Saturday, May 22, 2010

Have a guinea pig who is eating normal but losing weight?

I have a guinea pig who is about 4 years old. She is eating her veggies and pellets normally and drinking normally but she keeps losing weight about 10-20 grams a week or so. Took her to the vet a few weeks ago and vet checked her teeth and did a compelte exam and could find no reason for her to lose weight. Piggy is also bright and perky as well so there is no personality change. She lives with 2 other pigs and they get along well. I was wondering if she is just getting old. We also give her an extra veggie feeding daily to make sure she has plenty of time to eat she seems to chew slower than the other 2 pigs but vet said teeth look fine. I just don't know if i am being over worried.
Answers:
If you've taken her for a vet check and all is well, then you've done all you can do. The only other thing you could do is get a second opinion. Be sure your vet is an exotics vet that is familiar with guinea pig care. Most regular vets don't know very much, if anything, about guinea pigs and their special needs.
Older pigs *do* lose weight as they enter their senior years, even though all else seems normal. You may want to try handfeeding her a supplemental diet called Critical Care made by Oxbow. See http://www.guinealynx.info/handfeeding.h... for instructions on handfeeding. This may help maintain her weight so she doesn't get down too far.
Hope all is well.
get here to the vet she might have something ca-led parvoe the anmil will eat normal and Lowe's weight if not taken CARE of it might die
Don't worry I have a mother-in-law 64 and eats like a pig and drinks like a hog.
don't worry about your guinea pig its normal
yes she is just getting old. My piggie is the same. i have a dwarf hammie and a guinea pig so just be prepared because her time might be comming fast.
She might have worms, if she hasn't been vaccinated in a while check her at the vet!
Weight loss can be a sign of worms or cancer!
don't worry, just check to be sure! :)

Best of luck!
Perhaps you should see another vet for second opinion. Ask for another general check up to find out why she is losing weight.

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