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Help urgently please... weight gain.

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PottyForPiggies

PottyForPiggies

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I am getting concerned for my female guinea Treacle. We weighed her 5 days ago and she weighed in at 760g. Today I weighed her in again as she was looking very round in the middle, and she was 840g. That's a huge amount in 5 days, and I'm very worried. She is being treated for bloating at the moment, which could contribute to the rounded tummy. She is also recently bereaved and therefore has been getting 'first pick' on all the food, and I think that she may be eating much more. I have reduced her portion size to match what is recommended for a single pig, but she has still rapidly gained weight.

Am I right to be worried about this? She is still quite light for a female piggie of 3 1/2, but it is just too rapid to be ignored.
 
I would say at 740g at 3 years old she is underweight, but i dont know what your piggie is like/cant see her to tell if she is over/under weight, so I'm not saying for certain.

There could be a number of reasons for this weight gain such as:
- Your other piggie you lost was a dominant one, and she is now able to eat without worrying about the other being there
- she was bereaved and lost some weight, and is now gaining it back
- she has been in with a male and is pregnant
- the rounded tum might suggest ovarian cysts, at her age she may start to get some? Just a thought.

What are you treating her with for the bloat? And has she been on any other medications or treatments?

x.
 
Well she is definitely not pregnant, as she's never met a male pig closer than about 10 feet away!
I think that Fudge was the dominant pig; she was a lot bigger and food seemed to disappear a lot quicker! Particularly honey/fruit nibble sticks - that one's been there for a week and it's barely been touched! The last time Fudge was weighed she was closer to 1kg than anything, so I think that she really is just eating more. I just want to make sure.
I don't think that she has lost any weight, as we weighed her the day after Fudge passed and the 760g was the weight she was then, so if she has it's much more concerning! She has been eating and drinking absolutely fine :)
I am concerned about the ovarian cysts thing though: I have gently tapped her tummy and it does sound hollow; the vet did the same thing. She is currently on Emeprid, but it doesn't seem to be making any difference - she's been on it for at least 4 days.
 
Weights can differ by 30-50g in a weigh cause of them pooping and weeing...... i weigh weekly and if there's a big difference i'm like eagle eyes .....
Abi_Nurse has given some good advice, thank goodness you can cross out the pregnancy tho!

WHEEEEEEKS OF LOVES FOR TREACLE XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
Also check your scales are accurate, if electronic check the battery (it can make weights go haywire). Was her lower weight consistent with her average over a period of time?

Bloat won't make them weigh more as it is gas building up. Fluid retention would though, bloat makes a hollow sound when you tap a swollen belly; fluid is a dull sound.

Suzy x
 
I use manual scales, so the weight is pretty easy to read. And her weight has been consistent before, the odd 20g here and there.
I'm not sure whether it could be fluid retention, her tummy does sound quite hollow but she has been drinking a lot. Plus with the bloating medication not working it makes me think it could be.
 
Maybe ask your vet for an xray to see if it is definatly bloat or actually ovarian cysts (both would be visable on an xray). She does not need an aneasthetic for an xray.

Ps. Emeprid is metoclopremide, this is to help guts get moving.

x.
 
Well after weighing her last night, I'm a little less concerned for the weight gain, as I think she's just getting chance to eat more. Fudge was the dominant pig who ate a lot more - Treacle still runs off with her favourite foods to hide them! But I am going to take her back to the vets because her medicine just isn't working. She's had problems with bloat before and it's always cleared. We just can't shift it this time.
 
With pictures as evidence

So, today I managed to keep my little girl still for long enough to get some pictures of her tummy. (It wasn't too difficult, I think tbh she's a bit nervous and would much rather stand still so I won't prod her.):...

SDC11441.jpg

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I wonder, does this change things at all? Her tummy seems to have gone down a bit since last night, probably because I picked her up right after eating yesterday.
 
What symptoms is she getting with the bloat, she may be a little, but i have a sow that looks very simliar to her and she is just a chunky lady. How has your vet diagnosed bloat? Just the feel/sound of her tum? Is she is any discomfort? Bloat is very painful so i wouldnt expect her to eat so well, but maybe I'm wrong.

x.
 
She gets quite distressed/upset when you press on her tummy, but she is eating and drinking very well. I think that she is just putting weight on, but it's the speed that worries me. The vet didn't spend much time with her, but he pressed on her tummy and tapped it to get an idea of it. She's had no other symptoms and is generally OK other than the upset of being pressed there.
 
Good news everyone, a little update for you. Treacle's poorly tummy seems to have cleared of its own accord, and she is back to her happy cheery self :) We're going to be closely monitoring her over the next few days but she is already so much better than before. She's eating better and is much less distressed when we touch her tummy - hardly a reaction at all now, and if there is it's because she doesn't like being picked up! Please keep your fingers and claws crossed for my little girl just in case:)
 
Paws crossed here for her and my piggies think eating is a good thing to do so would like to encourage her by asking for nice veggie treats for her please!

Thank you for the update, good news is always nice to hear.
 
Thats very promising news, I have my fingers crossed for a speedy recovery. :) Sending lots of healing vibes from us here at milhaven.
 
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