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Lost weight :(

G

Guineapoops2022

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hello I have a female piggy around 6 months she has always been the lightest of my 4 girls but having just weighed her she has lost 14g in a week :( I can feel it while holding her and in the last couple of months I did notice she started to headbutt a lot bite more and scream if her lower back is stroked I’m really worried.

My other female also around 6 months has gained 3g in a week?!
 
I just presumed she didn’t like her lower back touched and maybe she was not enjoying being handled and stroked much anymore but this combined with the weight lose I’m just really worried now I’m going to phone the vet in the morning but confused about second piggy and only putting on 3g nothing has changed feeding wise either
 
Dont worry. 14g isn’t considered weight loss at all. Anything up to 50g is considered a normal fluctuation - a full/empty tummy/bladder.
The times you need to be concerned about weight loss is if there is a 100g in 24 hours, more than 50g or a continual downward trend over several weeks.

A 3g weight gain in a week would be considered more of a maintain than a gain. Again, nothing to be concerned about
 
Awww thank you! I feel better I really hope there will be no more loss I will keep a close eye thank you!
 
Their period of fast growth will be coming to an end so seeing smaller gains or maintains on some weeks is perfectly normal.

With her not liking to be touched. You should check out any medical angle first - sometimes irritation when being touched can be a sign of parasites, but it can also be that she simply doesnt like being touched there - I know neither of mine like their lower back being touched

This guide may help with information on weight
Weight - Monitoring and Management

Guineapoops2022 said:
Awww thank you! I feel better I really hope there will be no more loss I will keep a close eye thank you!
Click to expand...

You absolutely will see ups and downs going forward, i can promise you that, but its only concerning if it is 50g that you go on alert, or 100g then step in with syringe feeding and rush to a vet as an emergency. As I say, 14g isn’t considered weight loss.
 
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