weight gain

[monkeyandmischa]

My guinea has lost weight after being bullied by two dominant females. I want to put him with a new female, but not till he's put the weight back on, and he's not really eating much at the moment, I think because he's lonely. Is there anything that would help him to gain weight quickly?

When i was a kid 2 of our guinea pigs had babies, and one of the mothers died, and i think the vet told us to feed the babies on carnation milk - could this be good for my boy as well?

Thanks!

 

[Laure]

GPs cannot digest dairy products and so carnation milk should not be given.

To be honest I would say that the best way would be to give her more of her favourite food. Maybe try and buy different types of hay and dried grasses etc...

It might be worth taking her to the vets to make sure there isn't another reason she is not eating (overgrown teeth for example). But if it is just because she is lonely then I would get her a friend ASAP. If you go to a rescue you can take her with you to make sure her new friend won't bully her like the previous ones.

One of my sows pretty much stopped eating after her cage mate died and as soon as I introduced her to a new friend she was back to her old self again O0

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

L

 

[choloe]

perhaps you could feed him some pellets that have been in a coffee grinder or food processor, boil some water and let it cool then add pellets, then add 1-2 teasppons of baby food puree i use sweetcorn mix together and either feed via syringe or on a plastic spoon. make sure your little guy hasn't teeth problems though. good luck to your little guy O0 sending hugs to you all :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: girls send :-* :-* :-* give him extra cuddles and quailty time. hope all goes well and welcome to the forums from me and the girls in oz. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:

 

[monkeyandmischa]

Thank you for all your advice and kindness guys! I'll have a go with the pellets and baby food - sounds like a good plan I got home last night and put him on the floor with the girls, and they were fine together, and he ate loads. He's on his own now, but seems a lot chirpier He's such a sweet little critter!

I will take him back to the rescue we got them from to get him a new friend, but it's a train and a bus ride away, and he was really scared when we first brought him home, so i want to make sure he can cope with the trip (I don't have any access to a car either, as we live in central London). Also, we put them all together for about an hour at the rescue when we got them, and they were fine together - it seems ilke the girls just become territorial in their own cage >


...Thinking back, the vet definitely told us to feed those babies on evaporated milk - every 4 hours. Three of them were sickly though, and died. Maybe that had something to do with it?

Thanks again! and hugs to your guineas :-* :smitten:

 

[Glynis]

Hi there and welcome to the forum from us in OZ
You've been given fab advice O0 they're a great bunch of people on here always ready to help you
GOod idea to take the little guy back to the rescue and get him a friend. Perhaps try more floor time together with his grumpy girlfriends and then he'll be a happy chappy and eat more... wont be long and he'll gain some weight O0 Offer lots of pellets and hay too O0
Keep us posted, looking forward to hearing more about you and the piggies :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:

 

[Laure]

I'm in central London too! It's a pain that there are not more rescues in London as I have the same problem as you. Without having a car it's a long trip!

Personally if he is eating I would not syringe feed him as this can make made some piggies lazy and remember that they need to chew their food to wear (sp) their teeth down.
If he is back to eating normally he will put weight back on all by himself.

Also just reading back. I assume he has been neutered. Otherwise it's definitely not a good idea to put him in with the girls or you will end up with a pregnant piggie(s).