Help! My piggie is isolating herself and has lost her appetite

[Mitsymoomoo1]

Hi all, I'm really worried about my piggie Maybel. She is a year old and used to be such an active mischevious piggie, but she has recently started isolating herself and hiding away in her hut, she doesnt interact with my other two piggies anymore and she has lost her appetite too. Her poos seem normal and when i hold her i cant see or feel any abnormalities on her...please help I'm really worried as this is so out of character for her.

 

[Piggies&buns]

The first step should be to have your piggy seen by a vet to find out if there are any medical issues causing this. A piggy who isn’t eating could be in pain - ensure the vet checks her teeth as well. Have you been weighing her regularly - is she losing weight at all?

Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre

 

[Claire W]

I agree that your first port of call is a vet visit to check for any medical issues.

If she isn’t eating for herself and is losing weight you will need to step in with syringe feeding her. The guide has been posted above.

If there isn’t any medical issues, may be she isn’t happy with her friends? Do they all get on?

 

[Mitsymoomoo1]

The first step should be to have your piggy seen by a vet to find out if there are any medical issues causing this. A piggy who isn’t eating could be in pain - ensure the vet checks her teeth as well. Have you been weighing her regularly - is she losing weight at all?

Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre

Ive never weighed my piggies, is that something i should have been doing? She doesnt appear to be loosing weight, she is still chunky.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Ive never weighed my piggies, is that something i should have been doing? She doesnt appear to be loosing weight, she is still chunky.

Ideally piggies should be weighed weekly as a matter of routine and as part of weekly health checks. A drop in weight can be one of the first signs of a problem starting (whether it be a medical issue or social issue - piggies who aren’t happy in their relationship can sometimes reduce what they are eating and again weight loss would possibly show).

For a healthy piggy with no health concerns weighing weekly is enough, but while there are health concerns it would be wise to weigh daily - at the same time each day - to help spot any issues. Bearing in mind that a weight fluctuation of up to 30g is considered normal and due to a full or empty bladder/tummy. I will add some links in below

Weight Monitoring and Management

 

[Mitsymoomoo1]

I agree that your first port of call is a vet visit to check for any medical issues.

If she isn’t eating for herself and is losing weight you will need to step in with syringe feeding her. The guide has been posted above.

If there isn’t any medical issues, may be she isn’t happy with her friends? Do they all get on?

Yes she gets on well with her friends, she took some water and a little mushed food today via syringe but i will take her to the vet she needs to be seen.

 

[Mitsymoomoo1]

Thank you. Is it too late to start weighing them? I feel awful for not doing it, i didnt realise.

Ideally piggies should be weighed weekly as a matter of routine and as part of weekly health checks. A drop in weight can be one of the first signs of a problem starting (whether it be a medical issue or social issue - piggies who aren’t happy in their relationship can sometimes reduce what they are eating and again weight loss would possibly show).

For a healthy piggy with no health concerns weighing weekly is enough, but while there are health concerns it would be wise to weigh daily - at the same time each day - to help spot any issues. Bearing in mind that a weight fluctuation of up to 30g is considered normal and due to a full or empty bladder/tummy. I will add some links in below

Weight Monitoring and Management

 

[VickiA]

Please let us know how she gets on. Any change in behaviour in a piggy is an Indicator that something is going on, whether that is social or medical is more difficult to tell. Hopefully the vets will get to the bottom of whatever is going on.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thank you. Is it too late to start weighing them? I feel awful for not doing it, i didnt realise.

Please don’t worry yourself about not knowing. No it’s not too late to start, particularly with the piggy you are concerned about.
I just keep a little piece of paper with a list of my piggies weights on so I can spot if there are any trends which require attention.

 

[Mitsymoomoo1]

Thank you, i just want the best for them thats all. I will weigh them today.

 

[Mitsymoomoo1]

Please let us know how she gets on. Any change in behaviour in a piggy is an Indicator that something is going on, whether that is social or medical is more difficult to tell. Hopefully the vets will get to the bottom of whatever is going on.

Hi there she ate some pea shoots and some fresh leaves and some cucumber, but she still doesnt seem right. She is hunched up on her pillow. When her friends are coming up to her and checking on her she isnt responding to them.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Only a vet is going to be able to diagnose the problem. Being hunched up can be a sign of pain somewhere though.

 

[Merab]

Can you get an emergency appointment at the vet?
If she’s hunched up and not responding to the others it sounds as if something is wrono.
Holding you in my thoughts

 

[Mitsymoomoo1]

That is true. I will take her tommorow morning. I think she has gut stasis.

 

[Mitsymoomoo1]

Can you get an emergency appointment at the vet?
If she’s hunched up and not responding to the others it sounds as if something is wrono.
Holding you in my thoughts

I rang the vet and they were going to charge me at least £120 for consultation fee for being out of hours (sunday) i love her dearly but i dont have that money to spare. If i can get her through to tommorow as comfortably as i can i will take her first thing.