Weight loss

[TheOriginalBubble&Squeak]

I have been watching my guinea pigs’ weight due to them being rescue pigs ( we got them a month ago) and they have been going up the scales. Then, they lost 20g in 2weeks and now, one has lost 20 and one 30 in 3 days!
I know to attempt to go to the vets (even though I live in London with lockdown) but has anyone got some advice?
Many thanks,
Pig mum

 

[Lady Kelly]

How often are you weighing? 20-40g is the difference between full and empty bladder/stomach. Make sure you are weighing at the same point in the feeding cycle either before or after veggie time is best I find.

 

[Swissgreys]

Also how old are your piggies?
I found that when my were younger their weight fluctuated a bit more than when they were adults.
What are you feeding them?
How do they appear within themselves - are they active and eating well?

 

[Wiebke]

I have been watching my guinea pigs’ weight due to them being rescue pigs ( we got them a month ago) and they have been going up the scales. Then, they lost 20g in 2weeks and now, one has lost 20 and one 30 in 3 days!
I know to attempt to go to the vets (even though I live in London with lockdown) but has anyone got some advice?
Many thanks,
Pig mum

Hi!

We talk about weight loss only over 50g and recommend to weigh any healthy piggies once weekly at a comparable time like before you serve breakfast or dinner.
The more often you weigh, the greater the weight is jumping around depending on how full bladder and belly are at the time.
Give your piggies time to settle; in they will catch up

How long have you had them; are they private intakes or adopted from a rescue and how old are they?

Please take the time to read this guide here; it tells you all about weight and weighing, including how to judge whether yours are a good weight for their size or not by feeling around the ribcage: Weight - Monitoring and Management

This guide is part of our comprehensive New Owners guide collection, which addresses all the most frequently asked questions, concerns and problems that we see and that aims to help you learn what is normal and what not, and how to spot early signs of illness, understand their behaviour and how to interact with them in their own body language.
Here is the link; the above guide is part of it: Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides