[Gpdd] [HEALTH] Weight loss / gain

[DebJonSara at aol.com]

Liz
 
I am pretty obsessive about weighing my piggies, and can tell you that  their 
weight does vary continually from week to week. I have several healthy  
piggies who weigh less than 2lbs - in fact, Scarecrow (aka Skiggy, but don't ask  
me why!) has never gone above 1lb 15 oz, and went down to 1lb 10  oz when she 
had a neck abscess in September 2005. Her weight has been up  and down since, 
and hit its lowest ever at just under 1lb 10 oz last week, but I  am not 
over-worried, as it will probably rise again, and like your Phoebe, she  is feisty, 
full of beans and eats very well. She was 4 years old last  month. I actually 
weigh in grams, and have learned not to panic if weight drops  even as much as 
100g (nearly 4 oz) between one week and the next, as that amount  can easily 
be put on again by the following week. 
 
I only panic if there is a continual weight loss over 3 or more weeks, as I  
had with Fidget before Christmas. In fact, if the weight has dropped over 2  
weeks, I weigh more frequently, examine for signs of injury, illness or dental  
problems and watched for changes in behaviour. In Fidget's case, he was  
eating and drinking more than usual. I treated him with Valbezen for worms, and  
he just celebrated his 4th birthday on Saturday, with his weight higher than  
it's been since August!
 
I never panic about weight gain! Probably I should, as obesity is as  
life-threatening in piggies as it is in humans, but I just feel it gives me and  the 
piggie more time to get sorted if any weight loss due to illness does  occur.
 
Obviously, continue to monitor, but it sounds to me as though Phoebe is  
doing just fine!
 
Debbie (and the 13 Dolly Mixtures)