My guinea pig's hair is puffy and she won't eat. Is she sick?

Thanks for reaching out about Whisky and including a photo. By the picture, she appears thin. Dental, renal and heart diseases should all be considered. Intestinal infections, malabsorption and scurvy can also have similar signs. A veterinary visit is highly recommended to assess the condition and provide guidance, as each of these have different treatments. Good luck.

Hello, When I see guinea pigs with hair loss (usually over their backs) and weight loss, I often think of reproductive tract problems. Guinea pigs commonly get ovarian cysts and the extra estrogen production causes hormonal hair loss. Four ounces is significant weight loss for a guinea pig, and I would recommend having her checked to be sure of what is going on. I hope this is helpful.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Issues with teeth are very common in guinea pigs, and do frequently result in issues eating. Dyba may have an issue with his facial nerves or muscles, making it difficult to bite/chew food. Loss of appetite can be caused by many intestinal conditions, but less specific conditions as well, such as cancer or infections. I recommend having Dyba seen by another vet, you may want to look into having him seen by someone who specializes in small mammals or pocket pets. In the meantime, you can try moistening his pellets to make them easier to eat. I hope this helps and that all is well!

Thanks for reaching out about Chloe and including a photo. Yes, you should see a veterinarian as soon as possible. This could be very serious. Gastric distention can be a clinical sign of many problems, but early veterinary intervention has a better prognosis. Good luck.

Make sure they check all of his teeth. The teeth can overgrown to the point that they can’t eat. If he hasn’t eaten for a while the intestines will stop moving and they will need medications for pain and also some to try and get them to start moving again. Hope they figure it out for you. Good luck

He needs to be seen as soon as possible by your local veterinarian. Unfortunately the signs you are describing are quite severe and concerning and possibly a gastrointestinal inflammation/infection is present. I would recommend an immediate check up, radiographs, antibiotics and supportive treatment (fluidtherapy) are required.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds like your little guinea pig might be very sick. Guinea pigs should eat and poop continually, and this alone is concerning. Guinea pigs also often get respiratory infections and this could be the cause of her not eating. I recommend having her seen by a vet right away. If you got her from a pet store you might want to ask the pet store if the other guinea pigs have similar signs as this could help with a diagnosis. You should bring her to a vet right away though, as by the time guinea pigs show they are sick, they are very very sick. Prey animals will hide illness until they cannot anymore, so waiting is never a good idea. Best of luck with your little girl, I hope she feels better soon.