Pigs off veggies

[Animallover2245]

Hello


my pigs aren’t interested in their veg recently. Rusty won’t eat any of his veg. Pete will nibble some especially eat celery and a piece of banana but very slowly not his usual fast way. but not touch anything else. They would always eat any veg they got given before this started.

This has only been happening for a couple days since the days have gotten a little colder. I tried to check there teeth. Pete usually lets me however he didn’t want me to check them at all recently and Rusty wasn’t in the mood to be picked up at all. They both seem to be eating less hay as well but haven’t stopped eating hay completely. There still drinking as well.

Does slightly colder whether affect their appetite or is this a sign something is wrong again?

There both around 1yr and 3 months now.

 

[Piggies&buns]

The weight checks are the only way to know they are eating enough hay. Have you been weighing them weekly? Switch to daily weight checks if they are losing weight which is due to not eating enough hay, step in with syringe feeding and see a vet.
Mine have never eaten less because of colder weather, if anything they’ve eaten more.
It’s not possible for an owner to properly check their teeth, only a vet with specialist equipment (and for most vets, with piggy sedated) can do so properly.

 

[Animallover2245]

The weight checks are the only way to know they are eating enough hay. Have you been weighing them weekly? Switch to daily weight checks if they are losing weight which is due to not eating enough hay, step in with syringe feeding and see a vet.
Mine have never eaten less because of colder weather, if anything they’ve eaten more.
It’s not possible for an owner to properly check their teeth, only a vet with specialist equipment (and for most vets, with piggy sedated) can do so properly.

I did weigh them recently unfortunately I wrote all there weights down on my Mobile notes but when I got a new phone unfortunately I lost those notes.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello


my pigs aren’t interested in their veg recently. Rusty won’t eat any of his veg. Pete will nibble some especially eat celery and a piece of banana but very slowly not his usual fast way. but not touch anything else. They would always eat any veg they got given before this started.

This has only been happening for a couple days since the days have gotten a little colder. I tried to check there teeth. Pete usually lets me however he didn’t want me to check them at all recently and Rusty wasn’t in the mood to be picked up at all. They both seem to be eating less hay as well but haven’t stopped eating hay completely. There still drinking as well.

Does slightly colder whether affect their appetite or is this a sign something is wrong again?

There both around 1yr and 3 months now.

Hi

Are your piggies outdoors or indoors piggies? It is now the time when you need to bring piggies back inside or start insulating hutches.
Here are helpful tips for outdoors piggies or bringing ill outdoors piggies inside:
Cold Weather Care For Guinea Pigs
Temporary Housing Solutions?

I would recommend to have your piggies vet checked, including the mouth and the crucial grinding back teeth.

Please switch from the normal life-long weekly weigh-in to weighing daily at the same time. Keep in mind that over three quarters of what they eat in a day should be hay and fresh grass, which you cannot control by eye. Veg and pellets only replace the supplementary role of wild forage in a diet. It is highly likely that they are eating less hay too. Step in with feeding support promptly.

These guide links below contain all the practical how-to information tips about what to look out for in terms of weight loss, how to adjust your level of feeding care and what to do in emergencies (including improvising feeding care). You will find them very helpful:
Weight - Monitoring and Management
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pigs Safely (videos)

All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

All the best.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I did weigh them recently unfortunately I wrote all there weights down on my Mobile notes but when I got a new phone unfortunately I lost those notes.

Weighing needs to be done weekly so doesn’t really matter if you’ve lost previous records (although it is annoying to not have them) you can just start a new one by continuing to weigh regularly (And in your case now, weighing daily given you have concerns about their hay intake).

As Wiebke has said it is now starting to get chilly for outdoor piggies. Did you get a new hutch for them? I recall the one you had wasn’t suitable given the only space was outside and on the ground (the enclosed warm area didnt meet welfare size requirements) so they may well be feeling the chill if you haven’t bought a new hutch or been able to completely modify the hutch to be suitable.

 

[Animallover2245]

Hi
Are your piggies outdoors or indoors piggies? It is now the time when you need to bring piggies back inside or start insulating hutches.
Here are helpful tips for outdoors piggies or bring ill outdoors piggies inside:
Cold Weather Care For Guinea Pigs
Temporary Housing Solutions?

I would recommend to have your piggies vet checked, including the mouth and the crucial grinding back teeth.
Please switch from the normal life-long weekly weigh-in to weighing daily at the same time. Keep in mind that over three quarters of what they eat in a day should be hay and fresh grass, which you cannot control by eye. Veg and pellets only replace the supplementary role of wild forage in a diet. It is highly likely that they are eating less hay too. Step in with feeding support promptly.

These guide links contain all the practical how-to information tips about what to look out for in terms of weight loss and how to adjust your level of feeding care and what to do in emergencies (including improvising feeding care). You will find them very helpful:
Weight - Monitoring and Management
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pigs Safely (videos)

All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

All the best.

They live outdoors in a hutch, i can't bring them indoors due to landlord. I'm go

Weighing needs to be done weekly so doesn’t really matter if you’ve lost previous records (although it is annoying to not have them) you can just start a new one by continuing to weigh regularly (And in your case now, weighing daily given you have concerns about their hay intake).

As Wiebke has said it is now starting to get chilly for outdoor piggies. Did you get a new hutch for them? I recall the one you had wasn’t suitable given the only space was outside and on the ground (the enclosed warm area didnt meet welfare size requirements) so they may well be feeling the chill if you haven’t bought a new hutch or been able to completely modify the hutch to be suitable.

I was going to and I know it’s not big enough with the indoor area but then my parents (my parents help with money as since the pandemic I lost my job and haven’t got a new job yet) don’t see the point of upgrading there hutch as I’ll be moving house in a couple months and don’t see the point for this reason.

 

[Piggies&buns]

They live outdoors in a hutch, i can't bring them indoors due to landlord. I'm go

I was going to and I know it’s not big enough with the indoor area but then my parents (my parents help with money as since the pandemic I lost my job and haven’t got a new job yet) don’t see the point of upgrading there hutch as I’ll be moving house in a couple months and don’t see the point for this reason.

I'm sorry to hear you lost your job.
Are you planning on moving them indoors when you move then?
The issue is though that the hutch isn’t suitable for right now and given we are coming into winter, it is even more important. You will need to do all you can to insulate and make improvements where possible given they cannot be locked into the enclosed area so are going to be running around on the cold ground all winter

 

[Animallover2245]

I'm sorry to hear you lost your job.
Are you planning on moving them indoors when you move then?
The issue is though that the hutch isn’t suitable for right now and given we are coming into winter, it is even more important. You will need to do all you can to insulate and make improvements where possible given they cannot be locked into the enclosed area so are going to be running around on the cold ground all winter

Thanks, yes as my parents are the ones buying me a new house luckily as things with my housemates aren’t great and they say I can keep them indoors if I want when I move. With the hutch the grass never grew back after summer, it’s just hard ground. so I covered the hard ground with thick fleece blankets Already I keep there carrier in the hutch filled with hay as another hide and they’ve got two heat pads. I’ve also started using there hutch covers too. I had them during winter last year too and they were fine and happy. I would add a heater but I don’t know how to do that without them going for the wire

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thanks, yes as my parents are the ones buying me a new house luckily as things with my housemates aren’t great and they say I can keep them indoors if I want when I move. With the hutch the grass never grew back after summer, it’s just hard ground. so I covered the hard ground with thick fleece blankets Already I keep there carrier in the hutch filled with hay as another hide and they’ve got two heat pads. I’ve also started using there hutch covers too. I had them during winter last year too and they were fine and happy. I would add a heater but I don’t know how to do that without them going for the wire

I wouldn’t use fleece at all. It isn’t recommended for outdoor use. Plus if it is directly on the ground it’ll draw damp upwards. I would put a tarpaulin on the ground as a barrier, then a layer of something absorbent and then fill the whole space with lots of hay. I would not think two heatpads are enough given your set up. I would personally wsnt to see them not only in their hides but also just in the spaces throughout the enclosure given it is so open.
I personally use four heatpads for my two piggies in a 6 foot insulated hutch in an insulated shed (and it’s considerably warmer in the shed than outside).
I would just be very concerned about things. They may have seemed fine and happy but piggies need a lot of protecting and even more so given their set up isn’t ideal - the damp would be my biggest concern in your set up, and when mixed with cold it can really cause them problems. While a medical issue needs to always be ruled out first, i would be looking at possible environmental factors while waiting for the appointment and being cold would be my first consideration.

Either way, start daily weight checks today and have them seen by a vet for the current issue.

 

[Animallover2245]

I wouldn’t use fleece at all. It isn’t recommended for outdoor use in winter.
Plus if it is directly on the ground it’ll draw damp upwards. I would put a tarpaulin on the ground, something absorbent and then fill it with hay. I would not think two heatpads are enough given your set up. I personally use four heatpads for my two piggies in a 6 foot insulated hutch in an insulated shed.
I would just be very concerned about things. They may have seemed fine and happy but piggies need a lot of protecting and even more so given their set up isn’t ideal. While a medical issue needs to always be ruled out first, i would be looking at environmental factors also and being cold would be my first consideration.

Either way, start daily weight checks today and have them seen by a vet for the current issue.

What’s tarpaulian?

 

[Piggies&buns]

What’s tarpaulian?

A large thick, plastic sheeting used to cover things to keep them dry and protected from wind. You will want one on the ground, plus it’s also the sort of thing owners use to also cover hutches in the absence of custom fitting hutch covers. You need to make sure the entire hutch over the top. Search on amazon - they have lots available.
You say you’re pulling covers over their hutch - what are you currently using?

 

[Animallover2245]

A large thick, plastic sheeting used to cover things to keep them dry and protected from wind. You will want one on the ground, plus it’s also the sort of thing owners use to also cover hutches in the absence of custom fitting hutch covers. You need to make sure the entire hutch over the top. Search on amazon - they have lots available.
You say you’re pulling covers over their hutch - what are you currently using?

I use 2 average size hutch covers as there wasn't one that's big enough.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I use 2 average size hutch covers as there wasn't one that's big enough.

and do they cover the entire hutch fully?
Are the two properly joined so draughts and water can’t seep through?
I recall your hutch set up and can’t picture how two average hutch covers would work.
Are they proper thermal covers also or just waterproof ones? (with that said I’m not sure they would offer a huge amount of thermal protection anyway given normal hutch covers arent designed to be used with your type of hutch)

 

[Animallover2245]

and do they cover the entire hutch fully?
Are the two properly joined so draughts and water can’t seep through?
I recall your hutch set up and can’t picture how two average hutch covers would work.
Are they proper thermal covers also or just waterproof ones? (with that said I’m not sure they would offer a huge amount of thermal protection anyway given normal hutch covers arent designed to be used with your type of hutch)

i can't remember if there thermal or not.


Anyway i just weighed the pigs and Pete is around 1479g and Rusty is around 1237g. Even though i lost the weight notes i remember Pete being around 1200g when he was 9 months and Rusty was around 940g when he was also 9 months.

I also noticed A few thick white lines behind Rusty's ear just above the bald spot areas. His main colour is one solid colour with a white spot. Don't know if that means anything or if it's just dry cleaning fluid from when he grooms himself.

 

[Piggies&buns]

i can't remember if there thermal or not.


Anyway i just weighed the pigs and Pete is around 1479g and Rusty is around 1237g. Even though i lost the weight notes i remember Pete being around 1200g when he was 9 months and Rusty was around 940g when he was also 9 months.

I also noticed A few thick white lines behind Rusty's ear just above the bald spot areas. His main colour is one solid colour with a white spot. Don't know if that means anything or if it's just dry cleaning fluid from when he grooms himself.

You will know if they are thermal because they will be thick and contain a bubble wrap type material inside the waterproof material. Non-thermal covers are much thinner (usually they are made from just a single layer of waterproof material) and very flimsy.

In order to protect them this winter in their current enclosure, I would take the following measures

Put a tarpaulin on the ground to act as a damp barrier, I would also put a layer of silver radiator insulation down as that will also help radiate any heat from heatpads back in. Then put absorbent layer down (shavings, megazorb, newspaper etc) and fill the enclosure with hay and use multiple heatpads. Use multiple cardboard boxes and wooden hides inside the enclosure and stuff them also with plenty of hay. Any wet areas of absorbent layer and hay will need to be removed and replaced every day.
Wrap the enclosure in silver foil radiator insulation. attach it securely and use the matching insulation tape to tape any joins in the foil. You will need to make it in sections (so leave some untaped) so part of it can be removed during the day for ventilation and light.
Put the hutch covers you have on, but also throw a proper tarpaulin over the whole thing (a very large, thick tarp will be needed). To attach a tarp securely you can use tent pegs to attach it to the ground with the eyelets which are on tarpaulins.
Its going to make it dark in there so you will need to remove a lot of the insulation during the day but you still need to leave tarps and covers on during the day. Using a clear tarpaulin may also help.

(Their weights from 6 months ago aren’t relevant as they don’t tell you anything about what they have eaten in the last week.) Now you have their weights from today, you need to weigh them tomorrow to know whether they have eaten enough hay today.

We can’t comment from a written description what the white lines might be.

 

[Animallover2245]

@Piggies&buns- That just seems very obssevive especially when I have to move out in 2 months (I got evicted for a silly reason by own landlord) and will then be keeping them indoors when I get my own place. Wouldn’t it be easier for me just to convert the shed. If my housemates/landlord let me till I move out. Or add some heating system to the hutch so it’s the right temperature.

 

[Piggies&buns]

@Piggies&buns- That just seems very obssevive especially when I have to move out in 2 months (I got evicted for a silly reason by own landlord) and will then be keeping them indoors when I get my own place. Wouldn’t it be easier for me just to convert the shed. If my housemates/landlord let me till I move out. Or add some heating system to the hutch so it’s the right temperature.

I’m not sure whether you mean obsessive or excessive - but keeping piggies outdoors in winter takes a lot of work and a proper hutch so it may seem excessive but given your set up isn’t appropriate the work needed would be even greater. A normal hutch would just need to have proper and corresponding thermal and waterproof hutch covers which could just be pulled over so wouldn’t need all the extra modifications and measures yours would need

We can only provide housing advice on the information you provided. You hadnt mentioned a shed before now. If you have a shed, then yes convert it, insulate it, (heat it if possible) and move them in there.
There would not be a safe way to have a heating system in the hutch, moreso given your hutch is not one which could be easily heated given the majority of it is exposed wire and the enclosed parts are too small for them to be shut into.