Overweight Piggie! What To Do?

[nibblesandcoco]

I have 2 piggies; Coco who is about 6 and a half years old, and Nibbles who is about 2 years and 2 months old. Nibbles’ weight has been an issue for a long time, and when we just weighed them to see the extent, Nibbles came out to be a whooping 2.75 pounds, or 1247 grams. She’s super overweight and we’re worried about her health. We have a Midwest cage for the two of them, and Nibbles is super hyper, so we never thought Nibbles would weigh as much as she does! I have a divider for the cage. Should we seperate them so Nibbles doesn’t have the chance to eat Coco’s food (we think maybe that’s the problem) and so maybe she could go on a diet? And if she needs to go on a diet, what should she eat and how much? Thanks so much

 

[Wiebke]

I have 2 piggies; Coco who is about 6 and a half years old, and Nibbles who is about 2 years and 2 months old. Nibbles’ weight has been an issue for a long time, and when we just weighed them to see the extent, Nibbles came out to be a whooping 2.75 pounds, or 1247 grams. She’s super overweight and we’re worried about her health. We have a Midwest cage for the two of them, and Nibbles is super hyper, so we never thought Nibbles would weigh as much as she does! I have a divider for the cage. Should we seperate them so Nibbles doesn’t have the chance to eat Coco’s food (we think maybe that’s the problem) and so maybe she could go on a diet? And if she needs to go on a diet, what should she eat and how much? Thanks so much

Hi! That weight is perfectly acceptable for a guinea pig at the peak of her life! It is naturalluy coming down again once a piggy hits 4-5 years of age.

If you are worried about food bullying, please follow these tips:
- make sure that there is plenty of hay at all times. Hay should make over 80% of the daily food intake.
- feed veg and pellets in small portions that can be eaten in one go 2-3 times a day in a bowl each per girl at least a body length apart. Remove the bowls in between meals to encourage your girls to eat hay.
Pellets should make only about 5% of the daily food, about 1-2 tablespoons full or half a handful per piggy per day.
Veg should make about 50g per piggy per day. Stay off fattening, sugary veg like root veg and sweet corn.
Our detailed diet guide should help you: Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diet
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diet

These tip

 

[Wheekallweek]

We’ve had piggies at the rescue who weight more than that, including a sow, who was a perfect weight for her size, yet we currently have a very small sow at around 850g who is also perfect for her body frame
It just depends on how big they are size wise as well as how much they weigh

 

[nibblesandcoco]

Hi! That weight is perfectly acceptable for a guinea pig at the peak of her life! It is naturalluy coming down again once a piggy hits 4-5 years of age.

If you are worried about food bullying, please follow these tips:
- make sure that there is plenty of hay at all times. Hay should make over 80% of the daily food intake.
- feed veg and pellets in small portions that can be eaten in one go 2-3 times a day in a bowl each per girl at least a body length apart. Remove the bowls in between meals to encourage your girls to eat hay.
Pellets should make only about 5% of the daily food, about 1-2 tablespoons full or half a handful per piggy per day.
Veg should make about 50g per piggy per day. Stay off fattening, sugary veg like root veg and sweet corn.
Our detailed diet guide should help you: Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diet
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diet

These tip

Thank you so much! I was just worried because I saw on a lot of websites that they should weight between 700-900 grams. So is 900 grams a good weight for my almost 7 year old pig?

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much! I was just worried because I saw on a lot of websites that they should weight between 700-900 grams. So is 900 grams a good weight for my almost 7 year old pig?

Yes, it is.

Please be aware that the weights cited are generally too for well kept pet piggies; the ideal weight (that I am regularly complemented on by vets) is 1000-1200g for sows (with 80% of adult pet piggies falling in between the range of 900-1300g), but anything between 800g-1800g can be considered a healthy adult weight, depending on the size of the guinea pig. Some piggies never reach that size and still live a happy, healthy lifespan.

Older guinea pigs are usually bonier, especially around the hips) and gradually lose weight the same way that old human people do. Any larger and sudden weight loss should be investigated by a vet nevertheless.

Because individual weights vary so much, the best way of judging whether your piggy is a healthy weight for its size is by feeling around the rib cage ('heft'). ideally, you should be able to just feel the ribs, but they shouldn't stand out. If can't feel the ribs, then your guinea pig is overweight.
More info here: The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight

 

[nibblesandcoco]

Yes, it is.

Please be aware that the weights cited are generally too for well kept pet piggies; the ideal weight (that I am regularly complemented on by vets) is 1000-1200g for sows (with 80% of adult pet piggies falling in between the range of 900-1300g), but anything between 800g-1800g can be considered a healthy adult weight, depending on the size of the guinea pig. Some piggies never reach that size and still live a happy, healthy lifespan.

Older guinea pigs are usually bonier, especially around the hips) and gradually lose weight the same way that old human people do. Any larger and sudden weight loss should be investigated by a vet nevertheless.

Because individual weights vary so much, the best way of judging whether your piggy is a healthy weight for its size is by feeling around the rib cage ('heft'). ideally, you should be able to just feel the ribs, but they shouldn't stand out. If can't feel the ribs, then your guinea pig is overweight.
More info here: The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight

Thanks so much for your help! I’ll feel around for their ribs. I noticed Coco losing weight as she ages, and I figured it was because of that, so thank you for confirming it!

 

[nibblesandcoco]

Yes, it is.

Please be aware that the weights cited are generally too for well kept pet piggies; the ideal weight (that I am regularly complemented on by vets) is 1000-1200g for sows (with 80% of adult pet piggies falling in between the range of 900-1300g), but anything between 800g-1800g can be considered a healthy adult weight, depending on the size of the guinea pig. Some piggies never reach that size and still live a happy, healthy lifespan.

Older guinea pigs are usually bonier, especially around the hips) and gradually lose weight the same way that old human people do. Any larger and sudden weight loss should be investigated by a vet nevertheless.

Because individual weights vary so much, the best way of judging whether your piggy is a healthy weight for its size is by feeling around the rib cage ('heft'). ideally, you should be able to just feel the ribs, but they shouldn't stand out. If can't feel the ribs, then your guinea pig is overweight.
More info here: The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight

So I just felt around for Nibbles’ ribs, and I can’t feel them at all! According to that thread you linked me to, if you can’t feel the ribs, they’re overweight. Plus, she’s a pretty small pig lengthwise.

 

[Wiebke]

So I just felt around for Nibbles’ ribs, and I can’t feel them at all! According to that thread you linked me to, if you can’t feel the ribs, they’re overweight. Plus, she’s a pretty small pig lengthwise.

Just follow the tips in the weight and the diet guides, cut down on pellets, serve veg and pellets in small portions that can be eaten in one go and make your piggies eat hay in the meantime. That usually takes care of any excess weight. You may not get it all off as your younger piggy is currently at an age where it is at the height of its powers and where it is naturally weighing as much as it ever will. Overfeeding on too rich veg and the amount of pellets as well as unnecessary treats are the big culprits.

Please take a deep breath! Your piggy is NOT grossly overweight and doesn't need to go on a slimming diet. Just adjusting your diet to avoid the big fatteners should sort it out in a way that both your piggies profit and do not need to require separate feeding (which always causes bad feelings). Guinea pigs have a fast metabolism so with the right diet any disposable extra weight will come off on its own.

 

[nibblesandcoco]

Just follow the tips in the weight and the diet guides, cut down on pellets, serve veg and pellets in small portions that can be eaten in one go and make your piggies eat hay in the meantime. That usually takes care of any excess weight. You may not get it all off as your younger piggy is currently at an age where it is at the height of its powers and where it is naturally weighing as much as it ever will. Overfeeding on too rich veg and the amount of pellets as well as unnecessary treats are the big culprits.

Please take a deep breath! Your piggy is NOT grossly overweight and doesn't need to go on a slimming diet. Just adjusting your diet to avoid the big fatteners should sort it out in a way that both your piggies profit and do not need to require separate feeding (which always causes bad feelings). Guinea pigs have a fast metabolism so with the right diet any disposable extra weight will come off on its own.

Thank you for your help