Help: Stretching Out Instead Of Walking...normal?

[cyanidebaby]

One of my guinea pigs now chooses to stretch himself RIGHT out instead of hop like he usually does, is this ok? His belly touches the floor he's so flat...He was lapping the cage earlier, now he's stretching out and sniffing the pellets, he has been for half an hour. He can still walk, cause I made a noise and he walked away quick. Is this normal?

 

[Poppy'sMum]

Do you mean lying down? Mine often lie down to eat Guinea pigs shouldn't hop, if he is hopping lik ea rabbit something isn't right

 

[cyanidebaby]

He stretches RIGHT out, not like laying when he goes to sleep, then he lays down like dogs and cats do, with his back paws behind him but near his bum. Usually both of them walk, then wheek and popcorn, then walk some more, what he's doing now is more like a crawl., he's sort of creeping They had a vets check today and they're not ill, but I'm hoping he didn't hurt himself doing his laps earlier.

 

[Pebble]

Good that you took them both to the vets for a check-up.

How old are they?

I'm wondering if this is part of a boar dominance display - particularly if they are youngsters and just coming into their adult hormones?

x

 

[cyanidebaby]

14 weeks, so maybe.... I wanted my vet to check them, they're pet shop boars so I just wanted to know they were fine...Nick's great with my dog and he's done a lot of work with small animals so I trust him.

 

[Pebble]

At 14 weeks it sounds like you are about to experience the deep joys of young boarly hormones coming into action!

Hopefully they will establish who will be "boss" but please be very observant for teeth chattering, bites and fights. If bloods drawn - I'm afraid you will have to separate them.

Good luck - if you have any concerns about their behaviour as it starts to develop then please come back and post.

x

 

[piglet_and_rogers_mama]

Piglet loves stretching out. When he is chilling in his cage, I'll run 2 fingers down his back, he stretches out as flat as he can and purrs, then he shakes his butt and does a lap around the cage lol. It is too cute! Does that sound similar? Because I wouldn't worry if it does, piglet likes it!

 

[Julesie]

It could be two possible things that I can think of. I've noticed when one of my pigs has taken a nap, they will get up, stretch forward as they walk, stay in that position and sort of push out then hunch back up and walk off. This is them stretching like a human does after a nap.

Or I've noticed my dominant boar crouch low to the floor, stalking the submissive one.​

 

[cyanidebaby]

Thanks, I'm thinking it's just the mood he was in, he's ok now. Figaro, my ginger bi-colour, is already asserting himself as the boss, and Lindoro (the stretching one) seems not to care. Figaro rumblestruts if he believes Lindoro is out of line, Lindoro doesn't rumblestrut, he lets Figaro chomp at the food in his mouth. He allows himself to be mounted now as well, they had one or two squabbles but generally he backs down. Earlier, I THINK Lindoro may have been assessing whether he should eat the pellets or if Figaro was going to come over and object. Figaro didn't, and they sat and ate together, even though there are two bowls.