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Author Topic: How to gain weight?  (Read 3161 times)

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Toyger

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How to gain weight?
« on: January 04, 2017, 03:09:32 PM »

I have an underweight rescue, boy about 2 years old at 344 grams. He desperately needs to gain weight!

Any tips to help him gain faster?
Right now he has food pellets and timothy hay. I have alphalpa, would it be good for him to suplement with some?
Anything that helps them gain well?

He was in very good shape and kept his weight around 360-370, though he didn't gain it was stable, happy and active. But his cage mate decided to bully him now, which he hasn't done before. He has some scratches, but they are healing fine, but it made him loose some of his already low weight :(

I keep him in a separate cage now, the bully will have to live alone. My third boy I'll try reintroduce once he is feeling better as they got along wonderfully. (I keep them in three separate cages now)

Any tips on what to give him will be helpfull. I am still a novice, they are all rescues.
« Last Edit: January 20, 2017, 05:13:28 PM by Toyger »
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BLS Chins

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Re: Urgent: How to gain weight?
« Reply #1 on: January 04, 2017, 08:12:27 PM »

You dont want to rush weight gain. A good pellet and hay along with time is what he needs right now
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BLS Chins
Hobby breeder and rescue in south central pa
specializing in ebony, tan, goldbar, standard and black velvets

Toyger

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Re: Urgent: How to gain weight?
« Reply #2 on: January 06, 2017, 07:06:56 AM »

The pellets I have seem decent, but is of a lesser known european brand so people so far couldn't wauch for it, so I found a good webshop that sells oxbow so he'll get that now (the timothy hay I have is also oxbow. Only my vet carries the brand but didn't have the food I needed)

But is a bit of alfalfa good or not though? I've heard sick chillas can benefit from a little mixed in, could he benefit from it too?
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BLS Chins

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Re: Urgent: How to gain weight?
« Reply #3 on: January 06, 2017, 04:26:11 PM »

Alfalfa is fine to give most chins but it can cause softer stools. If you notice that, then switch back to timothy or a grass hay
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BLS Chins
Hobby breeder and rescue in south central pa
specializing in ebony, tan, goldbar, standard and black velvets

Toyger

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Re: Urgent: How to gain weight?
« Reply #4 on: January 07, 2017, 11:44:28 AM »

Ok, thanks :)
His current stool looks normal, I'll keep an eye on it.
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Toyger

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Re: How to gain weight?
« Reply #5 on: January 20, 2017, 05:15:23 PM »

He is doing well. Has gone over 400grams now! Though still low it is highest he has been after I got him :)
Just changed food to oxbow and meadow hay to timothy
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1 Mouse
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BLS Chins

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Re: How to gain weight?
« Reply #6 on: January 21, 2017, 04:33:47 PM »

glad to hear hes doing well!
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BLS Chins
Hobby breeder and rescue in south central pa
specializing in ebony, tan, goldbar, standard and black velvets
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