Piggy loosing weight

[Madam-coco]

I have 2 piggies nearing 7 years of age.
I did have 4 but lost two this year which has been awful.
They’ve always had the most amazing of outdoor hutches in summer houses etc but now these two are indoor piggies.
One piggy ( cheeky) is really losing weight, I can feel all her spine etc now. She was a plump lady but is losing weight.
Vet says she may have cancer.
The thing is she’s still eating and drinking loads.
It will absolutely devastate me if I lose her. She’s always been the biggest personality.
Any advice anyone has?

 

[Wiebke]

I have 2 piggies nearing 7 years of age.
I did have 4 but lost two this year which has been awful.
They’ve always had the most amazing of outdoor hutches in summer houses etc but now these two are indoor piggies.
One piggy ( cheeky) is really losing weight, I can feel all her spine etc now. She was a plump lady but is losing weight.
Vet says she may have cancer.
The thing is she’s still eating and drinking loads.
It will absolutely devastate me if I lose her. She’s always been the biggest personality.
Any advice anyone has?

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry for you facing losing your third old lady in the same year; it is so hard when they all stampede to the Rainbow Bridge in close succession once they reach the upper half the average life span and they are all the same age.

You can try to slow down the weight loss by offering additional feed, like mushed up pellets, porridge oats, recovery formula or a bit of extra carrot but unfortunately there is nothing you can do to stop the process that is causing the weight loss. Eating and drinking more is a natural way of trying to compensate for the loss of substance/inadequate nutrient absorption/processing.
Weight - Monitoring and Management (includes a chapter on underweight)
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children (also includes a chapter on looking after a terminally ill piggy)

I feel for you, as I have lost all five of my remaining oldies from my large 2011 class this year; three of them within just a month this summer. It is not at all easy cope, even when you are braced for a stampede from past experiences and when you know that you have done a sterling job in getting your piggies to live to such a good age.
Unfortunately you can never choose when and what from your piggies die; all you can is give them as a happy a life as possible while they are in your care. You have quite obviously done this!

PS: Good that you have brought them indoors. This time of the year piggies should be well insulated and away from wind, frost and weather, especially the frailer ones!

 

[Madam-coco]

I built an insulated summer house for them , they have been very well looked after.
they are now in the biggest indoor cage I could find and loving it.
My problem has always been I’m very allergic to them, the sawdust and hay.
So sourcing things I’m not allergic to has been a challenge.
I just feel so sad when I hold her, she was a plump little piggy. You said porridge oats, what do I do to them?

 

[Wiebke]

I built an insulated summer house for them , they have been very well looked after.
they are now in the biggest indoor cage I could find and loving it.
My problem has always been I’m very allergic to them, the sawdust and hay.
So sourcing things I’m not allergic to has been a challenge.
I just feel so sad when I hold her, she was a plump little piggy. You said porridge oats, what do I do to them?

Nothing; just put plain oats in a bowl and see whether she likes them. My old ladies group had an extra bowl of oats every night after they all became rather frail.

 

[Madam-coco]

She’s given them a go, so have left them with a small bowl. Any extra calories I guess is a good thing.
Thank you