Worried, Weight Loss

[Tigermoth]

confession time, according to my book, they haven't been weighed for a month. I did weigh them a couple of weeks ago but couldn't find the book, so to all intents and purposes I have a gap in my records.

Both pigs appear to have lost significant weight. 90 and 100g. Funnily enough I was looking at Timmy thinking he was looking to have got a bit rotund so I'm really surprised. I did it twice to check it wasn't the scales but I'm hoping when we weigh tomorrow it turns out I did something daft.

 

[Tigermoth]

Bah, why did that post? Anyway, is there anything I should look out for? There are lots of poos, normal shape and size. Both running about as usual, spending big chunks of the day munching hay. Bright eyed, bushy tailed, nothing at all to suggest anything is amiss.

Obviously I'll weigh again tomorrow and if it isn't a weighing error I'll need to think about a trip to the vet on Monday.

The only thing different I can suggest is they beg for nuggets a lot, we give in, but they still live in their hay tray. Am I filling them up? ( JR Farm, big ones, probably about fifteen a day). They are a bit smelly but not offensive.

Thoughts appreciated. I'll be working all day tomorrow though and worrying! I should have posted earlier

 

[DM030819]

It's good that you have noticed and I think we can all admit to not weighing our pigs as often as we should.

Although 90g is a lot, that could be over the whole month so try not to worry.

My boys have gained and lost 100g - 150g over time and there never seems to be a particular reason.

If you're unsure it's always worth a check up at the vet but if they are still eating, drinking and acting normally I'd be inclined to leave it for another week and weigh them daily, just to get an accurate look at if they're still losing weight.

When did you change to the new pellets? One of my boys lost 200g slowly after I stopped feeding him pellets due to bladder stone issues.

 

[Adelle]

Where there pellets changed within the last month? Jr farm (if the grain less ones) are lower in calories like most grain less are so could explain it.

With the weight loss, are they still healthy weights?

15 of those pellets is quite a lot, they may be getting too full as you say but then normally this wouldn't cause weight loss. my sows that don't over indulge on pellets would only eat about 5 or 6 of them a day.

Weigh them over the weekend, any further drops on weight then have them vet checked. If their weight remains stable; keep weighing daily for a couple of weeks.. If they are older, this may just be their new weights but ofcourse it is better to be safe than sorry.

I weigh by youngsters (14 months and 10 months) every fortnight (or so!) and sometimes I find up to a 70g drop, other times up to a 70g gain! I weigh my old biddies (8 and 6) every morning and evening as both have health issues.

Hope you don't see any further issues X

 

[Tigermoth]

Thanks! That is reassuring.

They've been on those pellets since we had them, they get burgess sometimes too in addition but mainly the JR. They don't get 15 in a go, it is over the course of the day, every time we come in the room they beg! Often they are not full pellets either as they break up into small bits.

In terms of healthy weight, they are small pigs. It leaves them at 670 and 740g so it is a significant amount in comparison to their size. They've always been small. They are two years old so I think that is too early to be age related.

Came down this morning to find them both in their hay munching away. Rather than ex pigs, which was my worry. Although I wasn't at all concerned about them before I weighed them. But that is what prey animals do too though. Aargh!

I think I'd be more worried if it was just one of them. Both of them just seems too odd... I'll be waiting at work for the weigh in results later!

 

[Tigermoth]

Weigh today was more reassuring. Both "gained" although still less than they were. I'll watch them and weigh daily for a bit.

Thanks for the hand holding @Jaycey and @Adelle

 

[DM030819]

Anytime @Tigermoth!

I'm glad they're both stable and fingers crossed it continues!

 

[BScran]

If both pigs had lost roughly the same amount of weight I'd suggest checking your scales are accurate as a first step by weighing something like a bag of flour with a known weight. Might be scales that are faulty.