Sudden weight gain and odd behaviour?

[danuutka]

Hello, my Ozzie has been acting a bit odd the past few days. He’s usually a very crazy, hyperactive boy, but since Friday evening he has been withdrawn, mellow, and even accepted a cuddle (has NEVER happened, and we’ve had him over a year).

Of course, we took him to the emergency vet yesterday, who said they couldn’t find anything wrong with him - teeth were fine, so was stomach and bladder, skin looked fine etc. We’ve been given some Metacam to try, in case he has a pain somewhere that we can’t detect. He seemed a bit brighter than usual, but not much.

He hasn’t really been eating his pellets, he’s been eating most of his breakfast (usually he eats it very quickly). He’s pooping and peeing fine.

BUT he’s been gaining weight. In the space of about 10-14 days he’s gone from 1060g (which has been his stable weight for months), to 1150g.. despite the fact his diet hasn’t changed, he’s actually been eating less.. I’m really confused and concerned about my little guy.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

Hello, my Ozzie has been acting a bit odd the past few days. He’s usually a very crazy, hyperactive boy, but since Friday evening he has been withdrawn, mellow, and even accepted a cuddle (has NEVER happened, and we’ve had him over a year).

Of course, we took him to the emergency vet yesterday, who said they couldn’t find anything wrong with him - teeth were fine, so was stomach and bladder, skin looked fine etc. We’ve been given some Metacam to try, in case he has a pain somewhere that we can’t detect. He seemed a bit brighter than usual, but not much.

He hasn’t really been eating his pellets, he’s been eating most of his breakfast (usually he eats it very quickly). He’s pooping and peeing fine.

BUT he’s been gaining weight. In the space of about 10-14 days he’s gone from 1060g (which has been his stable weight for months), to 1150g.. despite the fact his diet hasn’t changed, he’s actually been eating less.. I’m really confused and concerned about my little guy.

Could the weight gain be fluid retention? Does his breathing look okay?

 

[danuutka]

Could the weight gain be fluid retention? Does his breathing look okay?

Potentially, he doesn’t look/feel much different though. He had his breathing checked by the vet yesterday, and it sounds fine to us too.

 

[Wiebke]

Potentially, he doesn’t look/feel much different though. He had his breathing checked by the vet yesterday, and it sounds fine to us too.

My thoughts are exactly the same as @furryfriends (TEAS) for any older piggy.

Please be aware that the fluid build up happens either in the lung or the chest cavy or - more rarely - elsewhere in the body. It is not so noticeable when it is in the chest cavity but it can point to either a heart problem/insufficiency or something else pushing on the heart or lungs from deeper in the body (internal growth). Has your vet checked for this possibility or just checked the lungs?

 

[danuutka]

My thoughts are exactly the same as @furryfriends (TEAS) for any older piggy.

Please be aware that the fluid build up happens either in the lung or the chest cavy or - more rarely - elsewhere in the body. It is not so noticeable when it is in the chest cavity but it can point to either a heart problem/insufficiency or something else pushing on the heart or lungs from deeper in the body (internal growth). Has your vet checked for this possibility or just checked the lungs?

Ozzie is a young boy, only about 1 year 3 months old.

As we were not able to go in due to Covid, I’m not 100% sure but I believe she had a listen to his chest/lungs. I don’t think she was a qualified exotics vet though, so I’m not sure if she could have missed anything because of that.

 

[Wiebke]

Ozzie is a young boy, only about 1 year 3 months old.

As we were not able to go in due to Covid, I’m not 100% sure but I believe she had a listen to his chest/lungs. I don’t think she was a qualified exotics vet though, so I’m not sure if she could have missed anything because of that.

OK!

Has your vet checked for any bloating or underlying issue that cause bloating or partial bloating in this case, like thickened lower gut etc.?
Being withdrawn means that he is definitely not feeling well.

 

[danuutka]

OK!

Has your vet checked for any bloating or underlying issue that cause bloating or partial bloating in this case, like thickened lower gut etc.?
Being withdrawn means that he is definitely not feeling well.

She had a feel of everything, and said it felt fine. We didn’t have an x ray done though.