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Advice Please - Barnum's Lost A Lot Of Weight.

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Iceprincessx

Iceprincessx

Junior Guinea Pig
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Wirral
Barnum is about 6 years old and always weighs around 1100g mark. I've noticed in his cage he's been a little bit quieter but was still coming for food etc. Today I've picked him and thought ooh you feel thin and just weighed him and he's gone down to 920g! I weighed him about a month ago. He's sitting here very alert on my knee and just munched his way through 2 pieces of broccoli and 2 green beans but I'm still worried! Should I take him the vet if so can you recommend a vet near Wirral but I'm happy to travel if needs be! Thanks in advance!
 
Thanks there's one in Runcorn (according to the vet locator) that I will ring tomorrow if no one recommend anywhere nearer.
 
I know he's never ill so it's quite a shock! Just hope they can do something if there is something wrong. He's behaving normally out at the moment! Gonna move him and Mack into my room to keep a closer eye on them to check there's no bullying or anything going on!
 
Sounds like something may be amiss with the weight loss, let us know how he gets on. Healing vibes to your boy.
 
Fingers crossed for your boy. My lacey lost weight over time and finding the right vet is the key. I was sent away from a vets saying it was her age (at only 2 and a half).

I finally took her to a good vets in st annes who after a few investigations found a big lump in her neck and she needed an op and her back teeth clipped. She is back to normal now. Lacey was still eating when I took her to the vets but obvoiusly wasnt eating as much as she needed!

fingers crossed you get your boy better soon!
 
Poppy pigs has recommended one in Liverpool so will ring there first thing in the morning. It's strange as last month he'd put on weight! Will hand feed him I generally do with veg anyway but will weigh him daily. Just hope the vet can help him!
 
The Liverpool vets seemed very good. Seem to think he's got a yeast infection and he's got medicine 3x a day and they've sent a swab off. Thanks for your advice! x
 
Glad you have a diagnosis, can I ask what medicine it is? is it Nystatin or Itrafungol?
 
Nystatin although he's a mystery as apart from the yeast they have no idea why he's lost all that weight apart from a yeast infection as he's great in every other way!
 
Nystatin is good. It could be the yeast problem causing it as once the infection becomes systemic it can affect all of the organs and can lead to weight loss, it's called Candidiasis, humans can get it too. Did they say where the yeast was?
 
They were sure thought possible his intestines but white junk came out of his privates. Smelt like a brewery!
 
That sounds about right. Hopefully the Nystatin will help. Has he ever had any fungal skin condition?
 
Ok sometimes Candidiasis can stem from an untreated fungal infection from ages ago, It is mainly an overload of Candida in the gut though and can be linked to diet too, mine have a history of it and are now on a grainless diet.
 
What do you mean by grainless diet? He eats lots of hay and veg and a small amount of pellets. He's never been unwell before.
 
Hi just an update and request for advice. Barnum has had a 2 week course of nystatin and is much brighter. However his weight has plateaued he's being weighed twice a day, getting extra food and being fed on my knee (which he us currently). However when we got the results from the vets, he's not tested positive for thrush and they're at a loss and have told us to bring him back if he carries on loosing weight and they'll need to do some further research and probably a blood test. Has anyone experienced this?
 
If they were trying to culture it then Candida very rarely cultures so am not surprised they got a negative result. Weight loss can go hand in hand with thrush issues especially if it is Candida. It may be worth trying Itrafungol.
 
That's worth knowing think I'm going to take him back tomorrow as I'm worried the effect of no med will just send him backwards.
 
It may even be that he needs to stay on the Nystatin a bit longer.
 
Wondering about signs of mites externally too. Can't see anything on them nothing moving but both guinea pigs are scratching and Barnum looks like he's been barbering his hair!
 
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