Piggie off food

[Clare280]

Hi, just looking to see if anyone has experienced anything similar. My 5/6 year old piggie began going off his food, so I took him to the vet. After a thorough examination he couldn't find anything wrong teeth all good. As a precaution he put him on antibiotics, emeprid and metacam. But he's still not really eating as normal. He just sort of nibbles at veg but nothing like his normal intake. He's lost a little weight maybe 20g over 5/6 days. We're are going back again. But I'm not really sure what else he can do. Any advice grateful received.

 

[piggieminder]

Bump.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear this.

20g is still within the normal fluctuation range (50g is the point at which it is considered weight loss) so all you can do at this point is home care -

- daily weight checks each morning
- step in with syringe feeding if weight loss continues
- continue meds

And see is further symptoms come to light or if the vet finds anything

I hope he is ok

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/weight-monitoring-and-management.171577/

Thread 'Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support'

Jun 20, 2024

1 Weight and Weight Loss
- Why regular weight monitoring matters
- How weight changes over a lifetime
- How to weigh on your kitchen scales (with video)
- The weight loss rules
- How critical is the weight loss for my piggy?
- Possible causes for weight loss
2 Body Mass Index (BMI) or 'Heft'
- Why is understanding your piggy's weight so important?
- 'Average' weight vs. individual weight - the big trip up
- How to check for the BMI...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 5
• Forum: Health & Illness Support Corner

• 

 

[Clare280]

I’m sorry to hear this.

20g is still within the normal fluctuation range (50g is the point at which it is considered weight loss) so all you can do at this point is home care -

- daily weight checks each morning
- step in with syringe feeding if weight loss continues
- continue meds

And see is further symptoms come to light or if the vet finds anything

I hope he is ok

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/weight-monitoring-and-management.171577/

Thread 'Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support'

Jun 20, 2024

1 Weight and Weight Loss
- Why regular weight monitoring matters
- How weight changes over a lifetime
- How to weigh on your kitchen scales (with video)
- The weight loss rules
- How critical is the weight loss for my piggy?
- Possible causes for weight loss
2 Body Mass Index (BMI) or 'Heft'
- Why is understanding your piggy's weight so important?
- 'Average' weight vs. individual weight - the big trip up
- How to check for the BMI...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 5
• Forum: Health & Illness Support Corner

• 

Thank you. It is so odd I've brought him inside and when I let him out for floor time he zooms around. But he won't touch his nuggets and just nibbles a tiny bit of veg. He is so feisty and is very difficult to give syringe feeds, we just about manage his meds as he throws his head about. Back to the vet tomorrow.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thank you. It is so odd I've brought him inside and when I let him out for floor time he zooms around. But he won't touch his nuggets and just nibbles a tiny bit of veg. He is so feisty and is very difficult to give syringe feeds, we just about manage his meds as he throws his head about. Back to the vet tomorrow.

Is he an outdoor piggy then?
Outdoor piggies should not be exposed to large temperature fluctuations at this time of year.
Now he has come indoors you would do best to move him inside for the rest of winter, particularly if he is a single piggy?
If you absolutely cannot have him live indoors, then it’s best that don’t bring him in for floor time so as to not exposed him to those large temp fluctuations from out to in and then back out again

 

[Clare280]

Is he an outdoor piggy then?
Outdoor piggies should not be exposed to large temperature fluctuations at this time of year.
Now he has come indoors you would do best to move him inside for the rest of winter, particularly if he is a single piggy?
If you absolutely cannot have him live indoors, then it’s best that don’t bring him in for floor time so as to not exposed him to those large temp fluctuations from out to in and then back out again

He was an outdoor piggie, but we've moved him inside for the rest of the winter. We've got another appointment for this afternoon. Fingers crossed we can get to the bottom of whatever is going on! Thank you for all your advice.

 

[Piggies&buns]

That’s good! It’s good you can rule out him being chilly as a potential cause.
Let us know how you get on with the vet.
I hope he is ok

 

[Clare280]

He is going in tomorrow to have a GA to have a thorough look in his mouth. As there doesn't seem to be anything else obvious! To everyone else he looks really healthy but he just isn't really eating.