Hyperthyroid weight loss

[kylaeduff]

Hi all!

This is my first post but I have been following so many threads on here for years. I have an older (5.5 years) Abyssinian cross named Winston. I raised him from a baby. He was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism in August 2021. He was 980g to his normal 1200-1300g. We have been on medication and slowly upping his dose every month trying to get him to gain the necessary weight back. A week ago he was back to 1090g and today he has dropped to 990g. I'm talking with my vet but also looking for extra, high calerie foods to feed him. He is currently on oxbow adult pellets and oxbow orchard grass (he is picky). He isn't getting as many fresh veggies because his blockages get extremely bad with a high amount of fresh foods. Has anyone had success with anything? Thanks!

 

[Swissgreys]

Things like oats and sweet potato are good for holding weight in most piggies.
However has the vet also checked for other causes like dental issues, mouth infections, etc.

Nice to have you and Winston here by the way!

 

[kylaeduff]

Things like oats and sweet potato are good for holding weight in most piggies.
However has the vet also checked for other causes like dental issues, mouth infections, etc.

Nice to have you and Winston here by the way!

Do you cook the sweet potato first? Would sweet potato baby food work (that's just the potatoes)? And yeah he had his teeth done in September I believe it was and we discovered he had lice in his deep ear canal during the surgery prep which was taken care of with ivermectin (they crawled out to escape the anesthesia ). He gained over 100g after starting the thyroid medication but in the last 3 weeks has slowly started loosing despite raising the dose twice. And then in the last week he dropped a lot of weight.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear Winston isn’t well.

The sweet potato needs to be given raw - piggies cannot eat cooked foods.

Are you syringe feeding him also to stop the immediate weight loss?

 

[kylaeduff]

I’m sorry to hear Winston isn’t well.

The sweet potato needs to be given raw - piggies cannot eat cooked foods.

Are you syringe feeding him also to stop the immediate weight loss?

He is getting a full scoop of critical care in the evening. I don't syrenge feed it because he is eating fine still and will get really fussy and hard to handle if I force feed him. So he is currently eating close to a 1/4 cup of pellets, a scoop of critical care slurry, and unlimited orchard hay every day. He does get a fiber dietary supplement treat to help with his blockages as well as some dried fruit treats.

I'm looking at possibly adding alfalfa to his daily hay but I have always been told it had too much calcium for adult pigs but that it is ok for nursing or young pigs who need the extra caleries so I wasn't sure if it would hurt anything.

 

[eileen]

ive just got a piggie that has started thyronorm in the last two weeks,he is not maintaining his weight without 60mls of critical care,i believe his dose of thyronorm will need increasing.ive found emeraid sustain is better for keeping weight on.i would definatley start syringe feeding,and maybe get a further review from your vet.i hope you find a solution.

 

[eileen]

just read your last post,maybe make 2 scoops of cc slurry,if your piggie will tolerate it.Finley will only have it if he is syringe fed.

 

[Piggies&buns]

That's absolutely fine - he doesnt need to be syringe fed if he will willingly eat.

Yes, alfalfa is high in calcium and not really recommended for adult piggies.

 

[kylaeduff]

Hi everyone!

Thanks and I will still take any more snack options. My exotic vet just got back to me and we are going to keep a close eye and hope that upping his dose to 0.45ml will help to get him back up and if he should fall below 950g I will make an appointment at that time. It's so stressful though! This is my fifth piggie but the first to have a chronic illness.