Keeping weight on...

[Char-x]

My girls are all okay weights but I think they need abit more on them. Two have suffered from ovarian cysts and lost weight then, and have put weight on since being spayed but they arent as porky as they used to be.

Theres 3 in a 4x11 cage and my mum said because the vet believes they are all healthy it could be that they get so much excercise? They are always running around.

They get unlimited hay, and loads of it (3x big litter trays and piles all around), unlimited pellets and a good varied veg diet. But is there anything like a vegetable or type of hay etc thats good for puttin on abit of weight?

 

[Wiebke]

Your piggies' life and diet sounds actually very healthy and happy! Do you REALLY think that they need more weight, even if they are not as porky as they have been? Anything you are trying put on will be more in the way of empty calories and fat.

 

[Char-x]

I just worry because if I rub up their side I can feel their ribs...like I wouldnt have thought it was good to be able to clearly feel the ribs so easily?

I'm thinking it could be down to excercise? But I dont know if they need more food to compensate? They run alot.

 

[Wiebke]

I would think that the fact that they are running couldn't be better or healthier!

I'd rather up their pellets a little bit if you are really unhappy about your piggies' weight; but active piggies sounds like a dream team to me! Lots of members will envy you for that!

 

[zombieprincess]

Yes when i've read dieting information for piggies it's always said to lower their pellet intake and up the fresh foods, so maybe to put on weight the opposite should be done. Obviously not take their veg down to nothing but just a few bits less. How old are they? Maybe a combo if their age along with majour surgery has taken a bit out of them. Hope they remain well at least.

 

[Char-x]

Tallulah is just 3, Gypsey is three on 11th April and Montana is 4 in September. So not too old.

They have three bowels of pellets but only eat out of two, I have sometimes left two bowels empty to encourage them to eat out the third but I will just keep them all full too try and boost their weight abit.

Tallulah is 1kg, but she used to be 1.1kg, Gypsey is 900grams but used to be 1kg...so both got 100grams before they are pre-ovarian cysts stage. Montanna I've only had for abit but shes lost abit of weight (she was in a smaller hutch before though with many other pigs) by the looks of it, although havent weighed her yet as shes suicidal and jumps everywhere and the shoddy scales I have right now wouldnt take her flying around without collapsing lol.

 

[lovelygirl]

How big were the cysts? could they have had that amount of weight removed from them? thus they would be back to the normal weight minus the cyst weight?

 

[Wiebke]

The weight loss is not dramatic and tallies with their age - older piggies bounce back more slwoly than younger ones and tend not to put back all the weight that has been lost in illness/operation.

Just up the pellet intake, so they are getting a bit more calories. I would not reduce the veg but reduce the pellets again once they have put on more weight. I found that changing their pellet intake can account for about 50g of the body weight of one of my stable adult piggies.

 

[Sarah from Chucklebunnies]

My four year old Carmina lost 100g approx after a spaying operation and has never regained it. The spaying was over a year ago now. An attempt to feed her up simply resulted in the other three piggies with her becoming rather too porky! So, as Carmina is happy and healthy in herself, I try not to fret about the lack of weight gain. She may be lighter than she was, but this really doesn't seem to bother her at all. She is also slacker in skin tension where the operation was, so her shape has altered and she seems thinner around the ribs. She isn't really, she just seems that way. Anyway, I credit you for your concern and I wish you and your piggies well, but they may simply be like my Carmina and just not put the weight back on again.

 

[Char-x]

Sorry I havent replied sooner. The cysts were quite big so I guess that could be the reason. I have made sure their food bowels are never empty of pellets now and they seem to be abit more porky. I guess it is true though with regards to age that they may never get as big as they were.