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Older Piggie Needs To Gain Weight

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Aprilds9

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I have an older piggie "Scamper" and he has become very picky about what he eats and is now losing so much weight that he has flappy skin hanging from his neck. He acts completely normal (vocalizing, running around etc) but he just will not eat. I give him fresh field greens and he picks through them and only eats certain lettuces, then he will only eat navel oranges (not any other type) he will not eat red apples even if I peal the skin off (only green apples) he will eat no spinach, no broccoli (this is new, he used to eat this) no strawberries (also new to the no eat list) he will only eat meadow hay. No alfalfa, no Timothy or any other hay, it will just sit there and Scamper will complain to me that he is hungry.

I don't know what to do. Has anyone else had such a picky eater? I just gave him a bath and realized how much weight he has lost and I am worried. I don't believe that he is sick because he is acting fine. Oh, he is pooping and peeing fine also.

Any suggestions? Thanks for the help.
April
 
Hi! Have you had Scamper seen by an experienced vet? Picky eating can be caused by a variety of issues. As you are mentioning a LOT of fruit (which should be part of the diet only twice in a week), I would have him checked for a rush or painful sores in his mouth which can be caused by eating too much fruit.
Often there is a pain issue of some kind at the bottom of weight loss. Please make sure that your vet is also checking his premolars (teeth at the back that tend to overgrow in older piggies). Anorexia (loss of appetite) should always be investigated by a vet; it can have a range of causes and needs to be investigated by a knowledgable vet.
We have got a piggy savvy vets locator on the top bar for our UK members.

How often are you weighing him (should be daily instead of weekly with any piggy you are worried about)? Have you considered topping him up with hand feed?

Alfalfa (lucerne) is a legume and not recommended for guinea pigs except for pregnant and nursing sows and very young pups, as it is too high in calcium and protein for adult piggies.

PS: With members from all around the world, you can help us a lot in always giving you the appropriate advice and recommendations straight away if you add your country, state (US/Aus/Can) or county/general area (UK) to your details. Click on your name at the top bar, then go to personal details/location.
 
What is 'hand feed'? I give him a dry kibble (it has some pellets and seeds and such) he seems to like that. I have not taken him to the vet yet as I have not been able to find an 'exotic' one that specializes in piggies. I live in the Jacksonville Florida area of the US. I have heard that giving them oats like the kind in oatmeal will help with weight gain. What are your thoughts?
 
Hi :wel:to the forum..

Its great to have you on board, As for pellets these 4 are readily available in the US.

pellets3.webp pellets2.webp pellets1.webp pellets4.webp
 
Thanks for the info on pellets.... I use the Oxbox products. I have made an appointment to take him to the vet today. I am worried it is his teeth or something serious. I am just worried about the little guy. :( It just is not right that he is not eating his food like he usually does. I will let everyone know what the vet has to say. Thanks for all of the information.
 
Healing vibes for Scamper...
 
Have you tried giving him some Recovery (Critical Care)? My two piggies love this as a supplement to their diet but its also been a life-saver when I've had eating problems with them (ie they aren't that well and on antibiotics or if they just seem a bit off-colour). Its a powder that you mix into a paste and then feed via a syringe (just a tip, my husband used a small drill bit to make the syringe hole larger which has made it a lot easier to "suck up" the mixture)
 
Hand feeding means syringe feeding a guinea pig that is losing weight and off its food. You can do it with either formulated recovery foods or by mushing up pellets in some boiled, cooled water. It can help to get a piggy through a crisis. Please cut the narrow tip off a 1ml syringe just below where it widens for easier feeding and do not syringe more than 0.5ml (half) in one go to prevent things from going down the wrong way. Make sure that you also syringe 1ml of water for every 3-5 ml of syringe food to prevent dehydration. Weigh your piggy daily.
Here is more information: http://www.guinealynx.info/handfeeding.html
 
Well Scamper is doing better after being at the vets for two days, some dental work and on antibiotics. We are hand feeding 4 times a day and he is carrying some water weight from the extra fluids that the vet gave him. She had said that he would be a bit pudgy from the extra fluids but he seems to be doing better. He is eating off and on but I still do not see him eating any hay which concerns me and I will speak with the vet tomorrow if I don't see any improvement with the hay consumption. I know he is not drinking much water but with all the extra fluids that he is carrying I am not that concerned but I will mention that also to the vet. Boy, this has been a crazy time. Thanks to everyone for the wonderful advise and I will continue to keep you informed on Scampers progress.
April
 
I feel for you I'm having the exact same problem with Piglet. The only reason he's still with us is he seems so bright in himself. Today he's having his teeth looked at and I'm hoping the vets going to find something easily resolvable.

I'm looking forward to hearing Scampers progress. x
 
Back at the vet for the 3rd time. Scamper is eating better but never lost the water weight that he had from the fluids that they gave him at the hospital. He is slowly losing it now. At the last visit, they said he should have lost the water in 48 hours. :( more blood, urine, and an X-ray later and his heart and kidneys look suspicious. Vet put him on Cherry juice because his Kidney enzymes were high. Also, low red blood cell count. So today, Scamper was given an ultrasound and it showed chronic renal failure and right atrium enlargement. Not only renal failure but a heart problem too.
He is still on his probiotic 2 times a day, Cherry juice 2 times a day, antibiotic (for the rest of this week) Omega oil once a day and a cream to rub on 3 new hot spots from where his extra water weight rubbed him. Oh, yes they are giving him shots once a week of some hormone to help stimulate red blood cell production.
Even with all of this the doctor said he could have days or months. There was nothing else to do but make him as happy as possible. :( Sorry, I wish I had better news. :(. :(
 
I really am so sorry. You will treasure your remaining time with him. You are doing all you can.
 
It is with a heavy heart that I must tell all my new friends here on the Guinea Pig Forum that Scamper lost his battle to kidney disease last night. He will be laid to rest tonight beside his brother Peanut and his best friend Bugsey. I look forward to seeing you on the other side. Rest in peace little buddy. :(
 
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