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Possible Fatty Eye on an Overweight Sow?

Tinka

Tinka

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My new girl Snorkmaiden has swollen skin just below her bottom eyelid. I’ve only had her for a few days and she came from an unknown background, so I can’t be sure of her age or if she’s had any past issues, but she is definitely at least two years old and overweight. (She’s 1001g!) I’ve seen pictures of fatty or pea eye and this looks identical. I’m just wondering if this warrants a trip to the vet? 03F99786-3ABD-4332-A974-63D1FDDCB18E.webp
 
If it were me I’d take her for a check. But others may think otherwise.

As for her size, who said she is overweight? 1001g isn’t overweight. My girls turn 3 in a couple of months and weigh over 1100g. There are piggies on the forum who weigh more than 1.3kg. How does her heft feel?
 
Hi and welcome

It is difficult to say for us whether this is fatty eye or whether it could be a conjunctivitis just from a picture. If in any doubt, please see a vet for a hands-on examination.
In my own experience, there is no weight link to fatty eye. One of my sows who had it quite pronounced was naturally on the skinny side and still lived to celebrate her 7th birthday. My Begw also has an early one (they are more common in older piggies); she is my smallest that is pushing 800g from the wrong side.
Guinea Lynx :: Eyes

Please be aware that the normal size and weight distribution in guinea pigs is MUCH wider than any literature suggest - and more than 50% of all healthy piggies fall outside of narrow artificial line without there being the least wrong with them.
I have piggies who are very sturdy looking at a life time high of 800g and a boar who was on the skinny side at 1400g.
You feel around the ribcage whether your piggy is a good weight for her size or not (over- or underweight). This gives you the actual ball park your piggy is playing in or should be playing in. This method has the advantage that it works for all ages and genders because the normal body weight also changes over the course of a life time. The full information on what to look out for the cavy BMI (or the 'heft') is in chapter 3 about weight and heft of our comprehensive weight guide, which looks in detail at all aspects conntect with weight and weighing:
Weight - Monitoring and Management
 
Siikibam said:
If it were me I’d take her for a check. But others may think otherwise.

As for her size, who said she is overweight? 1001g isn’t overweight. My girls turn 3 in a couple of months and weigh over 1100g. There are piggies on the forum who weigh more than 1.3kg. How does her heft feel?
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I’m relieved to hear she might not be overweight, since I found sources telling me a female shouldn’t be over 900g! I felt her to make sure I could detect some bones and she doesn’t seem too round. Her paws and nose also just seem naturally larger than other sows so now I’m thinking this is just how she’s built. As for her eye, I’m scheduled next week to get her looked at. It doesn’t seem to bother her so I don’t think I’ll need an emergency visit.
 
Tinka said:
I’m relieved to hear she might not be overweight, since I found sources telling me a female shouldn’t be over 900g! I felt her to make sure I could detect some bones and she doesn’t seem too round. Her paws and nose also just seem naturally larger than other sows so now I’m thinking this is just how she’s built. As for her eye, I’m scheduled next week to get her looked at. It doesn’t seem to bother her so I don’t think I’ll need an emergency visit.
Click to expand...

Weight is definitely a lot more complex than that. I think 900g isn't a lot and I have only had one sow how sat comfortably under that her entire life. All my others have been over than with most being over 1kg. This guide on weight management gives a bit more clarification on checking for under/over weight Weight - Monitoring and Management

I think if she is otherwise well in herself - eating, drinking, pooping normally. If she is not losing weight and the eye doesn't seem to be irritating her, going red or getting bigger then it can wait until your booked appointment. If there is any change in the meantime I would call and ask them to bring it forward
 
I have a sow called Ginger who is just under 1300 gms at the moment and on of the sows on this forum is 1600 gms so don’t feel she is overweight, they come in all shapes and sizes just like humans
 
My 2 sows are both around the 1200g mark and one of them still looks and feels petite.
In her heyday Jemimah’s weight was around 1300g
 
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