HELP ADVICE NEEDED

Debbie on April 17th 2010, 3:39 pm

Albi come to live with me about 8 weeks ago weighing 320g week by week his weight is dropping he is now 262g. He is on 4 different types of cat biscuits { which he only eats about 10-15 per night, counted them out}. Twice a week he has chicken, minced beef, egg, peas, carrot, swede and a little cottage cheese. All this he eats well. Twice a week he has some wet cat food mixed in with he biscuits he licks of all the meat then leaves the biscuits. He also has about 10 locust and about 10 mealies a week. He is very active at night in his wheel and running around his cage, showing no signs of illness at allapart from being far to skinny. I took him to the vet yesterday where he a had a general, had his teeth checked and 6 x-rays from different angles and after alot of prodding and poking came up with nothing wrong. BUT WHY IS HE LIKE A HAT RACK any suggestions PLEASE sad

enola69 on April 17th 2010, 3:43 pm

Males are sometimes alot lighter than females. I have one thats weight fluctuates between 260 to 180g!! YES 180!!!

As long as he is eating and pooing I should not worry too much.

have you tried him on the pets at home purely brand as that has a good ratio of fat to protein.

tropheus on April 17th 2010, 3:54 pm

have you wormed him as a precaution . and it may just be he is a naturally small hog that was on a food too high in fat contant before you received him or could not get the anount od exercise he can now get with your self

cheers col

animal addict on April 17th 2010, 3:57 pm

have you had a fecal to rule out worms?

cut the wet cat food down to once a month - its moistly moisture so have little nutritional benefit but does fill them up

up his mealie content - they are fattening but some hogs need more mealies than recommended if they are very active to help maintain weight

Try a slightly higher fat biscuit (some are 12-14% )

How much of the meat etc are you giving him - I only give a teaspoon full so he still has to eat biscuits to fill up on

weigh weekly for a few weeks and take it from there

blush

Debbie on April 17th 2010, 4:00 pm

He was wormed yesterday at the vets but the vet did not think he had worms how oftened do you guys worm?

Debbie on April 17th 2010, 4:07 pm

I see what you are saying he gets more than a teaspoon of meat more like 3-4 teaspoons so cut that down then if hes hungry he will eat the biscuits common sense really { how thick do i feel} blush

animal addict on April 17th 2010, 4:13 pm

nooooooooooo not thick at all - some people do feed more it just seems that they need an even quantity of both to maintain a good weight etc. If he's been wormed then I wouldnt worry then if there is any worms then it will be being treated so rules that out blush

Debbie on April 17th 2010, 4:42 pm

Thanks alot for all your help everyone i will keep you posted. hog

Debbie on April 21st 2010, 8:45 am

On Sunday morning checked on him am as usual he was sitting in the corner of his cage tucked up and to me looked like in a alot of pain. Half an hour later we were down the vets she gave him a strong painkiller which worked in a matter of minutes thank god, she then took him out the back to check him out. I was called back in to she her about one hour later, she said it looks like he has a bladder infection, it hurts him so much to have a wee he has been holding it in which has made the infection worse she massaged his stomach and finally he went bless him but there was alot of blood in the wee. He stayed at the vets over night so she could carry on with his painkillers and antibiotics. In the end he ended up staying there until last night, he is now home on four different medications [ which he is so good taking bless him] i have to massage is tummy every two hours to make sure he wees again he is so good with that. I have been giving him a paste food from a syringe but finally last night he managed some biscuilts and drank all by himself, so fingers crossed we are turning a corner with him. Back to the vets tomorrow for check up will kept you posted.