I need help for my piggies

[Tianaandpiggies]

Hi everyone I have tried loads of different things but really need help getting weight in my piggies they have. A handful of grass a day each a cup of mixed veg each and hay non stop and 2 tablespoons of pellets each iswell but they are still somehow losing weight any tips will help

 

[My Piggies]

Hi
I'm sorry your piggies are unwell. If they are continually losing weight, please step in with syringe feeding (if you don't have recovery feed at the moment, you can use mushed up pellets) and book a vet appointment. I would recommend you start weighing them daily. Continual weight loss is usually a result of not eating enough hay, which is very hard to assess just by eye, so weighing them daily is a good idea. I hope they are feeling better soon
More experienced members will be along later

 

[weepweeps]

Hello. How old are they and how long have you had them? How much weight have they lost? Do they appear unwell? Sorry for all the questions but it will help people give advice.

 

[Piggies&buns]

As above, we require more information and background from you before we can offer advice.

How old are they?
How long have you had them?
Have they been seen by a vet?
What do they weigh?
How much weight have they lost?

Pellets should be one tablespoon each, not two each.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome

Could you please also add whether your piggies are outdoors or indoors and any heating/insulation arrangements for either? We've had lots of cold nights in recent weeks. How long has the weight happened and how much is it by now?

There are can be so many different reasons behind any weight loss (medical as well as environmental) that we need more background information. It's by no means straight forward. Unless you and your vet can work out the cause and address that, any measures can only be a plaster on a still bleeding sore.

PS: Have your piggies been seen by a vet?

 

[Tianaandpiggies]

Hi
I'm sorry your piggies are unwell. If they are continually losing weight, please step in with syringe feeding (if you don't have recovery feed at the moment, you can use mushed up pellets) and book a vet appointment. I would recommend you start weighing them daily. Continual weight loss is usually a result of not eating enough hay, which is very hard to assess just by eye, so weighing them daily is a good idea. I hope they are feeling better soon
More experienced members will be along later

Thanks so much it’s not that there not eating there eating lots but just not gaining weight one went from 1,033 kg to 976g in a space of a week I have now got some pea snaps but if that doesn’t work I’ll take them to the vets thanks for the advice

 

[Piggies&buns]

That’s 57g in a week - That amount of weight loss requires you to go on alert and switch to daily weight checks so you can more closely monitor hay intake - also be prepared to start syringe feeding if the next daily weight check is also down and see a vet.

They are losing weight because their hay intake (80% of their daily food intake) has reduced (even if they are still eating some) (veg is only 15% of daily food intake, pellets 5% - so still eating either of those things, if their hay intake has reduced, will still mean they cannot maintain their weight), and you will need to replace their hay intake with syringe feeding. The reason behind the reduction in hay intake will require vet investigation if it continues

Even if they eat the pea flakes, it won’t make any difference as it just an occasional treat.

We can continue to offer help, support and advice, but we do require more background information -

How old are they?
How long have you had them?
Do they live inside or outside?

You mention the weight of one of the piggies, what is happening with the other piggy’s weight?

Please do read the guides below

All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
Weight - Monitoring and Management

 

[Tianaandpiggies]

That’s 57g in a week - That amount of weight loss requires you to go on alert and switch to daily weight checks so you can more closely monitor hay intake - also be prepared to start syringe feeding if the next daily weight check is also down and see a vet.

They are losing weight because their hay intake (80% of their daily food intake) has reduced (even if they are still eating some) (veg is only 15% of daily food intake, pellets 5% - so still eating either of those things, if their hay intake has reduced, will still mean they cannot maintain their weight), and you will need to replace their hay intake with syringe feeding. The reason behind the reduction in hay intake will require vet investigation if it continues

Even if they eat the pea flakes, it won’t make any difference as it just an occasional treat.

We can continue to offer help, support and advice, but we do require more background information -

How old are they?
How long have you had them?
Do they live inside or outside?

You mention the weight of one of the piggies, what is happening with the other piggy’s weight?

Please do read the guides below

All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
Weight - Monitoring and Management

Thanks they are 18 mounts old males I have had them for about a week and are indoor I have just weighed the other one and he has gained 20 g and I think that’s from the grass but I think it’s the hay they don’t like it so d ok you know any good brands of hay and the other one has gained 10 g iswell

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thanks they are 18 mounts old males I have had them for about a week and are indoor I have just weighed the other one and he has gained 20 g and I think that’s from the grass but I think it’s the hay they don’t like it so d ok you know any good brands of hay and the other one has gained 10 g iswell

Ok, then it’s possible the weight loss may be due to the stress of moving to a new environment, plus as they have moved to a new environment they will be in a period of reestablishing their relationship (even if they have always been together).

Where did you get them from - ie private seller, reputable rescue centre etc?
If they were from a rescue, then they would have been vet checked prior to rehoming (of course, that doesn’t entirely mean there isn’t an illness). If from a private seller, then please have them checked by a vet anyway even if the weight loss stops - it’s good practice to have any new piggies vet checked when bringing them home if they have not come from a rescue

Continue to weigh them daily (at the same time each day) so you can keep a close eye on them while they are adjusting, see a vet if there are any further losses as per the guides which have been linked in above.

Regarding hay - i personally use a subscription service called haybox.club. It is the best quality hay I have ever found. My boys have a mixture of meadow hay and soft timothy.
There are several other providers of hay online (timothyhay.co.uk, happy hay co - other members may be able to recommend others). Otherwise, hay bags from a pet shop.

Are they used to eating fresh grass? Please ensure any fresh grass is introduced into the diet slowly if they are not used to it.

 

[Tianaandpiggies]

Ok thanks for all your help and they were rescued from a someone who used them for dog bait so don’t know much about them

 

[Tianaandpiggies]

Hi and welcome

Could you please also add whether your piggies are outdoors or indoors and any heating/insulation arrangements for either? We've had lots of cold nights in recent weeks. How long has the weight happened and how much is it by now?

There are can be so many different reasons behind any weight loss (medical as well as environmental) that we need more background information. It's by no means straight forward. Unless you and your vet can work out the cause and address that, any measures can only be a plaster on a still bleeding sore.

PS: Have your piggies been seen by a vet?

No they haven’t there indoor and lost around 50 g but have been gaining it back due to more grass and hay in there diet if anything else happens I will message

 

[Wiebke]

No they haven’t there indoor and lost around 50 g but have been gaining it back due to more grass and hay in there diet if anything else happens I will message

Please make sure that they are kept warm at night, too. A sheet or blanket over the cage also helps with settling into a new environment if you have timid piggies and encourages them to eat as much hay as they should until they get their bearings; it is also a good insulation against cold drafts from windows or chimneys.

 

[Roselina]

Hello Tianandpiggies and welcome to the forum. And for rescuing those boys !
I use haybox club as well and it’s very reliable and very good. It’s UK hay so is nice and fresh. It’s very quick delivery.
They have lots of different types of hay but my boys prefer the Timothy hay.
I’m hoping your boys are just settling into a new environment but do weigh them daily and arrange a vet check.
We’d love to see some pigtures when they’ve settled in.
Well done tho and good luck.

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum.
Hope the piggies pick up soon

 

[Tianaandpiggies]

Hello Tianandpiggies and welcome to the forum. And for rescuing those boys !
I use haybox club as well and it’s very reliable and very good. It’s UK hay so is nice and fresh. It’s very quick delivery.
They have lots of different types of hay but my boys prefer the Timothy hay.
I’m hoping your boys are just settling into a new environment but do weigh them daily and arrange a vet check.
We’d love to see some pigtures when they’ve settled in.
Well done tho and good luck.

Thanks xx