Is my guinea over weight?

[Cheyennetheguinealover]

Hello I’m Cheyenne. My guinea pigs name is Minnie and I think she maybe to fat. When you hold her you don’t feel her ribs, when she is standing you can’t see her feet, and when she stands she doesn’t have curves. I feel her half a handful of vita prima morning and night. She always has hay. She used to lay under the tray part of her cage where her bed is in but now she lays in the corner under her hay trough next to her food bowl. She isn’t active when I take her out. She never has been. She just wants to cuddle in a blanket. About 2 months ago I tried getting her a friend to help her play and be active but she didn’t go for it so now I have two piggies in separate cages. I’m not sure what to do about her or if she is sick or okay. She still eats and drinks normally. Everything I’ve read says take her to the vet. I just wanted to reach out and see if you all had anything that can help me before I do so. (Also This is my first forum I’ve joined!)

 

[Piggies&buns]

If you are concerned, then look at the diet you are feeding her
- she needs hay, hay and more hay
- one cup of veg per day
- one tablespoon of plain guinea pig nuggets per day.

i have looked up Vita prima online and it looks to be a muesli. Mueslies should not be fed to guinea piga because they contain a lot of unhealthy ingredients. A plain pellet is advisable. If you’re giving half a handful twice a day then if sounds like she is getting far far too much. Do look to switch to a plain pellet and then give just one tablespoon once per day. Too much muesli And pellets will contribute to unhealthy weight gain.

what vegetables do you give her?

Do you weigh her weekly as part of routine care? If not, please do start as it is so important.

How big is her cage?

Its a shame she didn’t get on with the friend you got for her. Sadly this can happen if you buy a pet store piggy. Taking a piggy dating at a rescue centre is the safest way to find them a friend as your piggy chooses her own new friend so you can guarantee character compatibility. As you have them both in separate cages, ensure their cages are right next to each other so they can interact through the bars as this will prevent loneliness.

it is a good idea to have her checked by a vet.

Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
Pellets Or Muesli / Dry Mix?
Edible And Forbidden Veg And Fruit List With Vitamin C Grading
Weight - Monitoring and Management
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

 

[Tara95]

Excellent advice above when my guinea pigs became inactive they put on quite a bit of weight and just didn't didn't look heathy. They were in an indoor cage that was only slightly less than the minimum requirements initially after having a spacious hutch with a run outside for the summer where they were very active. In a few weeks all they did was sleep and lay down in their territory, eating and getting fat and arguing over territory.
As well as this, they had just come from having fresh air outside to being in a house that can get quite humid/having the heating on. They don't really cope well with temperature changes and I believe this contributed to them becoming lethargic/weight gain and even now I will notice changes in their behaviour if the heating is too warm! If you can offer them space above the minimum requirements, with space to run they should use it. Even now for example, I can hear my Guinea pigs running round doing a scaletric upstairs, I know their active but I may not physically see this everyday especially when I'm working. I appreciate though this may be hard space wise and you may have two smaller cages rather than a large one due to the piggies not getting on but they really will use the extra space and it's definitely worth it. And if their cages are not next to each other it may not encourage them to come out. I know with my Boar when he had to be seperated for his neuter if he was in a cage that wasn't directly next to the females you just wouldn't see him atall and when he was placed in a C and C cage sharing the grids his behaviour completely changed and he was always out interacting with the females through the bars/touching noses etc, being very active from literally not moving out of his hidie!. I'm saying this because I've been there and I've made the same mistakes! Welcome to the forum and best of luck!

 

[Cheyennetheguinealover]

If you are concerned, then look at the diet you are feeding her
- she needs hay, hay and more hay
- one cup of veg per day
- one tablespoon of plain guinea pig nuggets per day.

i have looked up Vita prima online and it looks to be a muesli. Mueslies should not be fed to guinea piga because they contain a lot of unhealthy ingredients. A plain pellet is advisable. If you’re giving half a handful twice a day then if sounds like she is getting far far too much. Do look to switch to a plain pellet and then give just one tablespoon once per day. Too much muesli And pellets will contribute to unhealthy weight gain.

what vegetables do you give her?

Do you weigh her weekly as part of routine care? If not, please do start as it is so important.

How big is her cage?

Its a shame she didn’t get on with the friend you got for her. Sadly this can happen if you buy a pet store piggy. Taking a piggy dating at a rescue centre is the safest way to find them a friend as your piggy chooses her own new friend so you can guarantee character compatibility. As you have them both in separate cages, ensure their cages are right next to each other so they can interact through the bars as this will prevent loneliness.

it is a good idea to have her checked by a vet.

Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
Pellets Or Muesli / Dry Mix?
Edible And Forbidden Veg And Fruit List With Vitamin C Grading
Weight - Monitoring and Management
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

I don’t really give her vegetables. Just fresh peeled apples occasionally not even once a week. I don’t weight her weekly but I will definitely start and I’m going to get her new food today. Her cage is the biggest one they offer. She has a vet appointment on Tuesday. Their cages and next to each other and they both talk to each other and get excited for food and hay and love. Thank you so much for your help!

 

[Piggies&buns]

I don’t really give her vegetables. Just fresh peeled apples occasionally not even once a week. I don’t weight her weekly but I will definitely start and I’m going to get her new food today. Her cage is the biggest one they offer. She has a vet appointment on Tuesday. Their cages and next to each other and they both talk to each other and get excited for food and hay and love. Thank you so much for your help!

Guinea pigs need a variety of fresh vegetables every day. Do start to introduce some slowly into her diet. It needs to be done slowly, one new food at a time, so as to not cause digestive upsets. Starting with herbs can be best as they are gentler on the tummy. Watch out for high calcium veg and ensure it is kept limited to one small amount once per week, but otherwise, lettuce, bell pepper, cucumber and coriander are all safe daily veggies.
Commercial guinea pig pellets and mueslies are so low down on the priority of their daily food intake, getting fresh veg every day is more important than feeding commercial guinea pig foods. I’m afraid if doesnt sound like she is getting the best diet so do read the guides I linked in so you can make some adjustments.

Hay is the most important part and should be in the fresh in the cage at all times. It makes up 80% plus of the daily food intake.
Vegetables is the next important, with one cupful or 50g, making 15% of the daily food intake
Guinea pig pellets being the least important, and the item which is least healthy, at just one tablespoon (approx 6-10 grams worth) per day, making just 5% of the daily food intake.

Fruit is fine for an occasional treat, but doesn’t ’need’ to be in their diet due to the high sugar content.

Commercial cages are often too small, so if you could tell us the exact measurements of it we can advise you further. A single piggy needs a minimum of 120cm x 60cm.