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Gavin & Spencer 1st weigh in

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Gavin & Spencer

Hi All,

I really hope you can give me some helpful info on this subject.

Gavin & Spencer are neutered males.

I have just weighed them for the first time tonight on one of those electric scales which I think is based in grams..

Gavin came in at 721g and Spencer at 651g.

I have no idea if this is a good weight or bad?

Can sombody help me...please?!
 
What age are they ?

Glad your starting weekly weighings as guinea pigs are prey animals and hide illness well :))
 
I was told when I bought them from the pet shop that they "thought" they were about 12wks old.

My vet confirmed that spencer was about the 12wk age mark but Gavin was younger than this about 9/10 wks.

So, as I don't know their correct ages I can only go on the pet shop/vet guess...


Spencer must be around the 23wk mark now and Gavin must be about 21/22wks.
 
Well taking age into consideration that would be a perfect weight. An adult pig at 1 year would be 1 kilo. So at there age dominance displays haven't started I'm guessing ?
 
Oh the dominance started...thats why they had a trip to the vets for the "snip".
 
Well, they have the odd nip or push but is so much better than it was. It looks like the mounting and bites from Gavin to Spencer has stop..tip wood!
 
"as guinea pigs are prey animals and hide illness well"


Really? What evidence is there to substantiate that statement?
I take the view that they do not "hide" problems rather that the owners do not read the signs that indicate the animal is unwell. The "hiding problems" is a way of absolving an owner for failing to interpret the signs of illness. I have previously posted a similar response.
 
Sounds a good weight to me, what's important now is to monitor any weight loss.

:)

Most of the well-known and reputable websites that provide cavy care information make the claim that guinea pigs hide symptoms or signs of illness or disease. Being prey animals, any illness that makes them weaker makes them more vulnerable to predators so one could make the assumption that the statement is correct.

See some of the websites below..

"It is extremely important to be very aware of your guinea pigs' weight, behaviour and overall condition. Guinea pigs will hide early signs of an illness until it has progressed quite far. Unfortunately by the time obvious symptoms are noticed it can often be too late to help them. This is why it is so critical that guinea pigs see a cavy savvy vet at the very first sign of illness or discomfort."
Source: http://www.guineapigsrusrescue.com/illness.html

"Cavies can hide symptoms in the early stages of an illness, so once the symptoms become apparent, they may have been ill for one or two weeks."
Source: http://www.guinealynx.info/healthycavy_orig.html

"Like any other living, breathing being, I can get ill. But unlike predators, I hide my illness and weakness in order to survive. It is your responsibility to keep track of my weight and to notice when I am cold and when I am overheated. Know my body and the feel of my fur. Know my eyes' brightness and my ears' sensitivity. Notice when my health is failing me. For my sake, know me."
Source: http://www.guinealynx.info/plea.html

"Guinea pigs try to hide signs of illness, so by the time you notice something is wrong the illness is usually well-advanced."
Source: http://www.cavyhaven.org/care.html
 
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