Skinny old pig :)

[pixachu]

We have 2 guinea pigs who are now 6 and a half and live outdoors. The hutch has a thermal cover and I use microwave heatpads and lots of bedding in winter. In seriously cold weather, I do usually bring them in to a temp home for a few days only (we are all a bit allergic to them now so they can't be in all winter as they were in the early years...)

BUT one of them is getting old and skinny. They cuddle up together but as I am worried about the smaller one getting cold..... I want to know would it be good to fashion a little fleece jumper/coat? Sorry if it's a stupid question!

 

[DM030819]

@pixachu Piggies always get old unfortunately, but they don't always have to get skinny.

Have you taken your pig to the vet for a check up? The weight loss could be relating to something that can be fixed.

We don't recommend dressing up pigs, so if you are worried about the cold you can either move them indoors for the winter or keep them warm in their hutch.

You could move the hutch into a shed. You can add more hay into their hutch so they can borrow deep and get snuggly and warm.

 

[GPTV]

I used to have snugglesafes to put under my girls hay/paper, but now I have 4 Guineas I bought a "petnap flexiguard44" whelping heater, the girls love it. It doesn't get hot, but where they sit it stays warm-they'll still need an area of floor space with no heating so they can get away from the heat of they're warm enough.
Flexiguard Pet Heat Pads

Older guineas will lose some weight gradually and muscle mass, but if its a rapid decline please get them checked over at the vets.

As above I would increase the amount of hay to snuggle in or put in a warm dry fleece heap to bury into too& not put clothes on them.
Xx

 

[pixachu]

I realised right away it was a daft question! I ensured the hutch was dry and clean and gave them a new "box bed" which is a cardboard box I use to make a nice bed in the bed section of the hutch, that is the right size to fit the heat pad at night. I usually change the box and bedroom bedding every few days as it gets damp. Added lots of bedding last night so that they are cosy.
I sometimes add old fleece/t-shirts as an extra bed layer as well, just so it's soft and cosy.

I will keep an eye on the skinnier one (the one with the brown head on the pic) She eats more than the big one, but has always been more active - but will take to the vet if she doesn't seem herself.

 

[YvonneBlue]

Piggies are very good at hiding illness and weight loss is one of the first signs of a problem. Maybe weigh your piggy every day for a week and see if she is losing weight. If she is you really need to take her to the vet for a check-up.