Guinea Pig runt experiences...

[Methe]

One of my sows had a litter of 6 on Friday. We have 5 healthy babies and one runt who isn't doing so well. He is 1/3 of the size of the rest and much less 'with it' The 5 bigguns are charging around the place eating food and drinking water. Runty just sits looking sad.

I am trying kitten milk every couple of hours and have also let him have 10 minutes on his own with Mum from time to time so he can suckle without being shoved off but he hasn't really gown in size since birth so not sure how sucessfully he's feeding. I can hear him grinding his teeth a lot too and am wondering if maybe he has dental problems? Mum is completely disinterested in him and I had to dry him off when he was born as she just shoved him to the side :( I'm quite attached to the little fella but if he's he's in pain or never going to thrive i'll take him to the vets and get him PTS.

Any words of wisdom?

[BonkeyMollocks]

No experience with babies but I hope the little one pulls through!

[HmmThinkingAboutIt]

I've had a lot of litters in the past. I have to say, that in my experience, you can try everything but its largely down to how much fight they have in them. (by the way if you are feeding with extra milk, do it from side of spoon not syringe as very small babies can choke). Best you can do, is make sure he gets time with mum and hope.

What kind of noise is he making? If he's making clicky noises its a bad sign, and he has problems with breathing - you could try the vet but in all honesty there is very little they can do.

All I can say is good luck, and hope he pulls through. Runts have always ended up my favourites and have special little personalities (probably because of extra handling), when they have pulled through.

[Methe]

Runty looks terrible this morning, all glassy eyes and wobbly :( he is clicking So presumably it's his lungs. I tried latching him on to mum but with no success sk It's only a matter of time I think. I wish I could hurry him along, poor little bugger :(

[damppatchnot]

Marmalade had six once and the runt was tiny. She looked all head but wad feisty from the off and now is a big chunk like her mum.sometimes they surprise you

[damppatchnot]

Also do you have any other nursing mums? If mine just have one they tend to feed the others too. Runty may get more off mum then

Hope he makes it xxx

[Methe]

RIP runty :( little guy is buried under the lawn.

[HmmThinkingAboutIt]

I'm really sorry to hear. Hope all the others are doing ok...

[Methe]

Yes thanks, all the other seem do be doing well. They are the most incredible creatures!

[DontEatTheVolesKids]

I am not surprised, our runts never lived long either :(.

[BonkeyMollocks]

:(

[Mintyy]

Bless his little runty heart. A few tears here .

[guineapiglet]

Aw, poor little soul, very sorry to hear he didnt make it - hope the others are thriving and you can enjoy them - nature is very cruel isn't it, doesnt seem fair to me. Have lots of fun with the others. :)

[damppatchnot]

Orrrr bless him

One of the saddest things I have ever experienced and I have lost many loved ones is the death of my angel

She died giving birth and I have never seen anything as sad she tried so hard and the vet did all he could

I held her for hours later she was a White lunkyara and so lovely

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Poor little chap .
6 is alot of piglets for a sow to nurture.
My childhood sow had a litter of 3 and of course one got pushed out when she fed 2.
He spent most of his day with his dad (boar lived in the next room) but went back to his mum to feed.
They used to squeak through the central heating air vents .

Sadly if the sows don't want to feed them, there's not alot you can do to convince them otherwise.