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Skinny pig looks too skinny

Emmamarie123

Emmamarie123

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi everyone,
I’m quite worried about Branston my skinny pig.
He is 2 years old and eats well and is running around with no issues but he looks too skinny.

the past week I have noticed dropping in his weight by about 30g.Branston- 760g 770g 787g 765g 766g 800g
He has always been a small pig reaching only about 800g but his spine and hip bones are looking much more prominent. I’m very confused because weight wise there isn’t much of a difference. He just looks really skinny. I’m worried that I’m doing something wrong.
Yesterday and today I have been giving him mushed up pellets and porridge oats on a spoon and his weight this afternoon is 804g which is positive but his body condition still looks really bad :(.
I have contacted My vet and most of the staff are isolating but I have managed to get him in for 4pm tomorrow. As they said it isn’t an emergency because he eats well.
 

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I think it’s not a bad idea to get him a vet check in order to rule out any health issues. 30g loss in the grand scheme of things isn’t worrying. It could be the difference between a full/empty bladder or stomach.

I would consider weighing daily at the same time for now. Hope all goes well at the vets.
 
A vet check is always the best thing to do first with weightloss, but I wonder if he's just been a bit cold? It takes a massive amount of calories to keep a skinny pig warm, and if its a bit drafty they stay in bed more rather than out eating as much hay as they usually do- our Tallulah looks slimmer than she does in summer, but I expect she'll bulk back up now the cold snap is over :)
 
I have a mini heater in my room but I am going to start adding a heat mat into their cage too.
He is eating his veggies with me now as I worry that maybe his cage mate Pickle is taking most of the food.
 

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The important thing to be eating is hay and not veg. Veg is a snack while hay is a main meal. Do weigh daily for now.
 
Siikibam said:
The important thing to be eating is hay and not veg. Veg is a snack while hay is a main meal. Do weigh daily for now.
Click to expand...
Yes that have hay in 24/7, they have the rabbit 140 cage so they have a hay corner. I am getting him out for pellets and veggies though.
I will definitely weigh daily from now on :)
 
Oh bless you. It's hard isn't it? Like has been said above a 30g weight loss isn't particularly notable but when you are dealing with a petite piggy I appreciate you don't feel like you have 30g to spare. Hopefully the vets appointment goes well tomorrow and provides some answers
 
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