What Are The Reasons a Guinea Pig Won’t Move, Eat, or Drink? (Find Out Now)
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As a guinea pig parent, you know that they love to eat and drink. Guinea pigs usually chew hay all the time too. So what does it mean when they stop moving, eating or drinking?
There’s several reasons why a guinea pig might not move, eat, or drink. It could be because they’re in a new environment and they’re not used to it. They could also have an illness, like malocclusion, gut stasis, bladder stones, or pneumonia. Pain from internal injuries can also be the reason. Guinea pigs also stop moving, eating, and drinking when they’re stressed.
Some causes of anxiety have symptoms that will help you identify them. This way, you can check them off your list of concerns.
Let’s have a look at them one by one.
1. Not Used To a New Environment
New environments can be stressful for guinea pigs. Remember that guinea pigs are prey animals. When they haven’t yet known if an area is safe, they’re bound to be stressed.
If you just got your guinea pig, you might notice that they aren’t eating or drinking. They might even refuse to move and hunch up in a corner. Typically, this means that they’re scared.
If your piggie is acting scared or nervous, give them some time to adjust. You can do this by leaving them along for the first day or so when you bring them home.
Treats help your fur babies realize that you’re a friend…and not about to eat them.
If you want some tips on how to make your piggie feel welcomed in your home and less afraid, check out these posts: 10 Tips to Help a Skittish Guinea Pig Settle In and Do Guinea Pigs Like to Be Held? (+6 Amazing, Helpful Tips)
2. Malocclusion
Malocclusion in guinea pigs means overgrown teeth. Guinea pig’s teeth never actually stop growing. Scary, right?
Because of this, they need to constantly chew hay. Chewing hay all day and even at night helps wear down their teeth. It also keeps the teeth grounded.
Here are the symptoms of malocclusion:
- Watery eyes or cloudy discharge (white discharge)
- Increased salivation
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Visible overgrown teeth
Malocclusion needs to be treated immediately. If left untreated, it will lead to gut stasis. Gut stasis is fatal for guinea pigs.
A stop in gut movement (gut stasis) will lead to starvation. Starvation is deadly for guinea pigs and can quickly lead to death.
3. Gut Stasis
Gut stasis, or when the guinea pig’s gut stops moving, is a life-threatening condition that is common in cavies.
GI (gut) stasis is when the bacteria in a piggie’s gut gets out of balance. This can lead to a complete stop in contractions of the stomach and intestinal muscles.
Essentially, the guinea pig’s gut stops moving. This means that any food in their stomach and digestive tract stays in place.
The food doesn’t get absorbed, processed, or metabolized – which is bad with a capital “B”.
This is dangerous for herbivores like guinea pigs. Their gut needs to constantly move.
If a guinea pig stops eating and drinking, it’s likely because of gut stasis. This will make the condition worse.
Food helps to stimulate the gut, and water helps to absorb shock from the gut stasis.
They will also stop moving around as much and eventually stay in one spot.
To prevent gut stasis, make sure your guinea pig has a proper diet that is balanced and nutritious. Give them an unlimited supply of hay (Timothy hay). Also, make sure they live in a stress-free environment.
4. Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a disease that can cause pigs not to eat, drink, or move. Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of death for pigs. Guinea pigs can get pneumonia very quickly if they catch a cold.
Pneumonia makes it hard for guinea pigs to breathe. This makes them uncomfortable and they will stop eating or drinking. Difficulty breathing also means they won’t want to move around much.
The causes pneumonia in guinea pigs is mainly caused by two bacteria:
- Bordetella bronchiseptica
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
It’s good to catch pneumonia early so it can be treated. Here are the symptoms to watch out for:
- Lethargy
- Difficulty breathing
- Sneezing
- Conjunctivitis
- Nasal discharge
- Fever
- Refusal to eat or drink
Cavies can get better if they are treated for pneumonia quickly. If it’s not treated, it will get worse fast.
Antibiotics are the best treatment for pneumonia. Pets should take antibiotics prescribed by a vet.
If your pet has pneumonia, it’s important to get them emergency treatment. If left untreated, the condition can kill them within 48 to 72 hours. Make sure you have a fund saved up so you can take your pet to the vet in an emergency.
Check out these posts to learn more about keeping your piggies healthy AND alive: 11 Devastating Reasons Why Guinea Pigs Die Suddenly and Can Guinea Pigs Suffer or Die From Depression? (Find Out Now)
5. Pain From Internal Injuries
One of the causes of your cavy not moving, eating or drinking can be an injury. Guinea pigs can sustain injuries and they’re extremely good at hiding them.
Sometimes you might not be able to tell if your furry potato is injured. So if you notice that they’re not moving, eating, or drinking, examine them first.
If you can’t see any visible injuries, take your pet to the vet. The vet will also do tests to check for internal injuries.
Internal injuries can be fatal for guinea pigs if they are not treated right away. Delay in treatment will make their condition worse and could even kill them.
So if you notice your little fuzz spud refusing to move, eat, or drink, take them to the vet.
Have you had your guinea pig for a while and you STILL aren’t getting the love from your fur babies? Take a look at Why is My Guinea Pig Still Scared of Me? (The Alarming Truth)
6. Stressful or Scary Environment
Guinea pigs are very sensitive prey animals and get scared easily. This can cause them to stop eating and drinking or even stop moving.
If you notice your piggie eating less than usual, or not drinking as much water, this may be a sign that they are stressed.
Stress can have a direct impact on your piggie’s appetite and energy levels.
7. Bladder or Kidney Stones
Bladder or kidney stones cause a lot of pain in guinea pigs. You’ll actually notice or even hear your little buddy whine or shriek in pain when urinating. Urinary stones are common in guinea pigs.
Urinary stones are found on the urinary tract including:
- Kidneys
- Ureters
- Bladder
- Urethra
Due to the pain, the piggie will most likely avoid any movement.
The symptoms of bladder or kidney stones are:
- Pain when urinating
- Blood in urine
- Lethargy
- Straining
- Urinating small amounts frequently
If your guinea pig is not eating or drinking, it might have bladder or kidney stones. Look out for the symptoms listed above to take your piggy for treatment.
Is It Normal For a Guinea Pig Not to Move?
It’s not normal for guinea pigs to not move around. Guinea pigs are very playful animals and they love moving around a lot.
If you notice that your guinea pig is not moving, please take it to the vet as soon as possible.
Guinea pigs move around a lot. You’ll usually see them running around, but they will also stop and lay down for a bit. They usually get back up after a few minutes.
What Do I Do When My Guinea Pig Isn’t Moving, Drinking, or Eating?
Check to see if your guinea pig is breathing. If not, you should take them to the vet right away. You can also use a syringe to feed them food and water. This will help them stay hydrated and healthy.
If a guinea pig is not moving, eating, or drinking, it needs emergency medical attention. You should also check for any physical injuries.
Check out this video on how to syringe feed guinea pigs:
Remember that not eating or drinking is very dangerous for your fur baby. So, it’s important to feed them and give them water. Use the syringe if they can’t eat or drink on their own.
Why Is My Guinea Pig Not Moving But Breathing?
If your guinea pig isn’t moving but breathing, it could be because they’re sick. It could also mean that they’re injured which makes movement hard. Another reason can be because they’re full and just want to rest or sleep. Lack of movement can also be an after effect of a seizure.
There’s a range of factors that could cause a guinea pig to not move.
First, you should examine your fuzzy potato closely. If your little friend is just resting, you’ll notice that your little friend looks healthy.
If piggies are sick, you’ll also notice other signs such as:
- Lethargy (sluggishness)
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Lack of feces
- Panting
- Weepy/runny eyes
- Heavy breathing
- Runny nose
What Does It Mean When a Guinea Pig Stops Pooping?
When a guinea pig doesn’t poop, it’s because of gut stasis.
Gut stasis happens when the stomach and intestines stop contracting. This is a life-threatening condition that can come about due to an illness.
If your piggie isn’t pooping, that might mean they have gut stasis. You’ll need to take them to the vet for treatment.
In the meantime, you can try feeding them to see if that will help.
Make sure to feed them mainly hay since it’s high in fiber which can help get their gut moving again.
Why Do Guinea Pigs Lay On Their Sides?
In many cases, a guinea pig lying on its side is a sign of happiness and relaxation.
When guinea pigs are well fed and want to rest, they will lie on their side. But if they’re lying on their side with difficulty breathing, twitching, or looking ill, get them to a vet right away.
I wrote a whole article about it called Why Guinea Pigs Lie on Their Side (Explained Now). You should check it out.
Guinea pigs also lie on their side when they play dead due to fear or shock.
Check for accompanying symptoms if you find your little buddy lying on his side. If they look uncomfortable or sick, you should immediately see a vet.
What Are The Signs Of a Guinea Pig Dying?
If your guinea pig is having trouble breathing, seems very lethargic, and has lost a lot of weight, it might be dying.
Its pulse might also be abnormal and its body temperature could be fluctuating. If your guinea pig enters into a coma, it’s likely that your guinea pig is dying.
Other signs include old age, piggie hunched in the corner not moving, and fly strikes.
Pneumonia and skin infections can also mean your guinea pig is approaching the end of its life.
It’s important to remember not to diagnose your guinea pig without taking him to the vet. The signs above can also mean they’re just sick and need treatment. A vet will give you a diagnosis and a way forward.
Can I Save My Guinea Pig From Dying?
You can save your guinea pig from dying by taking it to the vet for treatment. Make sure the guinea pig is eating and if it cannot eat by itself, you’ll need to give it food through a syringe.
You should also give the guinea pig water to drink, or use a syringe if it cannot drink by itself. Keep the guinea pig’s cage ventilated, warm, and clean.
Make sure your pets are warm if they’re cold. Give them vitamin C every day, through vegetables, fruits, or supplements. Remember to keep them clean if they’re not able to keep themselves clean.
Let’s Wrap Up
To conclude, let’s look at the reasons why your guinea pig won’t move, eat or drink:
- Not used to the new environment
- Overgrown teeth
- Gut stasis (gut not moving)
- Pneumonia
- Sustained internal injuries
- Stressful or scary environment
- Bladder or kidney stones
Remember to take your furry potato to the vet if they stop eating, drinking, or moving. If they’re not eating or drinking, you should also give them food and water.
Make sure to check your piggie’s cage to check if it’s safe, clean, and has good ventilation. You should also be on the lookout for bullying. Bullied guinea pigs also stop eating and drinking and don’t move as much.
Examine your guinea pig every day for injuries or body changes. Weigh your fur babies weekly to see if there’s a big loss of weight. That’s usually the first sign that something might be wrong with your little friend. If you think something might be wrong, talk to a cavy savvy vet – ASAP.