Quick oats?

[Lovelypigys]

my male Guinea pig chandler had lost a significant amount of weight from an inner ear infection, we got him up a bit but he’s dropped it all again. I had read that oats can cause weight gain but also saw that it may cause urinary issues. Would it be safe to give him oats, I have to go away throughout the summer and my mom will be taking care of him so I want to get his weight up a bit more before I leave.
I have attached a photo of the oats that I was thinking of giving him, are they okay?

 

[Claire W]

Yes they’re fine to feed. I’ve never heard of oats causing urinary issues. @furryfriends (TEAS) runs a sanctuary for guinea pigs with dental problems / special needs and feeds oats to the piggies and has never had a piggy with urinary issues. However, if your boy is still dropping weight, I would be inclined to have him seen by your vet again before your mum is looking after him x

 

[Lovelypigys]

Yes they’re fine to feed. I’ve never heard of oats causing urinary issues. @furryfriends (TEAS) runs a sanctuary for guinea pigs with dental problems / special needs and feeds oats to the piggies and has never had a piggy with urinary issues. However, if your boy is still dropping weight, I would be inclined to have him seen by your vet again before your mum is looking after him x

Thank you, I will start giving him some oats along with his critical care. He dropped some weight since nowhere around us was selling the cc for quite a while. His weight hasn’t dropped below 1.7 so I think he’s fine for now but if he loses anymore I will definitely have him seen.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

Oats won’t cause urinary issues! I feed them regularly. I feed nuggets as a treat, as they’re high in calcium and more likely to cause urinary issues.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thank you, I will start giving him some oats along with his critical care. He dropped some weight since nowhere around us was selling the cc for quite a while. His weight hasn’t dropped below 1.7 so I think he’s fine for now but if he loses anymore I will definitely have him seen.

If you don’t have critical care then you should mix his normal pellets with warm water and use that to syringe feed instead

 

[Merab]

If I’m trying to build up weight I give raw oats mixed with some grated carrot or sweet potato.
Mine also love a bit of banana mashed into their critical care.

Hope Chandler picks up soon.
Holding you in my thoughts

 

[Lovelypigys]

I think I may separate him from the girls and put him back into a Midwest cage for the time being as I had seen the most weight gain doing that.
He would have 24/7 to Alfa alpha hay and Timothy hay along both pellets in the morning. I would also be able to put his critical care in the cage and let him graze over it that way he can eat as much as he needs.
I’m just worried about him not being able to interact with the girls as his cage would be on the floor

 

[Piggies&buns]

I think I may separate him from the girls and put him back into a Midwest cage for the time being as I had seen the most weight gain doing that.
He would have 24/7 to Alfa alpha hay and Timothy hay along both pellets in the morning. I would also be able to put his critical care in the cage and let him graze over it that way he can eat as much as he needs.
I’m just worried about him not being able to interact with the girls as his cage would be on the floor

Is he completely over the ear infection?
If so, then it can take quite a while after an illness for them to regain lost weight. That will happen with time and on a good timothy hay based diet.
Why are you giving him alfalfa? It isn’t a grass hay and is too high in calcium for adult piggies. He needs timothy hay only. The oats are fine to give as a boost.

I would not recommend separating him - that can cause stress particularly if he then loses all interaction. He should be able to eat as much hay as he needs anyway while being in the cage with his girls.

If he is continuing to lose weight then he needs to see the vet again.