Smaller poos, slight weight loss. Should I be worried?

[Claire W]

I noticed last night that Esme’s poos were on the small side. I weighed her and she has lost around 40g since her weigh in on Thursday. I’ve weighed her again this morning and she hasn’t lost any weight over night and I’ve watched her eat her breakfast veg and some hay. Should I be worried or is it a case of keeping an eye on her? They’re at the vets on Monday for nail trims but it’ll be with a vet nurse. Should I mention it?

 

[Piggies&buns]

I would keep an eye, weigh daily and perhaps do mention it to the vet.

 

[Wiebke]

I noticed last night that Esme’s poos were on the small side. I weighed her and she has lost around 40g since her weigh in on Thursday. I’ve weighed her again this morning and she hasn’t lost any weight over night and I’ve watched her eat her breakfast veg and some hay. Should I be worried or is it a case of keeping an eye on her? They’re at the vets on Monday for nail trims but it’ll be with a vet nurse. Should I mention it?

Hi

You can mention it to the nurse but otherwise just keep an eye on her and see whether the weight loss continues or not. Right now, it is not yet in the area where you need to go on alert.

It may be related to the cold weather with the recent heavy night frosts; especially if they are not in a heated room. give her an extra spoonful of pellets today and see whether that does the trick.

 

[Claire W]

Thank you. She’s just wolfed down some mixed leaves and I’ve seen her at the pellet bowl. Hopefully it is just related to the recent cold spell. I’ll weigh her daily for the next few days and mention it when they go on Monday if she continues to lose

 

[Swissgreys]

Thank you. She’s just wolfed down some mixed leaves and I’ve seen her at the pellet bowl. Hopefully it is just related to the recent cold spell. I’ll weigh her daily for the next few days and mention it when they go on Monday if she continues to lose

How old is Esme?

I only ask as I noticed that some of my piggies weight did fluctuate a bit more as they got older.
I found that it tended to be a day to day thing, and if I weighed them a bit more regularly (2-3 times a week) it settled out and wasn't a continual loss.
I never found a reason for it, but figured that maybe they just had the odd bad day or two where they ate a bit less?

 

[Claire W]

How old is Esme?

I only ask as I noticed that some of my piggies weight did fluctuate a bit more as they got older.
I found that it tended to be a day to day thing, and if I weighed them a bit more regularly (2-3 times a week) it settled out and wasn't a continual loss.
I never found a reason for it, but figured that maybe they just had the odd bad day or two where they ate a bit less?

Thank you. Esme is 3 in July. I’ve just weighed her and she’s 25g heavier than this morning so she must be eating right? Of course, I obviously jump to the conclusion of teeth May be she just ate a bit less over the last few days?

 

[Swissgreys]

Thank you. Esme is 3 in July. I’ve just weighed her and she’s 25g heavier than this morning so she must be eating right? Of course, I obviously jump to the conclusion of teeth May be she just ate a bit less yesterday?

Like people I think it's normal for piggies to eat less sometimes.
Also 40g is only the difference between a full bladder and a big wee, so it really sounds like nothing to worry about Claire.
I know it's hard not to panic, but I am sure she is fine.

 

[Claire W]

Like people I think it's normal for piggies to eat less sometimes.
Also 40g is only the difference between a full bladder and a big wee, so it really sounds like nothing to worry about Claire.
I know it's hard not to panic, but I am sure she is fine.

Thank you. I’ll try and not panic

 

[Free Ranger]

I wish the frosts made me lose a bit of weight. Christmas was a little bit too tasty!

 

[Wiebke]

It sounds like Esme is back to eating normally, so please stop weighing more than once daily and only do the day-to-day comparison in the morning before they have their breakfast. Or leave the weighing entirely to your hub if you are unable to control your anxiety hovering.

Also please check the ribs around the chest whether her heft is OK or whether she is still actually somewhat overweight. Any overweight piggy will loose extra fat initially and lose more weight more quickly than a normal weighted piggy without much extra fat.
Keep in mind that 40g are just about the difference between a full tummy and bladder and empty ones...

 

[Claire W]

I’m really trying not to panic. She’s had some corn for breakfast and ate that just fine but has lost another 10g overnight I won’t weigh her again today

She’s still overweight weighing in at 1195g but she was around 1155-1160g last Thursday. Her poos are still small

 

[Claire W]

I’m really trying not to panic. She’s had some corn for breakfast and ate that just fine but has lost another 10g overnight I won’t weigh her again today

She’s still overweight weighing in at 1195g but she was around 1155-1160g last Thursday. Her poos are still small

EDIT: sorry that should say 1255-1260g @Wiebke

 

[Wiebke]

EDIT: sorry that should say 1255-1260g @Wiebke

Please do not give her high sugar corn that will translate to the production of yet more yellow fat.
What she needs more of is hay fibre and not extra empty calories, so please offer her a little bowl with Critical care or a mix of CC and mushed up pellets outside the cage once a day and see how that goes.

Keep in mind that she can happily lose about 200g of her weight in the first place since she is not an exceptionally large piggy.

 

[Claire W]

Please do not give her high sugar corn that will translate to the production of yet more yellow fat.
What she needs more of is hay fibre and not extra empty calories, so please offer her a little bowl with Critical care or a mix of CC and mushed up pellets outside the cage once a day and see how that goes.

Keep in mind that she can happily lose about 200g of her weight in the first place since she is not an exceptionally large piggy.

Thank you. They’re only have a mini corn between them 1-2 times a week but I wanted to see if she could eat hard veg and she ate it. I gave them some forage and again she ate it. I will try her with some mushed pellets as I don’t have any recovery food in. I’m really worried by her weight loss and small poos

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you. They’re only have a mini corn between them 1-2 times a week but I wanted to see if she could eat hard veg and she ate it. I gave them some forage and again she ate it. I will try her with some mushed pellets as I don’t have any recovery food in. I’m really worried by her weight loss and small poos

Please keep in mind that the poo output runs a day behind the input. If Esme still has a very mild ongoing weight loss and smaller poos, then it is from an decreased hay intake and you will have to work out just how much ideally hay fibre based extra feed she needs to stabilise her weight as your first priority.

Please stop feeding sweetcorn to already overweight piggies altogether and - if you are worried about dental issues - simply have a quick look at her incisors. If you struggle with opening her mouth by gently pressing on the jaw joints on both cheeks an trying to look down on her teeth from above, then set her on a wipeable table surface facing you (with your eyes at the same height as her mouth or or do it by sitting opposite a mirrored surface she is facing towards.
If the incisors are still neat and even where they abrade against each other, then it is highly unlikely that she has an issue with her teeth. Just because Edward had a pretty rare age related dental problem and died from a rat-tail of additional compounding old age problems with the extra pressure of record summer heat tipping an already increasingly frail health balance doesn't mean that Esme will have the same just halfway through her own life. Please keep in mind that Edward didn't die from his thickened incisor; he died from becoming too frail for any dental treatment with his all his other old age issues catching up with him.
Us asking forum members to ensure that a vet is also checking the mouth in cases of mystery weight loss doesn't mean that most of it is caused by dental issues (it is not) but because it is an area that is often overlooked, especially by general vets not familiar with guinea pigs.

If the slow weight loss continues or picks up in speed despite any support feeding, please book a vet appointment during regular opening hours sometime next week.

Please keep in mind that major temperature changes and extremes of weather (both hot and cold) can cause loss of appetite and change drinking habits in the short term - and we have had/still have another exceptionally cold week here in the UK.

 

[Claire W]

Please keep in mind that the poo output runs a day behind the input. If Esme still has a very mild ongoing weight loss and smaller poos, then it is from an decreased hay intake and you will have to work out just how much ideally hay fibre based extra feed she needs to stabilise her weight as your first priority.

Please stop feeding sweetcorn to already overweight piggies altogether and - if you are worried about dental issues - simply have a quick look at her incisors. If you struggle with opening her mouth by gently pressing on the jaw joints on both cheeks an trying to look down on her teeth from above, then set her on a wipeable table surface facing you (with your eyes at the same height as her mouth or or do it by sitting opposite a mirrored surface she is facing towards.
If the incisors are still neat and even where they abrade against each other, then it is highly unlikely that she has an issue with her teeth. Just because Edward had a pretty rare age related dental problem and died from a rat-tail of additional compounding old age problems with the extra pressure of record summer heat tipping an already increasingly frail health balance doesn't mean that Esme will have the same just halfway through her own life. Please keep in mind that Edward didn't die from his thickened incisor; he died from becoming too frail for any dental treatment with his all his other old age issues catching up with him.
Us asking forum members to ensure that a vet is also checking the mouth in cases of mystery weight loss doesn't mean that most of it is caused by dental issues (it is not) but because it is an area that is often overlooked, especially by general vets not familiar with guinea pigs.

If the slow weight loss continues or picks up in speed despite any support feeding, please book a vet appointment during regular opening hours sometime next week.

Please keep in mind that major temperature changes and extremes of weather (both hot and cold) can cause loss of appetite and change drinking habits in the short term - and we have had/still have another exceptionally cold week here in the UK.

Thank you. I will stop feeding the sweetcorn. I always forget that poo output is running a day or two behind.

I’ve just tried looking at her incisors. They look ok to me but she bit me. I have booked an appointment to see the vet after their nail trims on Monday so it’ll give me the weekend to keep an eye on her.

I guess I’m just so paranoid about dental issues but I’ll try and not let my anxiety take over.

Hopefully it’s just the cold weather causing her to eat a bit less hay.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you. I will stop feeding the sweetcorn. I always forget that poo output is running a day or two behind.

I’ve just tried looking at her incisors. They look ok to me but she bit me. I have booked an appointment to see the vet after their nail trims on Monday so it’ll give me the weekend to keep an eye on her.

I guess I’m just so paranoid about dental issues but I’ll try and not let my anxiety take over.

Hopefully it’s just the cold weather causing her to eat a bit less hay.

If the incisors are looking normal, then that is a pretty good sign that there is no developing major pain issue or overgrowth. So please take a deep breath.

Just give your support measures time to kick in. It is not instantly but usually takes a few days.

 

[Claire W]

If the incisors are looking normal, then that is a pretty good sign that there is no developing major pain issue or overgrowth. So please take a deep breath.

Just give your support measures time to kick in. It is not instantly but usually takes a few days.

Thank you. I’m sorry to say that I’ve let my anxiety run away with me But she’s at least 10g heavier than she was yesterday

 

[Claire W]

Here are the poos that Esme is producing next to one of Elizabeth’s poo Elizabeth’s is the bigger poo

 

[Swissgreys]

Here are the poos that Esme is producing next to one of Elizabeth’s poo Elizabeth’s is the bigger poo

View attachment 218663

They look perfectly fine.
Well formed and not too small or too dry or soft.
I have always seen a huge variation in the size of my piggies poo, and that in itself is no real indicator of anything.
If they are producing well formed poops than that's ok.

 

[Claire W]

They look perfectly fine.
Well formed and not too small or too dry or soft.
I have always seen a huge variation in the size of my piggies poo, and that in itself is no real indicator of anything.
If they are producing well formed poops than that's ok.

Oh really? Thank you so much. I’ve been worrying as they’re smaller than Elizabeth’s and Ella’s. May be it’s just the way her poos are and not that she’s been eating less?

 

[Wiebke]

Here are the poos that Esme is producing next to one of Elizabeth’s poo Elizabeth’s is the bigger poo

View attachment 218663

Hi

All poos look perfectly nice and plump to me? The invidual size is down to the piggies themselves, just like each human makes their very own different-sized poos.

What you are looking for is noticeably thinner poos because that is what actually indicates reduced hay intake. As long as a poo is nice and plump, then there is no indication of a reduced food intake.

 

[Claire W]

Hi

All poos look perfectly nice and plump to me? The invidual size is down to the piggies themselves, just like each human makes their very own different-sized poos.

What you are looking for is noticeably thinner poos because that is what actually indicates reduced hay intake. As long as a poo is nice and plump, then there is no indication of a reduced food intake.

Thank you. Yes they are plump looking poos.May be the size is normal for her? Looks like I’ve been worrying over nothing

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you. Yes they are plump looking poos.May be the size is normal for her? Looks like I’ve been worrying over nothing

I would think that the size is normal for her. And seeing that you still can't feel Esme's ribs, running around with a dinner less on her hips is not exactly the worst thing to happen to her...

You only need to be a bit more concerned if the weight loss continues and/or speeds up. As long as she is stable or gaining weight, then she is perfectly fine in herself.

Please take good care of yourself!

 

[Claire W]

I would think that the size is normal for her. And seeing that you still can't feel Esme's ribs, running around with a dinner less on her hips is not exactly the worst thing to happen to her...

You only need to be a bit more concerned if the weight loss continues and/or speeds up. As long as she is stable or gaining weight, then she is perfectly fine in herself.

Please take good care of yourself!

I would just prefer for her to lose the weight healthily rather than through illness I’ve been watching her like a hawk today and she’s definitely eating so I’m hoping for a gain tomorrow. If she’s stable by Sunday, I think I’ll cancel her vet appointment and let someone else take the slot?

Thank you. I’ve calmed down a bit now I know there’s nothing wrong with her poo and that it may be normal for her

 

[Wiebke]

I would just prefer for her to lose the weight healthily rather than through illness I’ve been watching her like a hawk today and she’s definitely eating so I’m hoping for a gain tomorrow. If she’s stable by Sunday, I think I’ll cancel her vet appointment and let someone else take the slot?

Thank you. I’ve calmed down a bit now I know there’s nothing wrong with her poo and that it may be normal for her

As long as she is not losing any further on her own, she is fine.

 

[VickiA]

Those poops look perfectly fine to me

 

[Claire W]

I’ve just weighed her and she’s down to 1185g a further 15g loss from yesterday morning

 

[Claire W]

Sorry, she’s actually 25g lighter than yesterday morning as she was 1210g yesterday I’m back to worrying. If it isn’t her teeth, what else could it be?

 

[Swissgreys]

A few thoughts here.
It looks like her weight is fluctuating a bit, but she is certainly not in the danger zone right now.
Daily fluctuations (both up and down are normal).
Kitchen scales can also have an error factor of up to 10%, and things like ambient temperature can also affect this slightly.
She is eating, active, and pooping.

Clearly you are feeling anxious about the situation, but I don't think daily weighing is helping right now.
I would take deep breath and step back.
I would switch to only weighing every 3 days (so weigh again on Tuesday morning, and then again on Friday morning). If the trend over the next 6-9 days is still a large (greater than 50g) overall loss then it is time to be concerned.
But I think it is too easy to worry about daily fluctuations, and a bit of time between weighing will help you see if this is an ongoing loss or just a bit of variation.