Can't figure out if something wrong...

[Cavy.girl]

Hi, I have four guinea pigs and two rabbits. I've had guinea pigs for many years of my life and have encountered many problems and illnesses but obviously don't know everything!

I've got one piggy called Huey, he seems perfectly happy in himself, eating and pooping normally, there's just a few things niggling me about him that doesn't seem right. All the animals live indoors and I see them lots, and it seems whenever I see Huey he's drinking. Other than that he's a very sleepy pig and doesn't show much interest in running around, he'd rather lie down and sleep. He's a middle aged pig so I don't know whether to put it down to age.

I did notice two other things. I was clipping his claws yesterday and found on both his fore paws what looks like deformed toes/nails. I also noticed the skin behind his ears looked lax.

I don't know whether all these things are linked or if I'm looking for problems. To me the wrinkly skin would suggest dehydration but he drinks plenty. Any ideas?

Becky x

 

[katiepops]

Hello welcome to the forum.
It's difficult when you know there's something not quite right but they're not obviously ill isn't it?
Has he lost any weight at all?

Kate

 

[Stacey]

I wouldnt worry about the drinking, one of mine drinks about 2 1/2 bottles per day! I had him checked and everything came back fine
I would think him sleeping alot would be due to his age. Mine sleep ALOT! He could just be lazy or bored?

I'm not sure about the toe/nail or ear. Would you be able to upload some pictures?

 

[Suzygpr]

An increased thirst over what is normal for him could be the first signs of kidney problems or even diabetes. It may be just be normal for him, lots of pigs drink a more than others. Have you recently changed the feed or amount/type of veg, has the feed manufacturer changed their recipe a little?

The oddities on the feet are foot spurs, very common and nothing to be concerned over. You can trim them in the same way you do the nails, just leave a few mm so that you don't cut too close to the foot pad as it may bleed.

HTH

Suzy x

 

[kotov]

at least once a day I'm recommend check weight and examine eyes lips ears legs and body for anything unusual/abnormal.
We have 4 sows now and we give them food twice a day I make sure that all of them are eating.If they eating they not losing weight if not losing weight they almost healthy.Correct me if this scheme is wrong.
Also we handle them and when while this process we look if any other problems.
I hope your pig is ok.

 

[Cavy.girl]

Hi, thanks for the replies. Sorry I hadn't responded, I thought I would get notified but I hadn't, mustn't have done something right!

Huey is a big chunky boy and has not lost weight at all. Definitely nothing to worry about there! haha

I have actually been changing their food over onto another, this honestly didn't occur to me. They eat nuggets and I've been trying them on a different brand. Huey has drank an awful lot of water for a long time, it's not just suddenly happened, but I had worried about kidney problems. He's not had any other problems, like excreting sludge, crying when peeing or anything. I wonder if it is just the food then, it seems logical now!

I will have to take some photos of his toes. It's not spurs, it's his actual toes that look deformed. The nail looks like they've got bigger and gone a strange shape? I will have to show you.

Yes Kotov, I do that too, watch them all eating etc to make sure all is good.

Becky x