Weight loss advice

[molzify]

Rupert's weight has been on a steady decline, I am supplementing with syringe feeds but it is still going down. We have noticed an issue where one of his cage mates will block him in a house and refuse to let him leave and suspect this is probably not helping. Before we added Bessie and Mabel we were able to give him free access to controlled amounts of oats and supplemented his hay with small smounts of alfalfa which really helped. But now Bessie is overweight because of us trying to increase Ruperts food intake so we're trying to slim her down but it makes it an impossible situation to keep Rupert in the cage with her.

He is not eating hay when offered out of the cage, to the point he is pulling it out of his mouth but has been vet assessed and they can't find anything wrong except that he is underweight. Honestly I just want some reassurance that I'm not being the worst piggy slave for wanting to trial a separation I just feel that separated he might do better and be able to gain weight again without the girls snatching food from him.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Has his weight only become an issue since being bonded with Bessie and Mabel?

Bullying could be an issue here and the bond may not be functioning. If that were to be the case, permanent separation would be necessary.

As he is being trapped in a house, does that mean it does not have two exits?

 

[Piggies&buns]

And no you aren’t being the worst - a trial separation is absolutely the right thing to do if you suspect he is being bullied

 

[molzify]

Has his weight only become an issue since being bonded with Bessie and Mabel?

Bullying could be an issue here and the bond may not be functioning. If that were to be the case, permanent separation would be necessary.

As he is being trapped in a house, does that mean it does not have two exits?

His weight has been an issue well before we got the girls, he had small molar spurs for which he stopped eating, then had an awful recovery from the dental and took about 2 weeks to eat for himself again, then we lost his bonded mate in April so it's just been a never ending fight since like March really.

The house has two exits, but he will only leave through the larger doorway, so he can escape if he wants to but he does submission squeals and it's like he doesn't know he could easily get out of the hide.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Ok, so there’s not a clear cut yes or no with bullying except if he is being trapped by one of them (even though he can get out) things may not be too rosy.

I think I would be inclined to trial separate and see what happens

 

[molzify]

Sorry to ask this but we have a 2x5 c&c with a loft, do you think it would be okay to separate so that the girls are in a 2x3 and Rupert in a 2x2 while we trial a separation. If we're looking at a full blown divorce obviously this wouldn't be our long term solution but I'm also conscious that completely cutting off interaction may cause distress for Rupert.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Sorry to ask this but we have a 2x5 c&c with a loft, do you think it would be okay to separate so that the girls are in a 2x3 and Rupert in a 2x2 while we trial a separation. If we're looking at a full blown divorce obviously this wouldn't be our long term solution but I'm also conscious that completely cutting off interaction may cause distress for Rupert.

It’s not ideal but if that is all you could do for a few days of trial separation then it would have to do. You don’t want the two girls to get antsy with each other being in a space which is too small though.

You can’t completely cut off interaction - he would need to be beside them

 

[molzify]

Well that was a short lived idea. Bessie and Mabel immediately got upset, and Rupert tried to shove his way through the bars. I think we will try 4 hourly syringe feeds with Rupert and make sure we have only tunnel style hideys