Mystery Weight Loss and excessive drinking

[Gingerscruff]

Hi Forum,
My little albino Swiss guineapig has a problem which manifests itself in significant weight loss and excessive drinking. His age is a mystery as almost three years ago I managed to rescue him from a truly miserable existence with an unscrupulous breeder. He now lives very happily with my five year old Long Haired Peruvian who he absolutely adores. However, while he is enjoying his little life, his weight has dropped down to 1lb 7oz which I recognize is dangerously low. He receives, along with his vegetables, a syringe feed of approx 15 - 20mls of Galens Nutrimix but seems unable to put on any weight. Not that I'm aware that it's a possibility with guineapigs, but I'm beginning to wonder whether he may be diabetic ? Any suggestions as to how to proceed would be greatly appreciated as his life really turned around after that wretched breeder.

 

[Piggies&buns]

You say he can’t put on any weight but is he still losing weight at your daily weight checks?
I'm not familiar with galens nutrimix - is it a fibre rich recovery feed such as oxbow critical care or Emeraid? If not, then do switch to a recovery feed as that is what is needed.

Has he been seen by a vet?

 

[Free Ranger]

@Piggies&buns maybe it's this stuff? Herb Powders - Galens Garden

I think a vet visit is in order to rule out any mystery pain that we can't spot (lumps, bumps, kidneys, bladder etc) and also to check his teeth - are his front 4 teeth even and straight or is there any sloping that might indicate back teeth problems? I'm assuming they both get plenty of hay - do you know how much weight he's lost and when it started to drop? And how are his poops?!

I'm a big fan of the Critical Care fine grind which is papaya flavoured and in a brown packet (normal CC is aniseed flavoured and in a green packet) but we also use Recovery food which is just bought from a vet - any vet stocks this type of food - you have to 'register' to buy it over the counter so they can make a billing account but you don't have to start going there or anything. The CCfg we have to order in and it's not cheap but has been really popular. Emeraid we've never used but I've heard good things about it. Your piggy should be gobbling this type of food down on his own - if he's not and you are having to syringe feed there's something wrong.

They can get diabetes but I don't think it's common. And some naturally drink more than others so if he is the big drinker it might just be relative to the other one! Have a look at the linked diet page which includes some info on diabetes... again you'd still need a vet to tell you that for sure Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

 

[Piggies&buns]

You only mention vegetables and this nutrimix. Is he eating hay? Hay is 80% of the daily food intake and it’s essential for gut and dental health so they must have lots of it. A piggy who is losing weight is likely not enough eating hay (Even if they are eating some) You then feed as much recovery feed as is necessary to keep the weight stable - that can be aa much as 90ml of syringe feed per 24 hour period, depending on how much hay piggy is eating independently.
Your daily weight checks are the way to know a piggy is getting enough food in each 24 hour period.
Of course, a vet check is the only way to find out the underlying medical cause for the weight loss

Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Weight - Monitoring and Management

 

[weepweeps]

I hope the vet can get to the bottom of your piggy’s issues and they are easily fixed and he’s soon on the mend.