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Can hot weather cause a Guinea Pig to not eat as much?

Gem789

Gem789

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I was just looking at pickle today and noticed she’s not as active, lying around more etc( I wouldn’t say lethargic but not as active as normal)I also thought she looked slightly slimmer.I’ve just weighed her and she’s down to 781g, she was 920g at her highest when she saw Simon just under 2 weeks ago to check her teeth.Her teeth were in really good shape and he didn’t wanna see her till mid June.I'm quite worried at such a big drop in that time.I should weigh weekly but I admit I haven’t been.Could the heat have anything to do with the weight loss? It’s been hot here yesterday and today.
 
I'm no expert, but has she had enough fluids? In warm weather like this, I don't know if that could contribute to her situation.
 
My Pickle was a little lethargic when I put her and Jasmine out on the lawn on Sunday, but that could've been because it was nearing midday. I put them out in the late afternoon yesterday and they were both much more active. Have you got a fan which could blow a gentle breeze to help keep her cool? Or perhaps you could freeze some fruit or vegetable so it's like an ice lolly?
 
HeatherW said:
My Pickle was a little lethargic when I put her and Jasmine out on the lawn on Sunday, but that could've been because it was nearing midday. I put them out in the late afternoon yesterday and they were both much more active. Have you got a fan which could blow a gentle breeze to help keep her cool? Or perhaps you could freeze some fruit or vegetable so it's like an ice lolly?
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I could try that with the vegetables , thanks for the tip.Shes hiding under the c and c loft at the moment and she’s normally on top of it.I’ll weigh her again tomorrow and see if she’s lost any more.
 
That's quite a lot of weight to lose in two weeks. I think a vet visit would be in order just to be on the safe side. It might be that she's feeling a bit warm and not so interested in her food as usual, but I would rule out anything else.
 
Reenie said:
That's quite a lot of weight to lose in two weeks. I think a vet visit would be in order just to be on the safe side. It might be that she's feeling a bit warm and not so interested in her food as usual, but I would rule out anything else.
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I thought it’s a lot of weight to lose too,I think I’ll book her in this week to be on the safe side.
 
HeatherW said:
My Pickle was a little lethargic when I put her and Jasmine out on the lawn on Sunday, but that could've been because it was nearing midday. I put them out in the late afternoon yesterday and they were both much more active. Have you got a fan which could blow a gentle breeze to help keep her cool? Or perhaps you could freeze some fruit or vegetable so it's like an ice lolly?
Click to expand...

I would definitely NOT give frozen veg/fruit to her or blow a fan on her, drafts are not good for them and frozen food 1) she wouldn’t be able to chew it 2) it will probably give her diarrhoea 3) upset her stomach and 4) veg/fruit looses its nutritional value when frozen (fibre and vit c in particular), not completely, but not as good as fresh.

Have you got any supplement feed (critical care) you could syringe feed her until she sees a vet?
 
G&C said:
I would definitely NOT give frozen veg/fruit to her or blow a fan on her, drafts are not good for them and frozen food 1) she wouldn’t be able to chew it 2) it will probably give her diarrhoea 3) upset her stomach and 4) veg/fruit looses its nutritional value when frozen (fibre and vit c in particular), not completely, but not as good as fresh.

Have you got any supplement feed (critical care) you could syringe feed her until she sees a vet?
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Yes I’ve got syringe feed from when she wasn’t eating as she had dental issues.I was reading the hot weather management thread and it said not to give frozen food.Ill weigh her tomorrow and if she’s lost anymore I’ll defin step in with syringe feeding.
 
I hope all goes well at the vets and it's just the heat! Poor Pickle :( My lot are all napping much more frequently than normal but they have not lost much if any weight so you're making the right call having it checked out just to be sure!
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
It sounds like she may need some more dental work. When did she last have her teeth filed?
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She last went on the 27th may and Simon only had to do a little tidy of the back teeth.He was amazed with how good her teeth were and the weight she’d put on.Her lowest weight when I took her on was 520g and she was 920g when she last went x
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
It sounds like she may need some more dental work. When did she last have her teeth filed?
Click to expand...
She last went on the 27th may and Simon only had to do a little tidy of the back teeth.He was amazed with how good her teeth were and the weight she’d put on.Her lowest weight when I took her on was 520g and she was 920g when she last went x
 
Gem789 said:
She last went on the 27th may and Simon only had to do a little tidy of the back teeth.He was amazed with how good her teeth were and the weight she’d put on.Her lowest weight when I took her on was 520g and she was 920g when she last went x
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Sorry not may, I mean April.
 
I put her out for half an hour earlier with one of her cagemates when it had cooled down to try her on some grass cos they all love that.She did have some but she wasn’t as fast at eating it as her friend.
 
I am still new not only to guinea pigs but also having moved up to the north and weather changes. We had a lot of tornadoes hit the midwest this past week and it caused a heat wave for 3 days that we weren't prepared for. We hit around 90 degrees F outside and our family room stayed around 80 F at highest. I was told to add ice boxes in the corners wrapped in a thick terry towel and this worked very well. Many of the guinea pigs leaned up against them.

We did turn fans on and didn't point right on them but alongside the cage however there was some breeze in the cage. Two of my three are now pregnant but they did fine. They did rest a little more however still went up to the lofts for the most part as they usually do. Still ate fairly well the same and did drink quite a bit. It went the same each day for about the two hours it hit past 75 f in the house. My daughter's room upstairs was much warmer so we had to run out and get an ac and install quickly while they were put downstairs in the family room but honestly the behavior didn't change so much from the norm for any of those days; even when the heat was higher as we caught it for the upstairs boars and got them downstairs. They maybe were laying down a bit more but still ate and drank normally.

This is all new to me and only the first go but I think I would just have the vet check your little one again to be sure as well. I think the heat does affect them to a degree but the weight loss and lack of wanting to eat could need looking into.

Still happy to have some nicer days now-hoping your little family enjoys the nice weather.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
I’d get her rechecked by Simon or Kim. It may be something mouth related, but not dental, such as oral thrush x
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The only appointment available is Friday and I’m working all day.She definitely not herself, I can tell by her eyes and she’s definitely not as active as she normally is.Shes had a bit of pepper but keeps pawing at her mouth when she’s eating.
 
Poor girl.
Can you get time off for the vet or is there someone who could take her for you on Friday?
 
Merab's Slave said:
Poor girl.
Can you get time off for the vet or is there someone who could take her for you on Friday?
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I’ve got a friend who could maybe take her but he’s not got the best memory so I worry he won’t remember what they said.I wish I could swap shifts.
 
Why don't you phone the vet, explain the situation and ask if Kim or Simon can write down what the problem is for you then your friend won't need to remember. All he'll need to do is give you a piece of paper and you can ask for that if he forgets!
 
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