Rapid weight loss

[sherihough]

Ive just noticed my 2 year old piggie looks very thin ive weighed him and he's lost around 300g. Hes very lethargic tonight and quiet. Ive given him a few nuggets and water which he is taking. I'm not sure what to do? My gut instinct is to keep giving him water but I'm not sure how long i should wait to take him to the vets? Any advice would be appreciated xx

 

[Siikibam]

I would get him seen by the vet as soon as possible. In the meantime step in with syringe feeding - you can use mashed pellets. Give him a feed every two hours during the day. Also switch to weighing him daily at the same time. The aim of the syringe feeding is to help him maintain his weight.

When did you last weigh him prior to today?

Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Please can you add your location to your profile - county/state or country will suffice. It makes it easier as sometimes information can be tailored depending where you are.

 

[Wiebke]

Ive just noticed my 2 year old piggie looks very thin ive weighed him and he's lost around 300g. Hes very lethargic tonight and quiet. Ive given him a few nuggets and water which he is taking. I'm not sure what to do? My gut instinct is to keep giving him water but I'm not sure how long i should wait to take him to the vets? Any advice would be appreciated xx

Hi and welcome

Which country are you in? The UK has got out of hours cover so please have him seen as soon as you can, latest tomorrow. In another country without out-of-hours and weekend cover, you will have to try and hang on in there until Monday morning.
How to contact a vet out of hours

Here is our Emergency and Bridging Care advice guide with all the necessary information, including how you can improvise feeding support. Just a few nuggets is not enough, considering that nuggets are about 5% of what a piggy eats in a day and 80% is hay. You can find practical tips on how to improvise in the link, too.
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

Fingers very firmly crossed.

 

[sherihough]

Thankyou i will definitely call the vet, ive popped him back in his cage and he's moving about and is looking perkier.

 

[sherihough]

I just want to add that he did have his dinner earlier of veggies and hay and has been outside today eating grass so he has been fed.

 

[Wiebke]

I just want to add that he did have his dinner earlier of veggies and hay and has been outside today eating grass so he has been fed.

Please weigh him daily as hay and grass are the biggest food group - and the one that you cannot control by eye. 80% out of your control means that a piggy can lose a lot of weight very quickly while you concentrate on the rest. It is like your boy not eating breakfast, lunch and dinner and just having a little afternoon snack...
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Weight - Monitoring and Management

PS: Make sure that the vet also checks the back teeth.

All the best!