• 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

Gradual weight loss

Flash&Lucy

Flash&Lucy

New Born Pup
Joined
Aug 16, 2021
Messages
26
Reaction score
20
Points
185
Location
Lincoln
Our lovely 3 year old sow, Flash, is gradually losing weight and I am worried about her. She very sadly lost her sister, Lucy, mid August this year. They had a very close life-long bond, with Flash definitely the dominant piggy. When Lucy died Flash was weighing in at 1268g. Initially she seemed to cope well, but then we had a spell of very hot weather and that was when the weight loss began (although it did stabilise for a while after that) she seemed to have lost her enthusiasm for eating hay. We took her to see Ellie, the guinea pig vet in Matlock in mid September, and all was well with her health wise, including teeth (she had an op last year for an abscess but that has completely cleared up now).

But the gradual weight loss continued and we concluded she was lonely. Fortunately we had arranged for a new companion for her, a neutered boar called Quincy, from an excellent rescue. He came to live alongside Flash just over a fortnight ago, and we were able to put them together last weekend. The bonding seems to have gone very smoothly and although there is the occasional rumble from both pigs, they both seem happy enough living with each other. Flash certainly seems more active and definitely appears to be eating.
But the weight loss trend has continued. On 3rd Oct she was 1109g, 9th Oct 1057g, 11th Oct 1078g, 13th Oct 1061g and today 1026g. Her poos are much smaller than Quincy’s and are sometimes a bit misshapen. She is beginning to look and feel really skinny.

Sorry for the long post. I guess my question is would you continue to monitor this for another couple of weeks and see if she settles down more with her new companion? Or is other action needed? I am very wary about syringe feeding after our experience with Lucy, which was not positive.
 
Given the prolonged and continual downward trend, I would step in with syringe feeding and also get her booked in with the vet. Small poos also mean she is not eating enough hay.

Keep weighing her at the same time every day as well. I hope it’s something simple.
 
Thank you. How much syringe feeding would you suggest? When we’ve done it before it’s been for acute illness so very intensive every 2-3 hours. Do you think that’s needed here? Or just some extra 2 or 3 times a day?
 
I would do every two hours during the daytime (8-11 day). Give her as much as she will accept in one sitting. You’re aiming for minimum 60ml in a 24 hour period.
 
You would need to give as much as is necessary to stop the weight loss.

Are her poops smaller than what is normal for her? (Without comparing hers to Quincy)
 
Yes, they’ve been smaller since this weight loss started. Often not quite the right shape.
When Lucy died I got Flash some new Timothy hay from haybix. Previously had bought meadow and Timothy hay from Pets Corner. She seemed to like the new eating hay for a start but now seems to have gone off all types. I’ve got piles of four different types of hay in the hutch currently (old and new). What she does seem very happy to eat is freshly snipped grass, and will eat that very hungrily. I have seen her nibbling bits of hay but don’t think she’s having enough of it. She is eating her veg but has always been quite picky with that - lettuce has to be just right, greens have to be dark green and very fresh. She has access to two types of pellets (hers and Quincy’s) but only eats the occasional one or two.
 
Can’t add to the advice.
Hope the vet can give you some answers.
As well as syringe feeding you could try giving her some raw oats mixed with grated carrot or sweet potato
Keep us posted.
 
Just tried to syringe feed Flash, but she fought and fought to get away from the syringe. Perhaps got 3ml into her, if that. Was better when the syringe just had plain water in - so perhaps dislikes the taste? Am using critical care powder, mixed with water and in a 1ml syringe with the tip cut off. It was undoubtedly a very stressful experience for her and I feel just awful now. Any tips for coaxing a very reluctant pig? She has been syringe fed before, last year before and after her abscess operation.

Also how much grass do you think it is safe to give her? I’m snipping off a handful which she’s sharing with Quincy a couple of times a day. Can I give more without risking bloating?
 
Perhaps you can try Emeraid instead of critical care. You can also mush up her normal pellets with water and use that as a syringe feed - either on its own or in critical care, it might help the flavour be more recognised and she may eat more
 
We got some Emeraid and she’s much happier with that - thank you for that suggestion, I’d never even heard of it! It is helping to stabilise her weight.

Flash has been to the vet today and had one of her back molars ground down. Hopefully this is what the problem was - apparently growing at a funny angle. But she also has a growth under her jaw which could be a cyst or could be to do with her thyroid. So the plan is to monitor how she gets on with eating now the tooth has been trimmed. If she continues to struggle then this lump will have to be further investigated. Fingers crossed the tooth was the issue.
 
Fingers crossed the tooth was the issue!

If you're trying to fatten her up, we found with both Emeraid and porridge oats that out Marshmallow would happily eat them from a small dish, so you don't need to necessarily syringe them in.
 
She’s seemed a bit zonked today - perhaps because of the loxicom, perhaps disruption of journey to the vets, Matlock is a fair journey from Lincoln. But has been interested in food at times. Will give the bowl a try - she might take it like that now she knows the taste. Will have to make sure her new friend Quincy can’t get it or he’ll probably snaffle it up - he’s a big eater for sure!
 
Woke up today to find poor Flash making a funny noise while breathing. Been to a local vet and she now has a chest infection, given Baytril and going back on Monday. Apparently outlook 50:50. Very upsetting. And today’s my 50th birthday as well, not that it really matters.
 
I’m sorry it’s not the news you wanted. Hopefully she will improve. And happy birthday to you 🎂 🎁
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top