229Sasha/
New Born Pup
My sweet pea has lost most of her fur, needs to be fed large amounts of green to keep weight on her, sometimes shivers, and has seen three vets with no diagnosis. Bright, active, happy, anyone have any clues?
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Jubilee
- Thread starter 229Sasha/
- Start date
Can you tell us what tests the vets have carried out to try to diagnose the issue?
Are you offering her plenty of extra hay and extra top up feeds with a recovery feed?
Make sure you don’t overfeed her with greens as it isn’t that which keeps her weight on, it is increased amounts of hay. There are some conditions which will cause them to lose weight even if they eat a lot (thyroid issues for example) but filling her up on veg isn’t what she needs.
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
Are you offering her plenty of extra hay and extra top up feeds with a recovery feed?
Make sure you don’t overfeed her with greens as it isn’t that which keeps her weight on, it is increased amounts of hay. There are some conditions which will cause them to lose weight even if they eat a lot (thyroid issues for example) but filling her up on veg isn’t what she needs.
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
Hi and welcome
Hair loss can have many causes and sight unseen we cannot tell you what is the matter. PLease do not overfeed on veg; veg, pellets and treats all together only fill the supplementary niche that wild forage used to have.
It is the daily over three quarters of hay/fresh grass that you need to ensure she gets because that is what the dental growth rate and the whole digestive system are laid out for. You cannot control the hay intake by eye.
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Weight - Monitoring and Management
Can you tell us please how the hair loss has started?
- middle of the back (typically mange mites),
- on the sides of the belly with crusty nipples (ovarian cysts),
- thinning hair in places and larger skin flakes (milder form of fungal as a complication to an underlying problem),
- irregular with noticeable weight loss (rare in guinea pigs but could be Cushings; we see a case every few years).
- I am sure that your vets have gone for vitamin C deficiency first although it is actually very rare in well kept guinea pigs and generally the result of too high long term dosages to which the body has accustomed.
- Is the shivering from cold or rather pain in the skin? Are there shallow bloody areas/scabs?
Hair loss can have many causes and sight unseen we cannot tell you what is the matter. PLease do not overfeed on veg; veg, pellets and treats all together only fill the supplementary niche that wild forage used to have.
It is the daily over three quarters of hay/fresh grass that you need to ensure she gets because that is what the dental growth rate and the whole digestive system are laid out for. You cannot control the hay intake by eye.
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Weight - Monitoring and Management
Can you tell us please how the hair loss has started?
- middle of the back (typically mange mites),
- on the sides of the belly with crusty nipples (ovarian cysts),
- thinning hair in places and larger skin flakes (milder form of fungal as a complication to an underlying problem),
- irregular with noticeable weight loss (rare in guinea pigs but could be Cushings; we see a case every few years).
- I am sure that your vets have gone for vitamin C deficiency first although it is actually very rare in well kept guinea pigs and generally the result of too high long term dosages to which the body has accustomed.
- Is the shivering from cold or rather pain in the skin? Are there shallow bloody areas/scabs?
229Sasha/
New Born Pup
She has good hay & pellets always. One vet said to feed her as much as wants to keep her weight up. She eats huge amount of greens & veggies, and hardly can maintain her weight. But with hair loss, started on belly, now all the way to neck with some balding starting from neck across the top of her head. Smooth skin, no itching .I think she may be cold at times, hopefully not in pain causing shivering. Blood was ordered but I cancelled because vet was requiring an eight hour fast because of iso induction. . Blood test was for moicher small mammal comprehensive + T4. Ihope to get test somewhere else now. She has a good vet. Sounds like I will try to cut down on greens, and syringe fed her with critical care. Is that right ? Even though she is still eating and very hungry. Will critical care feedings be nessasary?
Yes, please top up with critical care and just feed the normal amount of veg.
All the best for the test coming up with some results.
Has your vet checked for small ovarian cysts?
229Sasha/
New Born Pup
Yes no masses felt in palpation or showed up on ultrasound. Unless microscopic? Absolutely no lethargy, just the opposite. Probably thyroid or adrenals, I think. Thank you, I am cutting back now on greens. Hopefully she will eat more hay.
Wheekallweek
Adult Guinea Pig
Wow, I've got no advice but good luck! Hope you can find out what's going on and your piggy is on the mend soon 