Older piggies weight

[Jessica Harris]

Hello I have an older piggies aged 5 who I have recently weighed and has gone down to 820g now I've been so busy with work I forgot to weigh them for a month and he was originally 900g now he's still eating drinking running around squeaking and poo and wees are normal colour shape amount and he doesn't have any lumps or bumps or any obvious health issues, now is this a common thing for older piggies to loose weight and condition and if so what foods can I feed to help keep this up I haven't dealt with older piggies before so any help would be brilliant thank you

 

[Piggies&buns]

They can lose condition but even in older piggies, any sudden weight loss or downward trend then you will want to step in and support feed to prevent further losses, switch to weighing daily and have a vet check carried out in case the cause is medical - best not to assume it’s age related.
The next steps could be dependent upon a vet findings.

 

[Jessica Harris]

They can lose condition but even in older piggies, any sudden weight loss or downward trend then you will want to step in and support feed to prevent further losses, switch to weighing daily and have a vet check carried out in case the cause is medical - best not to assume it’s age related.
The next steps could be dependent upon a vet findings.

Okay thank you I will definitely switch to daily weighing to keep an eye on him and will give him more food and I will definitely Consult a vet soon to check him over

 

[Jessica Harris]

With his older age would you recommend hay on the floor rather than a hay rack as I've just put a massive pile on the floor and he seems to be happily eating it but not touching the hay In the hay rack

 

[Piggies&buns]

Weight loss is due to reduced hay intake, so support feed via a syringe and ensure hay is always available. The daily weighing will be your way of knowing he is getting enough hay and/or enough syringe feed. Don’t be tempted to offer more veg or pellets to compensate (they are more like snacks and dessert so won’t help him maintain weight)
Weight loss can sometimes be an early warning sign of a medical problem so definitely have a vet check him out sooner rather later.

My preference is to always just give loose piles of hay as I find hay racks too restricting, plus mine certainly love just laying in the middle of a pile of hay!

Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Weight - Monitoring and Management

 

[Jessica Harris]

Weight loss is due to reduced hay intake, so support feed via a syringe and ensure hay is always available. The daily weighing will be your way of knowing he is getting enough hay and/or enough syringe feed. Don’t be tempted to offer more veg or pellets to compensate (they are more like snacks and dessert so won’t help him maintain weight)
Weight loss can sometimes be an early warning sign of a medical problem so definitely have a vet check him out sooner rather later.

My preference is to always just give loose piles of hay as I find hay racks too restricting, plus mine certainly love just laying in the middle of a pile of hay!

Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Weight - Monitoring and Management

Great thank you

I did realise for a day that he wasn't eating hay as often and not running to it when I put it in the hay rack so i have now put pile on the floor and he's straight In there eating it so that was obviously the problem but I'll definitely weigh him daily now and if it drops more tomorrow I'll phone a ver

 

[Jessica Harris]

Hay is now on the floor in a massive pile and I have two happy piggies

 

[Swissgreys]

Great thank you

I did realise for a day that he wasn't eating hay as often and not running to it when I put it in the hay rack so i have now put pile on the floor and he's straight In there eating it so that was obviously the problem but I'll definitely weigh him daily now and if it drops more tomorrow I'll phone a ver

I have found that as they get older they are sometimes less agile and reaching up into a hay rack might put them off.
I lower platforms and try to make everything as open and accessible as possible.
Hay piles on the floor sound perfect.

 

[alpacasqueak]

Yes I definitely agree, I still use hay piles now after losing my older piggies as they have such fun in them too! I’d make everything a bit easier with my older pair really, didn’t make them work for things as much as my younger pigs have to do now! Older pigs tend to sleep more too so I liked mine to be scoffing lots in between their naps!
I’d definitely recommend a checkover too as he’s lost the weight, it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on older piggies and picking up on any issues early.

 

[Wiebke]

With his older age would you recommend hay on the floor rather than a hay rack as I've just put a massive pile on the floor and he seems to be happily eating it but not touching the hay In the hay rack

Yes, please serve hay easily accessible AND also any water bottle spouts on a level that do not require an older piggy to lift their head or rise on their back legs. Older piggies with arthritis often struggle to lift their heads.
Looking after guinea pigs with limited or no mobility

To be honest, soft hay should always be provided in a way that piggies can burrow and sleep in as a vital part of their enrichment; if you wish to, in addition to a rack for any stalkier hay to minimise the risk of eye pokes. Hay is making around 80% of the daily food intake, providing it in different ways and providing different hays goes a very long way.
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

Please have your piggy vet checked; potential arthritis requires a painkiller.

 

[Jessica Harris]

I have found that as they get older they are sometimes less agile and reaching up into a hay rack might put them off.
I lower platforms and try to make everything as open and accessible as possible.
Hay piles on the floor sound perfect.

Okay great thanks I realised both of them stopped using the hay rack so much and was curious why but obviously due to there age so they now have a massive pile on the floor so it's easier but as soon as I took the hay racks away the looked for them and started squeaking

 

[Jessica Harris]

Yes I definitely agree, I still use hay piles now after losing my older piggies as they have such fun in them too! I’d make everything a bit easier with my older pair really, didn’t make them work for things as much as my younger pigs have to do now! Older pigs tend to sleep more too so I liked mine to be scoffing lots in between their naps!
I’d definitely recommend a checkover too as he’s lost the weight, it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on older piggies and picking up on any issues early.

Great thank you

Yeah I haven't delsth with older piggies in a while so I forgot how much you have to change everything and how different they are to younger ones but this is all very helpful and will help me cater for my older piggies

 

[Jessica Harris]

Yes, please serve hay easily accessible AND also any water bottle spouts on a level that do not require an older piggy to lift their head or rise on their back legs. Older piggies with arthritis often struggle to lift their heads.
Looking after guinea pigs with limited or no mobility

To be honest, soft hay should always be provided in a way that piggies can burrow and sleep in as a vital part of their enrichment; if you wish to, in addition to a rack for any stalkier hay to minimise the risk of eye pokes. Hay is making around 80% of the daily food intake, providing it in different ways and providing different hays goes a very long way.
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

Please have your piggy vet checked; potential arthritis requires a painkiller.

Thank you I have made the hay more accessible as well as food and water bottles so he doesnt struggle but he still happily jumos out of his cage to run around my room

I never thought about arthritis is that a possibility that he has it

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you I have made the hay more accessible as well as food and water bottles so he doesnt struggle but he still happily jumos out of his cage to run around my room

I never thought about arthritis is that a possibility that he has it

Older piggies should always be checked for it, especially if he struggles to access hay racks and water bottles.

 

[Jessica Harris]

Older piggies should always be checked for it, especially if he struggles to access hay racks and water bottles.

Ah okay thank you see I find that strange if he has arthritis because he can happily jump out the cage without a care in the world and can jump in without help

 

[Jessica Harris]

UPDATE

I've must weighed him and he is still at the exact same weight as yesterday and I weighed him the same time as yesterday

 

[Piggies&buns]

UPDATE

I've must weighed him and he is still at the exact same weight as yesterday and I weighed him the same time as yesterday

its good news that he has maintained his weight. Maintaining is better than losing. Keep weighing him daily so you can more closely monitor things until you are sure he is no longer losing

 

[Jessica Harris]

its good news that he has maintained his weight. Maintaining is better than losing. Keep weighing him daily so you can more closely monitor things until you are sure he is no longer losing

Okay thank you I will Continue with daily weighing the same time everyday fingers crossed he doesnt lose anymore