Guinea pigs might be frail little animals relating to their well being, so it’s essential to routinely weigh them. However you may be questioning, what’s a traditional weight for a guinea pig? How are you going to inform in the event that they weigh an excessive amount of or too little?
Guinea pigs fluctuate in weight, however can weigh wherever from 900 grams to 1500 grams or extra! They don’t usually get obese as long as they’re consuming a correct weight loss plan and have a big sufficient cage.
On this article, we’ll focus on guinea pig measurement and weight, how massive guinea pigs get, and tips on how to inform in case your guinea pig is just too fats or too skinny.
Guinea Pig Measurement: How Huge Are Guinea Pigs?
Guinea pigs usually vary from 8-12 inches lengthy. Males are typically bigger than females, and their breed makes a distinction too! Very giant breeds could measure as a lot as 18 inches, however that is unusual.
In terms of peak, guinea pigs have quick little legs and usually measure just some inches tall.
Guinea Pig Weight: How A lot Ought to Guinea Pigs Weigh?
Guinea pigs can fluctuate quite a bit in weight (900 – 1500 grams or extra) and nonetheless be completely wholesome! Whereas there are some unfastened guidelines–males usually weigh greater than females, and a few breeds are greater than others–there are additionally many exceptions.
To know if a guinea pig is a wholesome weight, take a look at their physique:
- You shouldn’t be capable to see their hips, backbone, or ribs–however it is best to be capable to really feel them simply. You shouldn’t, nonetheless, be capable to really feel every particular person rib.
- You must also be capable to see their toes when viewing them from the aspect.
- Their entrance chest space must be narrower than their rear, however not dramatically so.
- Their tummy ought to seem straight and curveless whereas viewing them from the aspect, not curved upward or sagging downward.
Tips on how to Hold Your Guinea Pig at a Wholesome Weight
It’s additionally essential to concentrate to your guinea pig’s care. Guinea pigs fed the proper weight loss plan and who’ve room to roam will not be going to be obese and shouldn’t be placed on any form of weight loss plan.
Feeding a whole lot of sugary meals like fruit or carrot, extra pellets (greater than ⅛ cup), or the incorrect hay kind (similar to oat hay) are the commonest causes a piggy could also be obese. They could even be obese if they’ve a cage below 7.5 sq. toes for one to 2 pigs, or regardless of the minimal is for the scale of their herd.
Though there are numerous estimates on the market for a way a lot guinea pigs ought to weigh, it’s typically harmful to attempt to make your guinea pig match the mildew. Guinea Lynx notes that even many veterinary books cite weights which can be irregular for pet guinea pigs.
A very powerful factor is to study what’s regular to your particular person piggy and to control their weight from there. Gradual weight achieve as a child guinea pig ages is regular, whereas weight reduction at any age can point out a well being drawback except it’s on account of a purposeful change you made, similar to lowering pellets.
Senior guinea pigs could drop some pounds as they age, however ought to at all times see a vet in the event that they lose 50 grams or extra in a single week.
How A lot Do Child Guinea Pigs Weigh?
Most child guinea pigs will begin at simply 60-120 grams, and might achieve 50 grams or extra every week for his or her first eight weeks. After this, their weight will proceed to develop till they attain their full measurement at round one 12 months previous.
Similar to with adults, child guinea pigs don’t have particular weight standards and a few completely wholesome piggies will fall exterior the traditional weight vary. A very powerful factor is to weigh them frequently and guarantee they’re gaining weight at a gradual tempo.
Child guinea pigs can develop in a short time, so don’t be alarmed in the event that they achieve a whole lot of weight at first. This could even out as soon as they’re absolutely grown, and they need to keep their grownup weight pretty steadily.
In case your child guinea pig loses weight otherwise you assume they’re rising too slowly, see your veterinarian as this generally is a signal of sickness.
How A lot Ought to a Pregnant Guinea Pig Weigh?
Pregnant guinea pigs can as a lot as double in weight. Nevertheless, there’s no particular weight your guinea pig must be at any level in her being pregnant. As an alternative, concentrate on making certain she’s step by step gaining weight.
In case your guinea pig is pregnant, please see your veterinarian for steerage and to make sure a wholesome being pregnant for each mama and her infants.
Guinea pigs over six months previous experiencing their first being pregnant are very likely to die giving birth naturally, so searching for veterinary care is important in these circumstances. Your guinea pig will seemingly want a c-section.
Do Male or Feminine Guinea Pigs Weigh Extra?
Typically, male guinea pigs weigh greater than females. Nevertheless, this received’t at all times be the case to your piggies. Some females are heftier than regular, and a few boys are smaller.
How Typically Ought to I Weigh My Guinea Pigs?
Some folks weigh their guinea pigs as soon as weekly, whereas others weigh them month-to-month. There’s some debate right here, however I choose weekly.
My reasoning is that weight reduction is commonly the primary signal of sickness, and sickness in guinea pigs can progress in a short time. A weekly weigh-in makes you extra prone to catch well being issues so you possibly can act on them immediately.
In case your guinea pig is sick or recovering from sickness or surgical procedure, weigh them each day till they get better. They’re in a frailer state than ordinary, and checking their weight each day helps be sure that they’re consuming.
Tips on how to Weigh Your Guinea Pig
- Buy a kitchen scale. You need the dimensions to measure in grams for essentially the most correct outcomes.
- Discover a container giant sufficient to your guinea pig to suit inside and set it on the dimensions. This may assist to comprise them whereas they’re being weighed.
- Tare the dimensions. There’s usually a “tare” button that may set the burden to zero whereas the container is on it. This ensures you’re solely getting the burden of your guinea pig with out the added weight of your container.
- Set your piggy within the container and file their weight. You might need to attend a minute for them to cease shifting, or repeatedly tuck their toes again into the container in the event that they attempt to run off.
- Hold be aware of their weight in a pocket book or in your cellphone. I choose a spreadsheet on my cellphone for this, however wherever will do! You simply need to have the ability to evaluate their weights from week to week.
- Repeat for added guinea pigs.
Your guinea pig’s weight will fluctuate naturally all through the day. For essentially the most correct outcomes, select one place to weigh your guinea pigs and attempt to weigh them on the identical time every week.
As an example, don’t weigh your guinea pig after veggie time one week and earlier than veggies the following, as a result of they’ll be heavier after consuming!
In case your guinea pig loses 50 grams or extra, see your veterinarian as this generally is a signal of sickness. Weight lack of 100 grams or extra over a single week warrants an emergency vet journey.
Greatest and Smallest Guinea Pig Breeds
Rex guinea pigs are typically the most important pet guinea pigs, whereas Texels and Individuals are two of the smallest.
There are additionally Cuy guinea pigs, that are a lot bigger than your typical pet guinea pig. Sadly, it’s because they’re bred as meat in some components of the world.
Some folks preserve Cuys as pets, however they are typically extra wild in nature than different home piggies. Additionally they have shorter lifespans.
How Do I Know if My Guinea Pig is Too Fats?
There are two methods to find out in case your guinea pig is obese:
- Taking a look at their care, and
- Assessing the form of their physique
It’s essential to do not forget that guinea pigs have to eat continuously and have quick metabolisms. Additionally they are inclined to drop some pounds rapidly when ailing, so it’s higher for them to be somewhat chunky than underweight.
In case your guinea pig is obese, please make sure that they aren’t pregnant! Pregnant piggies want extra meals than ordinary, and also you and your vet might want to have a watchful eye on them to make sure a wholesome being pregnant.
Feeding and Housing
Guinea pigs are unlikely to be obese when fed a correct weight loss plan and given sufficient area of their cage. Do not forget that piggies have quick metabolisms and have to eat continuously to outlive.
By no means restrict hay, and don’t lower their general veggie consumption to below one cup per guinea pig. As an alternative, concentrate on feeding the proper number of greens–principally darkish, leafy greens with restricted “treats” similar to carrots and fruit.
Free-feeding pellets is the commonest means guinea pigs can develop into obese. Ensure you’re feeding simply ⅛ cup of high-quality, timothy-based pellets to your guinea pig. Keep away from pellets with seeds or colourful items as these are unhealthy and sometimes comprise dangerous substances.
For 2 guinea pigs, the minimal cage measurement is 7.5 sq. toes–however 10.5 sq. toes or extra offers them way more room to run round. Even with flooring time, guinea pigs in small cages can’t get the train they want.
Physique Rating
On an obese guinea pig, it’ll be tough to really feel their backbone, hips, and ribs. Their stomach may have an outward curve because it hangs down in a “u” form, and in very obese piggies it could contact the bottom. It might even be tough to see their toes.
The rear and entrance ends stands out as the identical measurement or shut, whereas the chest space is slimmer in guinea pigs at a wholesome weight.
Lengthy-haired piggies might be tougher to evaluate, however do make sure that to issue of their lengthy fur! They could appear to be they weigh greater than they do.
How Do I Know if My Guinea Pig is Too Skinny?
Firstly, do not forget that weight reduction warrants a vet journey as quickly as potential! Whereas senior piggies could naturally weigh lower than they did in younger maturity, weight reduction is commonly an indicator of sickness.
In case your guinea pig is skinny as a result of they’ve stopped consuming, this warrants an emergency vet go to. They will go into GI Stasis, which is lethal, in simply 6-8 hours.
In case your guinea pig hasn’t misplaced weight, however you’re apprehensive they’re too skinny, search for the next:
- Seen ribs, backbone, or hip bones
- Their entrance half is far smaller than their rear finish, or their entrance and rear are the identical measurement and each are very skinny
- Their abdomen curves inward towards the physique when considered from the aspect
You’ll additionally wish to guarantee your piggy is getting a correct weight loss plan, which we’ll focus on under.
Eating regimen
Guinea pigs ought to at all times have limitless entry to contemporary timothy hay (or one other acceptable hay similar to orchard grass).
Hay makes up 80% of their weight loss plan, and they’re continuously consuming so as to preserve their weight up and survive. Not gaining access to hay even for a couple of hours might be harmful.
You’ll additionally wish to guarantee your guinea pig is consuming a cup of combined greens, which ought to consist primarily of darkish, leafy greens.
Lastly, ⅛ cup of pellets will guarantee your piggy will get all of their each day vitamins. Whereas some folks feed limitless greens as a substitute, this requires a whole lot of analysis and dedication to get proper–it isn’t for inexperienced piggy homeowners!
Serving to Your Guinea Pig Acquire Weight
When you’re already feeding all the above and your guinea pig remains to be underweight, step one is to see your veterinarian. There’s seemingly a medical motive they’re not gaining or retaining on weight.
Feeding extra pellets will help sick or senior piggies preserve their weight up. You may also feed a complement similar to Oxbow Critical Care. That is combined with water to show right into a paste, which might then be put right into a bowl or syringe fed.
Oat hay is greater in fats and might be fed alongside your common hay, or you possibly can add a wholesome forage combine to their hay to encourage them to eat it.
Thanks for studying! I hope this text has answered your whole questions on guinea pig measurement and weight, and tips on how to inform in case your guinea pig is a wholesome weight.
Bear in mind to speak to your veterinarian in the event you suspect your guinea pig isn’t wholesome. By no means restrict their hay consumption and make sure to feed a wide range of darkish, leafy greens each day.
