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Oh, Keith!

Two_Wheeks

Two_Wheeks

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Hello!

Big-Little-Keith is being odd.. Just two days so far, but he's kind of withdrawn.

He's eating and drinking, rumblestrutting and digging in the hay, but, where he would usually be up at the bars whenever he sees movement in the kitchen, and shouting for his dinner, he just isn't. He's staying hidden in their house.

Had him out yesterday and today to check him over, he doesn't seem to have any pain, his teeth look good (well, as far as I can see!) and his toes are all good.

The only change has been switching the way the whole c&c sits in the room, but that's all - everything inside thec&c is the same.

could he perhaps just be going through a moment, or do you think I should get him checked over?
IMG_7918.webp
 
Hi

Please switch from the life-long weekly weigh-in to weighing daily at the same time. Keep in mind that at least three quarters of the daily food intake should be hay and fresh growing grass (when in season and accessible) which you cannot control by eye. Your kitchen scales will give you the quickest and best feedback whether there is a problem impacting on the appetite. We talk about weight loss from 50g (2 oz) or more.

Keep an eye out on potential signs of pain although they need not necessarily be obvious or present. Guinea pigs are prey animals and very good at suppressing symptoms until they can't no longer. Mystery weight loss is my least favourite symptom because so many very different things can be behind it.

See a vet once there is a noticeable weight loss or once symptoms appear, or very promptly if his condition clearly deteriorates. At the moment, with symptoms so vague, you are still monitoring as your vet will be unlikely to find anything, either. As a caring owner, you are very tuned into subtle changes in your piggies.

You may find these links here helpful:
Weight - Monitoring and Management
A - Z of Guinea Pig Behaviours (entry 'Pain')
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
 
Thanks, all!
His weight has stayed steady so far, actually more today by 10g 😂 but yep, I will weigh daily and keep a close eye on him.

The cage is in the utility room, and used to sit against a side wall and face into the utility room, it is now against the back wall and faces into the kitchen. Perhaps he doesn’t like seeing so much in front of him (only two grids actually face the kitchen, the other two that side are the back wall of their hay room). Thank had to move my desk because of needing to be closer to plug sockets, they’ve probably moved 6 meet at most from the previous position, but maybe he is a feng shui piggie and it’s messed up his alignment..

He was up at the bars standing on his back legs for his dinner tonight, just not shouting.

Thanks for the advice, I will keep a close eye on him!
 
Oh Keith you are such a handsome lad, hope it’s just a matter of getting use to new views x
 
When I moved house last year I had to put the pigs upstairs temporarily while I waited for flooring to be put in downstairs. They had their same c and c, same setup, their hideys in the same place...just upstairs. And they reacted far worse than I had imagined...they were nervous and stressed and their eating reduced. When I was able to move them into the living room after a week upstairs it was like flicking a switch and they were immediately back to their old selves....even though it was a new living room in a new house! I still don't know what it was, what they recognised about being in the living room that made them happy again but they definitely knew that upstairs was NOT right. Keith and his move just reminded me a bit of this.
 
Aw @Zanzan bless their hearts!

I can’t move them back to where they were, so I hope they get used to it.. might have to try and move something into the garage so I can put them lengthways/not facing into the kitchen again.. Gibson isn’t phased at all (by anything) but Keith seems to be a bit more sensitive..!
 
@Zanzan he really was so super cute - that's my favourite Baby Keith photo! @Bill & Ted I've never seen such a small bundle of cuteness! He was just a head with legs! This was Keith and Gibson when he was Little-Keith, and 10 months later when he was Big-Little-Keith!
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He seems a little brighter today, coming to the front more happily but still a little timid..
 
That's great he is doing ok, hopefully it's just been a little wobble due to the new arrangements. Come on Keith, sort your head out!
 
Aw, such a pair of cuties Gibson and Keith 💙💙 Keith was such a tiny bundle of fun, he’s still so handsome x
 
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