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Warning signs?

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Midge&Panda

Midge&Panda

Adult Guinea Pig
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Panda is nearly 2 and has always been a chunky girl although not fat. We have just done the monthy weight and nail checks and it seems that Panda has put on a bit of weight since she was last weighed, in 6 weeks she has put on 70g. Also when I was trimming her nails they were very soft- not the usual 'crunch' to them. Can anybody tell me if this is an indication of an underlying health concern. I understand that fluid around the heart and lungs can cause weight gain but at the moment her breathing is fine. Panda in herself is behaving exactly as I would of expected even going so far as to popcorn on the fresh fleece in her hutch this morning. Thank-you
 
I don't know much, but my rodentologist says a pig will show you when it's unwel, it won't act like you're used to, properly sit in the corner with its back to you or won't eat as much food or none at all. Check her for lumps around the ribs for fluid gain, my pig has just gained it, he lost weight then suddenly gain 30g overnight and then this squishy lump appeared on his ribcage, not good news I'm afraid, but your pig sounds a picture of health.

Hope your okay x
 
I don't know much, but my rodentologist says a pig will show you when it's unwel, it won't act like you're used to, properly sit in the corner with its back to you or won't eat as much food or none at all. Check her for lumps around the ribs for fluid gain, my pig has just gained it, he lost weight then suddenly gain 30g overnight and then this squishy lump appeared on his ribcage, not good news I'm afraid, but your pig sounds a picture of health.

Hope your okay x
 
I wouldn't worry - that weight gain is not too much too sudden.

How much pellets do you feed? You may want to cut down if they have more than one handful per piggy per day.

Have you been feeding quite a bit of sweetcorn over the last few weeks? Between rich fresh grass and a seasonal glut of sweetcorn some of my two year olds have been putting on a bit of weight. It will come down again over the winter when there is a lot less/no grass and more hay on offer.

PS: I might be useful to weigh adults every one or two weeks.
 
Panda lives indoors with her 3 'friends' they have unlimited hay veggies 3x aday usually leafy plus something to chew on eg carrot. they have a bowl of gertie and a bowl of selective but i tend to throw most of it away, they seem to pick at it so I get concerned that its not too fresh (vitamin content) after a few days. Sweetcorn is fed about once a fortnight, they have 2 cobs between them. If i'm not working or my daughter is home they free-range all day even when we are at school/work they have at least 6 hrs playtime a day. I was wondering if the soft nails might be an indication of too little calcium, although they tend to have spinach quite often. (one of their favorites.)
 
I give about 1/2 handful of pellets per piggy per day, one serving in the morning and one in the evening. That way, it's all eaten freshly.

I wouldn't leave pellets hanging round for longer than a day, personally.

Veg should be about 50g/1 cupful of veg per piggy per day; in how many servings you like.
 
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