• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Dieting a guinea pig?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Batgirl
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
B

Batgirl

One of my guinea pigs, Dexter, is a bit on the chubby side.
He's twice the size of his brother, and he constantly squeaks for food, even if he has a bowl full of it!
I thought about cutting down on his dry food and keeping his veggie portion the same, but would this be cruel? His squeaking for food breaks my heart, but he barely wants to exercise anymore, and it takes a lot of effort to pick him up!
Don't get me wrong, he's not obese or anything, I just don't want it to get that far!
 
Piggies can range in shape and size, and unless Dexter's belly is dragging along the when he walks, runs, etc then I'd probably leave his diet alone :)
 
What is his weight? They do range is size. My biggest pig Sunshine is 2.6lb and then there is Twinkle who is small in length but solid at 2.5lb they don't half vary in weight, length etc. :)

I wouldn't diet a guinea unless necesary seeing as food is so important to their wellbeing. I would get advice from an exotic vet before changing the diet. :)
 
a couple of years ago my vet advised me to put a couple of my guinea pigs on diets (the were huge though). he told me to still give the variety i was giving e.g dried food, fruit, veg, grass, hay but just reduce the quantaties but supplement with vit c. Also not to give fattening veg such as sweetcorn. They were alot healthier for it afterwards and i have always stuck to it with all my guinea pigs now.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I'd never make a guinea go on a diet, i find they eat what they need.
TBH remember that if they get sick they go down hill real fast and it's way easier if they've got some 'reserve' if this happens.....
I'm sure if he's exercising e.g. running around and getting floor time, and eating plenty of hay, pellets and drinking water, along with some veggies there's nothing wrong at all with him :)
As for siblings? they can still be so different, think of humans we as siblings are also quite different :))
How about you weigh him say weekly for a month and see if he's putting on heaps of weight, if he's not it means it's his 'manly shape' x)
 
It must be something to do with Northern Irish Dexter's! Mine is a healthy 3lb 8oz... :)) If you weigh weekly, you'll know what's normal for Dexter. Any weight gain (that is not normal for him) or weight loss will alert you as early as possible to potential problems.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top