Guinea Pig Diets

[karonus]

So has anyone found a suitable diet for over porky piggies. Looking at new year resolutions we thought ours could do with losing a little. Worries that Halleys tum may need a Formula 1 skid tray to stop it dragging on the floor. No more do we want people asking at the Potteries and TEAS fairs if Aurora was pregnant only to have to respond she's just Fat. So short of the continuing design plans for a piggy treadmill with romaine at the end to keep them moving any ideas appreciated.

(Celeste aka ragamuffin is not impressed)

 

[Merab]

@PigglePuggle had a couple of overweight ladies who are now very healthy weights.
She may be able to help.
Celeste is beautiful

 

[Siikibam]

How much do they weigh and what is their heft like. And what do you feed them?

 

[PigglePuggle]

Its quite rare for piggies fed a balanced diet and kept in a suitable cage size to get seriously overweight, but if you and your vet feel that Celeste could lose a bit of chub then cutting right back on pellets, and scatterfeeding or hand feeding the veg so she has to move, run, reach up and generally get a bit of a work out to get her food, is a good idea. Make her jog/waddle the whole length of the cage then stand on her hind legs to get a stem of coriander from you, then move to the other end of the cage so she has to jog back and stand up again to get the second stem!

 

[piggieminder]

Celeste is gorgeous

 

[karonus]

Its quite rare for piggies fed a balanced diet and kept in a suitable cage size to get seriously overweight, but if you and your vet feel that Celeste could lose a bit of chub then cutting right back on pellets, and scatterfeeding or hand feeding the veg so she has to move, run, reach up and generally get a bit of a work out to get her food, is a good idea. Make her jog/waddle the whole length of the cage then stand on her hind legs to get a stem of coriander from you, then move to the other end of the cage so she has to jog back and stand up again to get the second stem!

Not Celeste she is only a few months old, but Aurora is 1.2 kg and nearly 4. Pluto and Halley just over 1.4 kg Pluto nearlyb3 and Halley 2. They get plenty of Hay and suitable veggies. The have a 4 x 3 C&C with a 1 x 3 loft and get regular floor time. Regulars at the potteries and TEAS events will be familiar with them.

 

[Siikibam]

What makes you think they're overweight? What is their heft like?

 

[karonus]

Oh and Pluto changes to a sprinter when he thinks there are goodies being offered he has a good turn of speed.

 

[karonus]

What makes you think they're overweight? What is their heft like?

OK Star and Celeste are 800gms
Starting from bottom - Celeste, Aurora, Halley, Pluto and Star nearest the house. This was enrichment giving them a carrot to share. They had exercise as they took it in turns dragging it around the cage to munch on.

 

[PigglePuggle]

Well, if you are worried about the heftier weights, cutting back on pellets and leaving out the carrots for a while is a safe diet plan for everyone!