First Time Poster So Please Be Nice. Would Really Appreciate Some Advice About Gp Weight !

[Lizzypig55]

Hello Everyone,
Three weeks ago after a long time of wanting to own our own GP we came across H, a beautiful boar, 6 months and last one in a local pet shop and brought him home. In our urgency to rescue the little fella we did not consider the fact he was alone as a problem, I admit it was impulsive, as I wanted to get him home fast . He seems happy and healthy but I soon realised he was lonely and a quick telephone call to the pet shop showed that yes, he was last in litter, his brother had been sold a week before after six months together. I have him indoors with lots of care, warmth and fusses etc and he seemed just great but wouldn't come out his hidey hole and nervous. (This is not really relevant but a bit of a background info).

So as I said I knew he needed piggy company and PAH advised not to just buy a friend and then stick in cage (I know I was now stupid to even consider it) but to either try a separate cage and another rescue piggy. No joy on rescue front as they didn't have any suitable and I tried a fair few! Then I looked on gumtree and saw a beautiful boy who was described as being a year old and collected him Saturday and for sale for a fiver (2 days ago). Lets call the new boy 'A'. A was described as being in a hutch with two RABBITS so I knew even if it meant separate cages forever I had to get him. I won't go into detail but lets just say I am glad I did.

The new GP has eaten none stop and cannot believe how much space he has ! however I am very concerned as when I weighed them both my 6 month boy H weighs 680g yet the year old one weighs 368g this appears tiny according to a graph I have seen and now I am seriously worried and wondering if I should take him to the vet tomorrow... please advise! many thanks

 

[helen105281]

Hi, welcome to the forum. That does seem a very low weight for a pig of that age so yes I would get him checked by a vet as soon as you can. Is he eating ok? The vet will also be able to confirm if the age you have been given is correct. Do you have him in quarantine?

 

[Lizzypig55]

Hi! not in separate room but I probably should I think..
Feel so silly as he is fit active and seems fine physically etc.. checked him over visually no ticks etc ..

 

[LisaAli]

Hi to the forum..

 

[Lizzypig55]

Hi! not in separate room but I probably should I think..
Feel so silly as he is fit active and seems fine physically etc.. checked him over visually no ticks etc ..

ps -
Sorry for not thanking you for replying!

 

[Lizzypig55]

Hi to the forum..

Thank you very much !

 

[helen105281]

Ideally it needs to be in a separate air space as things like fungal spores are airborne. I am wondering if you have been told the wrong age.

 

[Lizzypig55]

They were all squashed in the tiniest hutch imaginable, he ate all his hay etc immediately and is wolfing down his veg like no tomorrow! poor little fella, I am now trying not to panic and will take him to the vets tomorrow

 

[Lizzypig55]

Ideally it needs to be in a separate air space as things like fungal spores are airborne. I am wondering if you have been told the wrong age.

Yes I would not be suprised at all... I cannot see anything on him have checked him over fully but i Suppose itis hard to tell!

 

[helen105281]

Yes try not to panic, he is safe now bless him, and it's great that he is eating well. It's possible that if he lived with rabbits he didn't have much access to food and he was also most likely fed the wrong diet as pigs and rabbits have different dietary needs.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello Everyone,
Three weeks ago after a long time of wanting to own our own GP we came across H, a beautiful boar, 6 months and last one in a local pet shop and brought him home. In our urgency to rescue the little fella we did not consider the fact he was alone as a problem, I admit it was impulsive, as I wanted to get him home fast . He seems happy and healthy but I soon realised he was lonely and a quick telephone call to the pet shop showed that yes, he was last in litter, his brother had been sold a week before after six months together. I have him indoors with lots of care, warmth and fusses etc and he seemed just great but wouldn't come out his hidey hole and nervous. (This is not really relevant but a bit of a background info).

So as I said I knew he needed piggy company and PAH advised not to just buy a friend and then stick in cage (I know I was now stupid to even consider it) but to either try a separate cage and another rescue piggy. No joy on rescue front as they didn't have any suitable and I tried a fair few! Then I looked on gumtree and saw a beautiful boy who was described as being a year old and collected him Saturday and for sale for a fiver (2 days ago). Lets call the new boy 'A'. A was described as being in a hutch with two RABBITS so I knew even if it meant separate cages forever I had to get him. I won't go into detail but lets just say I am glad I did.

The new GP has eaten none stop and cannot believe how much space he has ! however I am very concerned as when I weighed them both my 6 month boy H weighs 680g yet the year old one weighs 368g this appears tiny according to a graph I have seen and now I am seriously worried and wondering if I should take him to the vet tomorrow... please advise! many thanks

Hi and welcome!

Please have your new boy vet checked; that is the weight of a 6 weeks old baby! At that weight, he has likely only ever had enough food to just about survive. No wonder is he tucking in. With some look and good care, he is still young enough to at least make up some headway and still grow a bit more. even though he is likely to stay very tiny and suffer the consequences of his neglect for the rest of his life; esepcially as he has likely had to grow up on rabbit food, which lacks certain important nutrients like vitamin C and has a different amount of roughage etc.
Here is our recommended piggy savvy vet locator: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/pages/guinea-pig-vet-locator/

I would also strongly advise to quarantine him for 2-3 weeks.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/importance-of-quarantine.108034/

If you wish, you can try to pair up your boys (for that, see our information threads at the top of the behaviour section) or - if you have got one of our recommended piggy savvy guinea pig rescues that offers this service - have them each paired up with a mate of their own choice under expert supervision. Boars of all ages can be bonded and re-bonded, but what any successful bond hinges on, is character compatibility. Sadly, pet shops are not often known for their knowledge or quality of advice, and bonding is beyond them. I must admit that I find tales of separating a working pair of well bonded boys for the sake of a single sale doesn't raise that pet shop in my esteem!

Here are some threads that you may find helpful in settling your two boys in:
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/how-do-i-settle-shy-new-guinea-pigs.36239/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...stincts-and-speak-piggy-body-language.117031/

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/guinea-pig-body-quirks.58854/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/guinea-pig-toys.43520/

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...or-a-balanced-general-guinea-pig-diet.116460/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...-preparing-your-piggies-for-lawn-time.111794/

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/cage-size-guide.120795/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/bedding-for-guinea-pigs-overview.114219/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...stincts-and-speak-piggy-body-language.117031/

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/boars-a-guide-to-successful-companionship.76162/

We have got lots more information at the top of our various Care sections, but you are welcome to ask any questions you may have.

 

[Flutterby]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

 

[Lizzypig55]

Yes try not to panic, he is safe now bless him, and it's great that he is eating well. It's possible that if he lived with rabbits he didn't have much access to food and he was also most likely fed the wrong diet as pigs and rabbits have different dietary needs.

Thanks for your kind words I will get some pics up on my profile etc and keep you all posted. . he seems full of determination bless him!

 

[helen105281]

Happy to help. Let me know how you get on. Sounds like he is a little fighter bless him. I would introduce veg slowly if possible in case his tummy is not used to it and maybe only introduce one type of hay at a time. A friend adopted a pig who had had an incorrect diet and he struggled at first with all the nice hay she gave him.

 

[Lizzypig55]

Hi and welcome!

Please have your new boy vet checked; that is the weight of a 6 weeks old baby! At that weight, he has likely only ever had enough food to just about survive. No wonder is he tucking in. With some look and good care, he is still young enough to at least make up some headway and still grow a bit more. even though he is likely to stay very tiny and suffer the consequences of his neglect for the rest of his life; esepcially as he has likely had to grow up on rabbit food, which lacks certain important nutrients like vitamin C and has a different amount of roughage etc.
Here is our recommended piggy savvy vet locator: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/pages/guinea-pig-vet-locator/

I would also strongly advise to quarantine him for 2-3 weeks.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/importance-of-quarantine.108034/

If you wish, you can try to pair up your boys (for that, see our information threads at the top of the behaviour section) or - if you have got one of our recommended piggy savvy guinea pig rescues that offers this service - have them each paired up with a mate of their own choice under expert supervision. Boars of all ages can be bonded and re-bonded, but what any successful bond hinges on, is character compatibility. Sadly, pet shops are not often known for their knowledge or quality of advice, and bonding is beyond them. I must admit that I find tales of separating a working pair of well bonded boys for the sake of a single sale doesn't raise that pet shop in my esteem!

Here are some threads that you may find helpful in settling your two boys in:
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/how-do-i-settle-shy-new-guinea-pigs.36239/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...stincts-and-speak-piggy-body-language.117031/

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/guinea-pig-body-quirks.58854/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/guinea-pig-toys.43520/

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...or-a-balanced-general-guinea-pig-diet.116460/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...-preparing-your-piggies-for-lawn-time.111794/

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/cage-size-guide.120795/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/bedding-for-guinea-pigs-overview.114219/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...stincts-and-speak-piggy-body-language.117031/

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/boars-a-guide-to-successful-companionship.76162/

We have got lots more information at the top of our various Care sections, but you are welcome to ask any questions you may have.

Thank you so much for all your advice!very appreciated I will go through all information you recommend.

 

[Lizzypig55]

Can I just say a GREAT big thanks again for all the replies and kind words, I apologise if I do not follow any etiquette rules etc of the forum , as this was a hasty (panicky!) post but I will learn will get some pics up in the next few days. I love these boys so much already, will do my best for them

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much for all your advice!very appreciated I will go through all information you recommend.

Please take your time, and also have a look through the rest of our infomation, which you can find at the top of our various Care sections when you have time.
Your primary aim is currently to make sure that both boys are OK and that you settle them in.

Any further plans hinge on what a good vet is saying. Make sure that he is checking your little boy for signs of scurvy (vitamin C deficiency) as well. Unlike guinea pigs, rabbits can make their own vitamin C in their bodies, so rabbit food is not reinforced with vitamin C, while guinea pigs rely on extra vitamin C.

 

[Lady Kelly]

Hi and welcome to the forum. Don't worry about hasty posts, it is often the case that people only stumble across this forum when googling because their piggy is ill/ just gave birth/ is fighting so we are used to helping people who are new & a bit panicky.

If you haven't already done so I would check the sex of your new "boy" as it's clear the previous owners didn't know anything about him & his needs. This will save the obvious introductory problems should he have been missexed. I'm not massively experienced with boys but with the ones I have met it is usually pretty obvious once they are older and have been through the hormonal stage given the... erm... "Junk in their trunk" they drag behind them. I took in a 2-3 month old who was packing a bit so assume he was more like 1 year

 

[Julie M]

Hello and Welcome. Hope your boys settle soon.

 

[Coco&Luna]

Oh dear, I really hope that you have been told the wrong age and he is infact just a baby and not a severely nalnourished adult.
I'm glad you have them now.
Lots of luck with your furry little couple!
x

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome to the forum. Don't worry about hasty posts, it is often the case that people only stumble across this forum when googling because their piggy is ill/ just gave birth/ is fighting so we are used to helping people who are new & a bit panicky.

If you haven't already done so I would check the sex of your new "boy" as it's clear the previous owners didn't know anything about him & his needs. This will save the obvious introductory problems should he have been missexed. I'm not massively experienced with boys but with the ones I have met it is usually pretty obvious once they are older and have been through the hormonal stage given the... erm... "Junk in their trunk" they drag behind them. I took in a 2-3 month old who was packing a bit so assume he was more like 1 year

Our best sexing link: http://www.cavyspirit.com/sexing.htm, but any decent vet should be able to tell you if he is incorrectly sexed when you have him checked.

 

[Lizzypig55]

Hi Everyone,
Okay so things are a lot better having been to the vets last night. He is in fact the size of a 5 month old, not good, but not but not desperate. Confirmed he was a 1 year old male. Appears in my haste and with nervous pig I weighed him wrong! I could not message earlier as I was catching up with other work for my job! so sorry everyone for making it worse than it was, genuine mistake, I felt so stupid and stressed at the vets I ended up in tears , not me normally at all! I think it all caught up on me, and I have to say people in 'real' life have not been very understanding of how upsetting it has been. A few kind words from the vet and I was off! I haven't felt this stressed or tired since I brought my first baby home! time to calm down now I think!

Most importantly,yes, he Is underweight but his coat, breathing etc, everything she could check, are okay. he said the same as you guys, he is unlikely to ever be very big but now he has been rescued he has a wonderful chance.
She also said don't even try to bond them as they are so close in size etc it would not work, that seems not to matter really as much as getting him to a good weight.

Spent a fair bit on timothy hay and best food on her advice. He see's me coming and is up at the bars waiting for his next feed! he is so sweet. Will try and get some pictures on.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi Everyone,
Okay so things are a lot better having been to the vets last night. He is in fact the size of a 5 month old, not good, but not but not desperate. Confirmed he was a 1 year old male. Appears in my haste and with nervous pig I weighed him wrong! I could not message earlier as I was catching up with other work for my job! so sorry everyone for making it worse than it was, genuine mistake, I felt so stupid and stressed at the vets I ended up in tears , not me normally at all! I think it all caught up on me, and I have to say people in 'real' life have not been very understanding of how upsetting it has been. A few kind words from the vet and I was off! I haven't felt this stressed or tired since I brought my first baby home! time to calm down now I think!

Most importantly,yes, he Is underweight but his coat, breathing etc, everything she could check, are okay. he said the same as you guys, he is unlikely to ever be very big but now he has been rescued he has a wonderful chance.
She also said don't even try to bond them as they are so close in size etc it would not work, that seems not to matter really as much as getting him to a good weight.

Spent a fair bit on timothy hay and best food on her advice. He see's me coming and is up at the bars waiting for his next feed! he is so sweet. Will try and get some pictures on.

Thanks for the update! Glad that the weight situation is not as bad as initially thought!

With your good care and on a good diet with some extra vitamin C, he should be able to make up some lost ground and still be able to live to a good old age. I am sure that he is going to have the most caring of homes with you! You are not the first member landing on the forum in a fine bit of panic, and you won't be last one.

Please don't be tempted to put him on lots of weight boosting stuff; putting him on a good quality balanced hay-based diet is more important for long term health.
Here are our tips:
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...or-a-balanced-general-guinea-pig-diet.116460/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...-preparing-your-piggies-for-lawn-time.111794/

There are options for you re. long term company, but for the time being, the two boars should be OK as next door neighbours for mutual stimulation as long as your little boy is recovering.