Help New Guinea Pig Won't Eat, Drink, Or Move

[Kasey]

hello, I just got a 6 month old guinea pig today. I can understand that he is nervous, as he is shaking at different times, not moving, eating, or drinking. However, this foes concern me as I am beginning to worry about his overall health. We have checked all of the areas needed to see if he is healthy, which he seems to be so far. I am going away this weekend and worry about his health when I am gone. We try to be quiet and approachable, especially when he's grazing. I know it will take a little while for him to warm up, however, are there any suggestions on how to improve him eating and drinking for starters?
Thank you!
-K

 

[Stayc1989]

Try giving him some cucumber, that's a favourite in our house and contains water. There are loads of great threads on here for new owners. I would copy a link to them but I'm unsure how to. Does he have a friend? If not he would probably do better having someone he can communicate with especially if he's shy. They usually copy each other and learn from each other. And might come out of his shell abit quicker. If he does then he might just need afew days to adjust to his new surroundings. Try covering half his cage with a towel to make it abit more cosy for him

 

[Betsy]

Piggies need time to settle in their new surroundings. Give him hideys if you have not done so as it'll make him feel safer if he has somewhere to hide. Is he on his own? Piggies do better when they are in pairs they are naturally a herd animal and don't particularly like being lonely. Others know more than me! @Wiebke? @sport_billy Can you help?

 

[Tiamolly123]

If you wet all his veg when he has it, it will hydrate him. do you give him pellets as well. Sounds like he's frightened, he needs a mate, you should always have 2. You should have got him when you came back. He's going to think I'm all by myself. With guinea pigs or any other animal, they like consistency. Like Betsy says hides, then when he feels frighten he can hide in one. That's an essential. How big is your cage if you post a pic we can see if there's anything that would make him feel more confident. Also have you found a savvy vet & booked him in. Where did you get your little fellow from.
Who is looking after him while you are away.

 

[gizzy]

His sences are probabay working on overlaod , new smells ! And things he has never seen before
He probaly needs time to adapt to you and his new suroundings ,

l would give him a "feel safe" place that He can freely run back to if he feel frightened!
A dark place that he can look at as his own
And l would place food in varieous places untill he has become a custom to his new surroundings!
Don't force him to eat , or anything else for that matter , just let him learn to feel untreated

Proof that he is eating will be new poops

 

[rome_italy]

cut also some fresh grass and put it on a corner of his cage. Don't expect to see him drink if he eats grass and vegs; my piggies have never drunk a drop of water for months now but they and are well hydrated. Usually piggies don't eat unknown food; in fact my piggies go on eating only the few vegs learnt to eat at the rescue (and they don't like cucumber, carrots, fennel...); put into the cage a pile of hay, so that he can hide underneath. And leave him alone in the room... maybe he is sniffing the presence of a predator (that is YOU...)

 

[DM030819]

Guinea pig are prey animals, unlike cats and dogs which are predators. So when their surroundings are new they want to be invisible. So, they'll stand very still or hide away.

It takes time for them to come round. Give him somewhere to hide, give him his hay, food and water and let him be for a while. Slowly you can build up your interactions, he'll come around.

Having a friend does help them feel safer so if you can, adopt another boy for him to live with. Many rescues offer boar dating services.

For the first week that I had Podrick I never saw him. If the food wasn't disappearing overnight and there being pee and poops appearing I would have been certain nothing was in the cage.

 

[Wiebke]

hello, I just got a 6 month old guinea pig today. I can understand that he is nervous, as he is shaking at different times, not moving, eating, or drinking. However, this foes concern me as I am beginning to worry about his overall health. We have checked all of the areas needed to see if he is healthy, which he seems to be so far. I am going away this weekend and worry about his health when I am gone. We try to be quiet and approachable, especially when he's grazing. I know it will take a little while for him to warm up, however, are there any suggestions on how to improve him eating and drinking for starters?
Thank you!
-K

Hi and welcome!

It is always much harder with a single piggy, especially a young one that has been separated from its family and mates and is totally alone in strange surroundings. Shop and for sale breeder piggies have not had anything in the way of firiendly handling. Guinea pigs are prey animals, first and foremost.
If you can, please get a same sex companion as soon as possible. That should get him eating and moving. Also be aware that he has likely not yet had much in the way of veg and lacks the guidance from an older guinea pig on what is safe to eat and what not. Up to 80% of the daily food intake is hay; so place that close to his hidey with some fresh herbs and a little grass (but not too much to cause diarrhea). He won't go hungry if he has got only that. If you have one of our recommended rescues within your reach, please contact them.
Companionship
Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Guinea Pig Rescue Centre Locator
Guinea Lynx :: Rescue Organizations

Cover the cage with a blanket to make him feel more protected. He will likely still only come out once nobody is in the room. Try not to loom and check too often.
Please take the time to read these guides. They contain lots of tips on how you can avoid appearing as a predator on the prowl. Please be aware that guinea pigs are not natural born cuddle pets and that it takes more time to get them there than you'd expect.
How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig

Here is lots more information for new owners which you may find helpful:
New Owners' " How To" Starter Kit

Since we have got members from all over the world, we find it very helpful if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details, so we can always tailor any advice to what is available and relevant for you straight away and if possible help you with local tips. Please click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. This makes it appear underneath your username and avatar picture in ever post you are making. Thank you!