Diet?

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1_winged_angel

1_winged_angel

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I think Patch needs to go on a diet as he has a small case of middle age spread! He is 2 and a half years old and weighs about 2KG! Is this normal or does my little Pudge need to lose some weight?
 
it is a little high but as when they get older they tend to lose weight i wouldnt worry too much mayb jest dont feed him fruit.
 
He has a nice bowl of guinea pig crunch and some veggies throughout the day, he also snacks on his hay a lot, he is a bit of a porker, but we love him so much! But he has gained a lot of weight since his cage mate died
 
hay should be unlimited, pellets should be i believe 30-50grams per piggy per day. which veggies? and how much?
 
lauralucy said:
hay should be unlimited, pellets should be i believe 30-50grams per piggy per day. which veggies? and how much?
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He loves carrot so he has that every few days, brocolli, again a few florets every few days, i tend to alternate, he has a sprout, some apple as a treat, some banana skins as a treat...

I do spoil him every so often with guinea pig choc drop treats as he LOVES them and is such a good boy
 
I give mine a handful of gerty guinea pig (per pig) and they should always have unlimited hay as its about 70% of their diet.

Does he get to run around?
 
fruit is high in sugar so should only be fed as a treat once a week at most, carrot i beleive also has sugar in, and I'm not sure but i dont think they should have chocolate drops at all.

as hannah say's have you actually weighed him recently?
 
1800g is high but not overweight.

this is from a previous thread on weight

The normal weight range is about 900-1400g, but piggies can weigh from less than 800g-1800g and still be healthy. Normally they reach their adult weight between 12-15 months old; after six months old, the weight gasin is starting to slow down. As far as I know, neutering does not affect the weight. My own neutered boar was weighing about 1250g - 1300g in his chubbiest times.

There are no fixed weight charts because the range in adult weight is so wide.
 
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lauralucy said:
fruit is high in sugar so should only be fed as a treat once a week at most, carrot i beleive also has sugar in, and I'm not sure but i dont think they should have chocolate drops at all.

as hannah say's have you actually weighed him recently?
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weighed him yesterday, the choc drops are by rotastak and says theyre for guineas, hamsters and girbils. looks like theyre off the menu now :)
 
yes the fruit stick and thinks also say they are suitable for guniea pigs but aren't really. i think its a con to get you to buy them. piggies are happier with veg :)) i do feed mine Fenugreek Crunchies occasionaly
 
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lauralucy said:
1800g is high but not overweight.

this is from a previous thread on weight

The normal weight range is about 900-1400g, but piggies can weigh from less than 800g-1800g and still be healthy. Normally they reach their adult weight between 12-15 months old; after six months old, the weight gasin is starting to slow down. As far as I know, neutering does not affect the weight. My own neutered boar was weighing about 1250g - 1300g in his chubbiest times.

There are no fixed weight charts because the range in adult weight is so wide.
Click to expand...

Thats reassuring, Patch isn't neutered yet, but I am considering it, but would have loved some pups from him as he has an amazing character. But as I am not experienced it wouldn't be appropriate for me to breed them.
 
lauralucy said:
yes the fruit stick and thinks also say they are suitable for guniea pigs but aren't really. i think its a con to get you to buy them. piggies are happier with veg :)) i do feed mine fengruuk crunchies occasionaly
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I did get them for my Robrovinski Hamster to train him, but he was having none of it, then Patch found the packet and stuck his head in there! Cheeky monkey! But I will def not use them in future and stick to veggies.

Patch has been having a work out with the pups!
 
if you do get him neutered you may have to do it soon some vets dont like to operate on boars after 2-3 years old.
 
1_winged_angel said:
I did get them for my Robrovinski Hamster to train him, but he was having none of it, then Patch found the packet and stuck his head in there! Cheeky monkey! But I will def not use them in future and stick to veggies.

Patch has been having a work out with the pups!
Click to expand...

work out with the pups? what pups?

they will eat anything given a chance mine like my kitchen cupboards and my carpets!
 
Yes I wouldn't leave neutering him too long as the older they get the more risky it could be.

1800g isn't too bad but you sure don't really want him to gain much more
 
we adopted some pups not too long ago, Hope and Gizmo, and we let them play together, and he loves them so much. Always cleaning and mothering them!
 
awww sorry thought you meant puppies lol!

at least he is getting some exercise :)

thats ok advice and helping each other is what we do :))

*hugs back*
 
It is a lovely community here. I think Patch is very spoilt! But that said, he is my best friend and we have been together for so long now that if anything were to happen to him I think I would be devastated. He's just such a lovely boy and is so loving and caring

x
 
it really is lovely here :) everyone is friendly and tries to help. i think its nice to have suck a close bond with them, mine see me and think food except my little boy who likes cuddles and is a mummies boy, i dont want to get him done and let him have grilies he might not be such a mummies then. will you be keeping him on his own or trying him together with the little ones?
 
I have put him with the little ones recently overnight just to see how it went, and we were surprised to see that not only did they get on, but they were cuddled up together so I think he will be living with the little ones.

He missed Alphonse like mad so the little babies were what he needed really
 
awww thats good :) just keep an eye on them when the little ones hit the hormones!

if your at home all day i would be tempter to leave them together and see how they get on :)
 
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Thats what I've been doing, Hope had a moment last night when he was humping everyone, but Patch was so good and didnt snap. Gizmo was less than impressed however
 
is there anyway you can keep them together permantly, instead of seperating them?

nelson is going through the humping stage he's tiny at under 400g and he was out playing with billy (1500grams) and nelson humped him, billy got the hump and sulked for an hour, i was cracked up and nelsons looks like well what did i do can i do it again! he could on just get behind him.
 
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