Repeated dramatic weight loss

[CBN79]

Hi all, I'm hoping someone can advise me..... I'm worried about one of my pair of skinny pig boars.
His weight seems to dramatically fluctuate by about 150g on a regular basis.
He's seen an exotic vet who wormed him and gave antibiotics (in case of an infection) in February. But found him to be otherwise healthy.
He's alert, active and the dominant of the pair - he eats first and eats a lot! He poops and urinates well. He does seem to drink a lot and urinates heavily, though I don't know if this is due to his breed.
His cage mate is a big boy and a very good weight, so I'm confused as to what is going on. I also have 3 other boars (1 bonded pair and one lone piggy) all of whom are fed less than the skinnies, yet they are very good, big weights.
The only thing that fattens him up is syringe feeds x3 per day and he can easily gain 100g in 3 days when I do that, but once I stop he immediately drops weight again.
I've had diabetes, hyperthyroidism and muscle wasting disease suggested, so will be back at the vets tomorrow.
But in the meantime, any ideas? I'm so worried.
He's 19 months old.
Thanks x

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all, I'm hoping someone can advise me..... I'm worried about one of my pair of skinny pig boars.
His weight seems to dramatically fluctuate by about 150g on a regular basis.
He's seen an exotic vet who wormed him and gave antibiotics (in case of an infection) in February. But found him to be otherwise healthy.
He's alert, active and the dominant of the pair - he eats first and eats a lot! He poops and urinates well. He does seem to drink a lot and urinates heavily, though I don't know if this is due to his breed.
His cage mate is a big boy and a very good weight, so I'm confused as to what is going on. I also have 3 other boars (1 bonded pair and one lone piggy) all of whom are fed less than the skinnies, yet they are very good, big weights.
The only thing that fattens him up is syringe feeds x3 per day and he can easily gain 100g in 3 days when I do that, but once I stop he immediately drops weight again.
I've had diabetes, hyperthyroidism and muscle wasting disease suggested, so will be back at the vets tomorrow.
But in the meantime, any ideas? I'm so worried.
He's 19 months old.
Thanks x

Hi!

Has your vet checked for potential kidney problems, diabetes or potentially thyroid issues (the last is not yet well researched and treatable)?
They are all issues that are associated with increased drinking and weight loss despite a normal appetite.

 

[Swissgreys]

It sounds like you are doing a fantastic job caring for your boy.
Wiebke is very experienced with guinea pigs, so please take her suggestions onboard before mine, but are you weighing him at the same time on the same scales.
And have you recently replaced the battery in the scales.

I only ask as 5 weeks ago one of my boars lost a lot of weight, was rushed to the vet and had a full dental.
Naturally when we came home we started with syringe feeding, daily weighing etc. to try and keep on top of this while he recovered.
This went ok for a while and then one day we weighed him much later in the day and he had lost a lot of weight.
But when we popped him back on the scales the next morning (at the usual time) his weight was similar to the day before.
I knew weight would fluctuate throughout the day, but a 50 gram loss was a shock!

A week later his weight started to jump all over the place, so we took him back ot the vet for a follow up and it turned out that his weight was fine (and so was he) but the battery in our scale needed replacing.
Naturally I did not feel stupid at all for paying our vet a large amount of money for this very helpful suggestion.

I hope you get to the bottom of things soon.

 

[CBN79]

It sounds like you are doing a fantastic job caring for your boy.
Wiebke is very experienced with guinea pigs, so please take her suggestions onboard before mine, but are you weighing him at the same time on the same scales.
And have you recently replaced the battery in the scales.

I only ask as 5 weeks ago one of my boars lost a lot of weight, was rushed to the vet and had a full dental.
Naturally when we came home we started with syringe feeding, daily weighing etc. to try and keep on top of this while he recovered.
This went ok for a while and then one day we weighed him much later in the day and he had lost a lot of weight.
But when we popped him back on the scales the next morning (at the usual time) his weight was similar to the day before.
I knew weight would fluctuate throughout the day, but a 50 gram loss was a shock!

A week later his weight started to jump all over the place, so we took him back ot the vet for a follow up and it turned out that his weight was fine (and so was he) but the battery in our scale needed replacing.
Naturally I did not feel stupid at all for paying our vet a large amount of money for this very helpful suggestion.

I hope you get to the bottom of things soon.

Oh dear, well at least your little piggy turned out to be ok!
The exotic vet can't see me until the day after tomorrow, but as usual critical care x3 a day has already seen him gain a lot since yesterday - the scale itself is working fine, but I'm also judging by his appearance; two days ago I could see every bone in his body, but today it's just a little of his hip bones on show.
I don't get how syringe feeding makes so much difference, when his regular appetite is excellent?

 

[CBN79]

Hi!

Has your vet checked for potential kidney problems, diabetes or potentially thyroid issues (the last is not yet well researched and treatable)?
They are all issues that are associated with increased drinking and weight loss despite a normal appetite.

She hasn't yet, but I am requesting bloods to be taken this week

 

[Wiebke]

She hasn't yet, but I am requesting bloods to be taken this week

All the best! It is an anxious time for you!