Worried About Weight

[CarnivalPiggy]

Heya. I think Ginny's lost more weight than what's normal. He's gone slowly into the mid to late 800s and usually maintains a weight of 900g. I must admit, I weigh him at least 5 times a day out of paranoia. Mainly what I'm asking, I'm going to begin to weigh him at a properly set time but should I take him to the vets tomorrow anyway? Not sure if I should wait

 

[Wiebke]

Heya. I think Ginny's lost more weight than what's normal. He's gone slowly into the mid to late 800s and usually maintains a weight of 900g. I must admit, I weigh him at least 5 times a day out of paranoia. Mainly what I'm asking, I'm going to begin to weigh him at a properly set time but should I take him to the vets tomorrow anyway? Not sure if I should wait

Please do not weigh more than once daily at the same time in the feeding cycle (ideally before you give food in the morning or before dinner in the evening for a comparable weight). A healthy piggy that is eating normally is perfectly fine with a once weekly weigh-in. If you are prone to anxiety, you can fall into the trap of weighing or health checking too often, which only serves to feed your anxiety, but won't help your piggy. If you have a real issue with it, please ask somebody in your household to do it once daily for you.

How old is Ginny? When you feel around his ribs, can you just feel them all, but they don't stand out?

 

[CarnivalPiggy]

Thanks, I'll definitely make sure to only weigh him once a day. I don't know his actual age, but he's roughly four/five six years old. They don't stand out, no.

Can house temperature have a factor in it? Turned up the heating to roughly 19 or 20 degrees about twenty minutes or so ago, but it's been at roughly sixteen all day and it's eight degrees outside.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks, I'll definitely make sure to only weigh him once a day. I don't know his actual age, but he's roughly four/five six years old. They don't stand out, no.

Can house temperature have a factor in it? Turned up the heating to roughly 19 or 20 degrees about twenty minutes or so ago, but it's been at roughly sixteen all day and it's eight degrees outside.

Guinea pigs, like elderly humans, naturally lose weight and become more bony, especially around the hips. It should be a gradual process.

If you are worried, have him checked by a vet, but as long as he is otherwise well and bright in himself and eating normally, there is no reason to worry.