Eating but losing weight and lack of poos

[Virgo]

Hi, I'd really appreciate some advice with my guinea pig Maggie. Just a bit of background first - she's nearly 7 years old and had her first experience with I guess what you would say 'mild' bloat last December.

She had been fine since then, until May this year. She's always been a greedy pig and so when she stopped eating, was lethargic and looked bloated again towards the end of May, I knew the bloat was back again. This time it was much worse and she needed to have a needle inserted to release the gas and was on Ranitidine and Infacol. She started eating again like she'd never stopped and her poos were normal. Then about two weeks afterwards (about a month ago now), the amount of poos she was doing dropped dramatically. There was no sign or bloat or blockage and she was still eating like a horse and very happy. I wondered if it was just a symptom of her slowing down due to her age (she had also gotten bonier around the back and hips but hadn't really lost any weight as such).

I've been monitoring her weight and poos for the last 4 weeks now and both are not right. She's eating huge amounts of food (always shouting for more) but very little poos are coming out and her weight has been dropping steadily every week (around 10-20g). There's obviously something going on and I plan on taking her to the vet ASAP, but does anyone have a clue what could be wrong? How can she be eating all the food she does but still be losing weight and hardly pooing?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, I'd really appreciate some advice with my guinea pig Maggie. Just a bit of background first - she's nearly 7 years old and had her first experience with I guess what you would say 'mild' bloat last December.

She had been fine since then, until May this year. She's always been a greedy pig and so when she stopped eating, was lethargic and looked bloated again towards the end of May, I knew the bloat was back again. This time it was much worse and she needed to have a needle inserted to release the gas and was on Ranitidine and Infacol. She started eating again like she'd never stopped and her poos were normal. Then about two weeks afterwards (about a month ago now), the amount of poos she was doing dropped dramatically. There was no sign or bloat or blockage and she was still eating like a horse and very happy. I wondered if it was just a symptom of her slowing down due to her age (she had also gotten bonier around the back and hips but hadn't really lost any weight as such).

I've been monitoring her weight and poos for the last 4 weeks now and both are not right. She's eating huge amounts of food (always shouting for more) but very little poos are coming out and her weight has been dropping steadily every week (around 10-20g). There's obviously something going on and I plan on taking her to the vet ASAP, but does anyone have a clue what could be wrong? How can she be eating all the food she does but still be losing weight and hardly pooing?

Hi! If your piggy has a reduced poo output with small poos, then she is not eating enough and needs topping up support. Please be aware that just watching a piggy nibble on a bit of veg or chewing on crud vcan be very deceptive; over 80% of the daily food intake is hay, which you can only control by weighing weekly in healthy piggies and weighing daily at the same time in the feeding cycle with an ill piggy. Your home care support in addition to any medical treatment can be crucial. The poo output lags about 1-2 days behind the food input.
The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Make sure that your piggy is kept as cool and stable as possible in the summer weather. The hot summer this year is a great killer for all elderly and frail piggies or those with underlying issues.
Hot weather management and heat strokes

Please have your piggy vet checked before the end of the week. The sooner she is getting support, the greater her chances of making a recovery or a major improvement in her condition.

 

[Virgo]

Hi, thanks for the advice! She's wolfing down big bowls of veggies for breakfast and dinner and plenty of hay and pellets during the day, so that's why I'm so confused as to why nothing much is coming out the other end and how she can be losing weight...

 

[Gem789]

Hi, thanks for the advice! She's wolfing down big bowls of veggies for breakfast and dinner and plenty of hay and pellets during the day, so that's why I'm so confused as to why nothing much is coming out the other end and how she can be losing weight...

Is your vet piggy savvy? It might be worth seeing one who is if not.

 

[Virgo]

Is your vet piggy savvy? It might be worth seeing one who is if not.

Hey, unfortunately not really. My feeling is that I'd like some blood tests done to see what might be going on, but when this was mentioned before, the vet said they'd have to take the blood straight from the heart and that this was risky enough for a pig of any age but even worse for my elderly Maggie! I just assumed blood could be taken from a much easier area.

 

[Merab]

Hope that your vet can find out Maggie’s problem and help her recover.
It’s worrying when a piggy is sick

 

[DM030819]

@Virgo My vet hates having to take blood straight from the heart so they usually try over clipping a toenail first. Unfortunately that doesn't always work as the blood coagulates as its being transferred onto a slide.

One of my boys had it done recently. Thankfully he's a bleeder so he offered way more than needed.

It mighy be worth testing his poops first. They can be sent off for testing. My same boy had unexplained weight loss this time last year. We sent off a sample and it highlighted fungal issues. So he had a course of Itrafungal and the weight went back on again.

It's alot less risky than blood tests.

 

[Gem789]

Hey, unfortunately not really. My feeling is that I'd like some blood tests done to see what might be going on, but when this was mentioned before, the vet said they'd have to take the blood straight from the heart and that this was risky enough for a pig of any age but even worse for my elderly Maggie! I just assumed blood could be taken from a much easier area.

Where abouts are you located? We might be able to recommend a vet x

 

[Virgo]

@Virgo My vet hates having to take blood straight from the heart so they usually try over clipping a toenail first. Unfortunately that doesn't always work as the blood coagulates as its being transferred onto a slide.

One of my boys had it done recently. Thankfully he's a bleeder so he offered way more than needed.

It mighy be worth testing his poops first. They can be sent off for testing. My same boy had unexplained weight loss this time last year. We sent off a sample and it highlighted fungal issues. So he had a course of Itrafungal and the weight went back on again.

It's alot less risky than blood tests.

I'd never thought about being able to take blood from an over clipped nail! Is it generally only the heart that blood can be taken from? I definitely wouldn't risk doing a blood test with Maggie if that's the only way.

That's good advice about the fungal issue, I'll bring it up with the vet when I go. I suspect though as they're aren't cavy savvy that they'll just say it's a dental problem or something, even though she's getting through food at a phenomenal rate, especially for her age!

 

[Virgo]

Where abouts are you located? We might be able to recommend a vet x

I'm in mid-north Essex (between Chelmsford and Colchester). I've tried several vets in my area but none are particularly cavy savvy sadly, and I've just stuck with the one I've been going to for years. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

 

[eileen]

hi,if you click on the vet locater at top of page,there is a recommended vet in chelmsford that should help.

 

[DM030819]

I'd never thought about being able to take blood from an over clipped nail! Is it generally only the heart that blood can be taken from? I definitely wouldn't risk doing a blood test with Maggie if that's the only way.

That's good advice about the fungal issue, I'll bring it up with the vet when I go. I suspect though as they're aren't cavy savvy that they'll just say it's a dental problem or something, even though she's getting through food at a phenomenal rate, especially for her age!

Unfortunately as their veins are so small the heart is the only area. But it's worth asking them to try a toenail overclip. My boy was unconscious when they did it though as he was being xrayed for lumps.

If your vet won't send off a sample of poop you can do it yourself. I did, and it was much cheaper. If you Google PALS (Pinmoore Animal Lab Services) they do the tests.

 

[Gem789]

I'm in mid-north Essex (between Chelmsford and Colchester). I've tried several vets in my area but none are particularly cavy savvy sadly, and I've just stuck with the one I've been going to for years. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

Here is a recommended vet in Essex.Is it anywhere near you?

Colne Valley Vets
Ben Bennett
Off Maudlyn Rd
Colchester
Essex
CO1 2GU
01206 794695

 

[Virgo]

Here is a recommended vet in Essex.Is it anywhere near you?

Colne Valley Vets
Ben Bennett
Off Maudlyn Rd
Colchester
Essex
CO1 2GU
01206 794695

Yes that's close, thanks!

 

[Virgo]

Unfortunately as their veins are so small the heart is the only area. But it's worth asking them to try a toenail overclip. My boy was unconscious when they did it though as he was being xrayed for lumps.

If your vet won't send off a sample of poop you can do it yourself. I did, and it was much cheaper. If you Google PALS (Pinmoore Animal Lab Services) they do the tests.

Oh that's great thanks, I'll look into them!