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Pig eats well but keeps losing weight

Freela

Freela

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So I am still worrying about Tomie... she is three years old, eat well, drinks a lot (maybe too much), is normally active, but continues to lose weight. She has always been a little pig, but she has been gradually trending down for months. I've been weighing her weekly and it has been small losses (kind of within the realm of squirming/full or empty bladder and I'm not sure how accurate because when she shifts her weight the values change) but she is clearly trending down. Last time they did a physical exam and urinalysis and based on that, her sugar levels and kidney values looked normal. I guess the next step is probably blood work. Anything in particular I should ask them to look for? Any experience with thyroid issues? Ive been doing some research there and seeing similarities. In addition, should I be giving her Critical Care while I wait for the vet if it's slow, steady weight loss and she still appears to be eating well? She's the pig who always has her nose in the pellet bowl. She eats a ton of snacks. She dives into hay. I don't know what is wrong that she won't gain weight!
 
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I’m sorry Tommie is losing weight. I hope you can get to the bottom of it and it’s something easily treatable. I would give her some critical care while you’re waiting for the vet. Good luck
 
Freela said:
So I am still worrying about Tomie... she is three years old, eat well, drinks a lot (maybe too much), is normally active, but continues to lose weight. She has always been a little pig, but she has been gradually trending down for months. I've been weighing her weekly and it has been small losses (kind of within the realm of squirming/full or empty bladder and I'm not sure how accurate because when she shifts her weight the values change) but she is clearly trending down. Last time they did a physical exam and urinalysis and based on that, her sugar levels and kidney values looked normal. I guess the next step is probably blood work. Anything in particular I should ask them to look for? Any experience with thyroid issues? Ive been doing some research there and seeing similarities. In addition, should I be giving her Critical Care while I wait for the vet if it's slow, steady weight loss and she still appears to be eating well? She's the pig who always has her nose in the pellet bowl. She eats a ton of snacks. She dives into hay. I don't know what is wrong that she won't gain weight!
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Hi

I am very sorry. Kidneys and diabetes (with increased drinking) and hyperthyroidism (with edgy behaviour) are the three most common issues that spring to mind.
Dental issues, ovarian cysts and very very rarely Cushing's (with haphazard hair loss) can also be connected with mystery weight loss. After that it is a very wide field of the metabolic or a growing pain issue inside the body.

Mystery weight loss is my least favourite symptom because so many different things can be behind it. :(

I hope that you and your vet can get to the bottom of it.
 
It's so frustrating because it's so vague a symptom but clearly there is an issue. Definitely going to be asking for blood work to look at those potential issues. Last month her teeth looked fine and I don't see any signs of chewing issues, and there was no spillover of ketone or glucose to her urine. Thyroid hasn't been tested yet. She's definitely high strung and always seems hungry (she runs over wheeking for treats whenever we go by and she hoovers up pellets like crazy.) Calling the vet again this morning and I'll update later. Crossing my fingers it's something we can manage because she's a sweetie and she's only 3! Editing to add that she has no hair loss or anything... she has a lovely coat. She just can't maintain her weight. :(
 
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Oh I hate mystery weight loss, too. Hopefully a blood test may help identify what the issue is for you.
 
She has a vet appointment for today at 2:30, so I'll keep you posted with how it goes. Definitely asking for a blood workup checking sugars, kidney values, and thyroid hormones, and hoping it gives us an answer we can manage for her!

Right now she is happily eating a carrot, poor girl has no idea her day is going to suck!
 
Freela said:
She has a vet appointment for today at 2:30, so I'll keep you posted with how it goes. Definitely asking for a blood workup checking sugars, kidney values, and thyroid hormones, and hoping it gives us an answer we can manage for her!

Right now she is happily eating a carrot, poor girl has no idea her day is going to suck!
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Good luck. I hope they shed some light on what is going on.
 
She's home- she did fine with blood work (she had some gas anesthetic because they take it from the neck.) She is a little groggy but doing fine. They did a standard rodent blood panel, as well as a specific thyroid panel. The results should come back next week and they will call and let me know. I'll keep you posted when I hear something back. Right now she's snoozing off what's left of the gas.
 
I'm losing my mind... took Tomie for blood almost two weeks ago, waited ages for results, and the results were... not enough blood to test. I have to take her back again for MORE blood on Tuesday of next week. So frustrating, I feel so bad for her, they have to anesthetize her AGAIN and take blood from her neck AGAIN. Luckily she is doing fine in and of herself, just feel bad making her go through everything again.
 
We are on our way for blood draw number 2 this afternoon... hopefully this one actually gets us some answers! Poor Tomie! At least I'll give her a ton of treats in her carrier, I feel so bad that she has to do this twice!
 
So after a ton of frustrating blood draws and much waiting, we got the results and Tomie is hyperthyroid. The normal T4 range for a guinea pig is 1.5 to 3 and her T4 is at 7. My vet has treated a hyperthyroid pig before but said most people don't pay for the testing so she's consulting with a rodent specialist about dosing and then she'll be started on methimazole. It's a lifelong med but she did say the previous pig she treated lived a normal life, so fingers crossed.
 
At least you now know what your are dealing with and there is a good treatment plan for it. I hope Tomie is soon feeling better.
 
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