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Guinea pig losing weight

Rufus&Edward

Rufus&Edward

Junior Guinea Pig
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Lancashire, UK
Hi all,

I weigh my guinea pig every day as he's a dental piggy and has had problems in the last few months. Over the last week he's been slowly, but steadily losing weight all of a sudden (he's gone from 930g to 887g today; usually by about 10g a day). Prior to this he was slowly but steadily gaining weight.

He's still eating to a degree. He's eating veggies (including hard things like carrots), and he's taking mushed up kibble and oats that I've been offering to try and keep his weight stable. He's usually a big kibble fan but I've noticed he's not really been interested in that this last week, which presumably is causing the weight loss.

Despite being a dental piggy; I don't think it's his teeth that will be causing this weight loss at the moment. I think this because he only went for his latest dental (he sees Simon in Northampton) a couple of weeks ago, so there won't have been enough time for his teeth to have grown back so quickly. For reference he usually goes for dentals every 8 weeks or so.

I'm not too keen to take him to our local vet as I've discovered they're not so hot on guinea pig care (they wanted to pull his teeth out or put him down). I live a very long drive away from Simon so can't really take him down again for a quick visit... but obviously will give him a call if he's still losing weight in a day or two.

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced similar- if there was a reason for weight loss that wasn't teeth-related?
 
Siikibam said:
What’s kibble? And is he eating much hay? I would start syringe feeding him to help him maintain his weight. And book him in if you’re worried. I think they (Simon) are/were on holiday but not sure when they’re back. I’ll tag @furryfriends (TEAS) @Wiebke
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Click to expand...
Sorry, kibble- dry pellets. He's never really been a bit hay eater, which is probably how he has ended up with dental problems. He's sniffing at it, but when I watch him he doesn't seem to be actually eating it... but then, he never really has so that's nothing new. I've been syringe feeding critical care to supplement his diet this last week, and he's taking mushed up pellets without needing syringing. Like I say, he's still happily eating hard veg on his own too
 
Small amounts of weight loss can be normal (30g per day is the different between a full/empty bladder and tummy) but when things start to add up over a short period of time that is when there is concern.

It’s hay which is the most important part of their diet - his weight should not be being maintained through pellets/kibble and veg but through large consumption of hay (it’s 80% of their diet).

Will he eat grass?

However, where you have concerns, you should always speak to a vet

Weight - Monitoring and Management
 
How long have you had him and how long has he not been really eating much hay? It’s the main part of their diet and is really important. Have you tried other types of hay to see if he’ll up his intake?

Do ring the vet and see when you can get him seen.
 
Siikibam said:
How long have you had him and how long has he not been really eating much hay? It’s the main part of their diet and is really important. Have you tried other types of hay to see if he’ll up his intake?

Do ring the vet and see when you can get him seen.
Click to expand...
He's coming up to 4 years old; I've had him since he was a baby. I've tried a LOT of different hay types... the only one he'll seem to entertain is meadow grass hay. He still won't eat loads of it though. I've tried giving him it in various ways but to no avail. His brother eats it happily; it's just Rufus that isn't interested.

I'm wondering if Rufus potentially now has got a bladder problem? He's also very recently started doing the odd squeak that sounds different to normal (I know that sounds a bit crazy). I've just brought him in from the lawn and noticed a little bit of dark, very strong-smelling pee on my top where his butt was, and noticed he seems to be drinking more than usual. Not sure if these are signs or not?
 
If he’s squeaking while toileting I would get him seen by the vet.
 
Just to update: Rufus has been to the vet and they confirmed it's likely something urinary- either cystitis or potential stones. He's on antibiotics for now and I'm hoping that will help. Keeping an eye on him and will take him back in a couple of days if no sign of improvement. His pee is coming out reddish now. He's still not really eating though and losing more weight because of it which is bothering me; we're doing lots of syringe feeds.
 
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