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Weight help?

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Julesie

Julesie

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This morning I took Arthur to his first ever vet visit (he was a very good boy and I was extremely proud of him) but the vet said something to me that has me now worried.

As soon as I opened the pet shop carrier, he stared at Arthur and told me in an accusing tone that he is very small. I tried to explain that he was only young (He's about 8-9 weeks maybe 10) but he then started to question me on what I feed him.

So I asked him to weigh Arthur for me (and after telling me off when I took out my book to add it to my other guinea pigs weights) I found out that Arthur weighs 580 grams.

Is that too small for a young guinea pig? Should I be feeding him more vegetables? I don't want to be mistakenly feeding him too little but at the same time the vet was rather rude and also didn't seem to know a lot of knowledge about guinea pigs, even though he assured me he did. He told me to seperate my guinea pig boys because males fight and attack one anothers balls to bite them off, which I know is a lie...
 
Find a new vet....

580 sounds perfectly fine to me for a pig that young! No need for extra veggies if he is on unlimited pellets and hay, feed the normal amount of veg. Dont want to risk an upset tummy in him this young.

Your vet doesn't seem to be very knowledgeable at all, in my opinion!
 
I have two vets. Sadly the other one was booked up full so I had to go to him. I wish I hadn't.

Thank you. I'll continue with the amount I am feeding them. I constantly refill their pellets and hay (If I don't notice Arthur tells me as soon as he notices.:)))

He charged me £15 for toe nails being cut. He said he couldn't even cut the front two as they were so small. I feel that was way too much but I had to pay because he'd already done it. I don't think I'll be returning to that vet again.
 
Sadly I have social phobia so I don't like to make a fuss. I'll just never go back. My other vet charges about £5 give or take to cut my older boars nails and give them a general checkup.
 
15 is INSANE for only two feet. RIDICULOUS! Have someone else complain for you :)) Someone needs to know that the vet you went to knows nothing about Guinea's
 
I've been to the same vet a few times before. This was a different guy this time though. Usually that vet practice is okay. ^^; I don't recall it costing me that much before to be honest but I may not have known better before. It was back when I newly got my piggies.
 
Hi Julesie

580g is not a bad weight for a baby of that age, unlimited good quality pellets, plenty of hay and upto 50g of veg, stick to that and you won't go far wrong.

Generally nails don't need to be trimmed on a young pig until they get to around 5 months old. A wooden platform or similar hard surface for them to wear them down on will help. Hopefully you can trim them yourself when they need it. Just take the very tips off to start to learn how to hold them and how to trim. You can pratice by just checking their feet and holding each foot in the way you would for trimming.

HTH

Suzy x
 
Julesie said:
This morning I took Arthur to his first ever vet visit (he was a very good boy and I was extremely proud of him) but the vet said something to me that has me now worried.

As soon as I opened the pet shop carrier, he stared at Arthur and told me in an accusing tone that he is very small. I tried to explain that he was only young (He's about 8-9 weeks maybe 10) but he then started to question me on what I feed him.

So I asked him to weigh Arthur for me (and after telling me off when I took out my book to add it to my other guinea pigs weights) I found out that Arthur weighs 580 grams.

Is that too small for a young guinea pig? Should I be feeding him more vegetables? I don't want to be mistakenly feeding him too little but at the same time the vet was rather rude and also didn't seem to know a lot of knowledge about guinea pigs, even though he assured me he did. He told me to seperate my guinea pig boys because males fight and attack one anothers balls to bite them off, which I know is a lie...
Click to expand...

Don't go back to that vet. He clearly doesn't know anything about guinea pigs. That weight is fine, I've just looked back through Rocket's weights, he's a couple of weeks older than Arthur and he was 500g - 525g at 8 weeks and around 575 at 10 weeks. He's been growing steadily and happily and is now 775g at 12 and a half weeks and catching up fast size-wise with his 4+ year-old cagemate. Arthur sounds fine. What a rip-off for the nail clipping! Why don't you do it yourself? It really isn't that difficult. :)
 
Suzygpr said:
Hi Julesie

580g is not a bad weight for a baby of that age, unlimited good quality pellets, plenty of hay and upto 50g of veg, stick to that and you won't go far wrong.

Generally nails don't need to be trimmed on a young pig until they get to around 5 months old. A wooden platform or similar hard surface for them to wear them down on will help. Hopefully you can trim them yourself when they need it. Just take the very tips off to start to learn how to hold them and how to trim. You can pratice by just checking their feet and holding each foot in the way you would for trimming.

HTH

Suzy x
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I give him excel pellets, the same as my other guinea pigs get. =)
Ah I wasn't sure what age they needed to be done but his nails keep cutting my hands up so I just wanted a small tiny trimming. I can hold him no problem now.

Thanks for the help. =)
 
AndreaJane said:
Don't go back to that vet. He clearly doesn't know anything about guinea pigs. That weight is fine, I've just looked back through Rocket's weights, he's a couple of weeks older than Arthur and he was 500g - 525g at 8 weeks and around 575 at 10 weeks. He's been growing steadily and happily and is now 775g at 12 and a half weeks and catching up fast size-wise with his 4+ year-old cagemate. Arthur sounds fine. What a rip-off for the nail clipping! Why don't you do it yourself? It really isn't that difficult. :)
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Yeah I have no plans to ever go back to him. Even my mum who knows nothing about guinea pig treatment could see he knew nothing.

I'm glad his weight is about right. I was a bit worried I might have been starving him and I'd hate to do that.

Ohh I tried with my other guinea pigs but after accidentally making them bleed I couldn't bring myself to do it as it distressed me as much as them and none of us really liked it.
 
Vets who don't know what they are doing really annoy me! Took Storm in when she wasn't well and vet looked up her symptoms in a book and then said I could treat her but most people didn't as they were not that expensive to replace mallethead

I left and never went back, funnily enough :(

Oh, and it used to cost me £10 there for quick check up for all 3 and nails done too. £15 is way too much, although having said that my vet charges £15 for a small animal consultation - but that is not just waving nail scissors!

x
 
I hate it when people think animals should just be replaced if they are cheap. It takes time to get them to trust you and love you, why would you want to throw them away for another cheap one that doesn't love you (yet) and you have to gain his trust?

Yeah. I wish there was a proper cavy savy vet around where I live. I can't travel as I can't drive.
 
I could probably get my mum or dad to drive me if I have to. (I live at home with them). I think I'll save that site in case anything bad happens to the boys and I need a specialist. Thank you so much.
 
Yeah. I have a folder dedicated to all things guinea pig. =) It's just gone into that with the rest.:))
 
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