Continual weight loss in senior since vet visit

Pohtaytur

Pohtaytur

Junior Guinea Pig
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So my pig is around 6.5 based on his medical record. I noticed him losing weight and started giving him critical care before taking him to the vet. His weight was stable but the vet said that he seems to be in great condition and is healthy. Told me to give him more variety like he did my last visit and has a very very subtle cataract. Since the visit and not giving him critical care like the vet said, he lost around 60g over 19 days. His rate sped up since stopping critical care. Should I just visit the vet again? He said to only check in once he gets to around 800g (he's at 959 since today). He's also still very active, alert, running around and always wanting food so I don't know whether to wait or go soon. I provided his weight chart below. I would like to just listen to the vet but I'm worried about him.
 

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I’m sorry your piggy is slowly losing weight. I’m not a health expert but I’d say if you’re worried then definitely take him back to the vets again. You know him best. But if the vet says he healthy it may just be a very gradual weight loss of an aging piggy. Will he eat a daily top up of critical care in his cage from a bowl?
 
My older piggy Geoff ( he’s 6 in January) is sleeping more, has an early cataract and is losing about 10g per week .
He has a bit of impaction but only needs clearing weekly.
He feels a bit more ‘boney ’ along his spine but on a recent Vet visit she said that’s expected with an older piggy.
She gave him a thorough check and felt he was doing well for his age.
I give him Johnson4Joints every night and a regular bit of readigrass to help his weight.

I’m sure other forum people who have more experience will be along to advise you
 
Sorry to hear this. I have two older pigs and one of them has had some unexplained weight loss, various inconclusive tests. We give her critical care off a small plate which she takes daily and the vets say it’s fine to do this at her age. She still eats her hay, veg and some pellets but she’s needs a bit of help and the critical care is helping her maintain a reasonable weight. Luckily she will eat off a plate and will take about one heaped teaspoon of it a couple of times a day. Like your pig, she’s generally quite active and perky when she wants to be, begs for food etc. but at 6.5 she’s sleeping more so doesn’t graze all day like she used to.
 
Thanks to everyone with advice, I'm going to start giving him a small bit of critical care every few days and see if it helps him stay stable. I gave him about 1/3 a scoop of critical care with as little water as possible and he ate that all up and continued eating and walking around. I'll see how he's doing after a bit and continue giving updates.

My only hope is that he's just a bit stressed from all the changes at home lately and that he'll get better after settling down more.
 
It’s great that he’s still got a good appetite ❤️
 
So, update for anyone interested, I've bumped him up to a full scoop of critical care cause he went down to the 930s, and he's back up to the 960s and is stable for now. Seems like he's taking more to softer hay but is still eating Timothy. He's also been chewing wood toys less even though he's gone for them before in the past. Going to switch to maybe orchard hay maybe so he can have more of that and just keep a mix of both.

He's still very active and food motivated with good poop, even popcorning and running around sometimes, so here's to hoping that softer hay works out.
 
Pohtaytur said:
So, update for anyone interested, I've bumped him up to a full scoop of critical care cause he went down to the 930s, and he's back up to the 960s and is stable for now. Seems like he's taking more to softer hay but is still eating Timothy. He's also been chewing wood toys less even though he's gone for them before in the past. Going to switch to maybe orchard hay maybe so he can have more of that and just keep a mix of both.

He's still very active and food motivated with good poop, even popcorning and running around sometimes, so here's to hoping that softer hay works out.
Click to expand...

Please keep an eye on his teeth; there could be a problem developing. This can happen very quickly. Have a look at the incisors: are they slanted, jagged or is there a v-type indentation whethey meet and abrade against each other, or is one of them becoming thicker and larger?

This is not necessarily a fail-safe pointer (especially if the incisors themselves are not quite evenly aligned) but it can give you a hint of some developing problems with the molars and especially the premolar teeth at the back of the mouth that you cannot see: is there a one-sided pain issue (slanted from chewing mainly just one side of the mouth with the other starting to overgrow), overgrowth (jagged from irregular chewing), severely restricted jaw movement on both sides (V-indendation). You can also feel along the lower and upper jaw for tiny lumps (potential root abscess in the very early stages that is making itself felt quite some time before it starts blowing up). Sores in the mouth (oral thrush) could also be an issue. This list is not exhaustive.

If you notice one of these things or if the weight loss issue continues, please see a vet. Whatever it is, it is still in the early stages but a changed eating habit very often points at a pain issue somewhere, including the mouth and head.

Wishing you all the best.

Caring for Older Piggies and Facing the End - A practical and supportive information collection
 
I’d agree with Wiebke that is really is worth getting his teeth checked with your Vet , especially the molars …just in case a problem is starting
 
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