and keep Lil Bit as warm and stress free as possible until she sees the vet.

Hello, thank you for your question about Layla. It is possible that Layla is experiencing mild stress secondary to her recent move. I would recommend continuing to monitor her for the next 24-36 hours and ensure that you offer her a wide variety of foods including fruits and vegetables. If her signs do not resolve or she develops any additional symptoms I would recommend having her evaluated by a veterinarian. Hope this helps, good luck!