Significant weight loss in elder boar (5y/o, 1000g -> 720g) - What could it be?

[Alamerona]

Hey there,

Our eldest boar, Bluebear (Approx. 5y 4m old) has recently came back from boarding with his brother and we've noticed a sharp decrease in his weight from around 1000g to 720g; he's eating normally, drinking normally, and generally suffers from impaction and often does a lot of poops - No dental issues and his teeth seem fine, and the only other thing of recent note is a couple of dominance spats with his cagemate Walker (Approx. 4y 4m old) and a bit of a wet, weepy eye (We've checked for foreign objects/hay poke and found nothing). Currently my Fianceé is feeding him a pellet/caecotroph slurry, and he's eating that quite happily.

What could have caused such a significant drop in his weight? We're also currently calling to book a vets appointment.

 

[Wiebke]

Hey there,

Our eldest boar, Bluebear (Approx. 5y 4m old) has recently came back from boarding with his brother and we've noticed a sharp decrease in his weight from around 1000g to 720g; he's eating normally, drinking normally, and generally suffers from impaction and often does a lot of poops - No dental issues and his teeth seem fine, and the only other thing of recent note is a couple of dominance spats with his cagemate Walker (Approx. 4y 4m old) and a bit of a wet, weepy eye (We've checked for foreign objects/hay poke and found nothing). Currently my Fianceé is feeding him a pellet/caecotroph slurry, and he's eating that quite happily.

What could have caused such a significant drop in his weight? We're also currently calling to book a vets appointment.

Hi

Good that you have him vet checked.

Strange surroundings/stress, hot weather, different food or any combination thereof etc. can all play into weight loss. Stress can also bring to the fore underlying health issues, especially in older piggies.
Weight loss is unfortunately a very wide ranging but vague symptom so our guesses are as good as anybody else's.

Good that you are improvising feeding support.

However, for a working live microbiome transfer you'll need totally freshly dropped poops (piggies just make the same variety of poops in both runs), which collect as soon as they are dropped and soak shortly in a little water. Syringe 3 ml of the water 2-3 times daily. In order to get fresh poops, you take the healthy piggy (not on antibiotics or opioids) out and feed them a little treat. Eating stimulates gut. The microbiome dies off very quickly so every minute is precious in getting live bacteria into the digestive system. For that reason, random poos mixed into feed are ineffective.
Probiotics & Live Gut Microbiome Transfer ('Poo Soup'); Recovery Formula Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links and Transfer Recipe

Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
How to Improvise Feeding Support in an Emergency

I am keeping my fingers crossed for your poorly boy.

 

[Alamerona]

Hi

Good that you have him vet checked.

Strange surroundings/stress, hot weather, different food or any combination thereof etc. can all play into weight loss. Stress can also bring to the fore underlying health issues, especially in older piggies.
Weight loss is unfortunately a very wide ranging but vague symptom so our guesses are as good as anybody else's.

Good that you are improvising feeding support.

However, for a working live microbiome transfer you'll need totally freshly dropped poops (piggies just make the same variety of poops in both runs), which collect as soon as they are dropped and soak shortly in a little water. Syringe 3 ml of the water 2-3 times daily. In order to get fresh poops, you take the healthy piggy (not on antibiotics or opioids) out and feed them a little treat. Eating stimulates gut. The microbiome dies off very quickly so every minute is precious in getting live bacteria into the digestive system. For that reason, random poos mixed into feed are ineffective.
Probiotics & Live Gut Microbiome Transfer ('Poo Soup'); Recovery Formula Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links and Transfer Recipe

Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
How to Improvise Feeding Support in an Emergency

I am keeping my fingers crossed for your poorly boy.

Thanks for the swift response Wiebke.

Also just thinking ahead to “what-if”; if Bluebear does pass away, we have no idea how to best help Walker, his cage mate, out - Unfortunately due to the cost of living crisis we aren’t in a position to adopt a sow or another boar for Walker - I assume then the only “solution” would be to surrender him to a local rescue? We love our boys dearly and we really don’t want to separate him from his home, but we also realise we need to do what’s best for him if the situation warrants it

We live in Norwich so if there’s anyone who can help or advise on the best places, please let me know

 

[Wheekallweek]

Sorry to hear Bluebear is losing weight - hopefully the vets can get to the bottom of it.

Many rescues will let you "foster" a pig to keep a remaining one company, who then returns to the rescue when your pig passes a way. It's a good way to break the piggy cycle if you don't want to surrender Walker.

 

[Alamerona]

So just got back from the vets and they couldn’t identify anything specifically wrong with him; he’s maintained a weight around 700g since last night’s routine feedings, and the vet checked all the usual suspect areas including teeth and jaw.

The vet gave Bluebear some critical care and said to monitor his weight till Monday where we can make a decision; if he improves and persists, then good stuff - If not, then it may be time to cross the rainbow bridge.

We’re struggling in terms of finding a rescue that would allow us a foster pig for Walker in our local area, made even worse since we don’t drive. If anyone knows of any rescues in or around Norwich within a publicly commutable distance, or have any general advice on what we can do with Walker should Bluebear pass, it’d be massively appreciated

 

[Wiebke]

So just got back from the vets and they couldn’t identify anything specifically wrong with him; he’s maintained a weight around 700g since last night’s routine feedings, and the vet checked all the usual suspect areas including teeth and jaw.

The vet gave Bluebear some critical care and said to monitor his weight till Monday where we can make a decision; if he improves and persists, then good stuff - If not, then it may be time to cross the rainbow bridge.

We’re struggling in terms of finding a rescue that would allow us a foster pig for Walker in our local area, made even worse since we don’t drive. If anyone knows of any rescues in or around Norwich within a publicly commutable distance, or have any general advice on what we can do with Walker should Bluebear pass, it’d be massively appreciated

I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed for Walker!

 

[Alamerona]

We’ve given Bluebear syringe fed critical care and a poo slurry every 4 hours over the last two days, but his weight is still declining - He’s now lost his wheek and is very, very lethargic, so we’ve taken the decision to euthanise at 3:30pm today.

In regards to Walker, we have contacted our local shelters and rescues, however all of the pigs that are local to us are unfortunately incompatible with Walker and the rescues near us are full - We also don’t drive so getting to farther rescues isn’t a possibility, so we’re in the difficult position where we’re looking at keeping Walker as a solitary pig.

Thankfully he is an indoor pig and his cage is in our primary social area, and I work from home every day and we rarely go out (Being gaming nerds and all lmao), and only ever really go out for a maximum of 12 hours, so we’re going to ensure that he gets the stimulation and social contact from us. We also are looking at setting up a secondary cage upstairs in our bedroom so that he doesn’t get lonely at night. He’s 4 years old so not a young pig, and thankfully loves to stand on my keyboard whilst I work lol

 

[CTWC]

I am so very sorry to read this update, make the most of your time with him bless you Bluebear

 

[Wiebke]

We’ve given Bluebear syringe fed critical care and a poo slurry every 4 hours over the last two days, but his weight is still declining - He’s now lost his wheek and is very, very lethargic, so we’ve taken the decision to euthanise at 3:30pm today.

In regards to Walker, we have contacted our local shelters and rescues, however all of the pigs that are local to us are unfortunately incompatible with Walker and the rescues near us are full - We also don’t drive so getting to farther rescues isn’t a possibility, so we’re in the difficult position where we’re looking at keeping Walker as a solitary pig.

Thankfully he is an indoor pig and his cage is in our primary social area, and I work from home every day and we rarely go out (Being gaming nerds and all lmao), and only ever really go out for a maximum of 12 hours, so we’re going to ensure that he gets the stimulation and social contact from us. We also are looking at setting up a secondary cage upstairs in our bedroom so that he doesn’t get lonely at night. He’s 4 years old so not a young pig, and thankfully loves to stand on my keyboard whilst I work lol

BIG HUGS

My thoughts are with you.

If it helps you I would be making the same decision at this stage if he is still around by then.

As to Walker, you may find this guide here helpful; it includes a chapter on bereaved singles as well as more general helpful information.
Walker knows that his best friend is dying, will have likely already said his goodbyes and won't go into acute pining anyway because he has had time to brace himself.
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities

 

[weepweeps]

I’m so sorry. Sending you hugs at this difficult time.