Panicking Guinea Pig trying feverishly to get under fitted, custom cage liner - Help!

[Alamerona]

Hi TGPF,

Our youngest boar, Joey, somehow got under the fitted custom cage liner we have for their cage last night (It is draped over the edges of the coroplast and bulldog clipped to it); we took him out from underneath it as he was not only likely to overheat under there, but was at risk of being stepped on by his brother Bluebear. The only change we've made to the cage is adding a new, large, wooden house from Pets at Home for them to enjoy, which we converted into a half-relaxing area, half piggy-car-wash area to give the boys privacy. They have more than enough hideys between them otherwise - 3 with the wooden house, 4 without.

After taking Joey out from underneath, he has been non-stop frantic, biting and digging at every possible inch of the cage to try and get back underneath - We've taken him out the cage and given him pea treats to try and calm him down, and placed a spare liner over him to give him that same sensation, yet when we put him back in, the behaviour repeats. He's full on frantic, biting, tugging, trying to wiggle through small spaces and generally acting like a deer in headlights on gatorade. This has been happening for at least the last hour non-stop.

What on earth could have happened to cause this? Is this normal? Should we be worried? Joey has had a long history of illness so we're worried it may be tied to that, or is something undiagnosed.

 

[Piggies&buns]

If you are worried health-wise, then you do need a vet check.
Could he have been scared by something?
Could it simply be that now he knows he can get under there that he is going to keep trying.
I know you said you've added another liner for him to get under, but have you tried just huge piles of hay to see if he will go into those? My piggies love nothing more than burying themselves under hay!

 

[Alamerona]

If you are worried health-wise, then you do need a vet check.
Could he have been scared by something?
Could it simply be that now he knows he can get under there that he is going to keep trying.
I know you said you've added another liner for him to get under, but have you tried just huge piles of hay to see if he will go into those? My piggies love nothing more than burying themselves under hay!

Hi Piggles - The boys do have a large haybox they can burrow into, but will try adding a huge pile of hay to the middle of the cage when we get home (Hospital appointment today, yay).

We're only really concerned as this is a massive behaviour change, and something we've never seen before - It's possible he's done this before late at night when we're asleep, but this is a first for us.

We have a feeling he was maybe scratched or pricked by the entrance to the wooden house, and somehow identified that with a predator due to its large size - We did check him over fully incase of bullying, fighting or injury and he's spotless all across - Not a single sign of pain, injury, etc.

 

[Siikibam]

You could also try putting in a fleece or bath mat that he could maybe crawl under.

 

[artcasper]

ah something has probably spooked him bless him.. i hope you get the bottom of it x

 

[Guinea pig love123]

Maybe try guineadad fleece, they have pockets for that!

 

[Guinea pig love123]

He might be wanting to get to the cold plastic if u have a plastic cage

 

[Alamerona]

You could also try putting in a fleece or bath mat that he could maybe crawl under.

Yeah, we have done - We got a spare guineadad liner out which he likes to tunnel under

 

[Piggies&buns]

Has he settled down over the day?

 

[Alamerona]

Has he settled down over the day?

Thankfully he seems to have calmed down a bit, but is still quite nervous it seems - We took out the wooden house for the rest of today and gave them a huge pile of hay with two guineadad liners to hide under, and whilst he's hidden for most of today, he's been receptive to lunch and feeding during floor time. He's also enjoying his cuddles, but still seems apprehensive about something.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thankfully he seems to have calmed down a bit, but is still quite nervous it seems - We took out the wooden house for the rest of today and gave them a huge pile of hay with two guineadad liners to hide under, and whilst he's hidden for most of today, he's been receptive to lunch and feeding during floor time. He's also enjoying his cuddles, but still seems apprehensive about something.

Their hearing is very good so it’s possible he has had something spook him which you couldn’t have heard. Hopefully if that is what it is, he will calm down soon

 

[David Piggie Lover]

A chance noise could have spooked him. . Joey. . I make vioice noise when I enter either piggie house. . The so fast when spooked. .
I'm sure he calm down. . . .