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Fast weight loss

Amyrosie87

Amyrosie87

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Junior Guinea Pig
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I was hoping that things would turn around, but I've lost a little bit of faith in my vets so I'm looking for a bit advice before I go back again.

Ruby has been in and out of the vets for a couple of weeks. She's losing weight. Still eating but being very picky. They said it was her teeth so she got booked in for dental for following Monday and I got sent home with Metacam and a sachet of Recovery food. Took her back 2 days later because she still seemed like she was in a bit of pain and still dropping weight fast despite syringe feeds. They doubled the Metacam dose and gave me a few more packets of Recovery food. The vet also recommended I pick up some Pro-C. I also have CC and ground up pellets at home, so with a lot of syringe feeding managed to keep her weight constant at around 860g until her anaesthetic.

That was last Monday. When I picked her up they said nothing much was wrong with her teeth, and something else was probably causing the weight loss. I think they gave her something for her metabolism but I didn't catch what they said exactly. They told me to take her home, keep on with the remaining Metacam, keep her comfy and feed her up, because as a senior pig (she's only 4?) there could be a lot of issues starting to crop up.

Were they suggesting to me that there's nothing more they can do? Her weight has dropped about 100g this week despite syringe feeding 5/6 times a day and she's still eating on her own (but not loads). I can maintain her weight during the day but some days it's dropped sharply overnight. The only other thing the vet mentioned was she looks a bit stiff when she walks, and her kidneys were a bit abnormal, but she's not drinking excessively. Poops are looking healthy. She's a bit quiet and easily tired, and been doing a bit of corner sitting, but in the mornings she's always bright and squeaking for food.

I'm going to take her back (although I'm a bit worried about stressing her out) but hoping I could be armed with a bit of knowledge and advice, because after them misdiagnosing the teeth, I don't really want to put her through anything else unnecessary.
 
I’m really sorry I can’t help. Just offering support. Can I ask what the vets checked for at the first & second visit? As in what did they eliminate apart from teeth issues?
 
I'm surprised this thread hasn't had more advice posted on it. My advise would be to change to a better vet. They can miss problems with teeth if they are not experienced with Guinea pig teeth. Hope things get sorted 👍
 
The first visit was when Ruby had her teeth looked at, the vet couldn't see too well at first because she had grass in her mouth, but after a second look said yes her teeth were overgrown. Prior to checking her mouth she felt her over, asked the usual questions about diet, pooping, coughing and sneezing etc. All those things are as normal. I told them she was quieter and occasionally she's hunching and looking miserable so something is causing her discomfort. They said it's probably because her mouth is sore. I don't think anything was ruled out as such.

The second visit I took Ruby back because I was concerned about her losing weight before the anaesthetic. Different vet this time - one I trust a lot more since she's looked after many of my pigs in the past - she was very helpful, but she didn't check for anything else because they'd already diagnosed the teeth as the problem.

Then when I picked her up on Monday I spoke to a nurse, who said yes there probably is something else wrong but without extensive testing they won't know what, so it was a bit vague, and at that time I just wanted to get her home and make sure she was recovering from the anaesthetic okay.

We used to have a vet here who specialised in small animals, I wish he was still with the practice because he was brilliant. I'm in Cornwall, looks like the closest recommended vet is Saltash, but I don't drive so it's not easy to get there. I'd be willing to try if they could help her though.
 
I’d try a different practice. I certainly wouldn’t be giving up and it does sound like that is what they were saying by keep her comfy and feed her up. There is something causing her problems and trying a different, cavy savvy vet would be the next thing to try if teeth issues are completely ruled out (although I’d still get a new vet to check the teeth again).
How has she and her weight been since last Monday?
 
The next step for me would be to see a different vet and to ask for an X-ray and ultrasound. If she’s stiff when walking and a little hunched up, she could have arthritis’s or something else which the X-ray and ultrasound may pick up.

I certainly wouldn’t be giving up yet especially as she’s still a youngster in my mind
 
Yes I agree with the above posts, 4 years old is by no means old enough to give up on her! Mystery weight loss can be tricky to find a diagnosis for, but I do think there are more tests a good vet could offer, such as an xray and ct scan like @Claire W mentions, or some blood tests- though it does still rather sound like it could be dental, I would be getting a second opinion on the back teeth as a first option! Hope you can find out what's wrong x
 
I may try and request an appointment with my favourite vet at my practice first and talk to her about an xray or ultrasound (she's done them for me before). If I'm not filled with confidence then I'll try a different practice. I think part of the reason they didn't really encourage me to go for further testing is probably the cost, but I'm willing to pay to find out what's going on.
I've been starting to suspect arthritis... she doesn't move as fast as the others and she waddles a little bit.

She was 762g when I weighed her this morning, tiny bit hunched when I first checked on her. So roughly the same weight as the day before, but last week she was averaging 830g. I mixed up some syringe feed, she was so eager to get to that she knocked the bowl over 😂 She's had about 50ml of it so far, now she's in the cage, sitting on a snuggle pad eating some grass. I've separated her from her cagemates to eat, otherwise they push in the way too much, but I'm worried about separating her too much. I don't want her getting lonely.
 
Amyrosie87 said:
I may try and request an appointment with my favourite vet at my practice first and talk to her about an xray or ultrasound (she's done them for me before). If I'm not filled with confidence then I'll try a different practice. I think part of the reason they didn't really encourage me to go for further testing is probably the cost, but I'm willing to pay to find out what's going on.
I've been starting to suspect arthritis... she doesn't move as fast as the others and she waddles a little bit.

She was 762g when I weighed her this morning, tiny bit hunched when I first checked on her. So roughly the same weight as the day before, but last week she was averaging 830g. I mixed up some syringe feed, she was so eager to get to that she knocked the bowl over 😂 She's had about 50ml of it so far, now she's in the cage, sitting on a snuggle pad eating some grass. I've separated her from her cagemates to eat, otherwise they push in the way too much, but I'm worried about separating her too much. I don't want her getting lonely.
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Sounds like a good plan regarding the vet.

It’s ok to separate to ensure she gets her fair share of food, but separating too much isn’t good - a bit of a balancing act. You say she is eating but is being picky - is she choosing to eat hay herself between syringe feeds? Could she stay with her friends when you feed her but put her food at the other end of the cage and watch her to ensure she gets her share (shooing her friends away if they try to take her food). That’s only going to work if you can be around at a meal times though.
 
I agree with above and would maybe try another vet. Hopefully there’s one on the list linked above.

What did they say needed to be done about the overgrown teeth?
 
Siikibam said:
I agree with above and would maybe try another vet. Hopefully there’s one on the list linked above.

What did they say needed to be done about the overgrown teeth?
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She went in for the dental procedure last Monday and they filed her teeth. But apparently they weren't too bad, so I wasn't charged for it. They said she was gobbling down grass once she started recovering from the anaesthetic; unfortunately her appetite still hasn't improved since then. She's eating grass, but not with her usual enthusiasm, picking at the fresh veg, and she's not particularly interested in hay - I've bought 4 different types of hay hoping that one will tempt her.

She's having a bit of lap time at the moment, eating grass. I get weirdly happy whenever I see her chewing at the moment 😂
 
Little update: Ruby's been back for a thorough physical examination. Teeth rechecked, joints checked, stomach feels fine (if a little empty) and her chest was fine. No issues with swallowing.
She's on Metacam again so I can judge if that is making any significant difference to her behaviour, and they're going to ring me back later about booking her in for bloods/scans.
The vet did say if she is having particular discomfort with fibrous foods, it could be a bit of arthritis in her jaw. If the Metacam isn't making any difference then she said it's probably not a physical pain issue and we need to start looking at liver, kidneys etc.
Ruby has been having a good go at some veggies today, and she's been wheeking for food, so I'm glad to see she's showing a bit of interest. Still not keen on hay though, so we're continuing the syringe feeding.
 
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