• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Holly has lost weight since her spay op

Status
Not open for further replies.
pelicano

pelicano

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Apr 1, 2007
Messages
1,608
Reaction score
119
Points
555
Location
Braintree, Essex
I'm a bit worried about Holly as, although she has healed up fully on the outside, her appetite still isn't as it was, and she only weighs 860 g. As of 2 days ago, I have started getting her out to eat her veggies separately from the other 2 piggies, in case she was eating slower and therefore not getting so much (they were only rebonded at the weekend), and I've also been syringing Critical Care.

Two days before she was spayed she had actually started getting picky with her food, which I mentioned to the vet at her consultation (ie not just that she was showing hormonal aggressive behaviour, but that she was also a bit picky with her food).

It isn't that she isn't eating at all, just that she doesn't get through great stacks of hay anymore, like the others do. She's eating all her veggies that I'm putting out for her. She doesn't eat a great deal of dried food (probably because she isn't mad on it - Cavy Cuisine), and I'm relucant to change it over, because the other 2 would just go beserk for a muesli mix, and I'd never get them back on the Cavy Cuisine!

She is also itchy, as are the other two, despite two lots of Ivermectin spot on, plus a bath (I didn't want to bath her so soon after her spay, and now wish I hadn't, as it didn't help), as per my other thread about Ivermectin dosage. I've now ordered some Ivomec, so I can give it orally.

Any ideas on how I can build her up? I can't remember the date of her op, but it was 3-4 weeks ago.

Many thanks :)
 
Have you kept a note of pre op and post op weights then you can monitor. (Nutty was 1174g the day before his op, and 1089g the day after his op and he has gradually put weight on since). You could try giving a pro biotic, to help appetite, this has worked often. Either bio lapis, or pets at home do one. Also fresh grass, if you could cut some for her usually goes down a treat. x
 
Unfortunately, I slipped up on the pre-op weighing (it wasn't a planned op). I could kick myself for not weighing her before she went, but it was all a rush/blur. I'm not even sure if the vet weighed her (I do hope so). She has previously always been 1 kg though, so this is a very skinny Holly. :(

She does really enjoy grass, so will continue getting that into her. :)
 
have you tried her on a bit of baby food- the banana/apple/pear puddings, or the porridge? i've used that with pigs who've been post-op or suffering with illnesses, and unless they're very very poorly they've loved it!
 
I haven't, no. Is that better than the Critical Care? She's not mad on it, but she's accepting it being syringed.
 
i've never tried critical care, tbh. i'd never heard of it until i came on here and it was never suggested by my vets. could you use both? you might be alright leaving some baby food in a saucer, or i used to dip fresh fruit in it and my pigs would lick it off. eventually they'd start eating properly again.
 
Carmina was spayed on March 9th, lost 110g during the first week after the op - normally weighs 1200g - and hasn't put it back on. She has stayed at the lower weight ever since, despite eating steadily now. It did take about a fortnight for her appetite to really return. It is now 6 weeks since the op and still no weight gain.

I worry because the weight isn't increasing back to the pre op weight, but I think she is still healing internally and using up extra energy to do so. Provided she doesn't lose any more then that should be ok, as long as the weight remains constant then she should be fine. That's my experience anyhow, I hope it helps to hear someone elses 'spaying' weight results.

Sarah
 
Thank you. x

V interesting to hear of your experiences, Sarah. I'd love to know how much the 'bits' removed from them actually weighs! No doubt there is less associated bloating etc too. I guess what worries me most is that it has been over 3 weeks and her appetite still isn't great, and the weight is still coming off (10 g in the last few hours :( ) She is eating though - she is working her way through a pile of grass at the moment and had some veggies earlier. Plus I'm still syringing the Critical Care, but not to a great degree, as I don't want to disuade her from normal eating.
 
My Toddie also lost weight post neuter & i had him back to the vets 3 x in the 10 days after his op because altho he was eating it wasn't with his usual gusto. His appetite did return & he's now re-gained his lost weight (& more). He was neutered 13th Feb, 22nd March he was back to his pre-op weight :)
 
Last edited:
Thanks Niki - it's really helpful to hear of others' experiences.

I fed her some lettuce earlier (trying to feed little and often), and she ate all the outside leafy bits and left the pale bits at the heart of the lettuce. So, hopefully that shows a bit more about how she's eating - ie she's being picky in a way that she wasn't before. I just wish I could at least keep the weight the same at the moment.

Update: 868 g, so she has gained a bit of weight! Woohooo!!
 
Last edited:
gracie said:
i've never tried critical care, tbh. i'd never heard of it until i came on here and it was never suggested by my vets. could you use both? you might be alright leaving some baby food in a saucer, or i used to dip fresh fruit in it and my pigs would lick it off. eventually they'd start eating properly again.
Click to expand...

Critical Care is a complete syringe feeding formula, it contains everything a non-eating guinea pig needs, especially in terms of fibre. It's absolutely fine to give baby food alongside Critical Care (or CC alternatives), I like to add blended veg to increase the vitamin intake and to vary the tastes.

Glad Holly has gained a bit of weight Sarah. As long as she is still eating some of what she normally does, I wouldn't worry *too* much about this fussiness. Good idea on the Critical Care though, I also like to feed it as a backup for when pigs appetites start to lag a bit.
 
Latest on Holly is that she lost 5 g today without any syringe feeding, which isn't terrible, but I'd hoped to not have to syringe feed anymore after her perking up yesterday.

Anyway, I've started her on the fine ground Critical Care and she loves it so much she'll take it voluntarily out of the syringe! The same cannot be said for the normal Critical Care! So I think I'll persist with a few syringes of that a day along with all her normal food, in order to try to boost her up a bit.
 
Just to update, in the last few days Holly had maintained her weight at approx 865 g. However, I was pleasantly surprised that last night at her weighing time she had gained 28 g in 24 hours! :) This was the day after giving her oral ivermectin, so I'm wondering if she had worms as well as mites (although I'm not sure it could work that quickly). :{

Will carry on with the Critical Care again today, but slightly less or less frequently, and will see how she is tonight, but all looking good at the moment. :)
 
30g weight change is about normal for what a guinea pig can put on over the course of a day. But it is good that she is not losing anymore.

The constant itch can impede her recovery. Have you considered to give her an insecticidal or a skin-soothing bath to make her feel a bit better in herself?
 
Vickyt said:
30g weight change is about normal for what a guinea pig can put on over the course of a day. But it is good that she is not losing anymore.

The constant itch can impede her recovery. Have you considered to give her an insecticidal or a skin-soothing bath to make her feel a bit better in herself?
Click to expand...

She actually had a bath a week ago, which is really what set her back a bit (I wished I hadn't done it, but I thought it must be fungal, as they were all still itching despite the topical ivermectin).

It seems a bit suspicious that she should suddenly put on 28 g (not that I'm complaining!) after struggling to even maintain her weight with food plus Critical Care, but obviously I can't say exactly what dry food and hay she's eaten, so I'll be really interested to see what she is tonight. :)
 
Great to hear things are looking better for Holly! Keeping going Holly, get some more weight on you and stop worrying your mummy!

I found giving Panacur had the same effect. Jasmine lost half a pound after I moved her in with the other five piggies. I put it down to eating less and exercising more. She was never overweight but was on the chubby side, and always weighed in at 3lb. Her lowest weight - about five weeks after moving in with the larger group - was 2lb 5oz. I was starting to panic by this stage! She was otherwise well, just really dropping some weight and losing the chubby look. I was waiting to worm them until I had Ivomec, so I could treat the full parasitic spectrum, but decided that giving a dose of Panacur could be worthwhile. She stopped losing weight after I dosed her, and put on an ounce a week after that - she's settled at a very healthy 2lb 9oz now.

Even if intestinal parasites are not directly to blame, if the only evidence is a case of unexplained weight loss or inability to gain weight, giving either Ivomec or Panacur does seem to help some pigs. I'm believing and seeing it more and more.
 
I just weighed Carmina and she is now 1140g so her weight is going back on now. It just took a long time with her! (It's been about 5 days since the last weighing and she's gained 60g)

A relief though! :)
 
That's good news on Carmina - she sounds like she's doing really well. :)

Interesting to hear about Jasmine. :) I must admit, I've never routinely wormed up to now - although have done from time to time (once a year at most).

I've just weighed Holly and she's dropped 5 g from last night, which is a shame, but still means she's a fair bit (22 g) higher than she had been stabilised at. I gave her a bit less Critical Care today, so I'm sure that is why.
 
To update on Holly, she is still thin, and I'm having to give her 4 small feeds of Critical Care a day, on top of all the normal food she is eating.

What worries me most is that I'm going away in 3 weeks, so I really need to try to get her to a better point before then (she's usually between the 860-890g mark currently). I'm going to be so worried about her... :(

Can anyone recommend any foods that might add bulk to her? I'm looking for things that I can get her out for sneaky feeds (that she will enjoy), as I really don't want the other two bulking up anymore than they are already! :)) Cassie is a right porker. :red
 
It is so hard to get a guinea pig to gain weight after illness!

Crushed or rolled oats are said to be good for helping weight gain, I added them to Tuppy's syringe-feeds instead of separate meals - might work?
 
Just to update, Holly wouldn't eat the oats. (rolleyes), but I've weaned her off the additional Critical Care, as she was becoming quite obsessive over it, so I had a theory that it was preventing her from eating other stuff. I think I was right, as her weight has increased a bit since I stopped the additional feeds! I'll continue to weigh her daily until my holiday, but I think she should be OK. Another 50g or so would be great, but she may never reach that weight.
 
Just to update, Holly was doing very well, and got up to around 925 g. All went well while I was on holiday, but in the last 48 hours or so, she seems to have lost form again, as well as weight. :( She is munching up veggies OK, so I'm separating them for veg feeds and giving her more than the others, but she isn't eating so much hay as the others, or dried food. That's not to say she isn't eating it, but that she's picking at it more, like she was before.

I'm wondering about her teeth, but my gut feeling is that it isn't that. I've not had a pig with dental issues, but I would imagine that they seem very keen to eat but then don't, whereas she is just a bit lethargic and not wanting to eat so much as the others; exactly as she was before.

I just saw her digging around in the cage and, I think, eating poos. I think I'm going to have to give her some more Critical Care, but I'm in two minds about it, given that she got so into the CC last time that it prevented her from gaining more weight (she was 'holding out' for CC).

I would also give her probiotic, but it always brings about a recurrence of the UTI problems in all 3 of my pigs, so I don't want to do that unless absolutely necessary.

I really hoped she was on the mend. :(
 
Hmm... I think the heat has affected her (not that it's boiling inside the house and their room gets no sun, but it's hotter than they like). I just syringed a fair bit of water into her, and that stimulated her appetite a bit. Going to get her out again soon for more water and weigh her again... I'm getting worried, but hopefully I can perk her up.

I don't think it's teeth, watching her, as she hadn't got much interest in the pile of veg and grass until she had the water, then she really started tucking in.
 
Could be a sore mouth (oral infection/oral thrush)? That tends to lead to similar symptoms as dental trouble. A sore mouth will make her less inclined to eat hard foods. Daktarin Oral Gel is good, I can't remember if you tried that already or not!
 
Be aware that pigs can become dehydrated even with fresh water available, it does not mean they are drinking it. If you have any doubts as to the fluid intake you must syringe feed water/rehydration fluid. Usually a dehydrated pig will recover within 15-30 minutes after being given fluid. I would aim to give a minimum of 5ml.
 
Last edited:
Yes, I think she's been lethargic so she's not been going to the water bottle enough (although I did see her drinking earlier). Will syringe some more water in shortly.

Thanks Laura, I'd forgotten about the Daktarin (which I used on another pig, which is what you're thinking of!) Will give it a go, in case her mouth is sore.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top