Bella (my guinea pig) has lost a lot of weight. her symptoms are nose and eye discharge, weight lose, constipation, and she seems to lose balance every time I put her down (by falling down on one side). I CAN"T take her to the vet. my mom says it's too much money, and that we can use things that will treat her at home.(I have an orange because I thought she had scurvy). I need to diagnose her that way I can treat her. At first I thought it was scurvy or malocclusion, but now I'm not so sure. she is about 4 years old, but I can't be sure since I got her from a pet store and adopted her. do you have any idea what is wrong with her? Please help.
also, I always gave her some baby carrots every night before I went to bed that way she could have a midnight snack. she never goes to sleep without them. Now that she's sick, she doesn't eat anything. what I'm needing is some ways to feed her that won't hurt her.
I agree with kathy….
the poor animal is suffering, you should not have gotten the animal if you could not afford vet bills. the poor thing is suffering. give her to someone that can take care of her properly. or put her up on petfinder.com but quickly! the poor thing is dying!!
I am so sorry:(. that is very sad and I can definitely feel how much you love her. looking back at your other questions, it seems she has been sick for over a month. Have you tried calling a vet and asking questions? A sympathetic one may give you information as to what is happening and maybe some ways to treat it at home. I don't know what else to say, but I think that calling and asking questions would be the best way. Make sure that you call an exotics vet.
Once again, I'm sorry. that is very sad and there is nothing that you or your mom can do. if you don't have enough money, you don't have enough money. Try doing a super-fundraiser for her. Go door to door in your neighborhood(but stay safe) and tell people what is happening and that you cannot take her to the vet. some people might be really generous in helping.
You other people need to tone it down a bit. if they are on a fixed budget, no one can do anything. Guinea pigs getting sick is uncommon if they are cared for well, and I'm sure this would be as unexpected as a child getting cancer, but it does happen.
Make your guinea pig as comfortable as possible. Clean it's eyes and nose often, wash her bottom and try to get her to go. Try hand feeding her. look for a bottle formula for kittens. that is what is recommended for baby guinea pigs, so at least it will give her nutrients, then feed it to her with something that you can squeeze into her mouth.
Give the animal to someone who WILL take her to the vet. Yell at your mom that she is unfair she takes YOU to the doctor when you are sick and that is WAY more money than a vet visit. either that or put the poor thing down. she is dying and you and your mom are letting her die in a very slow and painful way. tell your mom not to buy any more animals until she grows up and is responsible enough to take it to the vet. Its HER fault NOT yours you are just a kid.
You NEED to take her to the vet. I'm sorry that your mom won't let you – but you need to get her to the vet ASAP. do you have someone who can take her there? they often allow you to have payment plans. if you cannot find someone or the finanical means to do so, as sad as this is, you will HAVE to rehome her to someone who can take her to the vet, QUICKLY, if you want her to live. if it's scurvy, an orange will NOT treat it. if anything, it will give her mouth sores. I would also stop feeding her baby carrots, and limit to one a day – the high levels of oxalic acid in them can bind with calcium to cause stones.
Loss of balance can indicate an ear infection. Constipation/no feces could indicate anorexia, which is very dangerous. (Anorexia in Guinea Pigs is not eating) it could also indicate bloat. Nose and eye discharge is an indication of a URI. All are fatal if not treated by a cavy-savvy vet.
She NEEDS to have something in her stomach if she hasn't eaten in 6-12 hours. do you have Critical Care onhand? if not, make a pellet mash and syringe feed it to her. I've gotten free syringes at CVS pharmacy. guinealynx.info/handfeeding.h…
A link to find a cavy-savvy vet –
guinealynx.info/vet.html
Your mom is wrong. except for scurvy, most illnesses (and from the symptoms, the one your Guinea Pig has) cannot be treated by anything at home without a cavy-savvy vet. Scurvy (which it does NOT sound like your Guinea Pig has) can be treated by Vitamin C supplements.
Please get her to the vet asap!