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Weighing scales for rabbits and guinea pigs
- Thread starter SarahP
- Start date
Santa
Wise Old Thumper
:wave:
Actually I'd just go for digital kitchen scales. The baby scales I have are much less accurate as they weigh in 10g increments whereas my kitchen ones weigh in 1g increment so they are much better when small fluctuations can make a big difference. Also the baby scales are designed to weigh accurately with a baby lying on its back, I find that the reading varies tremendously depending on how the animal is placed on the scales. I can check Santa's weight much more easily and cheaply on a pair of Argos digital scales
Edit: something like this looks good as it is in 1g and has a nice large flat base: http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/8430029/Trail/searchtext>KITCHEN+SCALES.htm
Actually I'd just go for digital kitchen scales. The baby scales I have are much less accurate as they weigh in 10g increments whereas my kitchen ones weigh in 1g increment so they are much better when small fluctuations can make a big difference. Also the baby scales are designed to weigh accurately with a baby lying on its back, I find that the reading varies tremendously depending on how the animal is placed on the scales. I can check Santa's weight much more easily and cheaply on a pair of Argos digital scales
Edit: something like this looks good as it is in 1g and has a nice large flat base: http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/8430029/Trail/searchtext>KITCHEN+SCALES.htm
Last edited:
SarahP
Wise Old Thumper
Oh how interesting, thanks. The ones they use at the vets seem to come up quite different to what we come up with. Do you find that? Obviously allowing for fluctuations in timing etc.
My current scales are digital, but they are quite small. What scales have you found that you can fit a bunny on?
My current scales are digital, but they are quite small. What scales have you found that you can fit a bunny on?
Santa
Wise Old Thumper
Mine weigh about 10g higher than the vets ones. I just have regular small kitchen scales with a little round base. For Santa I just plop her on the base, she just about fits :lol: For bigger bunnehs I put a container on top of it, then zero it and then weigh. The one I've linked to when I edited above looks pretty good, as it looks as if it has a good sized base to start off with
clutterydrawer
Wise Old Thumper
I just put them on the kitchen scales, in a big lasagne dish, with a few pellets to keep them from jumping off too quickly!
pigsforlife
Mama Doe
I use kitchen scales for the guinea pigs. They just sit there, they don't even bother moving. Getting scales with a tare function is really helpful - then you can put them into a tub if you need to. Charlee & Noah (buns) don't fit on them though (even though they are small buns - nethie and dwarf lop x). My vet has baby scales - they would be really good for weighing rabbits.
i have postal scales. its easy to weigh the buns in the carrier and no stress of trying to keep them on baby scales :lol::lol:
i have one like these, but mine did have a baby scales attachment too
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Digital-25Kg-..._Materials&hash=item1e5bc40d1c#ht_2039wt_1137
i have one like these, but mine did have a baby scales attachment too
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Digital-25Kg-..._Materials&hash=item1e5bc40d1c#ht_2039wt_1137
pigsforlife
Mama Doe
Does anyone weigh their buns regulary? I weigh the guinea pigs every week, mainly because they are soo good at hiding illness, and often weight loss is the first indication that something is wrong. But with both buns not very approving of the whole idea, and the scales a little small - it makes for a very tough job.
Blackberry & Co
Wise Old Thumper
The vet checks my buns weight whenever they're in, whatever reason they're in for.
I have never successfully managed to weigh them at home....way to jumpy!!!!
The pigs sit still, tho - too much effort to move :lol:
BattleKat
Wise Old Thumper
I've weighed each of them a few times but it's not a regular thing. I like to think there are things I would pick up on (not eating, hunched up stance, etc) that would let me know if they were under the weather. With your rabbits being indoors I think you'd probably notice any problems very quickly so I wouldn't worry too much.
Santa
Wise Old Thumper
I weigh Santa at least weekly because often the first sign of her developing a bad snuffly bout is weight loss, before she has any outward signs. The others are weighed, but less often - maybe between 2-4 weekly.
Weight loss in buns can be an early sign of underlying problems ranging from dental issues and infections right through to cancer or coccidiosis so it's not a bad idea to weigh them regularly. At least that way you stand more chance of picking something up early. My vet suggests that any 3 weight losses in a row or any loss of more than 5% normal should be given a check up even if there are no other signs.
Weight loss in buns can be an early sign of underlying problems ranging from dental issues and infections right through to cancer or coccidiosis so it's not a bad idea to weigh them regularly. At least that way you stand more chance of picking something up early. My vet suggests that any 3 weight losses in a row or any loss of more than 5% normal should be given a check up even if there are no other signs.
clutterydrawer
Wise Old Thumper
I weigh mine every fortnight and keep a spreadsheet of it
My first rabbit, Poppy, got very underweight and I didn't realise because if you see someone every day it's hard to spot gradual changes By the time I'd realised how poorly she was it was too late Also it's for my own peace of mind - sometimes I'm convinced Apache is totally emaciated then when I weigh him he's actually put on :roll:
