• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Weight Loss

Status
Not open for further replies.
1stTimePiggieOwner

1stTimePiggieOwner

Joined
Aug 18, 2009
Messages
746
Reaction score
1
Points
0
Location
East Midlands
Hi Everyone

I'm looking for some advice. I didn't weight my boys over the Christmas period so this meant that they weren't weighed from 12th December to 2nd January. In this time Bailey put on 86grams but Guinness lost 13grams. I was a little concerned about Guinness last week when I found this out but thought I'd see how we got on this week as he is eating well.

Well, I weighed both boys again today and Guinness has lost a further 3 grams this week and Bailey has lost 10grams too.

Both boys are happy enough, very active and eating really well. I'm at a bit of a loss really.

My partner said could it be because it's colder? Or could it be because they are more active now as on the 27th December, we moved them into a new, much bigger cage?

Any ideas? Do you think I need to be worried at this stage or just monitor it, we weigh the boys weekly normally anyway? Should I book them an appointment at the vets for a check up?

Both boys are nearly 8months old we think, Guinness weighs 991g and Bailey is 1034g.

Thankyou for any advice.


Tracey x
 
Your boys are coming up to the time when their growth is slowing down a lot or even stopping. They have a good weight now!

A bigger cage and more physical activity will burn more calories. They will also burn more calories if the house is generally colder. As they are not actually loosing any weight (around 30g is daily variation), I would just keep my eye on them, but not worry too much. If you REALLY want to, you can give a bit more pellets or sprinkle a bit porridge oats on their pellets. Please stop as soon as it gets warmer, as oats are otherwise fattening!

Alcesterpig has a good rule: 1-2oz weight loss not to be worried, but watched; 3oz go on red alert; 4oz needs visit to the vet!
 
This is well inside normal variation. They can vary by up to 50g just by how much they happen to be carrying in their gut. Only a larger drop, or a consistent downward trend, would be a concern.
 
Thank you both!

I wasn't really worried, just a tad concerned really but now I know not to be so thats brilliant.

I know that they are both good weights, it's just they have consistently put on weight every week since they came home and when I weighed them today and they had both lost weight, it freaked me out a little.

Thanks again, I feel much more reassured.
x
 
This thread had be a reassurance to me too as I've had a very similar sitiation, however a greater weight loss.

We first started to weigh our girls when we got Pixel just before Christmas and in the between 19th December (when we first weighted them) and today, Willow's weight has dropped by 60g (from 1.066kg to 1.003 today)

Pippa's weight is pretty consistant and Pixel (as a baby) has a weight gain of 30g + per week. Pippa and Willow are both approx 10months old.

Do I need to start worrying about Willow? She's a very happy girl and eats loads (but does seem to drink more than the other two) her teeth and coat look in good condition

1stTimePiggieOwner - I'm so sorry for hijacking your thread! ")
 
Haha, don't worry. My minds at ease now, so you hijack away :)

With ragard to Willow's weight, if you go by what Weibke said about alcesterpig's guide then you shouldn't be worried yet about her. But you should be keeping a close eye on her and if she looses anymore, maybe think about getting her checked over by the vets.

Is Willow eating ok?
 
Thankyou! As I clicked 'post' I realised how much I'd wrote and thought I maybe should have started a fresh thread!

She's eating well. She loves her hay and eats pleanty of nuggets and veggies too.

I wonder if maybe it's a change of environment, she's indoors now and having Pixel arrive may have had an affect. I dunno. She seems very happy though, still popcorns and sleeps with Pixel so it's not like they don't get on.

I'll keep my eye on her and see how she goes.
 
My own pigs vary in weight by up to 50g per week as well; it's only when it's a consistent weight loss that it may be a concern. The fact that all the piggies in this thread are eating well is good. :)

50g is only equal to 2oz, which seems much less worrying!
 
Phew! Thanks Laura, 2oz does sound much better!

It's so reassuring to hear other pigs weight varies. I've not been wirghing them long and it was a bit of a shock at first to see Willow's weight go down (as she always looked the biggest :)) )

I'll keep my eye on her and hopefully she'll level out

Thanks both xx
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top