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Huge sow

P

Pitkonen

New Born Pup
Joined
Mar 12, 2023
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Location
Turku
Hi there.
I'm in need of some hints. One of my sows is really huge even though she ate the same food as her mates. She isn't 'looking' fat like looking like a ball but she is huge in every aspect.
She is cross bred so I don't have any ideas what is in her (she has a crest though).

I already tried to take off all treats over a week, but that doesn't impact her weight at all. She is active and moves at least as much as everyone else and even jumps in their hay box.
Should I take her out for longer walks, try longer no-treat time or is it just in her genes? And if I should try longer walks would some harness be good as she is nervous outside of their huge cage and tends to stick in one hiding spot. I don't want to cause her any more stress than necessary to make her feel better.
 
Pitkonen said:
Hi there.
I'm in need of some hints. One of my sows is really huge even though she ate the same food as her mates. She isn't 'looking' fat like looking like a ball but she is huge in every aspect.
She is cross bred so I don't have any ideas what is in her (she has a crest though).

I already tried to take off all treats over a week, but that doesn't impact her weight at all. She is active and moves at least as much as everyone else and even jumps in their hay box.
Should I take her out for longer walks, try longer no-treat time or is it just in her genes? And if I should try longer walks would some harness be good as she is nervous outside of their huge cage and tends to stick in one hiding spot. I don't want to cause her any more stress than necessary to make her feel better.
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Hi and welcome

Guinea pigs can differ much more in size individually than charts and literature suggest; sows can additionally also develop larger, breed specific bum shapes during late teenage as they come up towards adulthood.
As long as she is a good weight/size ratio in herself, then you need not worry. The weight of a guinea pig also changes over a lifetime; it is not always the same.

We cannot comment unseen without any background information as to her age or weight etc.
How to work out whether your sow is is actually overweight or not by feeling around the ribcage (Feeling for the heft, chapter 3) - this method works for any age and size. Going by weight only can be very misleading and what you can do about any overweight is in this guide link here: Weight - Monitoring and Management

Our diet guide, which looks at diet as a whole and all food groups in detail: Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
 
Thank you! I will check her ribcage and work from that.
She is one year and five months old now and weighs 1700 grams.
I hope I'm just an overprotective parent as always...
 
Update: Her ribcage is feelable! Also no rolling fat under the skin. I'm relieved!
Thank you for this amazing advice!
 
What a lovely piggie. My old neighbour used to breed piggies and they had one massive piggy he was so big they called him Badger.
 
Pitkonen said:
She is an absolute unit 🥰
It feels like holding a cat when she is in my lap. In the picture, she is in the front, and behind her is her cagemate, who is just under 1000 grams.

View attachment 224330
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Hi neighbour! She's such a lovely lady! I have two brothers from Turku, one of them is a chonk too 😂 maybe there's something in the water 🤣
 
Thank you for you all!
LunaticPoodle: Maybe... At least it makes my houseplants make humongous leaves.
 
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