My Guinea Pig Is Loosing Weight But Still Eating

[ggvicki]

Hi I am new to this forum and I have a question about the health of my guinea pig. His name is Brownie. He has always been a good size and weight and ate well. He still eats all his food including hay, pellets, and veggies. But lately I noticed that he has been loosing weight and a little less active but still alert. I know something is up but don't know what yet. His poops look good and normal. I have made a vet appointment but right now I would like to have some sort of idea of whats going on. If anyone knows anything about these symptoms or has had the similar thing happen to their guinea pig please tell I would like to know and type of info about this.

 

[helen105281]

Glad you have made a vet appointment, do you have details of the starting weight and how much he has lost over what period?

Welcome to the forum. Please could you also confirm whereabouts in the world you are as we have members from the UK but from other countries too. If you could update your location in your profile that would be great.

 

[Bekki]

It may also be worth checking our vet locator tab if you're in teh UK, you may have a totally awesome piggy vet nearby. Most vets do not have much training in guinea pigs so can be quite poor, the ones on that list have been vetted by members on her and have good piggy knowledge :-)

 

[Briony_S]

Good luck i too have a weight loss pig its a mystery to me at present whats wrong. The vet I went to gave me antibiotics but was trying to tell me she was fine. If this happens please see another vets x

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! Mystery weight loss is always very worrying, as it can so many different causes.

Please make sure that your vet is also checking his teeth, especially his premolars, which are the most likely to grow spurs, which can trap the tongue or burrow into a cheek.

Good that you have already booked him in, as only a thorough investigation can reveal the cause!

PS: With members from all over the world, it would help us to give you the appropriate information and recommendation straight away if you added your country, state (US/Aus) or country/general area (UK) to your details. Click on your username on the top bar and go to personal details/location.
Here is our piggy savvy UK vets locator: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/pages/guinea-pig-vet-locator/

 

[ggvicki]

Thank you for everyones information. I went to the vet today and the vet was very experienced with guinea pigs. I was very happy with that because its hard to find good vets that are experienced with guinea pigs. I went to Turquoise Animal Hospital in San Diego, California. She checked all his vitals and she said he was perfectly healthy. She did also say that he was on the skinny side. She gave him an iv and he's been doing better. He's been more like himself. I ended up leaving the vet with some medication to help boost his immune system. The vet told me if my little brownie doesn't get any better to come back. She also told me to double up on the amount of vitamin c I give him. The way he gets his vitamin c is I give him a cup of parsley a day which equals to 25mg a day. So I gave him 2 cups today and going to continue it he gets better. I hope this works and he gets better. My poor brownie. Thank you for everyones advice and help. oh and also they checked his teeth and they are all good.His molars and front teeth are not overgrown and he is able to eat.