Skinny pig losing weight?

[Alexpanda]

Hi, we got our skinny pig just over a month ago along with another male guinea pig. He’s a delightful boy with lots of personality even though he had some skin problems and bonding problems to begin with. I’ve noticed over the past week or so he doesn’t really respond when I reach into the cage to take him out for cuddles and skin treatments. He eats A LOT but I have noticed in the last few days his bones are sticking out on his back and hips. He also used to popcorn around the cage all the time when we first got him and now he barely popcorns at all. He’s still very friendly but he just doesn’t seem right at the moment. Has anyone got any advice or similar experiences with their skinnies? Whenever I google advice it only comes up with information about regular furry guinea pigs.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Please do take him to a vet as soon as possible.

Have you been weighing him weekly as part of routine care? If so, then what has been happening with his weight?
If you haven't been weighing them, then please do start. However, now you have health concerns, you must switch from weekly to instead doing daily weight checks. Weigh him at the same time each day so you can compare one day to the next.

A piggy may appear to be eating plenty but given hay is the main bulk of their diet (and skinnies do tend to eat more than furries) and you cannot judge hay intake by eye (its deceptive, it may appear they are eating, but in fact aren't eating enough to maintain their weight) weighing is the only way to know.

If he is losing weight, then you must step in immediately and start syringe feeding to stop further weight loss. The daily weight checks are essential so you can be sure you are syringe feeding enough to stop the losses.

The information you find here is the same for skinnies and furry piggies.

Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Weight - Monitoring and Management

Could you also please elaborate on the skin problems and bonding problems?

A problem in their bond such as bullying can mean a piggy eats less due to stress. A dysfunctional bond causing bullying would mean they would likely need to be separated.

 

[Alexpanda]

Thank you so much for such an in depth response, I will start weighing him everyday at a routine time. He had dry patches on his skin which we thought might have been ringworm so the vet gave us a shampoo to apply twice a week and it’s clearing up nicely, it’ll take a while to go away completely but it is working already.
As for the bonding, we were told that they were a bonded pair and had to be sold together, but for the first week they didn’t get on and the skinny got a bit scratched up. This isn’t happening anymore which is a huge relief and they seem to get on much better. I get him out every day to give his skin a check over so I can intervene if there are any new bites or scratches.
Thanks again for the advice, I will be making sure to keep track of his daily weight and I will take him to the vet if there is no improvement in the next few days.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Please do see the vet. Any change in behaviour particularly when coupled with weight loss is concerning. The guides I linked in above will explain everything further. Any weight loss from 50g is of concern.

If he had ringworm, then you would likely see a deterioration and spread. Ringworm is highly contagious, including to people, and everything needs to be thrown at it to deal with it.

Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures

Its normal for piggies to need to reestablish their relationship and hierarchy in any new environment, so seeing an increase in dominance in the first week is normal even in well bonded pairs.
Do ensure boar pairs have a big cage as that can really make a difference to them - 6ft x 2ft is the recommended cage size for a boar pair.

A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs