Eating Less?

[pinkrage]

Hi, at what point would you consider visiting the vet if your Guinea Pig is eating less than usual? I gave her the usual amount of yellow peppers and she left about half of them by the time I woke up this morning. But she’s eating her red lettuce this morning just fine. Usually peppers are her favorite, is she just getting pickier? We’re still new piggy owners and she’s still getting used to us as well (like if I clear my throat she might go running)

 

[Janice C]

Is she eating plenty of hay and drinking water etc?
Try her with another type of veg just in case she has gone off the peppers at the moment. Try her with some Romaine lettuce or little Gem or some sweetheart cabbage for a change. As long as she is munching through plenty of hay she should be fine but if no appetite, less poo or pee she would be better Vet checked to be on the safe side!

 

[Tiamolly123]

My piggies can be picky sometimes Do you give them a variety of foods otherwise they will get fed up with the same old foods. Also you need to make sure that nutritional it's good from them. Not to much calcium, if you look at the food chart it should tell you good or bad foods.
If you think they are losing weight, weigh them daily to check they are holding weight. If they lose anymore than 50 grams in a 24 hour period it may be an idea to have them vet checked. 50 grams is the difference between a full bladder or empty.
Hi & Welcome to our friendly forum

 

[sport_billy]

hello welcome to the forum.

the running away is a prey thing... some things spook them more than pothers, we have a really skittish piggy she runs off at everything

Our piggies get bored of certain veg at times, we'll give them a break and sub something else in its place then go back to it.

Do you weigh her weekly?

Could you add your location to your profile as it helps us tailor any advice if ever needed to your geographical location

Welcome again
Lee

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, at what point would you consider visiting the vet if your Guinea Pig is eating less than usual? I gave her the usual amount of yellow peppers and she left about half of them by the time I woke up this morning. But she’s eating her red lettuce this morning just fine. Usually peppers are her favorite, is she just getting pickier? We’re still new piggy owners and she’s still getting used to us as well (like if I clear my throat she might go running)

Please weigh any guinea pig that you are worried daily at the same time instead of the regular weekly check-up and weigh-in. See a vet as soon as a piggy has lost over 50g in a short matter of time or up to 100g in a very slow, gradual loss.

Be aware that 80% of the daily food intake is hay, which you can only control by weighing and that is the food group that is usually dropped first. It is often a pain/discomfort issue at the botton of it, or a dental problem.

Not Eating And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding

 

[gizzy]

Ready grass is good to stimulate the apatite as well as having some of the benefits of hay!
It is a bit rich to feed all the time but it is great to get a pig interested in the hi roufage food that they need for good health

 

[pinkrage]

Thanks everyone, all really great advice that I took into consideration! I got very busy and forgot to check the forum again but she went to town on some lettuce not too much later that day!

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks everyone, all really great advice that I took into consideration! I got very busy and forgot to check the forum again but she went to town on some lettuce not too much later that day!

Thank you for the update! that must be a relief for you!

Please still keep an eye on the weight; especially as you cannot control the hay intake just with your eyes. Vag only makes about 10-15% of the daily food intake.

The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight

 

[pinkrage]

Please still keep an eye on the weight; especially as you cannot control the hay intake just with your eyes.

Thanks, we have been!