Stressed or sick?

[AmandaS]

Hello all,
I could use some advice about my guinea pig. Lucy and Ethel are almost 2 years old, and Gus is about 8 or 9 months. I’ve noticed a slow weight loss in Ethel. She’s lost about 2 ounces over the last month, every week she’s down just a little bit more. She’s still drinking water, she still eats all her veggies, gets excited for pea flakes, and I see her eating hay, so I’m rather puzzled about the weight loss. She’s also taken to hiding all the time. However, we’re also getting our bathroom down the hall from the piggies’ room remodeled, so there’s a lot of hammering, drilling, workers coming and going—a lot of scary noises for a guinea pig. So my question is, is she ill, or is she simply stressed and when the remodel is wrapped up this weekend she’ll go back to normal?
Thanks in advance,
Amanda, the worried human

 

[Piggies&buns]

50g over the course of a month isn’t a lot but a continual downward trend is always something to watch. I’m afraid it’s impossible for us to say whether she is ill or stressed.

Her weight loss will come from not eating enough hay. As veg is only a snack (one cup of veg per day), it doesn’t make up a very significant proportion of the daily diet (just 15%) so weight loss is down to eating less hay (which should be 80% of the intake).

If she is a piggy more affected by stress, then having loud works going on in the house is likely to have an effect on her but it would be wise to keep an eye on her and speak to a vet.

 

[AmandaS]

50g over the course of a month isn’t a lot but a continual downward trend is always something to watch. I’m afraid it’s impossible for us to say whether she is ill or stressed.

Her weight loss will come from not eating enough hay. As veg is only a snack (one cup of veg per day), it doesn’t make up a very significant proportion of the daily diet (just 15%) so weight loss is down to eating less hay (which should be 80% of the intake).

If she is a piggy more affected by stress, then having loud works going on in the house is likely to have an effect on her but it would be wise to keep an eye on her and speak to a vet.

Thank you so much for the information. I’m never sure if I should be worried or if I’m just over-worrying, so I appreciate a second opinion. After I posted my first message (about 5 hours after the workers left for the day) she finally came out from her hidey and laid down near her sister for a while. Her little foot was sticking out, which I understand is a good sign that she feels relaxed. Then she went to their hay rack and shoved her whole head inside it looking for her favorite pieces and had a good munch, and before I went to bed I gave them some orchard grass as well and she started popcorning and eating it immediately. If her weight loss is from not eating enough hay, I’ll give her her own pile of it where she’s been hiding. The work at the house is supposed to be done tomorrow, so I’ll give her a few days to see if she goes back to normal, and if not I’ll take her to the vet. Thank you again!

 

[Bill & Ted]

I would monitor her weight over the next Couple of weeks and see if she looses any more, unless she shows obvious signs of illness, then go to the vets. Weigh daily, it she has been stressed by hammering and strange voices then she should start to gain a little weight now the bathroom is all finished x

 

[AmandaS]

I would monitor her weight over the next Couple of weeks and see if she looses any more, unless she shows obvious signs of illness, then go to the vets. Weigh daily, it she has been stressed by hammering and strange voices then she should start to gain a little weight now the bathroom is all finished x

Thank you, that sounds like a reasonable plan to me. All the info and suggestions have really helped ease my nerves.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Thank you, that sounds like a reasonable plan to me. All the info and suggestions have really helped ease my nerves.

Aw, hope she settles soon x