Yogi

[pigwrangler]

I have a 5 year old boar, he will be 6 in March 2025. He was diagnosed with TMJ over a year ago. I have an experienced exotics vet, I trust her. Yogi had a dental exam then, and a full physical.Nothing else was wrong with him, that's all they could find. He gets a dental exam, and full exam every year. He was having trouble eating his pellets back then. Since starting the Meloxicam, his eating problem went away. His appetite is good, he eats all of his pellets , eats hay, gets fresh veggies, drinks his water.

His weight at that time was about 3 pounds. He has steadily been losing weight, He is down to 2 pounds, 8 oz. He eats all his food on his own, plus I supplement with Critical Care, which he eats up on his own. I feed Oxbow Garden Select, and Small Pet Select timothy or orchard grass. He gets bottled spring water. He is peeing normally, and his stool looks normal.

My question is, Do you think the Meloxicam has caused renal failure, or ulcers? I am going to call the vet Monday about this. He is not acting like he is in pain ( I know, they hide it). Should I stop the meloxicam ? I did read the articles about using Paracetamol.Thank you in advance.

[Lynx]

I cannot comment on the Paracetamol nor on the possible renal failure or ulcers. I defer to an exam and medical professional.

For the dental exam, have you been taking xrays?
If so, I imagine you will learn more with a new set (glad you have an experienced exotics vet).

Knowing that as guinea pigs age, they do tend to loose some weight, how do you think his body condition is using the guidelines on this page?
https://www.guinealynx.info/weigh.html#condition

[pigwrangler]

Yes, xrays are done every time for dental, plus, they give him a little ISO to put him out and look more thoroughly. I looked way back in my past posts. Yogi was diagnosed with TMJ in January of 2023. I am definitely calling his vet on Monday. Meantime, he is eating everything I give him. Maybe, at 3 pounds 1oz, he was a wee bit pudgy. I did follow the link that suggests normal weights, and description of body appearance, I think he might appear on the normal side. I can feel his backbone, his neck does have a small amount of fat pad on it, his hip bones do stick out, where before, they were not as obvious.

[Lynx]

Thanks for checking him over. I think it will help put in perspective his weight loss (in other words, maybe okay for him at his weight and age?).

[pigwrangler]

Could be. I always do my pigs "vet care" myself every month ( nails,ears,skin,teeth,feet, boar care). He doesn't care for it...

[pigwrangler]

May I post a pic of yogi?

[Lynx]

You are certainly welcome to but there is no way to do it through the board software.

You can use a link or image tags if you host it somewhere like flickr.

Lots of tips here:
viewtopic.php?p=2325058#p2325058

[pigwrangler]

So, I called his vet. The soonest we can get in is Monday, October 21st. I am continuing to supplement his regular food with Critical care. I am weighing him daily. I plan on asking the vet for an ultrasound to check for GI issues, urinary issues, and a dental exam. Plus bloodwork to look at renal function. His weight today was 2lbs, 7oz. Maybe I am worried for nothing, they don't lose weight for no reason. And, better safe than sorry.

[Talishan]

It's not at all unusual, in our experience, for them to lose some weight as they age, especially if they were a little on the chubby side to start with. Sort of the reverse of humans. :-)

That said, you're doing all the right things to have him checked out regardless. Only thing I can think of that hasn't been mentioned is the possibility of heart enlargement/heart function compromise. There is something of a link between dental issues and heart function, although it's not by any means definitive.

If it were me I'd ask your vet about it. Otherwise, you're absolutely doing all the right things, and you're a good and caring owner. Bless you. Please let us know how it goes on Monday.

https://guinealynx.info/heart.html

[pigwrangler]

Will do. Thanks for the input.

[pigwrangler]

Yogi saw his vet today. I voiced my concern about gut issues because he has been on meloxicam for a year and a half. I also said I was concerned about kidney failure. She said she didn't want to do an ultrasound because she was not experienced with that. They tried to draw blood, but were unable. She said it's difficult to draw on guinea pigs, but they could put him out and try again. They poked him twice. I said no to the anesthesia. She did a physical exam, and got urine from him. That's all. And I was supposed to get a call today about the result of the UA, and a dosage recommendation for Tylenol suspension. I didn't hear back. She said that she has had many guinea pigs on long term meloxicam without any problems. She said continue the meloxidyl. He has still lost 8 ounces over about a 6 month period. She is familiar with Guinealynx and uses it. I'm at a loss. I don't feel like his weight loss cause was investigated well.

[Lynx]

How did she try to draw blood? I remember years ago that sometimes an over clip of a nail was done to get enough blood to test.