how to help guinea pig lose weight

I can’t stress enough how vital it is to buy a large cage. Weight loss is often one of the very first signs that your cavy may be ill or that there could be an underlying problem. But the best advice is to take your guinea pig to the veterinarian much sooner than later. If you are truly dedicated to helping your pig lose excess weight, get a kitchen scale and KNOW how much food your pig is getting. If your guinea pig weighs less than about forty or fifty grams less than the last weigh in, this can just be part of normal fluctuations. The first days after the birth, as it happens in humans, guinea pigs may lose some weight, but that is normal. House a hamster in a big cage. The best way to do this is to get a bowl that she will fit in and tare the weight of the bowl and then put her in it. The feed manufacturers have come up with a recommendation based on weight, a percentage of their body weight, and their recommendation is to feed 1-2% of their body weight. Weigh your guinea pigs weekly to track their normal weight. Often, but not always, there will be wetness around the mouth/chin. She may become less active (fewer popcorns and more naps) and stop using ramps. 15 replies 2.7K views ... and in the winter would get a little bit of sugar beet to help fatten up if on the skinny side.....however that isn't finding the cause. WEIGHING YOUR GUINEA PIG Weight is of fundamental importance in regards to your guinea pigs health. A respiratory problem can make your guinea pig feel pretty sick and not in the mood to eat. Guinea pigs need at least 10 mg of vitamin C per kilogram of body weight daily (pregnant females need 30 mg/kg daily). You may want to supplement her vitamin c. Take good care of her and she will live out her life happily! This will help ensure your buddy is developing and growing as expected into a healthy and happy cavy. Guinea Pig Care How we can help Call 530-752-1393 to schedule an appointment with the Companion Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery Service. Guinea pigs that lose weight, don’t eat and don’t move are very, very sick. Guinea Pig Losing Weight And Lethargic, in the context of medicine, health, or physical fitness, refers to a reduction of the total body mass, due to a mean loss of fluid, body fat or adipose tissue or lean mass, namely bone mineral deposits, muscle, tendon, and other connective tissue. ... Force-feeding should be done very carefully with the help of a clean syringe. That should take care of any weight problem and they can get back to their muesli, some people forget about exercise, just take them out of their cages and sit them on their lap. I have hauled pigs to the vet with no other symptom than a significant weight loss to discover they had some sort of illness. He may eat less, or not at all. Problems associated with obesity run far deeper than just carrying around a little extra weight. For caretakers of guinea pigs encouraging the proper techniques in handling, treating and raising cavies. Download PDF of this "Guinea Pig Care" article Visit the Companion Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery Service website NATURAL HISTORY Guinea pigs are rodents originating from South America. Any advice on how to help him? Vet sooner rather than later, as guinea pigs can go into liver failure after 16 hours without food. In the wild … As with a majority of mammals, Guinea pig weight is an excellent indicator of overall health and well being. One can't tell what is wrong with your pig by just knowing these two symptoms but yes it's high time to get it checked by a vet. You can give your guinea pig alfalfa pellets, which contain extra calories for your guinea pig’s weight gain. Additionally, while guinea pigs can quickly lose weight if they are ill, it often takes weeks or months for them to regain the lost weight. Just offer her the same foods you always have. If she is not getting guinea pig hay then this is highly recommended as well. Answer (1 of 2): Alright, weight loss in Guinea pigs indicate some serious problem or disease. Press J to jump to the feed. Obviously, you need to keep an eye on her treats. But go to the vets for peace of mind and see if they think your Guinea Pig is overweight. The longer you wait to take him in, the worse his prognosis. Regular weigh-ins will help you spot any trends in weight gain or loss. Is the guinea pig living alone? Guinea pigs, when born, are about 4 inches and weight about 3.5 oz at most, although their weight may vary depending on the number of offsprings at birth. Place little amount of veggies around their home to encourage them to move more. Weighing your guinea pig weekly is a fantastic way to monitor your guinea pigs health and is highly recommended. Obese and overweight pets are more prone to a myriad of health issues including skin disease, pododermatitis (inflammation of the feet and/or paws), cardiovascular disease, hypertension, arthritis, gastrointestinal stasis, and bladder sludge just to name a few. Treatment includes giving your pet vitamin C daily, either by mouth (as directed by your veterinarian) or by injection at your veterinarian’s office. 13 October 2013 at 10:12PM edited 30 November -1 at 1:00AM in Pets & Pet Care. Make sure you feed only a tablespoon of nuggets and half a handful of vegetables per day. lm with @biscandmatt on this, dont do anyting unless she starts to loose weight, but i would give her plenty of best quaerty Thimathy Hay, (my pigs eat it as readerly as veg), this will help to make shure her digestive systim is performing at peek efecancy, and perhaps give her som of the higher protine veg (see link) Other health issues (such as hea… Some of these arise from physical limitations of overweight animals such as joint issues, reduced activity, and difficulty grooming. Be patient, and keep weighing on a regular basis -- once a week is fine unless they're ill. And hair loss indicates stress, some sort of illness and even loneliness. Place them on the floor when weighing, for safety, in case your piggy tries to jump out. With a reduced appetite, your guinea pig will lose weight. Guinea Pig with hair loss and weight loss. A senior guinea pig may lose muscle tone and weight. But here is a rough guide: Average Weight for a Female Guinea Pig: 700 to 900 grams Average Weight for a Male Guinea Pig: 900 to 1200 grams. I go by the a 30/60/90 rule: weight fluctuation of 30g is normal, a loss 60g is worth watching, but a 90g loss is alarming. Guinea Pig Weight – Introduction. If your guinea pig weighs more than fifty grams less than the last weigh in, then weigh them each day and give them some more dry food just in case. And remember that if a female guinea pig is pregnant, she will weigh more than normal. Do not feed chicory as its high in calcium and could contribute to weight problems. Try putting you guinea pig on the living room (lounge) floor and letting her run loose. Try to weigh at the same time of day, to help monitor stable weight results. Guinea pigs exercise by running laps and popcorning in their … share. Dental problems are very common in guinea pigs. Just like us, guinea pigs age differently and at different rates. When pigs are ill they stop eating and that is why they lose weight. to help your pig lose weight you do not give him any sugar and only small amounts of sugary fruits every so often. On the other hand, if your guinea pig’s weight is less, you can increase the quality of pellets to feed your guinea pig every day. As guinea pigs get older (as in senior citizen age), which yours definately is, they will tend to lose weight. Guinea pigs have been domestic pets for … Thank you. When you feed him, observe how much he eats. It is therefore important to monitor your Guinea pigs weight from birth. One of the most common causes of weight loss in guinea pigs is a dental problem. The hair loss is caused by hormones out of wack, so these guinea pigs might act like they are in heat 24/7, rather than the normal day or two every two weeks. Guinea Pig Needs To Lose Weight, in the context of medicine, health, or physical fitness, refers to a reduction of the total body mass, due to a mean loss of fluid, body fat or adipose tissue or lean mass, namely bone mineral deposits, muscle, tendon, and other connective tissue. Normally, spaying a guinea pig is the recommended course of action. The problems occur above the gum line and can only be detected by x-ray. They can have as much hay as possible, as this helps with fibre. Use decent digital scales with a large enough container or tray to safely hold a guinea pig. Well guinea pigs are meant to have about 30-45 grams of Dry Pet Food a day. With the help of a clean syringe there could be an underlying problem of per. This is highly recommended as well the problems occur above the gum line and can only detected! Much he eats high in calcium and could contribute to weight problems worse his prognosis weight, but always. 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