Is The Weight Good?

[Julia Rafferty]

I have two male piggies who are about one month apart. My younger one is about five months while the older is about six months. The younger one has always been larger and I am trying to keep up with how much they should weigh. They are both 1.8 pounds and carry it differently. Franklin, the young one, is a pear shape. All of his weight is in his backside. Abraham, the older one. Is more of and oval or square. Is this normal? I am especially worried that they are the same weight even though they are both growing and one is a month older.

 

[Wiebke]

I have two male piggies who are about one month apart. My younger one is about five months while the older is about six months. The younger one has always been larger and I am trying to keep up with how much they should weigh. They are both 1.8 pounds and carry it differently. Franklin, the young one, is a pear shape. All of his weight is in his backside. Abraham, the older one. Is more of and oval or square. Is this normal? I am especially worried that they are the same weight even though they are both growing and one is a month older.

Hi! Body shape differs according to breed.

Weight and size can vary widely even in litter siblings at any stage of life. I currently have litter sisters which are over 100g difference in weight at 5 months old, but my most diverse pair was 500g apart in weight at the peak of their lives. They both lived to a good old age; interestingly it was the smaller, energetic one that was the leader of a large group.

You judge whether your guinea pig is a good weight/size ratio by feeling around the rib cage (the bum end is irrelevant, as that is breed related). If you can just feel the ribs, your guinea pig is perfectly healthy and has a 'good heft'. If you can feel all ribs and especially if the ribs are standing out, your guinea pig is underweight. If you can't feel the ribs at all, your guinea pig is overweight.

I cannot comment on your individual weights. We use grams on the forum because metric US pounds and imperial UK pounds differ in weight and can lead to misunderstandings. Without a country of yours, I have no idea what measurement you are using. Grams are the same everywhere, so is no risk of misunderstandings and misleading advice as a result.

You may find this guide here helpful:
The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight

 

[Julia Rafferty]

Hi! Body shape differs according to breed.

Weight and size can vary widely even in litter siblings at any stage of life. I currently have litter sisters which are over 100g difference in weight at 5 months old, but my most diverse pair was 500g apart in weight at the peak of their lives. They both lived to a good old age; interestingly it was the smaller, energetic one that was the leader of a large group.

You judge whether your guinea pig is a good weight/size ratio by feeling around the rib cage (the bum end is irrelevant, as that is breed related). If you can just feel the ribs, your guinea pig is perfectly healthy and has a 'good heft'. If you can feel all ribs and especially if the ribs are standing out, your guinea pig is underweight. If you can't feel the ribs at all, your guinea pig is overweight.

I cannot comment on your individual weights. We use grams on the forum because metric US pounds and imperial UK pounds differ in weight and can lead to misunderstandings. Without a country of yours, I have no idea what measurement you are using. Grams are the same everywhere, so is no risk of misunderstandings and misleading advice as a result.

You may find this guide here helpful:
The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight

Thanks you. I can feel both of there ribs but not all of them

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks you. I can feel both of there ribs but not all of them

So take a deep breath! Both boys are perfectly fit and healthy as they are and there is nothing whatsoever for you to worry about.

You just get larger and smaller piggies like you get larger and smaller humans; even in the same family!