Hello,
Recently I have noticed that one of my Guinea Pigs (Serenity) has lost quite a bit of weight. She seemed to be loosing weight gradually, but now it has gotten to the point where it's quite alarming. Therefore, I have started to monitor her eating habits. I have noticed that she will not eat her vitamin c tablets, dry food, or timothy hay (all of which she always ate before...every single day of the over 3 years I've had her). However, when I give her a carrot or some lettuce, she gobbles it right up. She doesn't hesitate at all.
What she does with the tablets, dry food, and hay, is that she'll sort of put them between her lips and shake them around a bit then drop it...then she'll sniff like she wants to eat it, but she won't. Sometimes she even picks it back up only to put it down again.
She does have benign tumors. She's been tested for them, so I know they are benign. However, she's had them for over a year and they haven't bothered her. Is it possible that they are causing her to loose weight or not want to eat all of the sudden? It would be weird since, again, she's had them for over a year.
Serenity is a little over three years old and has never turned down a meal until recently. She's always been very chunky and was never picky. However, now Serenity is much skinner than her cage mate (Valentine -also a female) who was always skinner than her until now, because Valentine didn't ever eat as much as Serenity.
I am calling the Vets in a couple of days to schedule a check up for her. However, for peace of mind, does anyone know why she might have stopped eating everything but carrots and lettuce? I haven't tried other vegetables yet, but my point is that she won't eat her dry food, vitamins, or hay anymore. It's making me nervous. Any suggestions/advice for peace of mind? (and yes, I have already tried crushing her vitamins up, but she still won't eat them)
Recently I have noticed that one of my Guinea Pigs (Serenity) has lost quite a bit of weight. She seemed to be loosing weight gradually, but now it has gotten to the point where it's quite alarming. Therefore, I have started to monitor her eating habits. I have noticed that she will not eat her vitamin c tablets, dry food, or timothy hay (all of which she always ate before...every single day of the over 3 years I've had her). However, when I give her a carrot or some lettuce, she gobbles it right up. She doesn't hesitate at all.
What she does with the tablets, dry food, and hay, is that she'll sort of put them between her lips and shake them around a bit then drop it...then she'll sniff like she wants to eat it, but she won't. Sometimes she even picks it back up only to put it down again.
She does have benign tumors. She's been tested for them, so I know they are benign. However, she's had them for over a year and they haven't bothered her. Is it possible that they are causing her to loose weight or not want to eat all of the sudden? It would be weird since, again, she's had them for over a year.
Serenity is a little over three years old and has never turned down a meal until recently. She's always been very chunky and was never picky. However, now Serenity is much skinner than her cage mate (Valentine -also a female) who was always skinner than her until now, because Valentine didn't ever eat as much as Serenity.
I am calling the Vets in a couple of days to schedule a check up for her. However, for peace of mind, does anyone know why she might have stopped eating everything but carrots and lettuce? I haven't tried other vegetables yet, but my point is that she won't eat her dry food, vitamins, or hay anymore. It's making me nervous. Any suggestions/advice for peace of mind? (and yes, I have already tried crushing her vitamins up, but she still won't eat them)