Skinnier and No Weight Loss

[A Guinea Pig]

Hello, I was originally going to ask about fat loss as a guinea pig's age but I've become a bit more concerned about Ella’s heft as of today.

For some background information, Ella is four years old. She’s never had any serious medical problems and still acts completely normal with the other girls and when interacting with me and eating.

Recently, I've noticed that from behind she doesn't really look like Sugar anymore, who is 1. I could start to see a clear distinction in where her hips were, and then two bulges on the sides from food. Unlike sugar, which is nice and fat so you're unable to see the differentiation.

Ella today weighed 855 grams. She weighed 840 grams a year ago today. Her weight has not changed at all in the past 2 years.

That's said she feels skinnier than she did a couple of months ago. I can feel her ribs and her hips extremely easily as well.

I've got a vet appointment scheduled for next weekend. I'm now syringe feeding her.

Does anyone know what could be going on? I understand older piggies tend to get skinnier but it can't be this much at only 4. Thank you

 

[Wiebke]

Hello, I was originally going to ask about fat loss as a guinea pig's age but I've become a bit more concerned about Ella’s heft as of today.

For some background information, Ella is four years old. She’s never had any serious medical problems and still acts completely normal with the other girls and when interacting with me and eating.

Recently, I've noticed that from behind she doesn't really look like Sugar anymore, who is 1. I could start to see a clear distinction in where her hips were, and then two bulges on the sides from food. Unlike sugar, which is nice and fat so you're unable to see the differentiation.

Ella today weighed 855 grams. She weighed 840 grams a year ago today. Her weight has not changed at all in the past 2 years.

That's said she feels skinnier than she did a couple of months ago. I can feel her ribs and her hips extremely easily as well.

I've got a vet appointment scheduled for next weekend. I'm now syringe feeding her.

Does anyone know what could be going on? I understand older piggies tend to get skinnier but it can't be this much at only 4. Thank you

Hi

Some piggies age a bit earlier than others; and yes, it can happen with 4 years.

A possibility - especially with pronounced bulges - would be to have her checked for ovarian cysts, which are very common in sows as they become older. The majority of ovarian cysts are actually 'silent' - they don't cause any physical or behavioural symptoms. These large non-hormonal fluid filled ovarian cysts become typically the more common from 4 years onward.
Sow Problems 'Down Below' (Ovarian Cysts, Super-seasons, Womb Infection, Pregnancy & Mammary Tumours)

But that is for a vet for a hands-on examination of the whole body to check and we can only guess wildly sight unseen and without direct access to your piggy.

 

[A Guinea Pig]

Ella had her appointment today, I brought up suspected ovarian cysts and the vet agreed. All they found was a mildly larger abdomen and slightly crusty nipples. I asked for her teeth to be checked for any dental problems as well and her joints to be checked for arthritis, and both checks came back completely fine.

This is the exotic vet hospital I've gone to for the past couple of years; however, they are unable to perform ultrasounds, take blood tests, or perform ovariectomies on guinea pigs, which was never shared. They offered an X-ray, but I declined it since I think an ultrasound would be better, and she's getting one anyway from another place.

I was referred to three different exotic clinics to compare pricing and distance. As of now I've only sent emails inquiring, I don't have anything else scheduled.

Besides feeling skinnier the vet wasn't too concerned about her state and just said to continue with critical care since she didn't seem to be in any pain that she could tell. I do think she has gained a bit of heft back in the past week from her feeding which is good.

 

[A Guinea Pig]

Yesterday I took Ella to her appointment with the more specialized exotic vet clinic.

The vet noted she had very mildly crusty nipples and said since she is 4 now, it could be a reproductive problem like ovarian cysts. That, as of now, is just something we'll watch for going forward, since she is older and we don’t know if surgery is in the books for her.

On the topic of Ella being skinnier, she actually hasn’t seemed more bony and has maintained the same if not a slightly higher weight. I was just told to keep giving her critical care every day.

We were sent home with gabapentin to give once a day at 50 mg just to make her feel better if she’s uncomfortable.

She will now only go back in if she dips into the 700s, I noticed another symptom, or she becomes off and the next step would be checking her blood.

I said how I noticed she was drinking a lot more water than the other guinea pigs so the vet wants to check her kidneys before going all out on imaging for a potential cyst.

 

[A Guinea Pig]

Just want to update, Ella has gained weight and is definitely heftier; can barely feel her ribs or spine now. She's gotten another refill of gabapentin and is still getting critical care just not as often. She feels almost pregnant, has more crusty nipples, possibly more fisty with the other girls, no hair loss though and their bond still works very well. Definitely much healthier and happier-seeming with the pain meds; they work well.

 

[Wheekallweek]

Glad she is feeling better!