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Sudden Weight Loss But Seems Fine!

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natw1181

natw1181

Junior Guinea Pig
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stoke on trent
Has anyone ever had a guinea pig suddenly loose alot of weight but yet they are eating and drinking and moving around still? She gone from been abit over weight at 1469g last month and 2 weeks ago 1402g, 2days ago 1294g, yesterday 1290g and today 1268g.
I took her to the vets yesterday and they couldn't see anything wrong with her. I thought it may be her teeth because she seems to be eating slower than usual, but they are apparently fine, and the vet said her belly felt fine, she just gave me some septrin. But really worried with her losing more weight overnight.
Be very gratefully if anyone was has any ideas please.
Also ive not changed her food or hay recently and she lives with 3 other females who are all fine, and she is only 2 1/2 years.
 
Is your vet experienced with teeth? Many general vets are not! Has your vet checked for kidney problems and diabetes? An internal growth can also cause a steady weight loss. How old is she?

Could you please add your country, state or (for the UK) your county/city to your details, so we can tailor our advice better to your actual possiblities? Click on your username on the top bar, then go personal details and scroll down to location.

We have got a piggy savvy vets locator on the top bar for our UK members.
 
She is 2 1/2 years. I never asked if they where good on teeth though it states they do dentistry on there website. the willows vet group in Alsager, Stoke on Trent, near where i live. She does suffer from quite a few fatty lumps on her belly if it could be related? thankyou.
 
The fatty lumps are harmless and are not related to any weight loss issues.
I know that the Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue in Kidsgrove is going as far as Northampton with dental piggies of theirs.

I would recommend to separate her, so you can really see how much and how well she is eating when on her own. It can be very deceptive in a group.
 
It does sound like it might be teeth, or possibly something else in her mouth - oral thrush can affect their eating. The weight loss is an worry. I would definitely try to get to a cavy-savvy vet for a second opinion.
 
Sudden weight loss such as you have documented is down to one of 3 things
a) batteries in scales need changing
b) not enough water - blocked spout
c) not enough food/water - whilst potentially this is teeth there may also be another underlying problem causing pain and reduced food/water intake (such as urinary stones etc) so sometimes the first thing you know about an underlying problem is the secondary symptom of overgrown teeth

Please put a bowl of water in her cage and provide softened nuggets for her to eat...consider syringe feeding..and arrange to see a cavy savvy vet (preferably Simon Maddock) about her teeth. Please be aware Simon is on holiday for the half term week (commencing 27th Oct)

x
 
That sounds interesting... does she seem stressed out at all? Does she seem like she's in pain? It could very well be the teeth, but just in case you might need to make sure. Check to make sure there's nothing going on with her food, such as expiration, mold, ect. I hope she gets better! :)
 
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