Weighing Guinea pigs

[Cavy2009]

As I am trying to be the very best owner I can be I want to know the following:

1) Does every one weigh their guinea pigs?

2) After the piggies have had their last feed before bed, do you remove all food eg dry food so that the piggies don't over eat?

3) How do you encourage your piggies to exercise?

 

[alcesterpigs]

1. Not routinely, only if I suspect they are ill or have a problem.

2. No. They will not overeat.

3. You cannot make them exercise, just make sure they have the space to move around, they will not exercise as such.

 

[Laura-CCC4]

There's some info on weight checks here, if its of any interest:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38805

I weigh weekly. Daily if they are ill. Not everyone weighs their piggies, but there are benefits to weighing once weekly or once a fortnight. Personal choice entirely!

I divide the dry feed into two portions; they get half a handful each in the morning, and half at night. Overfeeding is possible if the pigs continually empty their dry food bowls and it's refilled as soon as its emptied. They can eat too much dry food. Not all will empty their bowls, but those who do don't need it refilling straight away.

Encouraging exercise, or more activity, is also possible. You can't make them move about more, but if you involve food it is surprising how far even the reluctant ones can go. I spread the veggies out over the whole floor (during floor time) so they have to potter about to get the food, it works very well for both their 'social' skills with humans, and for controlling their weight.

Contrasting responses.

 

[Wiebke]

1. I try to do it regularly about every 2 weeks, more often in case of illness or suspected weight changes. With adult guinea pigs you develop a "feel" for their heft and will quickly notice changes in weight when handling them. If I suspect a change, I weigh immediately.

2. Grazers as a rule do not overeat on food - they will eat until they are full and come back later when they are hungry again. Obese guinea pigs can happen only by giving them fattening foods like seeds, porridge oats and unhealthy treats regularly over a long period of time.

3. You can try to encourage guinea pigs to move around in their run or cage by scattering food or have them run across to you for feeding; otherwise you just can only give them the opportunity to do so. Adult guinea pigs over 1 year old grow noticeable quieter and less active compared to hyperactive youngsters and slow down even more when they become senior citizens.

 

[Cavy2009]

I am going to weigh the Piggies I have concerns about regularly. The piggies have quite a bit of space, but I am going to try the putting food in different places at floor time. Patch will love that.

Thanks every one

 

[alcesterpigs]

If the pig keeps emptying the bowl of dried food as soon as it is filled then it is not getting enough to eat....
I suggest increasing the amount of proper food. A healthy pig will eat a bigger percentage of it's body weight in food than will a human being.

 

[lovelygirl]

1) every two weeks or so and write it down on a diary
2) my girls get their nuggets in the evening once a day and there is usually a few left in the morning and gone by dinner time they have all the hay they like and veggies mid morning
3) I have a very large cage and place the food and water bottles far away from the houses and give them lots of tunnels and change it around on a regular basis, when in a run they do about 10 minutes noisising around and then lie down will have to try scatter feeding them at that point

 

[elle100]

Mine get weighed once a week at the moment as they're still only young and I want to make sure they're putting on weight steadily. They currently have access to unlimited pellets for the same reason. As for exercise I make sure they get playtime every day and keep changing things around to keep them interested. They sprint around the cage at 100 miles an hour when they think its veg time too which must burn up the calories |)|)

 

[KingBoris&HisFollowers]

1-Weekly and daily for my coop and winds who are sick

2-As guinea pigs are grazers i would never take food off them,mine have pellets/hay and a snack of veg right before bed.

3-Some pigs are lazy and dont want to exercise,i just make sure they have room to run around the cages and for my piggy on weight watch i get him into the run for a few hours daily but he doesnt really do much lol.

 

[alcesterpigs]

I think most of us have been through the obsessive phase of weighing at every possible opportunity!
I weigh a pig if there is a need, eg illness.

 

[KingBoris&HisFollowers]

I think most of us have been through the obsessive phase of weighing at every possible opportunity!
I weigh a pig if there is a need, eg illness.

well i think for experienced owners (like yourself) this isn't bad that you dont weigh all the time,but most people like myself arent as in tune with our pigs when it comes to weightloss

 

[Niki]

I weigh mine fortnightly, more often if they're ill

 

[Furries]

I weigh mine weekly as weighing is an early indication of a potential illness, plus weight loss (how quickly and how much) can aid diagnosis.

I'm stingy with pellets and only give them half a handful each at night (they're out in a run on the grass all day). In addition to grass and other edible weeds on the lawn, I also give them veg/dandelions/weeds at night.

I put mine out in a large, covered run (weather permitting) on the grass every day, all day (daylight hours only). They have shelters in there and get their exercise by diving into these every time they're startled (which is often). Now that the weather is bad I have put them in a shed and hope to give them 24/7 access to floor space in there.

Are your guinea-pigs inside or outside?