Guinea Pig with hair loss and weight loss

Buffythedebtslayer

Bit of a long shot posting here but I have been to the vets four times now.

My male GP has barely any hair left on his back legs. He has had two lots of mite treatment and this made no difference. he has lost about 150 grams in weight. He eats like a little horse but isn't putting on any weight. I think he is doing it himself - the hair loss...He also drinks a lot - diabetic? He currently weighs 920grams.

I lost the heard leader in July, she was ill for about 2 weeks...he started all this stuff around then.

The other 3 piggies are doing well, little over weight but in good nick generally. no mites and excellent appetites.

I don't know what to do. He is quite perky just thin and bald.......

Any suggestions ?

Buffy

calicocat

Mmmm. My initial thought would have been mange, but if you have been to the vets.....

You could separate them out, or him, on his own for a while and see if the symptoms persist. Is he left in with the girls?....all the time?...I had one as a youngster nearly die as I left him in with the girlfriend for way too long and at that age didn't know better.


I would separate him out and see if he improves.

Buffythedebtslayer

They appear to me to get on very well, he has been "done" so not a pregnancy risk. Why would leaving them together be a problem?

I did think about if he was being bullied or stressed out but he seems to be ok....as in no one is picking on him they all hang out together, eat together, sit together.

I cut their nails today, the ladies are all soft and fat and my poor boy felt like a bag of bones.

I think I may go back to the vets at the weekend. just watched him and his appetite is good. I can't understand it.

thanks Calicocat x

calicocat

Ah.....mine wasn't 'done', so was getting too much 'exercise'.

I would still take him out and have him in the house if they aren't already. I used to give mine bread and warm milk if under the weather, 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.

You won't know if it's anything to do with the group if you leave him in.

If they are all house pigs even better, in that you can separate him out but he can still hear his mates around, and you can then have him on the sofa (or wherever) with one of his mates for an hour or so at a time.

When I have had poorly pigs they have always done much better by being in the house, and on their own in general until they pick up as they can go down quick.

Is he still talking and rattling/purring etc?


Edit....that was baby milk with the bread, and if you haven't got another indoor house you can make one for an ill pig from an old deep drawer you no longer need and suspend the water bottle over the top. I would also go back to vets before the weekend if he seems any worse, or go onto a cavie forum for advice and they may have local bod who could help you.

piggywitch

hello, i would go back to vet also there is a really good guinea pig forum guinea lynx, lots of very knowledgeable people over there, im sure they would have some ideas on how to help. hope he gets better soon.

randm

I recommend you contact the cct Cambridge cavy trust, the weight lost could be due to worms, they should be wormed every 3months. The cct phone number is on the https://www.britishassociationofrodentologists.co.uk page. They have helped me brilliantly throughout the years.

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

Bit of a long shot posting here but I have been to the vets four times now.

My male GP has barely any hair left on his back legs. He has had two lots of mite treatment and this made no difference. he has lost about 150 grams in weight. He eats like a little horse but isn't putting on any weight. I think he is doing it himself - the hair loss...He also drinks a lot - diabetic? He currently weighs 920grams.

I lost the heard leader in July, she was ill for about 2 weeks...he started all this stuff around then.

The other 3 piggies are doing well, little over weight but in good nick generally. no mites and excellent appetites.

I don't know what to do. He is quite perky just thin and bald.......

Any suggestions ?

Buffy

Buffythedebtslayer

thank you very much for the replies, I shall go back to the vet as I said and ask about worming.

I googled it and it did say weight loss was a long term sign. Also they have been out on the grass loads this summer so it is possible.

thank you again XXX

randm

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

thank you very much for the replies, I shall go back to the vet as I said and ask about worming.

I googled it and it did say weight loss was a long term sign. Also they have been out on the grass loads this summer so it is possible.

thank you again XXX

Also, if he is drinking a lot of water he could have a kidney problem. Did the vet do a sticky tape test to look for mites..?

Buffythedebtslayer

He wants to do a urine test at the next visit. Must ring tomorrow to make appointment.

I really just want to feed them muesli instead of nuggets, they miss that and aren't eating the nuggets. just hay - which I know is very good for them etc just a bit boring.

thanks X

randm

One other thing that drinking a lot and losing weight could indicate Is teeth problems, sometimes their front teeth look okay but the back teeth can overgrow.one of mine had back teeth over growing the tongue, he had to have his teeth clipped every week as they grow quickly. If this is the case remember that the piggie does not need to go under anaesthetic to have teeth clipped. If yor vet says he does then get out of there, and ring the cct and tell them what's going on and they will recommend a local vet or rodentologist who knows what they are doing.did the vet do a skin test for the mites? Why are you feeding them nuggets? Same taste every mouthful , very boring. Let us know what happens.

Buffythedebtslayer

I had previously fed them Muesli which my boy loved but the vet said it would be better for all their health (my younger piggies are a bit fat to be honest) if they all had nuggets.

I am going back to the vets on Saturday. He eats hay fine and his veg but every time I turn round he is drinking water and worrying me so much.

I do worry about his teeth, the last vet (a locum) tried to look at his back teeth but he was very freaked out by it all.

thanks again XX