• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Over Weight Pig?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Siobhan_Roisin

Siobhan_Roisin

Joined
May 9, 2009
Messages
58
Reaction score
1
Points
0
Location
Glasgow
Hi,

I've been reading some of the posts about weight. It has sparked a question.
How do you know if a pig is too big?

I worry about the size of my Felix sometimes. He has quite a round belly. I always just assume that pigs are round. You don't really see slim pigs. Is there a sign a method for testing if he is obese? I know for cats you should be able to feel certain things under their fur.

I don't know if he should go on a wee diet. I don't want him to get joint problems from too much weight. Though I don't know if he is just a rather large boy.
 
Siobhan_Roisin said:
Hi,

I've been reading some of the posts about weight. It has sparked a question.
How do you know if a pig is too big?

I worry about the size of my Felix sometimes. He has quite a round belly. I always just assume that pigs are round. You don't really see slim pigs. Is there a sign a method for testing if he is obese? I know for cats you should be able to feel certain things under their fur.

I don't know if he should go on a wee diet. I don't want him to get joint problems from too much weight. Though I don't know if he is just a rather large boy.
Click to expand...

If he is struggling to move or he can't run very well then chances are he is an overweight piggy! Pig weights vary vastly (I believe for a boar it can be anywhere from 900-1600+ grams, so a huuuge range of weight that he could be depending on his size!).

Personally, I like to keep my pigs a little on the tubby side, gives them a little extra reserves should they get ill. But as long as they're doing what guinea pigs do without obviously struggling with their weight then it's fine!

I can't say I've ever seen an overweight piggy... nice round tummies are normal for a pig. Once they get older and out of that nice lean baby body they do tend to look more dumpy than anything! :)
 
I think the only time you should really be worried about your piggles weight, is when they're being restricted by their flubber. Until then, I think a bit of chubbiness is good (: especially for cuddling, but also as ghostbusterbunny said, incase they get ill. I wouldn't stress yourself out about it, as long as he's happy and healthy (:
 
It is hard to know if a piggy is slightly overweight, but certainly when I've weighed mine they are the same weight so it was a little hard to understand a vet would say mine are overweight when he didn't check the weights and the previous week the other vet said nothing. However it did spur me on to finally make a bigger run which attaches to the existing one. There are days when the portion might be later than norm when I've not measured the amount or my hubby has sneaked them there favourite nibble. I think it's like our own health, fresh food, exercise all in moderation. :p
 
lil said:
It is hard to know if a piggy is slightly overweight, but certainly when I've weighed mine they are the same weight so it was a little hard to understand a vet would say mine are overweight when he didn't check the weights and the previous week the other vet said nothing. However it did spur me on to finally make a bigger run which attaches to the existing one. There are days when the portion might be later than norm when I've not measured the amount or my hubby has sneaked them there favourite nibble. I think it's like our own health, fresh food, exercise all in moderation. :p
Click to expand...

I just had to take one of my girls in to the vet the other week to get some lumps looked at, and she weighed in at just under a kilo. I thought the vet was going to say something as she is pretty tubby, but she just said that she was fine and a healthy weight! I think to a point it can be down to individual interpretations of weight and how they look/feel once you get your hands on them.

It's always good to give them as much exercise as possible, but at the same time it's unhealthy to obsess over their weight, just in case we end up impacting them negatively because we're worried they're a little on the tubby side! A little flab never hurt anyone, it's too much flab we need to look out for in a piggy! :)
 
Simple question:

How much do they weigh?....and have they always been this weight since fully grown (approx 1 year old)?


x
 
Thanks very much all for the input.

I thought Felix was just fine, but my flat mates always make fun of his size. He has to try a couple of times when he jumps into his cage, but I think that is just down to his being clumsy. He gets loads of exercise aswell, his cage is always open when we are home... and we are at uni, so someone is generally always in.
Whenever he goes to the vet they comment on what a big guy he is, but they say nothing more... He weighs about 1400

Thanks though, I feel certain he is just a healthy happy pig. :(|)
 
Siobhan_Roisin said:
Thanks very much all for the input.

I thought Felix was just fine, but my flat mates always make fun of his size. He has to try a couple of times when he jumps into his cage, but I think that is just down to his being clumsy. He gets loads of exercise aswell, his cage is always open when we are home... and we are at uni, so someone is generally always in.
Whenever he goes to the vet they comment on what a big guy he is, but they say nothing more.

Thanks though, I feel certain he is just a healthy happy pig. :(|)
Click to expand...

Haha, quite a few people that I know make fun of my pigs simply because they're not used to seeing tubby guinea pigs! Pigs also aren't the best jumpers to begin with, especially not the 'larger' adult guinea pigs, so that's nothing to worry about!

Some guinea pigs (boys and girls!) are generally a bit bigger than others! I've got one girl who is huge, and one who is rather on the small side!

Definitely sounds like a healthy pig and nothing to worry about! :D
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top