• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

URI - help gaining weight

Status
Not open for further replies.

Rodentopia

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Jan 5, 2013
Messages
1,893
Reaction score
523
Points
600
Location
Nottinghamshire
My peruvian boy has had an URI infection, had two courses of antibiotics and got the all clear from the vets on tuesday from this. Between the first and second course of antibiotics he went off his food which my vet said was due to mucus in his nose and prescribed me a mucus decongestant powder which worked a treat but since then his appetite has improved slightly but is nowhere near what it was prior to the URI and he isn't gaining any weight. He seems ok in himself and running around when i get him out but hes always been a quiet guinea pig. He is eating plenty of hay and veggies but picking at his pellets his weight before was 1040g and its now down to 940g and goes up and down depending on how much he is eating. I have been supplementing with a little critical care as if i put a little on pellets and hand feed them he will take them. Does anyone have any advise on how i can get him to gain some weight again?
 
Tried those hit and miss if he will eat them and think his little friend ate the last lot as he left them, tried sweetcorn too which he hates but covered it in critical care just to get him to take a small bite and he ate a chunk :)
 
Just be patient! If he is OK, you can give him increasing amounts of freshly cut newly grown, rich grass. Don't give too much at first in case it causes a tummy upset. Hopefully, that will tickly his appetite and help him win his weight back. Some piggies can take their time to go back to normal after an illness.
 
He eats grass and dandelions, he nibbles at cabbage, kale and certain veggies, the only thing he isn't touching is pellets and i have 3 varieties including his favourite. I have taken to soaking them in critical care to soften them slightly and he is wolfing them down but not eat them on their own. My vet checked his teeth out the last time i went to be sure it was the mucus in his nose that was putting him off eating and said his teeth are perfect. I'm hoping he will get his appetite back, if not back to the vets :(
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top