Guinea Pig Bmi?

[Pigwhisperer]

Took my pigs for a check-up yesterday with the vet, & was told that Clover is a healthy 900g but Silk is overweight at 1.2 kg.

Forgot to point out that Clover is about 10 inches long while Silk is a huge 12 inches, so I reckon their BMI would be very similar.

Silk is a Pink-eyed White, and I think you'd call Clover a Dutch type. They are both about 15 months old and the difference between them in size and build has been obvious since we bought them, when they were apparently about 8 weeks.

Would be interested to hear your opinions - is Silk overweight or just big-boned?!

 

[Reenie]

That doesn't sound particularly heavy for a piggy that length. My two biggest are about 10 inches long, and one is 950 and the other just over 1000g. The average is 800-1200, and some can be even bigger or smaller. (From info on the forum, I'm not an expert)

 

[Lorcan]

My boys are both 1.2kg and neither of them is overweight. Both are built differently too, so Blitzen looks really skinny in comparison to Comet.

 

[eileen]

ive boys that weight between 1kg and 1.7 kgs none of these piggies are overweight.ive female piggies that weight between 800grams and 1.3 kgs,i would say they are all in range.so i would not worry that your piggie weights 1.2 kgs,it is an acceptable weight.

 

[Betsy]

My piggies range from a boar at 975g to a sow at 1275g all 5 are healthy. A bit of night time reading for you:-

The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight

 

[Wiebke]

Took my pigs for a check-up yesterday with the vet, & was told that Clover is a healthy 900g but Silk is overweight at 1.2 kg.

Forgot to point out that Clover is about 10 inches long while Silk is a huge 12 inches, so I reckon their BMI would be very similar.

Silk is a Pink-eyed White, and I think you'd call Clover a Dutch type. They are both about 15 months old and the difference between them in size and build has been obvious since we bought them, when they were apparently about 8 weeks.

Would be interested to hear your opinions - is Silk overweight or just big-boned?!

Instead of going by weight and body size, which differ enormously in guinea pigs (and which vets' guidebooks generally put on too low), you go by 'heft', i.e. feeling around the ribcage to check whether a guinea pig is a good weight for its size. 80% of all adult pet piggies fall into the range between 900-1300g. I generally get compliments from my piggy savvy vets for most of my sows falling into the range between 1000-1200g, but my piggies currently range from 700g - 1400g. This guide here explains it all.
The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight

 

[Katiedid]

I agree with @Wiebke and @Betsy, the weights sound normal and it should be about feel. Jet is my heaviest pig at 1,100g but is underweight. My smallest piggy (who is a baby so still growing) actually has a decent amount of fat coverage so I'm watching what we pile into her.

 

[Pigwhisperer]

Thanks everyone, that's just what I needed to know. Really helpful guide. I'll have a feel of her ribs today, & also bear in mind the point about hay being the best food & you can't overfeed it.

 

[Freela]

I think they sound within reason (definitely similar to various pigs I've owned.) Personally, I feel like the range of weights that many books give and many vets seem to use for sows is very understated. Only two of my sows have been in the 900 g range- and they were very petite, small-boned sows. The others were very healthy at over 1000 g. One of my larger girls ended up under 1000 g after a chronic abscess and dental issue and she was definitely NOT healthy at that weight, she was bony and had lost muscle mass/padding over her shoulders and hips. She did bulk back up to her normal size once she was able to eat normally again. So I think the vet may be going on numbers that are not necessarily accurate for all pigs.

 

[Pigwhisperer]

I think they sound within reason (definitely similar to various pigs I've owned.) Personally, I feel like the range of weights that many books give and many vets seem to use for sows is very understated. Only two of my sows have been in the 900 g range- and they were very petite, small-boned sows. The others were very healthy at over 1000 g. One of my larger girls ended up under 1000 g after a chronic abscess and dental issue and she was definitely NOT healthy at that weight, she was bony and had lost muscle mass/padding over her shoulders and hips. She did bulk back up to her normal size once she was able to eat normally again. So I think the vet may be going on numbers that are not necessarily accurate for all pigs.

That's how I feel, generally the vet was very good but in terms of weight she was just thinking "a sow should be under 1kg" rather than seeing how relatively long this particular piggy is compared to my other one. I did a calculation and their length to weight ratio is the same!

 

[Swissgreys]

I also think what a lot of vets fail to see is the piggy behind the number.
Oreo (a sow) is our heaviest pig at a steady 1.3kgs.
She is also our most active piggy and is always bombing around the cage.
She has a beautiful shiny coat and bright eyes and really is the picture of health.
She eats piles of hay, fresh veg every day and very few pellets.