Advice on Weight/Heft

[Sophia Watson]

Hi Guys,

Just needing some general feedback please.

I recently took my two seniors to the vets for their wellness check.

Merry is 6 years old, on average 850 and Frodo is 6.5 years old, 1140 on average. Merry has always been a smaller pig, Frodo has always been a large pig, I've had both since they were only a few months old.

I'm a bit confused on the vets response to their weights. I tried to speak more with her to clarify but it has left me doubting her a bit (she has performed surgery on Frodo before for his cancer lump removals, so the doubt has been lingering previously, this has just increased it. Long story)

Now she said that Frodo is in stable condition but is "skinnier" than Merry. I asked if she's referring to his muscle mass and she replied yes, he's a little more bonier. Her responses didn't give me much of a good "lift" though. She's very much maybe a person with an emotional wall shut off?
- delivers good news with a little bit of negative regardless of the outcome.

So my question is guys surely this weight for his age is ok? His hips are bonier now yes, but I can't feel ribs sticking out or anything. To me he's still quite our little fatty. And he is in good health (apart from new suspicious lumps)

I've never had senior piggies before, and with Frodos current issues this is causing me extreme anxiety. His lumps have come back so we are waiting on test results - high chance of his cancer but HOPEFULLY not.

She mentioned that you shouldn't rely on scales as this doesn't give you a clear indication of health. What?! This vet is one that has replaced my usual vet that has gone into semi retirement. I will be requesting that our no. 1 vet call us when Frodos results are in.

Can anyone offer a response to the weight mentions please?

 

[DM030819]

@Sophia Watson As pigs age many will lose muscle mass and become bonier around their rump and become more triangle shaped when viewed from the back. I think this is what your vet means.

 

[DMS260820]

I had a boar i rescued from age 2 years old, he lived to 7. He lost alot of muscle mass around when he hit 6 years old. Dont worry about Frodo, that looks like a good weight to me.

My sow Dot has changed shape since she hit 2 years old. She looks like a butternut or a pear. You can feel her ribs a bit, but she has a fat back end. She is not underweight though, even though it goes against what the weight guides say on here. Sometimes you can read and look into things too much. Thats a down side to having access to the internet. But the good thing is the many pro's about the internet

 

[Lady Kelly]

I agree you shouldn't rely on scales alone but they do allow you to see what's normal for your piggy and notice any changes that might indicate illness. Heft is the best way to check for health alongside weight but as mentioned above, take into consideration that muscle mass does diminish as they age.

 

[piggieminder]

You may find this guide useful.
Weight - Monitoring and Management

Sending Frodo healing vibes, and hugs to you. It's so hard waiting for results, they seem to take forever. X