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Weight loss during house removal

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Namida

New Born Pup
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Hello everyone.

Recently, I moved across country in the UK with my guinea pigs. I sent my boys to boarding for 2 nights prior to the removal day, and then picked them up once I finished all the unpacking. When they arrived the new house, I found that their poos were much smaller than usual. Then I found that one lost 40g in 3 days and the other one lost 80g!

Meanwhile, I think they are settling down in their new 2 x 6 cage (with 2 x 2 loft) pretty well. They are exploring around actively and eating normally. But still I am a bit concerned - is it common for a guinea pig to lose weight as much as this due to stress associated with e.g. long distance travel and changes in environment?
 
Namida said:
Hello everyone.

Recently, I moved across country in the UK with my guinea pigs. I sent my boys to boarding for 2 nights prior to the removal day, and then picked them up once I finished all the unpacking. When they arrived the new house, I found that their poos were much smaller than usual. Then I found that one lost 40g in 3 days and the other one lost 80g!

Meanwhile, I think they are settling down in their new 2 x 6 cage (with 2 x 2 loft) pretty well. They are exploring around actively and eating normally. But still I am a bit concerned - is it common for a guinea pig to lose weight as much as this due to stress associated with e.g. long distance travel and changes in environment?
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Hi!

It sounds like your piggies didn't eat as much as normal (especially hay); this is not at all uncommon. Guinea pigs are territorial so a major upset in strange surroundings can upset them and it can take several days for them to settle down again.

The good news is that they should make good on their weight loss pretty quickly if they are back to their normal routine. See a vet if the weight continues to go down further and doesn't stabilise/improve again.

PS: We talk about weight loss only after 50g since the difference between a full/empty belly and bladder means that there is a normal weight swing of around 30-40g over the course of 24 hours.
 
Stress c I would switch to weighing them both once daily (at the same time) and see how they fare. I’d also book them in for a check with the vet. Just to rule out any medical causes.

Small poos indicate they weren’t eating as much. This ties in with less hay being consumed.

Hopefully they’ll be back to their usual selves soon.
 
Thanks for the advice - they both gained back 20g in one day so I am somehow relieved.
I will keep weighing them daily to make sure everything is fine.
 
Don’t worry.
We moved house nearly 2 years ago with 4 piggies.
There was a bit of weight fluctuation but they soon all settled into their new home and weight stabilised.

Hope you are very happy in your new home.
 
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