Weight Loss

[Reddybex]

Hi all

I've called the vet and I am waiting for a call back on this one. Been weighing Vinnie since I got him on Boxing day. I've weighed him 4 times since I had him. He had a small weight loss in the second week (around 11th Jan) weighed him 3 days later, he was the same weight, weighed him today and he has lost more. I had hoped it was just a slight blip due to him settling in with Jerry however I think a vet should give me more advice at this point. Since his first weigh-in he has lost 35g. He has gone from 1063g to 1028g. I weighed him about 50 times today to make sure. Jerry is steadily gaining weight, no issues with him.

I give them a dinner plate worth of veggies everyday, endless hay and pellets in bowls. The pellets have Alfalfa in them - this is what Jerry was on and I was going to change them but they love them and due to Vinnie's weight I thought it might give him an extra boost.

Vinnie is eating everything in sight, his stools are normal, his teeth are fine, he sleeps, he runs about and he still very much rumble struts around lol. There's nothing unusual other than this loss in weight. The record at the rescue shows him steadily gaining weight - he was on his own as he had to be separated from his brothers. Failing any medical reason the vet gives, is there anything to suggest Guinea Pigs can show stress by weight loss? - I am wondering if he just doesn't enjoy being with another Guinea Pig? I hope I am wrong.

He's having a sleep at the minute after a good old veggie breakfast and a cage clean and also to get over the stress of being weighed - they have both fallen out with me today lol.

Any comments on this are welcome, I will let you know what the vet advises too.

 

[David Piggie Lover]

Hello. First I'm no expert and I'm only giving you my opinion.
Ok he's lost weight and well done for notice this. I'd be very worried if he was sleepy or not playin or poops bad.
As he's only lost 35g yes it's a loss and he does need to gain but try to be calm. see what vet says. xx

 

[helen105281]

30g can be the difference between a full and empty bladder. See what the vet says but I would weigh him at the same time each day as then you will have a more accurate recording of how his weight is changing.

 

[Reddybex]

Hello. First I'm no expert and I'm only giving you my opinion.
Ok he's lost weight and well done for notice this. I'd be very worried if he was sleepy or not playin or poops bad.
As he's only lost 35g yes it's a loss and he does need to gain but try to be calm. see what vet says. xx

Thank you xx yes it's strange that everything else is fine yet he's losing weight. The vet just called and suggested separating the boys. The vet said keep weighing him everyday (he'll love that!) and if there's any more loss take him in by the end of the week.

 

[Reddybex]

30g can be the difference between a full and empty bladder. See what the vet says but I would weigh him at the same time each day as then you will have a more accurate recording of how his weight is changing.

Ok I will do that - I think it was around 11ish I weighed him, maybe earlier. Vet suggested separating the boys to watch what Vinnie eats - do you think I need to do that at the minute? I know if you separate boars it can put them back to square one regarding dominance etc, would like to avoid if possible. My husband is against it too.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all

I've called the vet and I am waiting for a call back on this one. Been weighing Vinnie since I got him on Boxing day. I've weighed him 4 times since I had him. He had a small weight loss in the second week (around 11th Jan) weighed him 3 days later, he was the same weight, weighed him today and he has lost more. I had hoped it was just a slight blip due to him settling in with Jerry however I think a vet should give me more advice at this point. Since his first weigh-in he has lost 35g. He has gone from 1063g to 1028g. I weighed him about 50 times today to make sure. Jerry is steadily gaining weight, no issues with him.

I give them a dinner plate worth of veggies everyday, endless hay and pellets in bowls. The pellets have Alfalfa in them - this is what Jerry was on and I was going to change them but they love them and due to Vinnie's weight I thought it might give him an extra boost.

Vinnie is eating everything in sight, his stools are normal, his teeth are fine, he sleeps, he runs about and he still very much rumble struts around lol. There's nothing unusual other than this loss in weight. The record at the rescue shows him steadily gaining weight - he was on his own as he had to be separated from his brothers. Failing any medical reason the vet gives, is there anything to suggest Guinea Pigs can show stress by weight loss? - I am wondering if he just doesn't enjoy being with another Guinea Pig? I hope I am wrong.

He's having a sleep at the minute after a good old veggie breakfast and a cage clean and also to get over the stress of being weighed - they have both fallen out with me today lol.

Any comments on this are welcome, I will let you know what the vet advises too.

Please reduce the amount of veg you are grossly overfeeding! It can cause diarrhea and digestive issues. Your boys will not eat any more, just more of the wrong stuff!

Please follow the tips in our diet guide. Serve any SMALL portions of veg AND pellets in a bowl per boy at least a body length apart, so they can be eaten there and then 2-3 times a day and be removed for the rest of the time. This keeps food hogging to a minimum.
The rest of the time they should eat as much hay as possible - over 80% of the daily food intake for long term health and longevity. Make sure that your hay access cannot be blocked by the dominant piggy. If necessary, offer it in two places.

The weight loss is not yet worrying and should be able to be stabilised with these measures. I would stronly recommend to NOT separate any bonded piggies if possible. There is always a risk that they will not go back with each others again.

Please read the diet guide for long term health. We have included tips on how to minimise food bullying and food hogging. The underpiggy in a group is often weighing a bit less than a dominant top piggy. You need to see a vet if your piggy loses over 50g in a matter of days (a week max) or over 100g gradually in a matter of weeks/months. Always weigh at the same time for a comparable result; ideally before breakfast or dinner so you do not have to factor in the variance of a fully/empty tummy and bladder in so much. The weight should stabilise within a band of roughly 30-50g.
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diet

 

[Reddybex]

Please reduce the amount of veg you are grossly overfeeding! It can cause diarrhea and digestive issues. Your boys will not eat any more, just more of the wrong stuff!

Please follow the tips in our diet guide. Serve any SMALL portions of veg AND pellets in a bowl per boy at least a body length apart, so they can be eaten there and then 2-3 times a day and be removed for the rest of the time. This keeps food hogging to a minimum.
The rest of the time they should eat as much hay as possible - over 80% of the daily food intake for long term health and longevity. Make sure that your hay access cannot be blocked by the dominant piggy. If necessary, offer it in two places.

The weight loss is not yet worrying and should be able to be stabilised with these measures. I would stronly recommend to NOT separate any bonded piggies if possible. There is always a risk that they will not go back with each others again.

Please read the diet guide for long term health. We have included tips on how to minimise food bullying and food hogging. The underpiggy in a group is often weighing a bit less than a dominant top piggy. You need to see a vet if your piggy loses over 50g in a matter of days (a week max) or over 100g gradually in a matter of weeks/months. Always weigh at the same time for a comparable result; ideally before breakfast or dinner so you do not have to factor in the variance of a fully/empty tummy and bladder in so much. The weight should stabilise within a band of roughly 30-50g.
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diet

So for example today's veg amount was: 1 carrot and 2 handfuls of salad leaves, is that really over feeding? Whilst they have been with me they have never had any diarrhea and digestive issues.

At the moment Jerry is 1128g and he is roughly 7 months old
Vinnie is 1028g and is 10 months old
Is this grossly over-weight?

The boys are eating from the same plate for the moment so I can gauge how their bonding progresses and monitor any food hogging - there hasn't been any.

They have separate bowls in different ends of the cage that contain the pellets.

I am grateful for the tips on how much weight loss is a worry - I couldn't find that information on the guides this morning. Only that if there is gradual weight loss I should get the Guinea to a vet within 24 hrs.

Daily feeding can include:

1 pepper and 2/3 celery sticks depending on size
or
2 handfuls of salad leaves and 1 tomato (rare treat) or one other vegetable like half a cucumber or half a courgette
or
parsley 1/3 of fresh bunch plus 1 other vegetable like a carrot or pepper or as above

Now you have the appropriate information on what I mean as a dinner plate full (which the above is) please let me know if I am grossly overfeeding. A charge which I am greatly upset about

 

[Reddybex]

And just to be clear the food amounts I listed are for both guinea pigs, not per guinea pig

 

[David Piggie Lover]

So for example today's veg amount was: 1 carrot and 2 handfuls of salad leaves, is that really over feeding? Whilst they have been with me they have never had any diarrhea and digestive issues.

At the moment Jerry is 1128g and he is roughly 7 months old
Vinnie is 1028g and is 10 months old
Is this grossly over-weight?

The boys are eating from the same plate for the moment so I can gauge how their bonding progresses and monitor any food hogging - there hasn't been any.

They have separate bowls in different ends of the cage that contain the pellets.

I am grateful for the tips on how much weight loss is a worry - I couldn't find that information on the guides this morning. Only that if there is gradual weight loss I should get the Guinea to a vet within 24 hrs.

Daily feeding can include:

1 pepper and 2/3 celery sticks depending on size
or
2 handfuls of salad leaves and 1 tomato (rare treat) or one other vegetable like half a cucumber or half a courgette
or
parsley 1/3 of fresh bunch plus 1 other vegetable like a carrot or pepper or as above

Now you have the appropriate information on what I mean as a dinner plate full (which the above is) please let me know if I am grossly overfeeding. A charge which I am greatly upset about

we only trying to help. weigh what you are feeding them and then see. piggies will eat non stop. a carrot is a carrot what size etc. @Wiebke is a expert and i follow her advise when I need help.

 

[Reddybex]

we only trying to help. weigh what you are feeding them and then see. piggies will eat non stop. a carrot is a carrot what size etc. @Wiebke is a expert and i follow her advise when I need help.

Yes thank you.

 

[David Piggie Lover]

So for example today's veg amount was: 1 carrot and 2 handfuls of salad leaves, is that really over feeding? Whilst they have been with me they have never had any diarrhea and digestive issues.

At the moment Jerry is 1128g and he is roughly 7 months old
Vinnie is 1028g and is 10 months old
Is this grossly over-weight?

The boys are eating from the same plate for the moment so I can gauge how their bonding progresses and monitor any food hogging - there hasn't been any.

They have separate bowls in different ends of the cage that contain the pellets.

I am grateful for the tips on how much weight loss is a worry - I couldn't find that information on the guides this morning. Only that if there is gradual weight loss I should get the Guinea to a vet within 24 hrs.

Daily feeding can include:

1 pepper and 2/3 celery sticks depending on size
or
2 handfuls of salad leaves and 1 tomato (rare treat) or one other vegetable like half a cucumber or half a courgette
or
parsley 1/3 of fresh bunch plus 1 other vegetable like a carrot or pepper or as above

Now you have the appropriate information on what I mean as a dinner plate full (which the above is) please let me know if I am grossly overfeeding. A charge which I am greatly upset about

And just to be clear the food amounts I listed are for both guinea pigs, not per guinea pig

Half a cucumber weighs approx 200gms that's 4 days food for 1 piggie. My girls (3) get a slice each along with some leaves carrot battons and peppers all fit into a small dish.
that's twice a day. I am so tempted to give more but have to stop. they eat it asap then 20 mins in hay munch munch. bless um. x

 

[David Piggie Lover]

Pls I'm not having a go at what you give your piggies but you asked for advise and am tryin to help. My passed away guy Pedro was a brute he was 1400 gms and he never filled up and his tummy is smaller than half tea bag like all piggies.
I over Fed him and got a bollocking off a piggie savo vet lol. I miss him everyday. xx

 

[Reddybex]

Pls I'm not having a go at what you give your piggies but you asked for advise and am tryin to help. My passed away guy Pedro was a brute he was 1400 gms and he never filled up and his tummy is smaller than a tea bag like all piggies.
I over Fed him and got a bollocking off a piggie savo vet lol. I miss him everyday. xx

I feed only once a day and leave them with hay for the rest. I can change this and see if it makes any difference to Vinnie's weight but as he's losing weight I doubt it very much. I will also split into bowls and see what happens with the portion sizes - then I wont get another bollocking! lol

Thanks for your guidance and I am sorry about Pedro, I remember his picture you put up - cutey x

 

[David Piggie Lover]

these bloody piggies are so different etc. I owe you a massive apology I've read your text wrong. I saw 2 handfulls off this and that. now it's NO 2. all diff meals. sorry

 

[Reddybex]

these bloody piggies are so different etc. I owe you a massive apology I've read your text wrong. I saw 2 handfulls off this and that. now it's NO 2. all diff meals. sorry

No worries - I'm a learner, I will adjust what I need to adjust - happy for you to give me advice - you seem a warm hearted person, I have no issue with kindness

 

[Reddybex]

Hi @David Pet Lover - wanted to let you know I weighed what I was going to give the boys today and split it into two bowls. The total of the food for all day for the two boys weighed just a tad over 100g (will be just a smidge over 50g each) so I am pretty happy that I have not been overfeeding. The amount of pepper could probably be cut down when it's a pepper day and same for carrot day but today was celery and kale so was spot on. The boys keep swapping bowls as well - I think they want to make sure they both have the same haha They will now have hay for the rest of the day as normal.

 

[David Piggie Lover]

Hi @David Pet Lover - wanted to let you know I weighed what I was going to give the boys today and split it into two bowls. The total of the food for all day for the two boys weighed just a tad over 100g (will be just a smidge over 50g each) so I am pretty happy that I have not been overfeeding. The amount of pepper could probably be cut down when it's a pepper day and same for carrot day but today was celery and kale so was spot on. The boys keep swapping bowls as well - I think they want to make sure they both have the same haha They will now have hay for the rest of the day as normal.

We did a few weeks ago the weight food thing and shock horror we were underfeeding them. I notice when I bought pkt leaves and it was 120gms and a pkt lasted 2/3 days and realized that 1 pkt is less than 1 day with 3 piggies. So we all learning all the time. x