Swollen Abdomen

[Cute_Guineapigs]

Hi

I've got two male piggies and one of them, Louis seems to have a swollen belly. He looks like he's pregnant (he's definitely a boy), he's that round behind his ribs. Is it just excess weight or something wrong?

They're fed on a diet of Timothy hay, small amount of science selective pellets and 1 cup each of mixed veg and leafy greens. The other piggie is slim and seems a healthy weight. Louis is still eating like a horse and drinking normally and running around. I don't believe it's bloat and its been like this for a couple of weeks, I just thought he was getting a bit overweight. Should he see a vet this weekend?

 

[sport_billy]

I would get him checked out to be on the safe side that there is nothing going on..

Is he pooing okay? Weight alright?

 

[Cute_Guineapigs]

Ok, I'll get him checked out.

He's looking fine, behaving normally, running around the playpen, in and out of tunnels. I haven't actually weighed them yet which I should do but they still aren't too happy about being handled.

 

[Mother Hubbard]

I think they definitely need weighing, if you don't keep a separate file for there medical history and weights, just add it to your kitchen calendar. This is what I do and record when they were washed, treated with xeno etc.

Your piggies will get use to being handled over time but it does requires lots of daily interaction, also useful when clipping their nails, unless they go to the vets of course. Either way, it makes life a lot easier if they don't mind lap time and cuddles or when they are ill. Keep an eye out on poops, as Sport Billy says, check the look of the poop etc. and have a soft feel around the stomach when you have lap time today and then see what the urine and poops are like. If it's definitely a boar, then it's likely he will need vet care.

 

[Cute_Guineapigs]

Took him to the vet and he's just carrying extra fat. At least it's nothing serious and I can start to slim him down.