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Weighing older piggies

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Guinea Fan

Guinea Fan

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Having read about the wonderful 9.5 year old Rex on another thread I was thinking about old piggies and by older I mean pensioners. I see that you still suggest weighing Rex every week, but at 9.5 is this really necessary? My Maurice was between 5/6 when he died, he started losing weight so I took him to the vets. His teeth were checked and fine and they said they could do a whole host of tests, but he was an old boy and provided he was still enjoying life best to leave him alone. He lived another 6 months or so, but yes he got thinner. I took him to the vets a couple of days before he died and they said I could syringe feed him, as he was a light as a feather, but all I would be doing was prolonging the inevitable and stressing him out. I bought him home and he died peacefully in his bed.

I am just interested in your thoughts
 
I guess piggies aren't much different to people. Both my parents lost a lot of weight as they got very old & in the few months before they passed away, they kind of shrunk before my eyes :(

My 7 year old Poppy died this year, she was the oldest piggy we've ever had, but as she was always a small piggy I didn't notice her losing any weight before hand, but then if she hadn't got ill just before I think she would have lasted until she was a few years older even :)

It's just general "old age decay" as they say :(
 
"Loss of condition" often happens in older guinea pigs, but you still need to distinguish whether things are caused by treatable issues like teeth or pain (arthritis) or not. Just because a piggy is old doesn't mean it's no longer worth maintenance check ups!

One of the biggest myths is that hair loss is normal in older guinea pigs - it ISN'T! It is due to the same things that cause hair loss in younger piggies and needs to be checked and treated the same way.
 
I completely agree with you, which is why I took him to the vets. He was still as happy and active as ever though, so I knew he wasn't in pain, just getting thinner. He didn't lose any hair
 
Rex is still ticking on. ^_^
I found my camera so i'll put a pigture up in a bit, He hasnt lost weight but put on weight which I am a bit surprised at since he is eating less than usual.

Hes on a bit of recovery food as he is now having some trouble eating veg again so I'm gonna take him to the vets on Tuesday as thats when his regular vet is in, I dont trust the other vets with him as they wanna put him to sleep when he is perfectly happy and piggin along

edit: he prefers the recovery food to the excel pellets.
 
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Rex is a complete STAR, he should have exactly what he wants the old trooper
 
Guinea Fan said:
Having read about the wonderful 9.5 year old Rex on another thread I was thinking about old piggies and by older I mean pensioners. I see that you still suggest weighing Rex every week, but at 9.5 is this really necessary? My Maurice was between 5/6 when he died, he started losing weight so I took him to the vets. His teeth were checked and fine and they said they could do a whole host of tests, but he was an old boy and provided he was still enjoying life best to leave him alone. He lived another 6 months or so, but yes he got thinner. I took him to the vets a couple of days before he died and they said I could syringe feed him, as he was a light as a feather, but all I would be doing was prolonging the inevitable and stressing him out. I bought him home and he died peacefully in his bed.

I am just interested in your thoughts
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there comes a time when they all have to die, and i am sure i would do the same as you, in get them checked out , to make sure it was nt something preventable, then if not make them comfortable for what time they have left, and spoil them rotten, obviously if they seemed in a lot of pain they would have to be put to sleep, but death is something none of us can avoid, and best if they can go peacefully at home x
 
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