Lack Of Appetite And Rumbling Belly

[GusandPeanut]

Hi all,

My piggy Gus, who is around 19 months old, hasn't eaten this evening and has a rumbling belly that's noticeable if you get up close or rub him. He has nibbled a good mouthful of food but seems a little like he's low on appetite - he's sniffing it all, having a bite, but not eating a proper bowlful. He seems to be eating a little more hay.

Otherwise fine - breathing is fine, he is being grumpy/laying about but that's him generally, plenty of energy if he needs to get up and run.

He was fine this morning and seemed to be ok earlier when I picked his bro up to go to the vets (unrelated issues). Only seems to have been like that since then - he was a little sulky when we got him out pre-feeding and put him on our bed, and since then has just been a bit quiet and not eating.

Any advice adored. Thanks chaps.

 

[Wiebke]

Please start weighing your boy daily at the same time to monitor his food intake; just watching is usually not enough. Once he loses more than 50g, start topping up with syringe feed and water and see a vet.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Take him off all fresh food until 24 hours after the tummy has and output have normalised.

Please check on him once or twice overnight in case he develops bloat (developing a swollen belly). See a vet asap as an emergency at any time if that happens; bloat can kill.

Before you go to bed, you can give him a little massage with the handle of an electric toothbrush to help work the gas out. Anything vibrating will help with bloat and gassing.

All the best!