Help Please - Weight Loss

[Jenny_12]

Hi sorry am new to this

My guinea pig is 4 this year and hes looking skinny lately hes always been tiny compared to other ones ive had but starting to worry i was just wondering about worming him do the vets do it? Or would i have to do it my self ive read some forum about pancur but nervous as ive never wormed him before only been treated for mites etc

 

[Alex2016]

Hi jenny

If you could post a location that would help a little as different country's have different medications for pets , I'm from the UK and here we use panacure to worm g pigs, if I where you is take him to the vets just for a general health check as weight loss can be a indicator of a wide range of underline health issues, have you been weiging your piggy weekly ? Also have you noticed any other unusual behaviour/ symptoms of il health ?

Kind regards
Alex

 

[TAN]

Worth a trip to the vets to check him over as its very rare that they actually get worms - can be an indication of dental problems or dental disease (this happened to one of my pigs )

 

[Jenny_12]

I am from the uk. Ye I'm going to take a trip to the vets he never really had a shape to him always been tiny hes eating fine all his pellets vegs and eats all his hay. Ive just weighed him and he is 1000g thats light for a male isnt it my other one was about 1500g. He hasnt had any other symptoms accept weight loss still very active eating fine stools are fine just to skinny but eats plenty

 

[Jenny_12]

I am from the uk. Ye I'm going to take a trip to the vets he never really had a shape to him always been tiny hes eating fine all his pellets vegs and eats all his hay. Ive just weighed him and he is 1000g thats light for a male isnt it my other one was about 1500g. He hasnt had any other symptoms accept weight loss still very active eating fine stools are fine just to skinny but eats plenty

 

[Alex2016]

I am from the uk. Ye I'm going to take a trip to the vets he never really had a shape to him always been tiny hes eating fine all his pellets vegs and eats all his hay. Ive just weighed him and he is 1000g thats light for a male isnt it my other one was about 1500g. He hasnt had any other symptoms accept weight loss still very active eating fine stools are fine just to skinny but eats plenty

I think that's the best idea, that is small for a adult male g pig yes, hope it all goes well please keep us updated !

 

[Jenny_12]

I think that's the best idea, that is small for a adult male g pig yes, hope it all goes well please keep us updated !

I will. This is him eating as always lol but as u can see he is tiny for a adult

 

[LisaAli]

Actually 1000gms isn't bad for a adult boar, what to check, is that he is maintaining his weight. That's why it is important to check their weight on a regular basis, that way you can see trends.

The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight

Our 7 boars all adult, range from 800gms to 1400gms..

All this said you know your own piggies so if you suspect that something is not quite right then a trip to the vets is a good idea..

Lisa & Ali..

 

[Wiebke]

I am from the uk. Ye I'm going to take a trip to the vets he never really had a shape to him always been tiny hes eating fine all his pellets vegs and eats all his hay. Ive just weighed him and he is 1000g thats light for a male isnt it my other one was about 1500g. He hasnt had any other symptoms accept weight loss still very active eating fine stools are fine just to skinny but eats plenty

Hi! Any weight loss in guinea pigs over 50g should be investigated, and weight loss over 100g should be seen by a vet promptly, as a matter of emergency if the weight loss has happened within a day, especially if your boy feels rather skinny. Worming is not very likely to help, as it won't address the cause unless there is a realy indication that the problem sits with food absorption.

Have you checked whether he is still eating normally, or whether he is just nibbling or chewing more slowly? Does he still eat all food groups? Is he showing signs of pain like hunching, fluffed coat etc.? Have you felt for any lumps or bloating? Is his breathing and are his feces normal?

Please switch from the regular weighing weekly to weighing daily before you feed dinner and bring him inside if he is a hutch, so you can monitor his food intake and weight loss more closely.

1000g is well within the normal range for adult guinea pigs (which is about 900-1300g for pet piggies on average), so I would not worry too badly yet; but I would monitor him more closely and see a vet promptly if the weight loss continues. Hips and spine become slightly more noticeable in older guinea pigs, but you want to always make sure that there is no underlying illness.

We have got a piggy savvy UK vet locator on the top bar.

You can add your country or UK county to your details if you please click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. We have got members and equiries from all over the world. This helps us to give you advice that is more efficient in terms of vet access, climate, brands etc. Thank you!

PS: I am going to move this thread to our health and Illness section to avoid double posting. There it is going to be seen by other experienced membersthat are monitoring that section specifically.

 

[Jenny_12]

Hi! Any weight loss in guinea pigs over 50g should be investigated, and weight loss over 100g should be seen by a vet promptly, as a matter of emergency if the weight loss has happened within a day, especially if your boy feels rather skinny. Worming is not very likely to help, as it won't address the cause unless there is a realy indication that the problem sits with food absorption.

Have you checked whether he is still eating normally, or whether he is just nibbling or chewing more slowly? Does he still eat all food groups? Is he showing signs of pain like hunching, fluffed coat etc.? Have you felt for any lumps or bloating? Is his breathing and are his feces normal?

Please switch from the regular weighing weekly to weighing daily before you feed dinner and bring him inside if he is a hutch, so you can monitor his food intake and weight loss more closely.

1000g is well within the normal range for adult guinea pigs (which is about 900-1300g for pet piggies on average), so I would not worry too badly yet; but I would monitor him more closely and see a vet promptly if the weight loss continues. Hips and spine become slightly more noticeable in older guinea pigs, but you want to always make sure that there is no underlying illness.

We have got a piggy savvy UK vet locator on the top bar.

You can add your country or UK county to your details if you please click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. We have got members and equiries from all over the world. This helps us to give you advice that is more efficient in terms of vet access, climate, brands etc. Thank you!

PS: I am going to move this thread to our health and Illness section to avoid double posting. There it is going to be seen by other experienced membersthat are monitoring that section specifically.

He eats like 90% of the pellets in his bowl all day eats his hay and always finishes his fruit and veg. His feces are normal and not bloated, lumps or fluffed coat. I used to feed him on blueberry warren and he loved it and ate more of it then his pellets but it was more expensive to keep him on it but rather him put weight on then the cost should i swap him back. I was wondering aswell because he loves romaine lettuce hes not fond on many other veg how often do you feed it i think i might be feeding it to much.

 

[Wiebke]

He eats like 90% of the pellets in his bowl all day eats his hay and always finishes his fruit and veg. His feces are normal and not bloated, lumps or fluffed coat. I used to feed him on blueberry warren and he loved it and ate more of it then his pellets but it was more expensive to keep him on it but rather him put weight on then the cost should i swap him back. I was wondering aswell because he loves romaine lettuce hes not fond on many other veg how often do you feed it i think i might be feeding it to much.

I gather that Blueberry Warren is a local product? Is it a dry mix or pellet food? Mueslis generally promote selective feeding of the sweet bits, and are not recommended. They are now scientifically proven to be detrimental to rabbit health, and we have to assume the same for guinea pigs.

Older guinea pigs don't need unlimited pellets anyway and they are not going to put on healthy weight by selective feeding. If his poos are looking normal and perfectly healthy, then he is not getting too little food and he won't need worming for weight loss unless he is an all year round access to the lawn hutch piggy where it can be used as a prevention - but it likely won't do anything for your boy.

Romaine lettuce is not very nutritious and it also contains some laudanum (natural opium), so it should not be fed too often in too large quantities even though it is the best of the lettuces to feed. Up to 80% of the daily food intake should come from unlimited hay anyway.
Here are our food recommendations. Have you tried him with fresh herbs like coriander? Most piggies like them; you can feed a sprig or two daily for calcium and minerals. You can also feed a slice of spring greens daily; that gives him the magnesium he needs. Many piggies also like French beans.
Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet
The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight

 

[Jenny_12]

Its like dry grass and pellets thats what he was fed on when i got him but changed him to pellets so he wouldnt pick feed. Id have a read of that thank you he is very fussy dosent like herbs, peppers mostly anything ive tried but will keep trying as dont want to give him to much lettuce

 

[Wiebke]

Its like dry grass and pellets thats what he was fed on when i got him but changed him to pellets so he wouldnt pick feed. Id have a read of that thank you he is very fussy dosent like herbs, peppers mostly anything ive tried but will keep trying as dont want to give him to much lettuce

Readigrass should be a treat and not be fed too much. It can be fattening and also contribute to bladder stones in guinea pigs with a disposition for them. But you can get readigrass online if you wish to. I would only feed it in pinches.

Please be aware that older piggies past the prime of their lives at 2-3 years old tend to lose any extra weight (like old humans do, too). That doesn't mean that they are necessarily ill. It is just in the nature of the beast. They can still live a few years longer. Is he an omly piggy? They are much more picky when it comes to food as they lack the "I want what you have" competition reflex.

 

[Jenny_12]

Readigrass should be a treat and not be fed too much. It can be fattening and also contribute to bladder stones in guinea pigs with a disposition for them. But you can get readigrass online if you wish to. I would only feed it in pinches.

Please be aware that older piggies past the prime of their lives at 2-3 years old tend to lose any extra weight (like old humans do, too). That doesn't mean that they are necessarily ill. It is just in the nature of the beast. They can still live a few years longer. Is he an omly piggy? They are much more picky when it comes to food as they lack the "I want what you have" competition reflex.

Ye hes on his own i did have another guinea pig about a year ago they didnt get along so they was in seperate cages i was thinking about getting him a friend because hate him being on own but hes not done and would have to get one that is as do not want any breeding or fighting but he is happy enough on his own and has free roam for most the day wenever he wants. I will keep him on the pellets and keep trying different veg

 

[Wiebke]

Ye hes on his own i did have another guinea pig about a year ago they didnt get along so they was in seperate cages i was thinking about getting him a friend because hate him being on own but hes not done and would have to get one that is as do not want any breeding or fighting but he is happy enough on his own and has free roam for most the day wenever he wants. I will keep him on the pellets and keep trying different veg

You could contact Little Pips Guinea Pig Rehoming in Sidmouth, which is not too far from you I assume? They offer residential boar dating, so it is up to your boy to see whether he can get on with up to three other rescue boars over the course of several days. He will only come home with a new friend if he is well and stably bonded.
Little Pip's Guinea Pig Rehoming