Overweight Piggie - Diet Tips Needed!

[Amy-Louise]

Morning all!

I am new to this forum - but it has so far provided me with a lot of help with various questions, so I thought I would join up!

My piggie, Daisy, has been given antibiotics by the vet a few days ago, and whilst I was there the vet said she needed to lose some weight.

I have already been restricting her pellet food as advised by the vet, and she is now only getting her bowl for an hour, twice a day (as she was just scoffing it permanently before). I've also stopped all sugary treats as well.

However, I am struggling to find a list of veggies that I can give her on a daily basis that don't contain too much sugar, or anything that is going to assist in her putting on more weight.

Has anybody got any tips on which veggies are best for piggies on a diet? Or just advise in general on how to get her weight down? It would be really appreciated!



Amy x

 

[Wiebke]

Morning all!

I am new to this forum - but it has so far provided me with a lot of help with various questions, so I thought I would join up!

My piggie, Daisy, has been given antibiotics by the vet a few days ago, and whilst I was there the vet said she needed to lose some weight.

I have already been restricting her pellet food as advised by the vet, and she is now only getting her bowl for an hour, twice a day (as she was just scoffing it permanently before). I've also stopped all sugary treats as well.

However, I am struggling to find a list of veggies that I can give her on a daily basis that don't contain too much sugar, or anything that is going to assist in her putting on more weight.

Has anybody got any tips on which veggies are best for piggies on a diet? Or just advise in general on how to get her weight down? It would be really appreciated!



Amy x

Hi and welcome

Guinea pigs have a very fast metabolism, so by following our general diet tips, you should arrive at a good long term weight without a radical slimming diet, which never goes down well with guinea pigs. Up to 80% of the food intake should be hay, which is vital for long term gut and dental health, as well as longevity. Ca. 50g of mixed veg per piggy per day and half to a handful of pellets (10-20g) for an adult guinea pig round off their needs.

You can find a picture of a balanced sample diet (to be fed twice daily) in our diet thread; it is free of the energy dense root veg, sweet corn etc. that are also not recommended for any guinea pig with bladder problems and that can be fed daily in the shown form, as it contains a carefully thought out mix of all the important nutrients, vitamins and trace elements. Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet

This guide here are can also help you judge whether and how badly overweight your guinea pig is (see how check the "heft" i.e. the relation of individual size and weight). The weights in the medical literature are generally too low and they also don't take account just on the sheer variation in sizes of guinea pigs.
The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight

Another important aspect in guinea pig health is exercise during roaming time. Guinea pigs are ground roamers that live in groups and cover quite long distances in the their territory in search of fresh and dry grass etc. If your piggy is single, getting her a companion can also encourage her to become more active and not so fixated on food.
Companionship

You may find our new owners guide collection helpful and interesting on other aspects: New Owners' " How To" Starter Kit

 

[Amy-Louise]

Thank you for the response - the links to the threads were really helpful!