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Calcium deposits on fleece.

JandfpiggiesUK

JandfpiggiesUK

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi everyone. Back again.

As of late the boys fleece has quite a lot of calcium deposits all over it.

Some people I’ve asked say this is a sign that they’re getting rid of excess calcium and other websites say that it’s a sign of too much.


I’ve attached a picture as an example of what there fleece is like before it’s washed.
Also any tips on how to get rid of the marks?

Thanks.
8BEB56E0-1CB2-491E-A223-5A9ABF19AAFD.webp
 
JandfpiggiesUK said:
Romaine, celery, cucumber, carrot, pepper & then coriander 2-3 times a week.
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This varies aswell. Sometimes they get parsley or basil, dill etc. But I’ve cut down their herb intake as I noticed the more I fed the more deposits there were so I’m starting to just feed one type of herb maybe a few times a week.
 
What about pellets? They only need a tablespoon of pellets a day per pig. Your veg is fine although I wouldn’t feed too much parsley as it’s high in calcium and carrot is high in sugar so it should be fed sparingly. Do you give tap water? It’s recommended to filter water especially if you live in a hard water area
 
Claire W said:
What about pellets? They only need a tablespoon of pellets a day per pig. Your veg is fine although I wouldn’t feed too much parsley as it’s high in calcium and carrot is high in sugar so it should be fed sparingly. Do you give tap water? It’s recommended to filter water especially if you live in a hard water area
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They get a tbsp a day I’ve got one of those little measuring spoon things so I use that to measure the pellets. They get science selective grain free.

I only feed parsley twice a week as I know it’s very high in calcium, same with dill. Carrot is fed the same.

They get filtered water too. My mum gives our dog filtered water to try and reduce her tear stains so the boys share the filter water jug with her. They’ve been getting filtered water for about 6 months now.
 
Claire W said:
What about pellets? They only need a tablespoon of pellets a day per pig. Your veg is fine although I wouldn’t feed too much parsley as it’s high in calcium and carrot is high in sugar so it should be fed sparingly. Do you give tap water? It’s recommended to filter water especially if you live in a hard water area
Click to expand...
Strongly agree, i dont need to type anything to help, this is what i was going to say
 
One way to tell if it's normal or excessive is to 'pinch' one of the stains, and see if there is any residue, and if so does it feel gritty between your fingers (ah, the things we do for our piggies).
If they aren't leaving a gritty residue behind then chances are they are fine and it just shows up becasue of the colour of the fleece - I have the same coloured liner and a similar issue!
 
Ive had a boar live to 7 in the past with no bladder issues atall, and he left the most white stains behind out of any pig ive had. It was never gritty, just like talcan powder texture
 
This is an unrelated matter. My piggy has lost 0.20g of weight.

He was 1062g last week, today when I weighed him he was 1042g.

Is this something to be concerned about or is it normal?
 
JandfpiggiesUK said:
This is an unrelated matter. My piggy has lost 0.20g of weight.

He was 1062g last week, today when I weighed him he was 1042g.

Is this something to be concerned about or is it normal?
Click to expand...

the weight swing within 24 hours is about 30-40g. We count weight only once a piggy has lost over 50g/2 oz.
Weight - Monitoring and Management

Both the diet and the weight management guides are part of our very useful kit to help our members to a good start into piggy ownership. It is worth reading it as you may learn quite a few highly interesting and helpful things which you would have never expected!
Please click on this link here: Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
 
Wiebke said:
the weight swing within 24 hours is about 30-40g. We count weight only once a piggy has lost over 50g/2 oz.
Weight - Monitoring and Management

Both the diet and the weight management guides are part of our very useful kit to help our members to a good start into piggy ownership. It is worth reading it as you may learn quite a few highly interesting and helpful things which you would have never expected!
Please click on this link here: Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
Click to expand...
I weighed him 6:30 Saturday and weighed him 6:40 today. Does this make a difference?
 
JandfpiggiesUK said:
I weighed him 6:30 Saturday and weighed him 6:40 today. Does this make a difference?
Click to expand...

No; these small swings are not uncommon; I would strongly recommend to read the links I have given you and think in weight bands rather than absolutely weights as explained in the weght management link. It also explains how you can check whether a piggy has a good weight for its individual size as an added health check to weighing.
You should get alert only when there is a definite and consistent weight loss over the course of several weeks.
 
Wiebke said:
No; these small swings are not uncommon. Only when there is a definite and consistent weight loss over the course of several weeks.
Click to expand...
So should I weigh him daily then to keep a check or just weigh him as normal same time next week?
 
JandfpiggiesUK said:
So should I weigh him daily then to keep a check or just weigh him as normal same time next week?
Click to expand...

You weigh him weekly. The weight loss is not significant.
PLEASE read the links I have given you, and you will understand better. They explain the whole thing in detail.
 
Wiebke said:
You weigh him weekly. The weight loss is not significant.
PLEASE read the links I have given you, and you will understand better. They explain the whole thing in detail.
Click to expand...
I have read them, but I don’t understand it really.
It mentions weighing them daily and then if there’s a significant loss then to get them seen by a vet.
 
JandfpiggiesUK said:
I have read them, but I don’t understand it really.
It mentions weighing them daily and then if there’s a significant loss then to get them seen by a vet.
Click to expand...

It mentions to weigh them daily if a piggy is not well or has lost more than 50g and you have concerns.
20g is the equivalent of a full bladder and a hay snack in weight. ;)
 
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