Weight and hair loss

[SineadMcC]

Hi all
We adopted 2 year old sows (3 of them) last week. They've lived together in their previous home but were outdoor piggies and not handled at all so we are still building trust. One pig is particularly dominant and snatches veg off the smallest , and chases her away from the hay at times. We fed the smallest (rosie) on her own for 5 minutes before adding the other 2 in, and she seems to be getting a good variety this way with having a head start.
We are still worried though because she is losing a lot of hair and you can feel her bones when you stroke her. We have a vets appointment booked for Saturday but does anyone know what it could be ? They arrived at the rescue together so it's not a new herd. I can't tell if it's a not eating enough food thing or signs of anything else. She seems to want to nibble my hand and jacket a lot too.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all
We adopted 2 year old sows (3 of them) last week. They've lived together in their previous home but were outdoor piggies and not handled at all so we are still building trust. One pig is particularly dominant and snatches veg off the smallest , and chases her away from the hay at times. We fed the smallest (rosie) on her own for 5 minutes before adding the other 2 in, and she seems to be getting a good variety this way with having a head start.
We are still worried though because she is losing a lot of hair and you can feel her bones when you stroke her. We have a vets appointment booked for Saturday but does anyone know what it could be ? They arrived at the rescue together so it's not a new herd. I can't tell if it's a not eating enough food thing or signs of anything else. She seems to want to nibble my hand and jacket a lot too.

Hi and welcome!

Good that you have booked them in for a vet check!

Please read this guide; you will find it very helpful. It is dealing the most common problems in new guinea pigs. Hair loss is usually caused by either ringworm or skin parasites, or a combination thereof. What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)

Please weigh your piggies daily at the same time instead of weekly whenever you have worries and start topping up with syringe feed (mushed pellets in an emergency, provided you cut of the syringe tip and plunger as shown in our syringe guide) if there is any weight loss. For the longer term, a good general hay based diet should take care of the weight problem.

You will find our diet, weight and health check advice as well as our settling in tips (and much more) in our new owners most helpful guides collection. We are speficially addressing all the areas that new owners have the most questions and worries.
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides

 

[SineadMcC]

Thanks. They do have the right amount of veggies for their weight and constantly topped up with fresh hay as we researched before getting them. I have been weighing Rosie everyday when the kids leave for school and noticed she was losing. Thanks so much for the advice I will have a look at the link .