How To Fatten Up A Thin Piggy?

[smileyface:)]

Hi all,

Well Freckles is now around 5 and a half or more as I was only given a rough age when I adopted him so maybe older, and he has been through the mill recently.

He developed a bad fungal infection recently (possibly mites too - vet did scrapes but inconclusive) treated for both anyway and he's getting better. He has a cataract now, but I know that's normal for older piggies sometimes, and since he had all the illness he's lost a ton of weight - very bony looking now, from all that scratching, though he had been loosing a little bit of weight prior to the skin infection.

He has now developed anal impaction, so doing my best to clear that (though his friend Spud has annoyingly been nipping his bum to get to the poop, which is another problem) but my main concern is his weight.

He is eating pellet, hay and veg well and drinking normally too, but is there anyway I can get his weight up? Hopefully it should come back over time, but want to fatten him up as he is prone to illness, always has been.

Also should I restrict veg till the impaction gets better?

Any help would be great my piggy peers

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all,

Well Freckles is now around 5 and a half or more as I was only given a rough age when I adopted him so maybe older, and he has been through the mill recently.

He developed a bad fungal infection recently (possibly mites too - vet did scrapes but inconclusive) treated for both anyway and he's getting better. He has a cataract now, but I know that's normal for older piggies sometimes, and since he had all the illness he's lost a ton of weight - very bony looking now, from all that scratching, though he had been loosing a little bit of weight prior to the skin infection.

He has now developed anal impaction, so doing my best to clear that (though his friend Spud has annoyingly been nipping his bum to get to the poop, which is another problem) but my main concern is his weight.

He is eating pellet, hay and veg well and drinking normally too, but is there anyway I can get his weight up? Hopefully it should come back over time, but want to fatten him up as he is prone to illness, always has been.

Also should I restrict veg till the impaction gets better?

Any help would be great my piggy peers

Hi!
Here is our impaction guide which you will find helpful in terms of long term care and diet with videos for care and an impaction carer's practical diet and care tips.
Impaction Recovery - How To Help Your Guinea Pig.

Unfortunately at that age, weight is rarely coming back on and staying on; the same happens in old people.
A good regular diet is much better for supporting an active immune system than filling an impacted piggy with empty calories. I would strongly recommend to rather give extra vitamin C and probiotics on a daily basis and concentrate on minimising his impaction as much as possible, as that is long term what is going to sustain his weight and immune system.
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links

 

[smileyface:)]

thanks for the info Wiebke, can you recommend a product that gives the additional vit c and probiotics?

 

[smileyface:)]

thanks too for the video - he's such a calm piggy he doesn't seem to mind me doing it

 

[smileyface:)]

found this - http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/proc-probiotic-100gm
is that the one to get? thanks x

 

[Wiebke]

thanks for the info Wiebke, can you recommend a product that gives the additional vit c and probiotics?

You can find info on probiotics in the lower link. Oxbow produce the only vitamin C animal tablets; as to probiotics, go for a widely available one. You can give pro C; avipro and bio-lapsis are also good brand names and easily available online.

 

[Blobfish]

Hi all,

Well Freckles is now around 5 and a half or more as I was only given a rough age when I adopted him so maybe older, and he has been through the mill recently.

He developed a bad fungal infection recently (possibly mites too - vet did scrapes but inconclusive) treated for both anyway and he's getting better. He has a cataract now, but I know that's normal for older piggies sometimes, and since he had all the illness he's lost a ton of weight - very bony looking now, from all that scratching, though he had been loosing a little bit of weight prior to the skin infection.

He has now developed anal impaction, so doing my best to clear that (though his friend Spud has annoyingly been nipping his bum to get to the poop, which is another problem) but my main concern is his weight.

He is eating pellet, hay and veg well and drinking normally too, but is there anyway I can get his weight up? Hopefully it should come back over time, but want to fatten him up as he is prone to illness, always has been.

Also should I restrict veg till the impaction gets better?

Any help would be great my piggy peers

I don't know about older pigs, but I did have a pig that lost an awful amount of weight (about 300g) due to not eating properly due to an ear infection, which went unnoticed as I was on holiday for over 2 weeks and had left him at a boarding facility. After his vet treatment, I fattened him back up gradually through additional syringe feeding of mashed up pellets (or Supreme Science Recovery feed) - even though he was still eating pellets and greens himself. Also lots of really good green timothy hay like Oxbow or Alfalfa King timothy hay - they seem to put a bit of weight on with that. Oh and I also use that Pro-C Probiotic from Pets at Home, sprinkled on veggies. Good luck!

 

[smileyface:)]

many thanks - will get this ordered today - cheers!

 

[smileyface:)]

I don't know about older pigs, but I did have a pig that lost an awful amount of weight (about 300g) due to not eating properly due to an ear infection, which went unnoticed as I was on holiday for over 2 weeks and had left him at a boarding facility. After his vet treatment, I fattened him back up gradually through additional syringe feeding of mashed up pellets (or Supreme Science Recovery feed) - even though he was still eating pellets and greens himself. Also lots of really good green timothy hay like Oxbow or Alfalfa King timothy hay - they seem to put a bit of weight on with that. Oh and I also use that Pro-C Probiotic from Pets at Home, sprinkled on veggies. Good luck!

thanks for this too - good tip about sprinkling on veggies

 

[Wiebke]

many thanks - will get this ordered today - cheers!

Just concentrate on the gut health and his impaction. If the guts are working well, then overall weight and general health will follow. Adding extra calories to his diet can worsen the impaction.

 

[Blobfish]

Just concentrate on the gut health and his impaction. If the guts are working well, then overall weight and general health will follow. Adding extra calories to his diet can worsen the impaction.

Oops - I didn't know this. In the case I was mentioning, the pig was not particularly old (maybe about 3), and he had no impaction issues.

 

[piggers&jazz]

My guy is nearly eight, he dropped weight. I would ask your vet especially because of the fecal issue, but my vet had me give pumpkin or some baby food. (no one seemed to like the pumpkin, but I gave organic single ingredient baby food. Seems the butternut squash was a hit. ) Small amount mixed with slurry or critical care. Definitely ask your vet ! I also have started dosing one half teaspoon of comomile tea twice a day. His weight is up to acceptable amount, and he seems more relaxed. Those poor old bones ! I'm trying to stay away from pain meds unless absolutely necessary. The digestion upsets seems worse than the stiff joints.

 

[smileyface:)]

hello! Just wanted to give an update on Freckles - he health has really turned around - the impaction was easily resolved that day, and since then his poops have been normal.

Maybe he got a bit bunged up while taking his antibiotics? I really thought I was going to loose him, due to his weight loss and illness, but now he is back to great form and putting on a little weight - I have since changed to Auboise bedding and hope now he won't have any more skin irritation (I had bought a bale of hay online to use as feed and bedding and think they got mites from that, he seems to be very sensitive to bedding!).

so thanks again for all the help, in particular to @Wiebke, just shows older piggies can bounce back to good health too!