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Guinea pig weight

Rivervixen

Rivervixen

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Hi all!
So I took advice from the food section - feeding them daily veggies and right amount of pellets etc. I did increase the veggies because people seem to give them a plate of veggies a day and I thought mine may be missing out, however they are putting on weight, and they’re already a little chunky so that’s worrying. They’re in a 2x6 cage so plenty of space, and they despise floor time. If I try floor time they just hide in the hideys and tunnels I put down until it’s time to go back in. Do I cut their intake in veggies?
 
Rivervixen said:
Hi all!
So I took advice from the food section - feeding them daily veggies and right amount of pellets etc. I did increase the veggies because people seem to give them a plate of veggies a day and I thought mine may be missing out, however they are putting on weight, and they’re already a little chunky so that’s worrying. They’re in a 2x6 cage so plenty of space, and they despise floor time. If I try floor time they just hide in the hideys and tunnels I put down until it’s time to go back in. Do I cut their intake in veggies?
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Far too many people are unfortunately still grossly overfeeding veg in the mistaken belief that veg are the mainstay of a piggy diet; in fact they are not doing their piggies any favour. The more hay your piggies eat instead of veg (which you rather see in the way of a daily treat), the better for long term health and a longer life span! ;)
 
They’re 7 months, and thank you weibke, I’ll cut their veg down, it did seem far too much. It will be used as a treat :)
 
Rivervixen said:
They’re 7 months, and thank you weibke, I’ll cut their veg down, it did seem far too much. It will be used as a treat :)
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We have found that our diet recommendations work for the long term. In order to make it easy for newbies, we have added quantities and a sample diet: Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

At that age your piggies should be still putting on weight, but more in spurts than a large weekly weight gain.
They are also in the middle of their teenage months and not longer hyperactive babies.

Think about making feeding time and exercise fun instead of feeding lots. Enrichment tips in this link here: Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs
 
The sample diet veg plate per day is what I’ve been giving them, I took those veggies and do exactly that but they’re still getting a little chunky
 
Rivervixen said:
The sample diet veg plate per day is what I’ve been giving them, I took those veggies and do exactly that but they’re still getting a little chunky
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If you feed what is on the plate once a day, then they will be OK in the long term. What you are witnessing is likely another growth spurt - in a week or two they will suddenly be a lot longer and thinner. Growth is not even and steady; the same as with human children, piggies grow in smaller or larger spurts. They often look fat before they suddenly stretch out. ;)
 
Thank you for your advice! I’ll carry on with that, looking forward to my even longer boys :)
 
Following up from this, one has lost some and the other is almost 2kg, do I cut the veggies down?
 
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