|
Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2014 23:50:55 GMT -5
So we've only had our guys for a week or two, so I don't have a great baseline for what their weight should be, but I was playing with my slinkies this afternoon and I suddenly realized that my albino Al feels waayyy lighter than his brother. I picked them up and poked around a bit, had my boyfriend do the same, and we came to the conclusion: Al is *significantly* lighter and bonier than Ed. It's unsettling and I'm not sure what to do about it. He had a bit of a cold or something that made him a bit sneezy last week, and his poops have been alternating between normal and a bit watery for the last week, but that's about it. His behavior has been normal--- as I typed this, he woke up, ate a bunch, got some water, and got up to play with his brother. But I'm worried.
They're scheduled for their first vet appointment on Friday, so I'm hoping to bring it up then, but does anyone have any experience that says I should try to rush them in earlier? (Our hedgehog has her appointment tomorrow, I could bring them in together.....)
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2014 8:47:59 GMT -5
Has he gotten lighter in the past few weeks you've had him? Can you see his ribs, do they stick out? If you can feel them that's good, if you can see them it's not.
Do me a favor and hold him up under his arms and get a full body picture of him and post it on here. If you need help uploading just let me know.
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Oct 1, 2014 9:23:58 GMT -5
Is he getting lighter, or is your other one getting heavier? Winter weight increase happens quickly and can make the others who haven't packed it on yet seem scrawny by comparison.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2014 9:34:22 GMT -5
It doesn't seem like his ribs are sticking out, so that's good.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2014 10:21:06 GMT -5
What we look for in a Dangling picture is a "waist line" and I don't see that on Al. You should be able to feel his rib bones, but not see them.
Is his nose nice and pink? Is he eating normally? You said his poops were a little watery, but his play level is good.
Like Sherry said, he may just be slower to gain his Winter weight. He also could be the Whippet body type and Ed might be more of the Bulldog body type.
I think you could wait until Friday and see what the vet says. When you get a chance, pick up a pet scale. Weigh them weekly or monthly and keep a log. That way you will know if there are sudden or gradual weight changes. That can alert you to a possible problem.
What are they currently eating?
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Oct 1, 2014 13:03:54 GMT -5
Winter weight gain is so unsettling as is the spring weight loss. I've got two 'bino boys who are presently a full pound different. They're full brothers, same length, same structure...they just put weight and take it off at different times. Enigma is much faster at both putting his weight on and taking it off. Bacchus on the other hand never gets as heavy as his brother but in the spring holds his weight longer. Both boys will dump a full pound in the spring. ciao
|
|