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Weight Loss - Do Piggies Starve Themselves?

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Niki

Niki

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For the past 2 weeks Wallace has lost 2oz in weight which has caused me some concern, he's going to the vets tomorrow, (before i go to hosp)  because he's showing no symptoms of anything.
No odd breathing, no discharge from eyes or nose, no excess saliva from his mouth. He's not at all lethargic or "fluffed up" infact he looks like he always has except thinner. He's eating his veg & drinking & his poops are normal sized.

I have, for the past 3 weeks been trying (again) to get them off the Wilko food onto something better but they will not eat p@h nuggets, wagg crunch, wagg optimum pellets or tesco muesli.

This last attempt of mine was the wilko food mixed with wagg crunch - a 2:1 ratio & a separate bowl with wagg optimum pellets on their own, the W's bowls, especially, were hardly touched

Oh & i did think it could be worms & wormed him on Sunday. I've syringe fed him a mush of p@H nuggets the past 2 days & he ate this with no probs & has gained 1oz overnight.

Could his weight-loss be because he's starving himself because i mixed the food & he just doesn't like it or could it be something else?

Are there any dry foods that are irresistable to piggies that i could feed them because i just end up wasting everything i've tried because they won't eat it ::)
 
When i changed the boys from the unhealthy pellets and mix with molasses back when they were about 1 (yeah dumb slave didn't know any better)
it took me ages and i had to slowly change them over.
First i just sprinkled the new stuff on top of the old and once they got used to the smell and flavours i gradually mixed more and more, now this did take me a few weeks. So keep on going you're doing well it's like us slaves when you change a food we turn up our noses too.
Good luck
 
Thanks Glynis  :)

The first time i tried them with p@h nuggets i tried for 5 weeks & every time they left the nuggets. The same happened with all the rest but i 've only been trying 3 wks this time - should i persevere for longer?
I don't want them all on hunger strike ;D
 
You are welcome :)

Yes try a bit longer, maybe hand feed some with a treat say cucumber or something yummy mixed in, this can sometimes fool them. But as you know they're not easy to fool, too dammed smart for themselves sometimes ;)
You might have to resort to the old foods again otherwise, good luck
 
You could try Science Selective pellets made by Supreme, you can get a free sample from the website and they say that most piggies will eat it, but failing that maybe Wilko food is better than no food? :-\
 
I think Wilko food's better than no food, definitely. I'm surprised they don't like the Wagg Optimum, after being told about it by a breeder I put all mine on it and they all love it whereas before two were on SS and one on a mix and wouldn't eat anything else.
 
Funny you should bring this up Niki, mine ADORE Wilko's stuff. i did manage to get them onto Burgess Excel nuggets, but then got a pig in who would not entertain the idea. I tried & tried etc but he wouldn't change over until I came to a compramise with a healthy musli mix with these weird slices of dried carrot in. Can't remember what its called, but get it loose in my local pet shop grrr! I hate supporting them but my pigs gotta eat!
 
bev said:
You could try Science Selective pellets made by Supreme, you can get a free sample from the website and they say that most piggies will eat it, but failing that maybe Wilko food is better than no food? :-\
Click to expand...

I agree Wilko's food is definitely better than no food, they're all back with the wilko food :)
 
hils78 said:
Funny you should bring this up Niki, mine ADORE Wilko's stuff. i did manage to get them onto Burgess Excel nuggets, but then got a pig in who would not entertain the idea. I tried & tried etc but he wouldn't change over until I came to a compramise with a healthy musli mix with these weird slices of dried carrot in. Can't remember what its called, but get it loose in my local pet shop grrr! I hate supporting them but my pigs gotta eat!
Click to expand...

Hils do you know if the wilko food is gertie guinea pig, i suspect it is which is why i was trying to change
 
Niki said:
hils78 said:
Funny you should bring this up Niki, mine ADORE Wilko's stuff. i did manage to get them onto Burgess Excel nuggets, but then got a pig in who would not entertain the idea. I tried & tried etc but he wouldn't change over until I came to a compramise with a healthy musli mix with these weird slices of dried carrot in. Can't remember what its called, but get it loose in my local pet shop grrr! I hate supporting them but my pigs gotta eat!
Click to expand...

Hils do you know if the wilko food is gertie guinea pig, i suspect it is which is why i was trying to change
Click to expand...

Thought you were in hospital, don't tell me they have personal computers there now ;D
 
Niki said:
Hils do you know if the wilko food is gertie guinea pig, i suspect it is which is why i was trying to change
Click to expand...
Mine were into the Wilko own brand - wilko's do sell Gerty tho.
 
Does Wallace chew on a regular basis? I have heard of some guinea pigs having the same symptoms as yours because theirs did not have anything to chew on. This caused the guinea pig's teeth to grow too long, causing it to be painful for the guinea pig to eat solid foods :'(. The owners carried the guinea pig to the vet, and the vet filed the teeth down. After filing the teeth, their guinea pig started eating solid foods again :).
 
If it was the teeth he wouldn't be eating - if he is still eating well, could it be worms?
 
kayjay said:
Niki said:
hils78 said:
Funny you should bring this up Niki, mine ADORE Wilko's stuff. i did manage to get them onto Burgess Excel nuggets, but then got a pig in who would not entertain the idea. I tried & tried etc but he wouldn't change over until I came to a compramise with a healthy musli mix with these weird slices of dried carrot in. Can't remember what its called, but get it loose in my local pet shop grrr! I hate supporting them but my pigs gotta eat!
Click to expand...

Hils do you know if the wilko food is gertie guinea pig, i suspect it is which is why i was trying to change
Click to expand...

Thought you were in hospital, don't tell me they have personal computers there now ;D
Click to expand...

;D ;D Kathryn, i was home for 3 hours, am home til 7 tonight & hopefully home for good this week ;D
 
spaz said:
Does Wallace chew on a regular basis? I have heard of some guinea pigs having the same symptoms as yours because theirs did not have anything to chew on. This caused the guinea pig's teeth to grow too long, causing it to be painful for the guinea pig to eat solid foods :'(. The owners carried the guinea pig to the vet, and the vet filed the teeth down. After filing the teeth, their guinea pig started eating solid foods again :).
Click to expand...

Wallace & Wilbur have willow balls, sticks & of course hay to chew on but i have no idea which one destroys the willow balls :)
 
Lucinda said:
If it was the teeth he wouldn't be eating - if he is still eating well, could it be worms?
Click to expand...

This was the only thing i could think of Lucinda & i did worm him, up to last week he hadn't lost any more weight but hadn't put any on either. I'll be weighing him again while i'm home & hopefully he'll have gained as they're all back on just the wilko stuff & if he hasn't the mystery will have to be investigated when i'm home :)
 
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