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Rescued Piggy Very Skinny

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REECE

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HI

Recently adopted a Guinea pig from an animal shelter.
When they rescued her she had mange and was skin and bone.
They nursed her to health and then we adopted her.
She is still very skinny though compared to the friend we got for her even though she eats allot.
Any suggestions to assisting to put on a little more weight.
 
How long have you had her? It can take a little while before they start to gain weight, it's not instant.

Do you know how old she is? Maybe if she's younger then she might not be fully grown yet.

Has she been to a vet to rule out medical issues? One of my boars has been losing weight and we're currently working with the vet to try to find out why. They can check her teeth to make sure she is eating okay.

Is the other pig bullying her, stopping her eating food, or is she definitely eating the same amount? It's quite hard to monitor eating.

You can give her alone time with food and hay, then she should be able to graze at her leisure.
 
As @Jaycey says, getting a checkup to rule out any medical problems is very important.
If they determine it's nothing to worry about, and she is eating well, you could provide fattening foods such as dry porridge oats (or with a tiny bit of water) and shredded wheat.
But if there's no medical issues and she's eating lots, pooping normally and seems happy, chances are she'll gradually gain weight over the coming weeks in time for winter :)
 
Not sure how old she is. Have had her for maybe 3 weeks. She seems to be eating fine, always there waiting by the bowl to eat, bit of a pig actually lol She gets on fine with the other Piggy. She was checked by the vet before they let us take her and she was also sterilised.
 
REECE said:
Not sure how old she is. Have had her for maybe 3 weeks. She seems to be eating fine, always there waiting by the bowl to eat, bit of a pig actually lol She gets on fine with the other Piggy. She was checked by the vet before they let us take her and she was also sterilised.
Click to expand...

In that case, perhaps describe how much hay, pellets and veggies you are feeding her? Maybe your dosage can be increased.
If not, dry oats or shredded wheat (the cereal brand) are the way forward :)
 
Your are normally not supposed to put loads of nuggets but in this case i would put a little more, also I would probably feed 3 times a day. Normal food twice a day & a little extra lunchtime. Are you giving plenty of Timothy hay although if she's under a year it should be alpha hay. Have you watched her with the hay, is she eating it. Last of all are you weighing her. Twice a week if she is a little thin. Don't weigh her daily as you start freaking out that she has only gained a gram or lost 10 gram. although once a week is the norm. They aren't getting to hot. Has she been checked for worms.
 
don't worry!! :nod:
The piggie was visited for sure, the rescue has a own vet, usually.
I also adopted two piggies last March; they were 3 1/2 months old and the skinny one weighed 400g. She weighed 240 when she was rescued and she was 2 months old. I started feeding her in a healthy and normal way (I cut off also pellet food). Both piggies started gaining weight, very slowly but regularly. The skin&bone piggie eats more than the other one. Today she is 6 1/2 months old and weighs 700g.
She is slim, but very agile. I always fed her with the normal ratio (hay, a lot of fresh grass, no pellets, only some pieces as a treat, and 100g of vegs daily, usually a piece of bell pepper and other leaves).
My advice is: don't overfeed your piggie; and don't use food which increases the fat (and the glycemia); healthy pets (and humans) have got a lean body mass, not only fat deposits. :)
 
Due to her being rescued from someone who clearly couldn't care we seem to not be able to get an age.
Not sure if there is some other way of picking this up?
Have taken her to my vet for check up and to get her stiches removed from the sterilisation.
I haven't weighed her. Only have normal human scale,will this work? Will try it.
Cant really feed her 3 times a day due to being at work but when I get home if she is squeeking by her bowl we will feed her and then top it up before we go to bed.
She loves her hay and she eats lots of veggies and then their pellets.
The only reason I am worried is because when you pick up her (Peaches) friend (Plums) you dont feel his bones but with her you can feel them quite drastically. She doesnt look skinny at sight and she looks healthy otherwise. Also I guess when I took her to my vet she would have commented on this so maybe I am just being over paranoid.
 
A scale that we use to weigh ourselves won't be able to register her weight. You can a kitchen scale though, that's what I use @REECE

It could be nothing, but it's always best to check or query things.

I have 2 pigs, one is 1350g and the other has never been over 1000g even though they have access to exactly the same food. I'd actually say the smaller one eats more just by looking at them.

He's now 900g which is a bit skinny for his build so I've working with my vet to try to find out what's happening
 
REECE said:
Not sure how old she is. Have had her for maybe 3 weeks. She seems to be eating fine, always there waiting by the bowl to eat, bit of a pig actually lol She gets on fine with the other Piggy. She was checked by the vet before they let us take her and she was also sterilised.
Click to expand...

It's just if she is skinny she is maybe burning food quicker
 
use the kitchen scales; an electronic one is easier, but you can use a normal one.
This below is my healthy still slim piggie, during the bath time
100_6853 (2).webp
and the size depends on the breed...(Calipso 700g and Calliope, same age, 800g)
100_6888.webp

100_6659.webp
 
REECE said:
HI

Recently adopted a Guinea pig from an animal shelter.
When they rescued her she had mange and was skin and bone.
They nursed her to health and then we adopted her.
She is still very skinny though compared to the friend we got for her even though she eats allot.
Any suggestions to assisting to put on a little more weight.
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome!

Just put your piggy on a good, balanced hay based diet, and she will catch up in her own time. It is much more important for long term health to aim at a fibre based diet with a wide range of nutrients instead of a diet that is laden with junk (starchy/sugary or fatty) calories. It may take a few weeks longer to get there, but she will be fighting fit when she gets there and have a much stronger immune system! ;)
Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet
The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight

We have got lots more information at the top of our various Care sections, but here is a collection to help new owners to have as smooth a start as possible: New Owners' " How To" Starter Kit
 
Thanks everyone for all the replies, really appreciate it :)
 
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