Dental Guinea Pig Deemed Healthy but Eating Less

[Dom R]

Hi All,

This is a new thread that's sort of following on from my previous one about Peanut:
Dental - Tooth Spurs - Ways to help

Peanut is around 3 Years and 5 Months (Going off of the basis that he's around 8 weeks old when sold in a pet shop - this was before I knew guinea pig rescues were a thing) I got him in October 2016.

Basically in short, I've seen two specialist vets that have a lot of experience with Guinea Pigs, one said that he had tooth spurs and it was confirmed by another that the spurs had gone from Peanut eating. Both said that there were no other signs of illness and that he should be in full health. I tested to see if it was stress, as he was with two teenage boys, and after making him into a duo again, nothing has improved (1 week later).

He usually weighs 1.35kg, and he's currently just below 1.1kg, but it is stable (Because I'm feeding him fresh grass daily), if I stop feeding him the fresh grass then he starts to lose weight again, despite the fact that he's on the same hay he has been for at least 6 months, and he stopped eating it in the middle of the recent bag. I got some different hay and he munches on it, but not enough to keep his weight up. He's also eating less pellets. Basically, his diet didn't change when he started losing weight.

The only symptoms he's showing are:

Sleeping Much More, he's sleeping most of the day, only waking up when he wants to come out and get fed his grass/hay in a seperate enclosure.
Eating Less, despite his diet being the same - in addition to weight loss of around 250g~ and stablised at 1090g.

Both of the vets mentioned that he seems bright and happy, and not in any pain, there's no signs of any lumps or issues with him what so ever.

I'm just wondering if anyone has had any experience with a piggy like this. Is he just starting to slow down based on his age? Is there any possible illness causing this that has hidden symptoms until it is too late? Is there anything I could try to do to help him gain weight/start eating again?

I'm lost on what to do, although I know you guys cannot diagnose him with anything, but I was wondering if there are any tests I could possibly get done to see if issues are elsewhere, but not visible. Feel free to ask any for any information or ask any questions, I'll reply to them as soon as I can.

Thanks,

Dom

 

[Wiebke]

Hi All,

This is a new thread that's sort of following on from my previous one about Peanut:
Dental - Tooth Spurs - Ways to help

Peanut is around 3 Years and 5 Months (Going off of the basis that he's around 8 weeks old when sold in a pet shop - this was before I knew guinea pig rescues were a thing) I got him in October 2016.

Basically in short, I've seen two specialist vets that have a lot of experience with Guinea Pigs, one said that he had tooth spurs and it was confirmed by another that the spurs had gone from Peanut eating. Both said that there were no other signs of illness and that he should be in full health. I tested to see if it was stress, as he was with two teenage boys, and after making him into a duo again, nothing has improved (1 week later).

He usually weighs 1.35kg, and he's currently just below 1.1kg, but it is stable (Because I'm feeding him fresh grass daily), if I stop feeding him the fresh grass then he starts to lose weight again, despite the fact that he's on the same hay he has been for at least 6 months, and he stopped eating it in the middle of the recent bag. I got some different hay and he munches on it, but not enough to keep his weight up. He's also eating less pellets. Basically, his diet didn't change when he started losing weight.

The only symptoms he's showing are:

Sleeping Much More, he's sleeping most of the day, only waking up when he wants to come out and get fed his grass/hay in a seperate enclosure.
Eating Less, despite his diet being the same - in addition to weight loss of around 250g~ and stablised at 1090g.

Both of the vets mentioned that he seems bright and happy, and not in any pain, there's no signs of any lumps or issues with him what so ever.

I'm just wondering if anyone has had any experience with a piggy like this. Is he just starting to slow down based on his age? Is there any possible illness causing this that has hidden symptoms until it is too late? Is there anything I could try to do to help him gain weight/start eating again?

I'm lost on what to do, although I know you guys cannot diagnose him with anything, but I was wondering if there are any tests I could possibly get done to see if issues are elsewhere, but not visible. Feel free to ask any for any information or ask any questions, I'll reply to them as soon as I can.

Thanks,

Dom

Hi!

Have the vets addressed the tooth spurs or the underlying issue that could cause uneven chewing and a reoccurrance of spurs?
Guinea pig dentals do unfortunately not feature large in a vet's curriculum.

Please switch to support feeding and grating slicing veg into fine strips.
Our syringe feeding guide also contains a chapter on looking after dental piggies: Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Where in the UK are you and could you get as far as Northampton where the most experienced piggy dental vet is based?
The Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic

@furryfriends (TEAS)

 

[Dom R]

Hi!

Have the vets addressed the tooth spurs or the underlying issue that could cause uneven chewing and a reoccurrance of spurs?
Guinea pig dentals do unfortunately not feature large in a vet's curriculum.

Please switch to support feeding and grating slicing veg into fine strips.
Our syringe feeding guide also contains a chapter on looking after dental piggies: Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Where in the UK are you and could you get as far as Northampton where the most experienced piggy dental vet is based?
The Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic

@furryfriends (TEAS)

I saw Simon Maddock, and he said his teeth are fully healthy, and that he went over them with a file just in case, and said there was no issue, and he didn't show signs of dental disease or anything.

As I said, the only issue is that he's lost weight/not eating hay/pellets anymore, even with different brands, and that he sleeps a lot more than he used to.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

It’s all the background eating of hay that keeps the weight up. If your piggy is sleeping lots, then he will be eating less hay. It can be a vicious circle as eating less means less energy which results in more sleeping. I’ve found topping up with syringe food, feeding higher calorie foods can soon turn things around. Give that a go!

 

[Dom R]

It’s all the background eating of hay that keeps the weight up. If your piggy is sleeping lots, then he will be eating less hay. It can be a vicious circle as eating less means less energy which results in more sleeping. I’ve found topping up with syringe food, feeding higher calorie foods can soon turn things around. Give that a go!

I suppose I can mash some pellets up and give him some over the day, I'll try that.

Is there anything else that could be causing all of this?

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

This is how I feed the piggies at TEAS. They have a lot of veg and salad leaves, in addition to grass, hay and nuggets. We also feed porridge oats.

Feeding the guinea pigs at TEAS

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

I also feed readigrass too!

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

A symptom of a heart issue is sleeping lots, but I’m thinking this is unlikely. Who does he live with?

 

[Dom R]

This is how I feed the piggies at TEAS. They have a lot of veg and salad leaves, in addition to grass, hay and nuggets. We also feed porridge oats.

Feeding the guinea pigs at TEAS

I give him porridge oats every couple of days.

Do you reckon it would be worth buying readigrass, as isn't that just dried grass anyways? I know that its apparently high in calcium, but I live in a hard water area and he's not had any issues before, would that make it too much calcium or?

I may as well mention that they checked his heart (I believe) and that his heart sounds good too, as well as his breathing etc.

 

[artcasper]

aww at least you saw Simon about his teeth - i believe he is the best dental man! I hope your little guy improves - it sounds like a mystery and horrible when they loose weight.. sounds like you are doing a great job though.. I have just ordered a bag of readigrass to add as a treat once a week as our grass is too short at the moment.. best of luck

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

I give him porridge oats every couple of days.

Do you reckon it would be worth buying readigrass, as isn't that just dried grass anyways? I know that its apparently high in calcium, but I live in a hard water area and he's not had any issues before, would that make it too much calcium or?

I may as well mention that they checked his heart (I believe) and that his heart sounds good too, as well as his breathing etc.

Have porridge oats always available. Feed readigrass too! Feed a wet diet, with lots of leafy veg and salad and that will keep the urinary system flushed through. I think there is a good chance that he's just gone into a bit of a downward spiral. I see this so often, particularly with piggies who arrive at TEAS who have been poorly. It's just a case of getting them strong again, eating lots and the rest all comes right. I give a bit of a top up of syringe food, each end of day, ensure there is lots of high calorie foods to eat. I feed a variety of nuggets, so they don't get bored and lots and lots of grass too! It takes a long time for piggies to gain weight, but it can come off so easily. Once the weight is stable, then you should hopefully see a gradual increase. One of our sanctuary residents lost 300g recently, due to a deep internal abscess that needed surgery and a very long course of antibiotic. The weight came off in days. He is now very slowly gaining again and has put on 100g, but this has taken many weeks.

 

[Dom R]

Have porridge oats always available. Feed readigrass too! Feed a wet diet, with lots of leafy veg and salad and that will keep the urinary system flushed through. I think there is a good chance that he's just gone into a bit of a downward spiral. I see this so often, particularly with piggies who arrive at TEAS who have been poorly. It's just a case of getting them strong again, eating lots and the rest all comes right. I give a bit of a top up of syringe food, each end of day, ensure there is lots of high calorie foods to eat. I feed a variety of nuggets, so they don't get bored and lots and lots of grass too! It takes a long time for piggies to gain weight, but it can come off so easily. Once the weight is stable, then you should hopefully see a gradual increase. One of our sanctuary residents lost 300g recently, due to a deep internal abscess that needed surgery and a very long course of antibiotic. The weight came off in days. He is now very slowly gaining again and has put on 100g, but this has taken many weeks.

I also feed readigrass too!

aww at least you saw Simon about his teeth - i believe he is the best dental man! I hope your little guy improves - it sounds like a mystery and horrible when they loose weight.. sounds like you are doing a great job though.. I have just ordered a bag of readigrass to add as a treat once a week as our grass is too short at the moment.. best of luck

He's been having Bell peppers and fresh grass, the grass being freshly washed and only slightly dried, so that should help flush him out a lot. We have a decent large tub of oats left, so there's plenty until he gets strong again. I'm going to order a bag of readigrass, just to make my life easier. My grass seems to be growing pretty decent, even for this time of year, so I have a constant supply of fresh grass. There's also bits of dandelion leaves in there too. I'm just unsure on what started all of this, unless it was a little spur that he managed to sort himself, and then he's just not got back into eating regularly again. He seems nice and bright and happy, so I'm not too worried.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

Will he eat mixed salad leaves? I feed babyleaf salad, kale, carrots, bell peppers, cucumber, parsley, coriander, dill, spinach, corn on the cob, plus fresh grass! I think there is a good chance that this started with a spur that caused a sore mouth and weight loss, but has now sorted itself. Once they're not eating so well, they do tend to become less active, sleep more and eat less. Does he have a little friend?

 

[Dom R]

Will he eat mixed salad leaves? I feed babyleaf salad, kale, carrots, bell peppers, cucumber, parsley, coriander, dill, spinach, corn on the cob, plus fresh grass! I think there is a good chance that this started with a spur that caused a sore mouth and weight loss, but has now sorted itself. Once they're not eating so well, they do tend to become less active, sleep more and eat less. Does he have a little friend?

I'll get him some Rocket, Spinach and Watercress mix, he seems to like that. And if I find any others then I'll get him that. He also likes Kale, so I'll get some of that in too.

He does have a little friend, he had two teenages with him and to see if it was stress, but that didn't improve anything. There wasn't any bullying going on though. The friend he's with now is one of the most chilled guinea pigs I've known, as long as he's left alone to do his own thing then he's not bothered.

 

[Merab]

Just want to offer support.
It can be worrying when there’s no apparent reason for him not eating.

I found that a small piece of banana mashed into critical care or mushed pellets helped mine when I was syringe feeding

 

[VickiA]

Aside from heart issues is there any possibility of an asymptomatic stone? We’ve found the otherwise healthy piggies who appear to be failing to thrive can have an unidentified stone somewhere despite not squeaking when peeing or showing any signs of blood.

 

[Dom R]

Just want to offer support.
It can be worrying when there’s no apparent reason for him not eating.

I found that a small piece of banana mashed into critical care or mushed pellets helped mine when I was syringe feeding

Aside from heart issues is there any possibility of an asymptomatic stone? We’ve found the otherwise healthy piggies who appear to be failing to thrive can have an unidentified stone somewhere despite not squeaking when peeing or showing any signs of blood.

Thanks for your support.

Do you reckon it could be worth getting him an xray just for peace of mind? I suppose that could rule out quite a lot, especially as the vets said his heart was fine. If he doesn't improve in the next week or two, I may get him booked in just for an x-ray just to help work everything out.

 

[eileen]

ive nothing that i can add.justsending some support.i hope he improves soon.x

 

[VickiA]

Thanks for your support.

Do you reckon it could be worth getting him an xray just for peace of mind? I suppose that could rule out quite a lot, especially as the vets said his heart was fine. If he doesn't improve in the next week or two, I may get him booked in just for an x-ray just to help work everything out.

I think I’d discuss it with your vet as a possibility if things don’t improve.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

Aside from heart issues is there any possibility of an asymptomatic stone? We’ve found the otherwise healthy piggies who appear to be failing to thrive can have an unidentified stone somewhere despite not squeaking when peeing or showing any signs of blood.

Definitely something to discuss with your vet, if weight continues to drop.