Change in Eating and Drinking Habits

[PiratePig]

Hey everyone,

My little Athena seems to be feeling a bit better lately. After handfeeding her for one night and giving her some gripe water she seemed to perk right up and go back to almost her normal self.

I say almost because her eating and drinking habits have changed drastically. Lately she has been leaving her carrot and cucumber which normally she loves. She has also been completely finishing her evening dry food and going through hay like crazy. In all the years that I have had her I have *never* known her to finish all of her dry food.

Along with increased food intake her water intake has sky rocketed.

I have been weighing her daily since Tuesday and she has been putting on about 10g a day (unfortunately I didn't know the benefits of weighing her before she got sick so I'm not sure how much weight she lost).

Should I be worried about this?

 

[PiratePig]

I've also noticed that she has a small lump by her genetals and it seems to not only be getting slightly larger ... it also seems to be moving a little. It is about the size of a large pea and when I noticed it a couple days ago it didn't seem attached to anything, now it definitely is.
She also hardly moves when I go to pick her up...

Looks like we might be going on another trip to the vet

 

[Laura-CCC4]

I'm sorry to hear Athena has been unwell recently. Unfortunately I am not familiar with her case - only returned to the forum a few days ago after a short break. How old is she?

I do agree a trip to the vet is in order. The lump may be something entirely unrelated, could be something as simple as a fatty lump/lipoma/fibroma, or perhaps a cyst.

It is great that she is eating so much hay, the weight gain is likely related to the increased dry food intake. Her increased water intake could also be related - as she is eating more dry food, she has an increased thirst.

Is she eating any fruit or vegetables? What does she normally have, is it the same each day or do you vary it regularly?

 

[Wiebke]

No, it is a good sign - hay should make up to 80% of her diet, and the dry food will also help keeping her teeth in order and get the guts going. The increased water consumption is due to switching to more dry food.

The sustained weight gain is good - it means that she is really making up for lost weight!

Here is a list of what veg and fruit guinea pigs can eat; it is good to vary and give several different veg per day; in total about 50g per piggy per day.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=42
Try to include some herbs like cilantro (coriander), parsley, basil, dill with every meal. They are a very good source for trace elements and vitamins.

Any lump needs to be investigated by a vet. The majority is not malign. However, you cannot tell what it is unless you have seen, felt, and if necessary, tested it.
Here is more about lumps: http://www.guinealynx.info/lumps.html

 

[PiratePig]

Unfortunately I am not familiar with her case - only returned to the forum a few days ago after a short break. How old is she?
...
Is she eating any fruit or vegetables? What does she normally have, is it the same each day or do you vary it regularly?

She is 6 years old (or almost 6 as I am unsure of her exact birthday).

She gets veggies every morning and I suspect that she may be getting bored of the same old same old. She usually gets romaine lettuce, celery, a piece of carrot, a piece of cucumber and either parsley, dill or cilantro. I've been trying to vary the herbs as she seems to get bored of them pretty quickly.

No, it is a good sign - hay should make up to 80% of her diet, and the dry food will also help keeping her teeth in order and get the guts going. The increased water consumption is due to switching to more dry food.

The sustained weight gain is good - it means that she is really making up for lost weight!

Here is a list of what veg and fruit guinea pigs can eat; it is good to vary and give several different veg per day; in total about 50g per piggy per day.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=42
Try to include some herbs like cilantro (coriander), parsley, basil, dill with every meal. They are a very good source for trace elements and vitamins.

Any lump needs to be investigated by a vet. The majority is not malign. However, you cannot tell what it is unless you have seen, felt, and if necessary, tested it.
Here is more about lumps: http://www.guinealynx.info/lumps.html

Thank you very much for the link to the veggie list! I will have to print it off and take it with me to the store when I go today!

I apologize if I sounded a bit paranoid, but I just want to make sure my little girl is ok.:red

I will be making a vet appointment for the lump but at this point it may have to wait until after I get paid. Of course if there are any more changes to it I will take her asap.

 

[Laura-CCC4]

Sounds like you are on the right track with things. She is a good age, and I'm sure she will appreciate trying out some new veggies (although you are probably aware, only one new thing at a time). Herbs and lettuces make up the basis of my pigs' diet, I tend to alternate between coriander, parsley and dill.

 

[Wiebke]

She may love sweetcorn, especially wanting to put up weight. Broccoli is a very good source of vitamin C, as are bell peppers, but you may find that she won;t link every new veg.

 

[PiratePig]

She may love sweetcorn, especially wanting to put up weight. Broccoli is a very good source of vitamin C, as are bell peppers, but you may find that she won;t link every new veg.

Yeah, she isn't much of a fan of bell peppers, if anything she just throws it out of her bowl in disgustrolleyes

During the summer when she lived at my parents house she would sometimes get sweet corn on the cob (just a small piece).

She also *loves* green beans.

I'll have to see what the selection is at the store as during the winter here (same as there I suspect) prices can vary hugely depend what veg is in season where. It was so nice during the first couple weeks of school they had a farm stand with a whole bunch of local veg.