My guinea pig's tongue is trapped and can't eat. Vet closed, what now?

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.

Thanks for reaching out about your guinea pig. This sounds serious and should not wait until Saturday. Anorexia for 2 days is a serious concern, four to five days might be fatal. You might have to check for clinics open later in the evening. Offering food and water via a syringe might improve things, but is not a cure. Check with the Petco veterinarian to inquire on their experience with exotic animal. Investigating which local veterinarian has the most exotics experience might prove beneficial. 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

I am so sorry. If Brownie doesn't take a couple of breaths in 1 minute, he may have already passed away. If he is still breathing, even if very slowly, make sure he stays warm, you can try to rub some honey on his gums to prevent hypoglycemia. If he can swallow, you can syringe some water or pedialyte very, very slowly so that it doesn't accidentally go into his lungs. He should see a vet as soon as one opens.

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 constantly growing. He or she must chew constantly to keep them trimmed. If not they can quickly become overgrown which will affect the appetite. Until you can get to your veterinarian for treatment, it is important to encourage your guinea pig to eat and drink. Some guinea pigs will readily drink fruit-flavored electrolyte replacement solutions, such as PediaLyte or Gatorade, from a syringe. Offer your guinea pig a [balanced diet](https://www.petcoach.co/article/things-to-know-about-feeding-your-guinea-pig) including a large selection of fresh greens such as cilantro, romaine lettuce, parsley, carrot tops, dandelion greens, spinach, collard greens and good-quality grass hay. Don't forget to supplement with [Vitamin C](https://www.petcoach.co/article/guinea-pig-vitamin-c-requirements). Your vet may recommend syringe-feeding a special herbivore diet, such as [Oxbow Critical Care](https://www.oxbowanimalhealth.com/our-products/professional-line/critical-care), or you can mix ground up pellets with fresh greens, vegetable baby foods, water, or juice to form a gruel. Introduce the syringe tip into the mouth behind the front incisors and depress the plunger slowly, giving your guinea pig time to swallow. If your guinea pig is still mobile, encourage exercise for at least 10–15 minutes every 6–8 hours, as activity promotes gastric motility.

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.

Good morning! Yes, that sounds like a worry for sure, although I'm glad he did eat some food overnight. The wet patch could be drool; perhaps he is having trouble with his teeth? It was a smart idea to weigh him, and this proves that he is likely dehydrated, having lost a fair bit of weight overnight. Would you be able to find a vet that is comfortable working with guinea pigs today? It sounds like Buzz needs an exam, to sort out what is going on. Good luck!