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Help gaining weight

J

jessandtrevor03

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Mar 31, 2026
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Location
Sheffield
Hi there,
It’s my first time posting here as I have found so much of the advice posted so helpful!
I have a male guinea pig who is 2 1/2 years old whose name is Trevor. He had a sudden case of GI stasis about 7 weeks ago which was quickly treated. After about a week we took him back to an exotic vets as I had noticed him being much quieter and less interested in food as he normally is. He is a big boy and weighed about 1.6kg before the stasis, when weighed again he had lost quite a bit of weight.
After all the tests the vet could run, which all came back clear, he suspected that it was most likely too much yeast in his stomach. He’s just started medication for this and is doing ok, still not as bubbly or talkative as he was but he’s getting better.
The issue is that he is still thin and not eating as much as he did before which is still very out of character. I wanted to ask for any advice on helping him gain weight. He’s quite picky and a prince so a lot of things I’ve tried he doesn’t like!
Let me know if there’s anything I should try and I appreciate the length of this post!
Xx
 
I think I've read on here that once a piggy loses weight due to illness etc, it can take a long time to regain that weight.

I'm not an expert though but now that I've bumped your post, let's hope somebody with more knowledge gets back to you.

Welcome to the forum! I'd love to see a picture of Trevor and any other piggies you have when you have time and inclination.
 
I’m sorry to hear he was unwell

Is he still losing weight daily or has it settled?
Did he stabilise with syringe feeds?
If his weight has now stabilised and he is off syringe feeding then that is great news.

How much weight did he lose?
How much does he weigh now?

Regaining lost weight can really take them a long time. The best and healthiest way for the to regain weight is with adequate hay intake. If he is no longer losing weight then his hay intake is sufficient and regaining may just take a lot longer.
 
Mrs Tiggy Winkle said:
I think I've read on here that once a piggy loses weight due to illness etc, it can take a long time to regain that weight.

I'm not an expert though but now that I've bumped your post, let's hope somebody with more knowledge gets back to you.

Welcome to the forum! I'd love to see a picture of Trevor and any other piggies you have when you have time and inclination.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much! Here’s a picture of him! xIMG_1769.webp
 
Piggies&buns said:
I’m sorry to hear he was unwell

Is he still losing weight daily or has it settled?
Did he stabilise with syringe feeds?
If his weight has now stabilised and he is off syringe feeding then that is great news.

How much weight did he lose?
How much does he weigh now?

Regaining lost weight can really take them a long time. The best and healthiest way for the to regain weight is with adequate hay intake. If he is no longer losing weight then his hay intake is sufficient and regaining may just take a lot longer.
Click to expand...
Hi there,
Thank you so much!
He has been syringe fed but hates it! He’s got an appointment next week to have a checkup for his weight and I’m hoping he’s gained more. He lost about 300 grams of weight since his GI stasis but has now stopped losing weight.
We’ve brought every brand/ type of hat on the market as he is so fussy now. He also has fresh hay everyday to try and encourage him to eat more but I’m still concerned that he isn’t eating enough!
 
Are you weighing him yourself every morning?
Weight checks need to be done every morning at home as that is the most accurate way to keep track.

If he is maintaining his weight day on day then he is eating enough hay each day which is great news, but regaining 300g (if he ever does) is going to take a long time.
In the wake of an illness, you are looking at maintenance as a positive result.

Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support Levels
 
If he is still taking a medication, then regaining may not start until he is off all meds and his gut gets fully settled: What medication is he still on?
 
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