How often do your rodents shake their heads?

[Sue_P]

Just wondering what other peoples’ rodents are like. One of mine has something wrong with one of his ears at the mo, he won’t let me inspect it without shaking his head all over but saying that my healthy rodent does as much head shaking as the other. On average I’d say they both shake their heads about 3 - 5 times per hour. (When they’re active and not half asleep.)

 

[Amanda1801]

I've never seen any of mine specifically shake their heads, only ever a random full body shake which is like after they've been stroked, or they're having a clean.

It could be ear mites or something that could affect them both?

 

[Wiebke]

Repeated head shaking always means that there is a problem with the ear.
Please see a vet as soon as you can!

The cause can be ear mites, eax, fungal or an ear infection. If left untreated, an ear problem can leave a piggy with permanent damage, an untreated or undertreated ear infection can kill.

 

[Sue_P]

Both my rodents have always done shaking since I got them years back, and yeah I mean like a full body shake like them trying to clean themselves or get their fur in order.

Wiebke – Gonna try putting something in my poorly rodents ear soon, just deciding what to stick in it. Read this - http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=89401 .

 

[Bekki]

I clicked very occasionally, usually any head movement is part of a popcorn or a half a***d attempt at one or part of grooming ... never seen them just shake their heads though.

 

[Sue_P]

I mean as part of grooming, popcorns are popcorns. Can't say I've seen my two rodents popcorn in ages.

Must be getting old and boring.

 

[Wiebke]

All I can say that any potential ear problem needs to be seen by a qualified vet as soon as possible.

NEVER hometreat - you can far too easily kill or damage your guinea pig permanently! Piggy ears are far too sensitive an area for fumbling around with!

 

[Bobby&Frankie]

I've checked my boys as they shake a lot and they seem fine but they have got teddy in them so they're got the strange hair. They're also going through their dominance thing at the moment so i could be mistaking it with the movement of them kicking