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Weight loss

The3LittlePigs

The3LittlePigs

Junior Guinea Pig
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Haven't posted on here in some time but I assure you Ive been ghosting about! I'm making a post today concerning my newest addition, Turbo. He's the youngest of my piggies, bonded with an older boar. I've noticed he's quite skinny lately, so I started weighing him regularly about 4 weeks ago, where he weighed in at 813 grams, the smallest of my herd. I weighed him again at the weekend and he was 745gs and now he's at 731grams. This is quite concerning for me, as although my other boars are quite a bit older, they weigh at 1188gs and 1298gs, and my smaller at 950. I'm not sure how worried I should be, or what to do about it. He's eating fine, chewing everything from pellets to veg and hay so I'm not overly convinced it's his teeth. He's bright, active and responsive, running around, drinking, calling to his friends and otherwise normal. I can't see any changes in his eyes, ears, composure or fur. The only two things I can see having made a difference are that my herd did have lice about a week ago, but a course of ivermectin did the trick fine. He saw my vet at the time and he wasn't concerned by his weight. I also work full time at the vets as a patient care assistant preparing for training to become a vet nurse, which is making me all the more stressed about his situation, as I know they can't really do much in the way of helping unless he's under anaesthetic, which is all the more risk for a little piggy. Also, for a little while they had some really crap Wilko's brand pellets as I hadn't been paid yet, but now Ive had my first wage slip I'm able to provide Burgess quality 😁 any advice or help? I'm happy to answer questions, just really need some pointers. Is this normal fluctuating weight loss or something more sinister?
 
I would weigh him at the same time each day. If you see his weight dropping daily then I’d suspect there is an issue with either teeth or some other issue. How old is he? When I’ve had piggies with noticeable weight loss in the past it has either been kidneys or thyroid but they are usually in older piggies.
Is there any chance he’s being bullied and can’t get to the veg or pellets etc? If so can you put the food in separate places to make sure no pig can hog it all?
 
I'm not sure how old he is as we adopted him from his previous owner, but I believe they got him from a pet store and he must've been with them for about 6 months.. he's been with us for just under a year so I'd say about a year and a half. I'll weigh him again tomorrow and see how he is.
I'm not sure he's being bullied, but I suppose there's a chance! I see the usual dominance between him and his boar friend, nothing aggressive and no bites but it's a potential. Although he has access to fresh grass most days and hay, so it would only be the pellets he was missing out on. Any ways I could combat this if it was an issue? More hideys? Or syringe feeds?


Edit: I could try putting food in different places, but they tend to follow each other so they'd probably just keep swapping piles!
 
The3LittlePigs said:
I'm not sure how old he is as we adopted him from his previous owner, but I believe they got him from a pet store and he must've been with them for about 6 months.. he's been with us for just under a year so I'd say about a year and a half. I'll weigh him again tomorrow and see how he is.
I'm not sure he's being bullied, but I suppose there's a chance! I see the usual dominance between him and his boar friend, nothing aggressive and no bites but it's a potential. Although he has access to fresh grass most days and hay, so it would only be the pellets he was missing out on. Any ways I could combat this if it was an issue? More hideys? Or syringe feeds?


Edit: I could try putting food in different places, but they tend to follow each other so they'd probably just keep swapping piles!
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Hi!

I would recommend to weigh always at the same time in the feeding cycle; just before dinner or breakfast is a good idea.
Feeding tips are the start of our diet guide: Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

Please see a vet for a check-up in case there is a medical reason, especially if the weight loss is continuing and if he feels bony when you feel around ribcage. The weight is rather low for an adult boar. Keep in mind that there is a number of health problems that can result in weight loss despite a piggy eating seemingly normally.
The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight
 
Thanks so much for both of your responses. I'll have a word tomorrow and see who can get me in. He is quite bony, which was my main concern, but he's eating fine for me when I get him out and when I've watched him in his home. Hopefully all will be well. I'll keep you updated :)
 
My boar seemed to be eating well with no signs of anything wrong but he too was losing weight. It turned out to be his molars and is now having ongoing treatment. It was only by chance that I saw him opening is mouth really wide to try and dislodge some food that was stuck that I realised it might be his teeth. Thankfully his weight has stabilised with treatment. I hope you get your boy sorted.
 
weighed him at the same time today, this time he came in at 795 so somehow hes gone up 60gs since yesterday.. never fails to confuse me. regardless i spoke to my vet and he said he'd be happy to take a look at him and see what he can do, so ive booked myself in with him on friday. how much can their weigh fluctuate daily? very odd hes so much heavier!
 
My Ellen weighed 1180g this time last year and has gradually lost weight over the last 12 months which I believe is due to her age and diet (she’s nearly 4). I did worry when she weighed in at 995g but my vet can’t find anything wrong with her. She’s now settled at around 1000g but she can sometimes weigh as much as 1060g before food

Please don’t assume that a piggy is eating well. My late Enoch lost an awful lot of weight in just one week even though he seemed to be eating normally. It turned out to be a dental problem.

It’s good that you have a vets appointment if only for peace of mind
 
The double looks brilliant. Looking online the latch over the ramp is great.. such a small hole, I love it! Sadly already got one of the 6ft chattwell singles ordered so heres to hoping it's big enough!
 
Been to see the vet today, overgrown molars pointing in... U guys should be vets haha. Any idea how this has come about? I'm sure I'll soon find out as time goes on but very curious if it's a condition for him or a one off. Taking him in with me when I start work to see what we can do.
 
We’re not vets but when you have a pig with dental issues you know the signs! I think it’s to do with the way they chew and the alignment of their teeth. If they are misaligned, it causes hooks and spurs to form which can be burred/filed away to make eating more comfortable. I have experience with horses teeth and they are very similar to guinea pigs in the way they grow etc. My Jacks molars grow pointing in and caused his tongue to become trapped, hence having a problem eating, before I took him to Simon in Northampton to be sorted GA free. Jack also has one molar that flares out into his cheek causing soreness - nothings ever simple with my lot! I hope you get your piggy sorted soon.
 
He's going in at 11 :) his teeth are pointing in towards his tongue.. wonder if it'll be a common occurrence with him. Luckily I go everyday so not a big problem for us :)
 
The3LittlePigs said:
He's going in at 11 :) his teeth are pointing in towards his tongue.. wonder if it'll be a common occurrence with him. Luckily I go everyday so not a big problem for us :)
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As you’re ‘in the know’ working and training at a vets you are lucky! I have to drive to Northampton once a month to get Jack sorted! He’s getting on a bit so I wouldn’t want him to have a general anaesthetic every time his teeth needed doing, so Northampton it is! I’m sure you’ll have your boy sorted soon, it’s amazing how quickly they recover once their teeth are sorted.:nod:
 
Unfortunately things didn't go as smoothly as they could've. Turbo had some sedation (I don't know what, barely got chance to speak to the vet) and ended up stopping breathing at some point during the dental. Luckily he started again quite soon after but they had to stop. I'm not sure how far they got with it, but I know they took some off the incisors for sure. Hopefully they did the back teeth first.. apparently his incisors were also quite over grown, and I noticed her examining his jaw when I went by, so I can think he might have some kind of misalignment but still need to get some more info off her on Monday. Luckily he's recovered absolutely brilliantly from the sedation, was up and about very quickly after and peeing, pooping and eating excellently. He loves syringe feeding and think he benefitted greatly from that. I really need to know more about dental piggies but can't find that much useful info online.
 
Glad Turbo made it through his treatment.
Hope that you can get his teeth sorted without further scares
 
If you’re worried about putting him under again then Simon at the cat and rabbit clinic in Northampton does a great job and without any sedation - they use a special gag made for piggies. Jack is off there on Tuesday for his check up!
 
I'd love to but I don't drive and my parents work full time :/ hopefully this will work out, if not I'll ask about conscious dentals or have a look around. He's still great this morn
 
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