Weight weighing: where can i find good quality, yet inexpensive kitchen scales?

[Kieri]

target seems to have them for $30 and up. also, should i look for digital or analog scales? i know digital scales are more accurate for humans, however it could be different for piggies and small animals as i've seen my vet use an analog scale. (that or maybe my vet is outdated)

i have found some websites with scales from $5-10, of course i don't know the quality of these scales. any suggestions/advice when purchasing a scale?

off topic- how much should a 4-5+ year old boar weigh? i have read boars should weigh 900-1,200 grams, however he's much older so i am not sure if the weight should be different as a senior pig. my friend said she's noticed weight loss in one of her guinea pigs, but she isn't sure of the cause. she stopped feeding him treats a while ago and has noticed a reduction in weight. i told her it's either taking the treats out of his diet or he could be showing signs of illness. i gave her some phone numbers to small pet vets in her area and suggested she go to one.

thank you in advance. i'm going to the store with my friend to help her buy materials for a new cage for her pigs, i will reply to responses in a few hours!

 

[bpatters]

Digital or analog doesn't really matter -- what you need is something that goes up to about five pounds and measures in both grams and ounces. You can look online at Target, Walmart, Amazon, Bed Bath and Beyond, and other places like that and find all sorts of scales.

The 900-1200 gram weight for boars is likely outdated. My two sows weight right at 1300 grams, and neither of them is fat. It depends so much on bone structure that it's hard to give a range and say that a pig that doesn't fit it is under- or overweight.

 

[ellisa]

I got mine at Walmart. I don't remember the brand name, but it's digital and goes up to 6 pounds and measures in both grams and ounces. It was the only cheaper one they had left. I think I paid like $10 or $15 for it. I didn't want to get a $30 one just in case I dropped it or somehow broke it. It works well, and I haven't had any problems with it. Good luck!

 

[kirsty91]

I got mine on overstock.com for like 15$ and I love it!

 

[Kieri]

thank you all so much!

i helped my friend with the elder boar build a new cage today. he was eating fine and didn't seem lethargic at all.

 

[ellisa]

My senior boar has lost muscle mass, so he looks smaller and weighs less than what he used to be. My vet said it's normal to lose some muscle mass, as long as they aren't super duper thin that they are sickly. Maybe this is going on with your friends pig. How old is he?

 

[Kieri]

i thought he was 4-5, but she told me he is 3 years old. she recently stopped feeding them treats from petsmart and has noticed weight loss in her oldest pig.

when i went to her house i could feel a little bone, but he didn't appear super bone-y. i think i noticed his boniness because she mentioned it and my own pigs are fairly plump, so i'm used to holding plump pigs. he was very talkative and he was eating a plenty of hay and pellets.