PLEASE HELP - Popcorning or fitting?

[PoppysMommy]

My guinea pig has been acting extremely odd these last few days. Shes been eating normal and drinking plenty of water, she doesn’t have any signs of being sick like wheezing or discharge from the eyes or nose, no loss of hair, a bit more lethargic then usual. But she’s been making the same noise a guinea pig makes while rumbling, but she starts to popcorn which then leads to her body twitching and going into what looks like spasms. It’s almost like she’s popcorning so hard it causes her to lose control of her limbs/body and twitches out so hard she typically falls to the floor and has spasms…. I thought maybe it was just a severe case of rumbling or rumble strutting but she is also a single guinea, I wasn’t able to get her a partner unfortunately. But I’ve watched videos of other guinea pigs rumbling and rumble strutting and the sound is the same, but the way she spazzes out just doesn’t look normal and is freaking me out….. is this normal? Do other guinea pigs do this? PLEASE help

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome!

Like every human has their own natural dance style, piggies have their very own popcorning style. Some can do some very weird things. However, without seeing a video, I can unfortunately not judge whether what you see is normal or not. It would help us massively if you could please take a video.

You will need to upload any video on a public setting elsewhere ond then copy it across as we do not have a video uploading facility on our forum, which is entirely run on voluntary member donations and by mods who do this for free in their free time. The forum is most active duering UK daytime hours although we have members from all over the world.

PS: Please double-check the gender and consider getting a same sex companion in the longer term. It is the best and most loving gift you can ever make a guinea pig that is not wired to be on their own and relies on company of their own kind 24/7 for the 5-7 years of a healthy average life expectancy.
Illustrated Sexing Guide

 

[PoppysMommy]

Hi and welcome!

Like every human has their own natural dance style, piggies have their very own popcorning style. Some can do some very weird things. However, without seeing a video, I can unfortunately not judge whether what you see is normal or not. It would help us massively if you could please take a video.

You will need to upload any video on a public setting elsewhere ond then copy it across as we do not have a video uploading facility on our forum, which is entirely run on voluntary member donations and by mods who do this for free in their free time. The forum is most active duering UK daytime hours although we have members from all over the world.

PS: Please double-check the gender and consider getting a same sex companion in the longer term. It is the best and most loving gift you can ever make a guinea pig that is not wired to be on their own and relies on company of their own kind 24/7 for the 5-7 years of a healthy average life expectancy.
Illustrated Sexing Guide

here is a video I just took. It’s hard to hear the rumbling unless you turn the volume all the way up. But it’s the spasms that terrify me. The oddest part is she does this and then afterwards acts like it never happened and runs to her hay to eat and drinks some water. Then relaxes in her usual chill spot like none of it happened. But she’s been doing this out of the blue the last 2 or 3 days now. And I’m not sure if it helps but she about 2 years old now.

 

[Piggies&buns]

rumblestrutting is wiggling their bottom from side to side and making a purring nose. What you are describing doesn’t sound like that at all.
if she definitely isn’t just popcorning and it looks like she is falling, having spasms etc then she needs to see a vet

 

[Siikibam]

Please don’t start multiple threads of the same topic. This forum is based in the U.K. and run voluntarily so you have to be patient. I have merged your other thread with this one.

It could just be the way she popcorns. Please consider getting her a same sex friend as soon as possible. Piggies shouldn’t live alone.

 

[Wiebke]

here is a video I just took. It’s hard to hear the rumbling unless you turn the volume all the way up. But it’s the spasms that terrify me. The oddest part is she does this and then afterwards acts like it never happened and runs to her hay to eat and drinks some water. Then relaxes in her usual chill spot like none of it happened. But she’s been doing this out of the blue the last 2 or 3 days now. And I’m not sure if it helps but she about 2 years old now.

That is definitely NOT popcorning and more like falling over. Do they do that every time you want to touch them? I would recommend to have your piggy vet checked; it could be neurological but also could indicate the onset of mange mites - only a vet can tell with a hands-on examination.
Please accept that we cannot diagnose just from a video and cannot replace a vet trip. We also most strongly do not support on spec home treatment; especially not with cheap low dosed pet shop products that can only temporarily suppress symptoms from skin parasites but not cure them.

The start of the video is classic rumblestrutting (mild dominance, measuring up etc). Your piggy is trying to hold their own against you.

PS: Are you sure that you have got a sow and not a boar?

New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites

Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
Who is the boss - your guinea pig or you?

Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities

 

[Guinea Slave]

OMG poor thing, that is quite distressing to watch. I wonder if her skin is ok? The only time I saw something like this was when one of mine got mites. It just drove her crazy if you touched her back and whilst she did not flip like this, she reacted in a similar way. I also believe that when extreme, the pain of mites/mange/a skin problem can also cause fits. That is definitely a very uncomfortable piggy and I would take them to the vet as quickly as possible before it escalates. BTW she is beautiful!

 

[Siikibam]

We can’t really know what’s going on without examining her. So you’re best off taking her to the vet for a check.

Are you planning to get her a friend?

 

[AMMAH]

As others have said, I remember I had a pig that did that years ago when he had something like mites (I can't remember as I was a child), but when you touched him he had a fit like that - definitely needs a trip to the vets

 

[PoppysMommy]

rumblestrutting is wiggling their bottom from side to side and making a purring nose. What you are describing doesn’t sound like that at all.
if she definitely isn’t just popcorning and it looks like she is falling, having spasms etc then she needs to see a vet

Scheduled her for a vet appointment as soon as I could! I just hope it’s nothing serious

 

[PoppysMommy]

Please don’t start multiple threads of the same topic. This forum is based in the U.K. and run voluntarily so you have to be patient. I have merged your other thread with this one.

It could just be the way she popcorns. Please consider getting her a same sex friend as soon as possible. Piggies shouldn’t live alone.

Can popcorning change as they age? I’ve had her for over 2 years and she’s never popcorned like that before, this behavior has only been going on for a few days. And I plan on getting her a partner as soon as possible!

 

[PoppysMommy]

That is definitely NOT popcorning and more like falling over. Do they do that every time you want to touch them? I would recommend to have your piggy vet checked; it could be neurological but also could indicate the onset of mange mites - only a vet can tell with a hands-on examination.
Please accept that we cannot diagnose just from a video and cannot replace a vet trip. We also most strongly do not support on spec home treatment; especially not with cheap low dosed pet shop products that can only temporarily suppress symptoms from skin parasites but not cure them.

The start of the video is classic rumblestrutting (mild dominance, measuring up etc). Your piggy is trying to hold their own against you.

PS: Are you sure that you have got a sow and not a boar?

New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites

Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
Who is the boss - your guinea pig or you?

Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities

I know this isn’t popcorning because the way she popcorns compared to this new behavior is entirely different I have her scheduled for an appointment this upcoming Saturday and she’s actually been completely fine all day today. I’m not sure what’s changed, but the behavior has not happened once today. Definitely still taking her to her scheduled appointment though! And honestly, I’m not sure, when I got her they told me she was a girl, maybe I can have the vet check for me at the appointment? And it’s odd cause it starts as rumble strutting but the moment you start to let her she has these terrible spasms but like I said, oddly enough it has not happened at all today, even with me petting her

 

[PoppysMommy]

OMG poor thing, that is quite distressing to watch. I wonder if her skin is ok? The only time I saw something like this was when one of mine got mites. It just drove her crazy if you touched her back and whilst she did not flip like this, she reacted in a similar way. I also believe that when extreme, the pain of mites/mange/a skin problem can also cause fits. That is definitely a very uncomfortable piggy and I would take them to the vet as quickly as possible before it escalates. BTW she is beautiful!

I’m getting her to the vet this weekend, that’s the soonest they could get me in :/ but oddly enough, she has not had a single fit today, even when I would pet her. Today she’s been completely normal. But I do think there’s still something very wrong so hopefully the vet can figure it out what’s odd is she looks perfectly healthy as well! No hair loss, no scabs or open wounds, no discharge from her eyes, nose, or mouth. Her ears are clear and clean. No wheezing or trouble breathing. She has no discomfort if I squeeze her tummy a tad bit. You’d think she’s a complete healthy pig until you see her have one of the spasms I just hope it’s nothing serious :/ and thank you for saying she’s a beautiful piggy

 

[PoppysMommy]

We can’t really know what’s going on without examining her. So you’re best off taking her to the vet for a check.

Are you planning to get her a friend?

She’s scheduled for this weekend, it’s the soonest they could get her in thankfully she’s been completely normal today even with me petting her, but hopefully the vet can figure out what this odd behavior is because it was going on for atleast 3 to 4 days so I’m sure it’s not over no matter how well she was today :/ And I definitely plan on getting her a friend ASAP!

 

[PoppysMommy]

As others have said, I remember I had a pig that did that years ago when he had something like mites (I can't remember as I was a child), but when you touched him he had a fit like that - definitely needs a trip to the vets

Got her scheduled for the vet. After reading up on a TON of symptoms online I’m really starting to think it could be mites. She only really spasms like that when touched and she has been itching a lot more lately. It seems like the most likely culprit. Just hoping the vet can get this all figured out