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Jess struggling to put on weight šŸ¤¦ā€ā™€ļø

alpacasqueak

alpacasqueak

Senior Guinea Pig
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Iā€™m struggling to get much weight on Jess, heft as well as weight really.
Before she changed to grainless pellets 3-4 yrs ago she was 950g, had always been pretty teeny due to her background before I adopted her (taken away from mum too early, housed alone as a baby :(), this went down to 850-860g but I couldnā€™t feel obvious hip bones etc. Stayed stable for years.
Since losing her eye and me stepping in feeding she went down to 700g ish, goes up and down 10g or so. Sheā€™s so boney now, active and loopy as always and eating really well, not losing any but just not gaining either!
Sheā€™ll be 7 in Feb so guessing age is playing a part but Iā€™m just worrying that if she suffered with anything else her tiny little self wouldnā€™t be able to take much more bless her.

Sheā€™s having grated sweet potato and oats every other day, in the morning having pellets and in the evening coming out for a big meal of soaked pellets (the sandcastle way atm since I saw great post by @furryfriends (TEAS)!) and then some oats with her evening pile of hay to play in with her man! Sheā€™s having baby corn a few times a week and carrot a couple of times a week. And her usual veg and stacks of hay etc.
Luigiā€™s still gaining weight (think younger than a year when I adopted him with the spiky nails and weight gain despite the stacks of exercise so not just a porky pig!) but sheā€™s kind of stuck despite what Iā€™m trying!
Any other ideas greatly appreciated!? :nod: Rupert was roughly the same age with his poorliness before when I lost him but he didnā€™t seem to have a problem with keeping or gaining his weight. Did wonder if with her younger man sheā€™s on the move a bit more but sheā€™s always been a ā€˜crazy popcorn pigā€™ running around. Donā€™t feel heā€™s getting more, with me at home a lot it seems she eats a lot more than him at times!
So at a bit of a loss! Wouldnā€™t mind if she felt ok, just hip bones etc not feeling good to me!
Thanks for reading essay as always! :)):))
 
Sorry to hear Jess isnt regaining her weight and heft @alpacasqueak it sounds like you are doing everything you can for her with extra oats and high calorie treat veg and mushy pellets, unless you start proper supplementary syringe feeding (which probably isnt needed if she's eating well herself) I can't think what else you can do... if she is well in herself and has a clean bill of health from the vet maybe this is just her new "senior lady" weight... sending hugs! X
 
Thanks @PigglePuggle, yup might have to come to terms with her being teeny like Ped was in his last year! Did try with top up feeds, well from a spoon as so eager, but just stopped her eating hay as much which I though was more important! :doh:No vet visits for a while thanks!:)) Iā€™ll just keep doing what Iā€™m doing and fingers crossed! Sheā€™s so happy and herself again, getting my sloppy face kisses and jumping on my knee for a pea flake, donā€™t think sheā€™s too bothered sheā€™s got a scrawny bottom!x
 
Think Iā€™m just worrying a little as her and Rupert are/were the oldest piggies Iā€™ve had, youve got to do the best for them! Jess has one nipple, one eye (so two ops!) and sheā€™s deaf, what a nightmare youā€™d think sheā€™d had, but sheā€™s so brilliant with her attitude! :love: x
 
Aw Jess sounds such a character and a very lucky girl to have you looking after her and especially bringing home gorgeous toy boy Luigi to brighten up her senior years so she wouldnt be alone! At 7 if she's still loving life despite her missing bits and weight loss I think you must be doing a grand job x
 
I've had this problem with oldies. You seem to be doing all the right things - she's lucky to have such a dedicated piggy mum! I agree this might just be her new senior weight.

The only thing I can think of is whether there is any possibility that she might be in pain. I have had several older piggies who've had arthritis; they could walk fine but tended to be less active and when they had a vet check, they were found to have a little arthritis. They were put on metacam long term and they were better for it - still a bit bony, but they stopped losing weight. You've probably already had her checked out for arthritis, but if not, it's worth a thought.
 
Sending you and Jess hugs. It sound's like you are doing all you can, she's very lucky to have such a dedicated slave. I recently had a problem with Peanut losing weight, it turned out he had a very tiny abscess at the side of his mouth which must have been bothering him. Now it's gone he's eating well and has gained 50g in the last few days. The vet did suggest top up syringe feeding for a week but I've stopped it, like you I found he wasn't eating so much for himself if he was having syringe feed. It's such a worry when the oldies lose weight, you worry if they get ill they've nothing in reserve. As other's have said if she's happy this may just be her new old lady weight. Why don't human old ladies lose weight, we seem to struggle with the opposite! Xx
 
Thanks so much, not sure there is much more I can give her with still keeping kind of healthy really!
The weightā€™s all been an issue since the op and there were no probs with her beforehand (op the 17th Oct). She had a few trips to the vet after her op (with Luigi enjoying nibbling at her stitches) and did get a good look over each time, sheā€™s also a really active little lady and always up at the side of the cage on her back legs and jumping up and on my knee when sheā€™s out so Iā€™ve really not noticed any signs of arthritis but Iā€™ll definitely keep an extra close eye out for that now thanks @Posyrose :)
Thank you @piggieminder x Hope Peanutā€™s still doing so well :love:
Yeah looks like sheā€™s just going to take a little while to gain it back or not at all, her happy and healthy is the main thing and the op definitely hasnā€™t damaged her vocal chords constantly demanding her grub!
These piggies need to share their weight loss secrets with us hoomans I think @piggieminder! xx
 
I believe older piggies usually have hard time gaining back the weight they've loss especially after being sick (this can be true with humans too anyway). You are doing everything you can for Jess. As long as she is still eating by herself and happy. ā¤ļø
 
Thank you @anyar.dris, yeah I just think itā€™s her being an older lady rather than anything else. She doesnā€™t act it now sheā€™s over her op though! And definitely enjoying all the extras Luigi doesnā€™t get! :D x
 
Sorry to hear about Jess not being able to put on weight. I also think the older you get the longer the recovery time. I certainly hope she gets her appetite back.
 
Seven7 said:
Sorry to hear about Jess not being able to put on weight. I also think the older you get the longer the recovery time. I certainly hope she gets her appetite back.
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Thanks @Seven7, sheā€™s got a big appetite, just not fattening her up as much as Iā€™d like! Not that sheā€™s ever been the biggest piggy in the world, think Luigiā€™s aiming for that no1 spot! :))
 
Yay, weight gain with Jess! šŸ„³šŸ„³šŸ„³
Sheā€™s either got access to the forum without my knowledge and wants to prove me wrong or what Iā€™m doing finally seems to be working! Not weighed since last tues as been doing it daily and worrying like I do but 743g just now, yay! Make sure itā€™s stays that way Jessie-woo!

But Porky Gigi is up to 1302g :eek: :))Think a few less oats for him now (only has a sprinkle of pellets too, destined to be a capybara really me thinks!)
 
Yay Jess is up to 767g! :wub: For a couple of days now, looks like slow and steady for her! And her favourite hay (b&m Timothy hay with dandelion and marigold and bits and bobs) will be around later as my mum has grabbed us a couple of packs when she saw it, theyā€™ve not had it in for a couple of months and she blooming loves it, letā€™s hope that helps too!šŸ¤žGo Jessie-woo!:love:

Luigi weighing in at 1293g, glad no increase the porker! :))
 
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