Weight Loss

[PoppypigandMildredpig]

Hello,
Just starting by saying I have a vets appointment this afternoon, but after some advice and reassurance!

I have two guinea pigs, poppy and Mildred. They have been with me for a year now. Mildred is an Abyssinian and weighs 1200g whereas Poppy usually sits around 800/850g. They eat veggies, pellets and always have hay. They are both very active and have the run of the lounge when we are at home.

Poppy drinks more than Mildred but i wouldn’t say in excess. Lately she has dropped weight. Within two weeks she now weighs under 700g.

Anything else to watch out for? She isn’t giving any signs of illness, she’s bright etc and eating very well!

I do have chickens outside and recently poppy has worked out where the grass is and took herself there (under supervision obviously) what are the odds she could have picked something up from the chickens?

Thanks in advance xx

 

[Wiebke]

Hello,
Just starting by saying I have a vets appointment this afternoon, but after some advice and reassurance!

I have two guinea pigs, poppy and Mildred. They have been with me for a year now. Mildred is an Abyssinian and weighs 1200g whereas Poppy usually sits around 800/850g. They eat veggies, pellets and always have hay. They are both very active and have the run of the lounge when we are at home.

Poppy drinks more than Mildred but i wouldn’t say in excess. Lately she has dropped weight. Within two weeks she now weighs under 700g.

Anything else to watch out for? She isn’t giving any signs of illness, she’s bright etc and eating very well!

I do have chickens outside and recently poppy has worked out where the grass is and took herself there (under supervision obviously) what are the odds she could have picked something up from the chickens?

Thanks in advance xx

Hi! Good that you have booked her in. I would recommend that you start support feeding to help keep her weight up; as she is still eating this means offering support feed 2-3 times daily, as much as she will take. Keep in mind that over 80% of what your piggies should eat is hay, hay and more hay...

Mystery weight loss is my least favourite symptom in my piggies because it can be caused by so many very different things - and I am sure I haven't discovered them all yet, myself! There is usually just one thing - see a vet and let them play detective! At this stage, wild and idle guessing is not going to help you at all as we might all be far from the mark and set you off worrying about something irrelevant.

If the water intake has not changed, then it is not something related to that. Regular water intake can vary enormously indvidually; it is the abrupt changes that are not weather or bottle related that signal a potential problem.

All the best at the vets!

 

[PoppypigandMildredpig]

Hi! Good that you have booked her in. I would recommend that you start support feeding to help keep her weight up; as she is still eating this means offering support feed 2-3 times daily, as much as she will take. Keep in mind that over 80% of what your piggies should eat is hay, hay and more hay...

Mystery weight loss is my least favourite symptom in my piggies because it can be caused by so many very different things - and I am sure I haven't discovered them all yet, myself! There is usually just one thing - see a vet and let them play detective! At this stage, wild and idle guessing is not going to help you at all as we might all be far from the mark and set you off worrying about something irrelevant.

If the water intake has not changed, then it is not something related to that. Regular water intake can vary enormously indvidually; it is the abrupt changes that are not weather or bottle related that signal a potential problem.

All the best at the vets!

Thank you. Will see what the vet says tonight and will look at support feeding. She definitely eats a lot of hay. Any tips on what she can have to help? Additional support feed?

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you. Will see what the vet says tonight and will look at support feeding. She definitely eats a lot of hay. Any tips on what she can have to help? Additional support feed?

Recovery formula is best; your vet will hopefully have some if you haven't got it at home. If your piggy doesn't like it, mix it with mushed up pellets for a more familiar taste. If she is still eating, then you can offer it in a bowl.
Plain unprocessed porridge oats can also help. But what you feed also depends on the nature of the weight loss itself and where the problem sits.

 

[Sophia Watson]

If you have critical care at home that will help with the assist feeding, if not grab some tomorrow from the vets if you can