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Guinea Pig Weight

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Rae1508

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Hi
Is there a thread/website anywhere you can point me to - to give me information about what weight piggies should be ?

I have picked up my 2 new rescue piggies today - and was really surprised by how "boney" they feel. I do not usually weigh adult piggies - i just go by their body condition - so i am not sure what is normal.

Their weights are ....
Peppa (sow) - found abandoned - aged approx 8mths - 600g
Twister (boar - neautered last week) - handed in by owners - 2years - 750g

Out of interest i weighted my Donut (3years) and she was 1100g !

Is Donut obese? Are the others underweight?

Any thoughts?

Thanks very much
Rach
 
Hi

Weights do vary a lot depending on piggy, so you're right to judge by condition, but then weigh regularly to make sure they're not losing.

The 2 year old sounds light at that weight - I weighed mine yesterday and to give you an idea - most of mine were from 900g (the older sows) to 1200g (a beefy 2 year old boar). So Donut is ok - it's hard to have an overweight piggy!

If you look at them from above, their outline should be a little pear-shaped. If they're in poor condition, you can see the hips and neck bones and the bit in-between is skinny. Also if you turn them upside down they look like skinny chicken bones by their hind legs!

I would say they both sound underweight, if you don't know what conditions they've been kept in they might have not had regular hay, for example. Take it easy, keep them on the dry food they've been used too initially then mix in whatever you want to change them too. Introduce new veg gradually i.e one thing at a time so as not to upset their tummies. Hay always available. Also the ones that's just been neutered is probably still recovering - seems odd to have let him go a week after the op, I certainly wouldn't let him go until he was all healed and dried up.

Anyway, glad they're with you, I'm sure they will start to blossom. Worth bearing in mind that some piggies are just smaller than others. Post some pics!

Sophie
x
 
Thank you for replying, Sophie.

When i look at them from above you can definately see their hips sticking out, and when i pick Twister up it almost feels like i'm going to break him.

I think Peppa is doing fine, she is just a bit skinny - but she is quite happy to be held and seems quite confident. She is a little jumpy, but that is to be expected. I have managed to cut her nails this evening. She has some knotted fur on her back end - so i need to cut that off - but i'm going to leave it a couple of days cos i don't want to stress her out to much in one go. Her teeth are in a state (3 are broken off, and one is very pointed) but she is eating fine - so i'm just keeping an eye on that.

I'm more worried about Twister - he is a very sad little boy. He is absolutely petrified of everything. When i hold him the whites of his eyes show and he goes completely rigid. He obviously hates every minute of it. He is malting really badly and his teeth are very dark on the ends. He spends all his time in the bed section of his cage, and even when i let him out to run he just hides behind the sofa. I'm also not 100% happy with his castration. I have 3 weeks free vet cover from the RSPCA, but i think i may take him to my vet to get him checked over.

Can you give me any tips on what veg has higher calories - so i can try and get their weights up quicker.

Thanks
Rach
 
A friend had a sow who died last year aged 7, she had been the runt of the litter, she outlived all of her siblings but never weighed more than 1lb 8oz, about 680gm.
Another friend currently owns a sow who weighs just over 3lb, 1360gm.
The little pig was not thin for her size, neither is the big sow overweight for her size.
Big pigs, little pigs, thin pigs but, in my experience, overweight pigs are something of a rarity.
 
Agreed with all above. Willa is my smallest is 1lb 11oz, she seems to have stopped gaining weight at 7 months but is perfectly well. My largest is Dexter, who weighs in at 3lb 8oz!

The average weight tends to be 2lb - 3lb (the median here is 2lb 10oz), but it can be very normal for a pig to weigh anything between 800g-1800g. The key is certainly in condition, you can't usually go just by weight.
 
I tend to find that boars weigh 2 1/2 to 3lb and sows 2-2 1/2lb as a very rough guide. I have some pigs of my own that make nonsense of that guide, the exceptions don't always prove the rule!
 
All the best for your rescues -they sound underweight, especially the adult boar. But with your tlc they'll hopefully recover!
 
Veg won't make them put on weight, although they need it for the vitamins etc. They need hay - limitless - this will also help their teeth. If they are in that bad condition I'm surprised they were released to a new home. If you've got 3 weeks free vet care I would certainly make use of it and get them checked out, especially if you're not happy with his castrate

Sophie
x
 
Thank you for your replies and advice.

Sopie - maybe i am over reacting and maybe they are not in such bad condition - perhaps it is just cos i am used to mine that these seem so weak/small/timid/poorly. This is the first time i have had 'rescue pigs' - i have always bought babies from pet shops (sorry - i was naive, i never knew there was such a thing as GP rescues until recently - i am completely converted now though !) I got them from an RSPCA centre. The female had only been there for a week, but i think the boar had been there longer. I am so glad they did let me take them - even if they are not perfect - because i am so enjoying watching them develop and improve.

Anyway - they seem to be coming on REALLY well ... Little Twister actually put his nose out of his house to get some carrot today, while i was in the room ! He has also started rumbling at the girls cages ... which HAS to be a good sign ! It is SO rewarding - just seeing these small improvements makes me want to cry with happiness!

I haven't weighed them, but i can feel they are filling out nicely. They have completely unlimited amounts of hay and dried food - then carrots, grass and dandelions twice a day. I am going to introduce another veg tomorrow - i think maybe spring greens, cos that has always been a favourite with mine.

Anyway - thanks again for all yor advice and support. I have always adored my guinea pigs, but giving these 2 a second chance when they have been abandoned is by far the most amazing GP experience i have ever had and i want to thank the forum for opening my eyes to 'resuce'.

Rach x
 
Also - i really want to get some photo's on here - but i don't even know how to use our camera, let alone download them ! lol !

I am going to get my husband to do it over the weekend !

They really are beautiful piggies ( i know i'm biased )
 
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Try oats and bran. They both help piggies put on a bit of weight.
Also try syringing 50mg dissolved vitamin. Sometimes they can lose weight if vitamin C defficiant.
 
Hi - i know this is an old thread - but just wanted to update everyone who took the time to advise me.

I have had Twister & Peppa for 3 weeks - their body condition is much better, so i knew they were putting on some lovely weight, but i thought would weigh them today just to make sure

Peppa (sow) - approx 9mths - was 600g NOW 725g !
Twister (boar) - 2years - was 750g NOW 850g !

I am really pleased with them - their fur/hair looks much better and their teeth are in better condition (except one of Peppas just broke off!) I think they are both well on the road to being happy, healthy piggies!

I also weighed my Donut - and she has lost about 50g ... i think it's cos Peppa & Tulip (my new baby) are keeping her on her toes ... i have never seen her run so fast and so far ! She is lovig the new yonger companions i think

Thanks again for all your advice
Rach
 
I'm so glad, especially for Twister; he sounded bad. Is his castration OK? And has he got over his fright?

Peppa seems to have settled in well, then. A loving home with proper food is like a magic wand in a rescue piggie's life!
 
Vickyt said:
I'm so glad, especially for Twister; he sounded bad. Is his castration OK? And has he got over his fright?

Peppa seems to have settled in well, then. A loving home with proper food is like a magic wand in a rescue piggie's life!
Click to expand...

Yes, thank you, Twisters castration has healed up nicely. I did get it checked out by my vet, just for peace of mind.

It is almost 4 weeks since his op - so a couple more weeks and he can hopefully live with the girls. He is gradually getting more confident, which is GREAT. I let him run around the lounge and put the girls cage on the floor and he really runs around and seems to show off to them, instead of hiding behind the sofa! I think he will be really content once he gets to spend more time with them.

Thanks for your interest
Rach
 
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