Overweight Piggies

[Ma7ie]

We took our new rescue piggies to the vet today (both 1 year old boars) for a check up and nail trim. We have had them just over a week and they are very big. The vet has told us that they are both overweight (nearly 1300g each). Obviously for health reasons, I want to help them to be a normal weight so I am looking for advice on how I can manage their weight please. Thank you.

 

[piggyfan]

Hello there. How much pellets are you feeding? Piggies over six months do not need many as pellets should only be 5% of their diet. You may find slowly reducing them will help.

 

[Ma7ie]

Hi, they have two bowls and I put a small handful of pellets (science selective), and another small handful of nature's touch ( which is more like bits of hay, nettle leaves, flowers etc) in each bowl morning and night. They don't seem to eat much of the pellets though. Do you think I should give less? Obviously we haven't had them long and they came to us like this but I want to do what is best for them. Thanks

 

[piggyfan]

It sounds like you are not giving much pellets so maybe the previous owners fed more? As you are not giving too many pellets they may lose a bit of weight. You know, many boars weigh 1300 and have big frames so that could be their normal weight. I have one girl who is 741g and one who is 1200g. They are all different.

 

[Veggies Galore]

If your guinea pigs eat veg with Vit C , I wouldn't worry if they don't eat many pellets.

I will follow this thread . My guinea pigs are slightly overweight . The advice I have had from this forum (& my vet ) is ...

avoid the "treats" sold in pet shops - they contain sugar - and guinea pigs don't need these treats.
avoid feeding fruit
avoid carrots , beetroot, baby corn

the best treat to give guinea pigs is hay


Now , all I have to do is practice what I preach

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome!

You may find these threads here helpful:
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...ng-ideal-weight-overweight-underweight.38805/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...or-a-balanced-general-guinea-pig-diet.116460/

Please be aware that you cannot just reduce the food intake; that is going to force the body to hang onto any fat reserves. Your piggies should lose any gross overweight by being put on a normal diet and having daily run time. They are at the upper edge of the average adult weight (900-1300g), but they are by no means grossly overweight and if they are younger to middle aged adults, not likely to lose a lot as that is their physical prime time. My own piggies' adult weights differ between 700g and 1400g with the majority between 1000-1200g and three of my four boys at the high end or above.

 

[piggyfan]

Actually, reducing pellets gradually is a way to help guinea pigs lose weight as I have done this with my own guinea pigs.

 

[Veggies Galore]

I'd be interested to know how you get on .

As Wiebke has already said , it doesn't appear that your guinea pigs are grossly overweight and a combination of a sensible diet and exercise is the best thing to do.

I think you are in a similar position to me - my vet told me that my guinea pigs are overweight.

The "core" of my guinea pips' fresh veg diet nowadays is the daily veg listed in the post ...

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...or-a-balanced-general-guinea-pig-diet.116460/
Veg and fresh herbs that can be fed daily:
1 slice of bell or sweet pepper/capsicum of any colour; 1 slice of cucumber; 1-2 chunks of celery; 1 French bean; 1 sprig of coriander/cilantro; 1 one inch strip of spring greens

 

[Veggies Galore]

I'd be interested to know how you get on .

As Wiebke has already said , it doesn't appear that your guinea pigs are grossly overweight and a combination of a sensible diet and exercise is the best thing to do.

I think you are in a similar position to me - my vet told me that my guinea pigs are overweight.

The "core" of my guinea pips' fresh veg diet nowadays is the daily veg listed in the post ...

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...or-a-balanced-general-guinea-pig-diet.116460/
Veg and fresh herbs that can be fed daily:
1 slice of bell or sweet pepper/capsicum of any colour; 1 slice of cucumber; 1-2 chunks of celery; 1 French bean; 1 sprig of coriander/cilantro; 1 one inch strip of spring greens

and unlimited hay

 

[Ma7ie]

Thanks everyone, I will monitor them carefully. I have bought an indoor run for them so they can have an hours floor time a day, so hopefully that will help them too.