Toffee’s weight loss

[Abisquartet]

As you’ll know my little troublemaker Toffee has been ill recently with a UTI and his medication finished today. As a result we’ve been weighing him daily to keep an eye on him and his weight has been fluctuating and I think it’s a worrying amount.

He’s been eating and drinking normally, with the same amount of activity and he’s being weighed at the same time each day. I’ve posted a pic below of his weight chart - I think he may need to see a vet but I want to make sure I’m not being silly or overreacting. It may be because he’s been unwell recently or maybe the recent warmer temperatures here in London but I want some more opinions.

Thank you all

 

[Abisquartet]

I’ve put the numbers into a graph to be able to visualise it better to see if it’s a cause for concern:

 

[Wiebke]

As you’ll know my little troublemaker Toffee has been ill recently with a UTI and his medication finished today. As a result we’ve been weighing him daily to keep an eye on him and his weight has been fluctuating and I think it’s a worrying amount.

He’s been eating and drinking normally, with the same amount of activity and he’s being weighed at the same time each day. I’ve posted a pic below of his weight chart - I think he may need to see a vet but I want to make sure I’m not being silly or overreacting. It may be because he’s been unwell recently or maybe the recent warmer temperatures here in London but I want some more opinions.

Thank you all

Hi
Those are quite major swings. If the weight is going down any further and is not stabilising picking up again, I would recommend to see a vet. Keep in mind that an antibiotic needs to build up over the course of several days until it reaches optimal efficiency and will gradually fade off over the course of several days after the course is finished so it is making itself felt for a little while longer.
Any antibiotic can impact on the gut microbiome and dampen or even kill the appetite. The big dip is likely from when it had built up enough to hit the gut significantly.
I would also recommend to step in with offering top up feeding support on those days where the weight is considerably lower. Continue with giving probiotics and if needed 'poo soup' from a healthy companion (you can find information on that in our medicating guide below).
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

 

[Abisquartet]

Hi
Those are quite major swings. If the weight is going down any further and is not stabilising picking up again, I would recommend to see a vet. Keep in mind that an antibiotic needs to build up over the course of several days until it reaches optimal efficiency and will gradually fade off over the course of several days after the course is finished so it is making itself felt for a little while longer.
Any antibiotic can impact on the gut microbiome and dampen or even kill the appetite. The big dip is likely from when it had built up enough to hit the gut significantly.
I would also recommend to step in with offering top up feeding support on those days where the weight is considerably lower. Continue with giving probiotics and if needed 'poo soup' from a healthy companion (you can find information on that in our medicating guide below).
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Hi Wiebke! Thank you for your quick response! I thought that would be the case with the need for syringe feeding and probiotics. I’ve had a quick Google for probiotics but is there any that I can make at home? Both myself and my boyfriend are at work tomorrow so might not be able to make it to a place where we can pick some up

 

[Piggies&buns]

Hi Wiebke! Thank you for your quick response! I thought that would be the case with the need for syringe feeding and probiotics. I’ve had a quick Google for probiotics but is there any that I can make at home? Both myself and my boyfriend are at work tomorrow so might not be able to make it to a place where we can pick some up

You can make poop soup at home.
You would need the very fresh, just produced poop of one of your healthy guinea pigs - pop piggy in a box, feed favourite snacks and wait for poops. You soak the poops in water for 15 minutes and then syringe the water to Toffee.
This guide has a section explaining how to make it Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links

 

[Abisquartet]

Update: we have a vets appointment tomorrow at 6:30pm. I’ll weigh him at the usual time again today and if it’s dropped I’ll give the poop soup a try.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Update: we have a vets appointment tomorrow at 6:30pm. I’ll weigh him at the usual time again today and if it’s dropped I’ll give the poop soup a try.

Poop soup isn’t food so you still need to syringe feed mushed pellets or critical care to stop weight loss.

 

[Abisquartet]

Poop soup isn’t food so you still need to syringe feed mushed pellets or critical care to stop weight loss.

Will do! Thank you for your help

 

[Abisquartet]

We have been to see the vets on Friday and I’m updating the thread here.

The vet was concerned about his weight loss and suggested that an ultrasound and bloods be taken; issue being that we need somewhere with piggy experience to do this instead of a general vets.

They suggested Beaumont Pet Hospital but this is a bit far for us so we’re trying to contact Goddard Ilford to speak to Eleanor but she’s fully booked and goes on holiday for a few weeks until July 11th.

As if that wasn’t stressful enough we noticed when doing a full clean today that there was blood on the fleece in his cage in the areas where Toffee spends most of his time. We had a full look at him and couldn’t see any obvious wounds but he’s just had a course of antibiotics for his UTI so I’m not sure if these have worked our not.

We started syringe feeding him today too as he hasn’t been having his nuggets but seems to be enjoying his hay and veggies as usual.

Any advice would be so appreciated because I’m pulling my hair out with worry. He’s my baby and I love him so very much that I desperately want him to be okay but i really am beside myself

 

[rp1993]

Sending hugs, I’m also dealing with weight loss in my boy Pepper, we are back at the vets tomorrow, they do like to worry us!

 

[Abisquartet]

Sending hugs, I’m also dealing with weight loss in my boy Pepper, we are back at the vets tomorrow, they do like to worry us!

Sometimes it feels like they’re doing it on purpose sending healing vibes Pepper’s way

 

[Piggies&buns]

I'm sorry to hear this. Sending hugs.

Weight loss is because of reduced hay intake (needs to be 80% of daily food intake), not because of reduced nugget intake (being just 5% of the daily food intake, so doesnt do a huge amount of the weight if fed appropriately). You're doing right by syringe feeding as he needs his reduced hay intake replaced.

I hope you can find a specialist vet to see him, but in the meantime definitely be in touch with your normal vet about the blood.

 

[Abisquartet]

I'm sorry to hear this. Sending hugs.

Weight loss is because of reduced hay intake (needs to be 80% of daily food intake), not because of reduced nugget intake (being just 5% of the daily food intake, so doesnt do a huge amount of the weight if fed appropriately). You're doing right by syringe feeding as he needs his reduced hay intake replaced.

I hope you can find a specialist vet to see him, but in the meantime definitely be in touch with your normal vet about the blood.

Hugs received

The critical care we’re using is the Excel Burgess Dual Care - would this being fed daily 3-4 times a day with a total of about 70ml be enough to replace hay intake?

Will be calling around everywhere tomorrow to try and get some answers!

 

[Piggies&buns]

Hugs received

The critical care we’re using is the Excel Burgess Dual Care - would this being fed daily 3-4 times a day with a total of about 70ml be enough to replace hay intake?

Will be calling around everywhere tomorrow to try and get some answers!

It should be enough but you need to use his daily weight checks as a guide as to whether he is getting enough

 

[Abisquartet]

Bit of an update here: my little Toffee has been (touch wood) gaining weight for the last 4 days. He feels much less skinny and he appears to be getting back to his normal self

Please keep him in your thoughts as we hopefully head higher up the scales for my baby boy lots of treats and cuddles when the number is high than yesterday