Losing Weight And Crusty Nose

[Tina Smith]

Hi, my rescue piggie, Freddie, is st least 6 years old. We noticed he was loosing weight and then his one nostril became abit crusty. We took him to the vets who checked him thoughly, but felt his weight loss was probably down to a cancer somewhere or the bones in his jaw thinning (which apparently can happen when they are older). She gave him a weeks worth of antibiotics in case it was a cold or infection and then after that a further weeks course. The nose cleared up quite a bit and his weight seems stable ...but he won't keep still on the kitchen scales!
He still eats but not as much as he used to and is still keen on food...he follows me around their run when he knows food is coming....but he does sleep a lot.
I've just noticed though that his nose is crusty again and will go back to vets but I thought I'd ask for any experiences here as the vet did say the nose crusting could be linked to a jaw issue (thinning).
Any thoughts gratefully received.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, my rescue piggie, Freddie, is st least 6 years old. We noticed he was loosing weight and then his one nostril became abit crusty. We took him to the vets who checked him thoughly, but felt his weight loss was probably down to a cancer somewhere or the bones in his jaw thinning (which apparently can happen when they are older). She gave him a weeks worth of antibiotics in case it was a cold or infection and then after that a further weeks course. The nose cleared up quite a bit and his weight seems stable ...but he won't keep still on the kitchen scales!
He still eats but not as much as he used to and is still keen on food...he follows me around their run when he knows food is coming....but he does sleep a lot.
I've just noticed though that his nose is crusty again and will go back to vets but I thought I'd ask for any experiences here as the vet did say the nose crusting could be linked to a jaw issue (thinning).
Any thoughts gratefully received.

Are the crusts whitish and thin or thick and yellowish/green? In the first case, it is usually the sign of some irritation or rhinitis (like inhaling hay dust when rooting around etc), which causes the nose to flow, the second is a generally a sign of respiratory infection. It may not have cleared up completely in a week or be something that the antibiotic can suppress but not heal.

Tips for weighing: How To Pick Up Your Guinea Pig

Older guinea pigs tend to sleep more and need less calories as their metabolism is slowing down a bit; they become gradually a bit bonier around the hips and lose the extra weight from when they were at the peak of their lives.
However, any sudden weight loss needs to be checked. Step in with syringe feeding as a top up whenever the weight is not stable and is falling 50g below; just let your boy have as much as he wants.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

 

[Tina Smith]

Are the crusts whitish and thin or thick and yellowish/green? In the first case, it is usually the sign of some irritation or rhinitis (like inhaling hay dust when rooting around etc), which causes the nose to flow, the second is a generally a sign of respiratory infection. It may not have cleared up completely in a week or be something that the antibiotic can suppress but not heal.

Tips for weighing: How To Pick Up Your Guinea Pig

Older guinea pigs tend to sleep more and need less calories as their metabolism is slowing down a bit; they become gradually a bit bonier around the hips and lose the extra weight from when they were at the peak of their lives.
However, any sudden weight loss needs to be checked. Step in with syringe feeding as a top up whenever the weight is not stable and is falling 50g below; just let your boy have as much as he wants.
Complete Syringe F

 

[Tina Smith]

It's more the second colour...yellowish green. I'll get him back to vets. Thanks for replying.