Senior cavy and floor time

C

Caffee

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hello! I'm feeling a bit stuck with my 5 year old guinea pig penny. Shes in her senior years and in the past year she slowly began to dislike floor time more and more. I used to take her out, set up a bunch of two ended hides in her play pen, and place different veggies all over for her to go and find. But slowly over time, she began to stop wanting to eat in her play pen and would only eat inside her cage or in my lap. All together she would just hide in one of the hides and not eat or move out of it. I suspected this was because of age and since she seemed to dislike it so much, i stopped floor time all together and only put her in her pen for full time cage cleanings (she has fleece so just when i have to machine wash it). Am i doing the wrong thing? I feel bad that she doesnt come out much anymore but i dont want to force her to do something that only causes stress.
 
Hello, welcome to the forum :)

How is her weight is she eating and drinking okay?

As piggies get older they get like us hoomans and slow down a little. All our senior piggies as they get older spend more time in their houses asleep rather than running around.

Does she come out for veggies at tea time?
 
Caffee said:
Hello! I'm feeling a bit stuck with my 5 year old guinea pig penny. Shes in her senior years and in the past year she slowly began to dislike floor time more and more. I used to take her out, set up a bunch of two ended hides in her play pen, and place different veggies all over for her to go and find. But slowly over time, she began to stop wanting to eat in her play pen and would only eat inside her cage or in my lap. All together she would just hide in one of the hides and not eat or move out of it. I suspected this was because of age and since she seemed to dislike it so much, i stopped floor time all together and only put her in her pen for full time cage cleanings (she has fleece so just when i have to machine wash it). Am i doing the wrong thing? I feel bad that she doesnt come out much anymore but i dont want to force her to do something that only causes stress.
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It is not uncommon in older piggies; I have some that just have a very quick mooch around and then hole up in the roaming hay tray or a hidey. I still give them roaming time around cage clean so it is for them to choose how they want to spend the time, and those are more active still get their normal regular roaming slot.

Please make sure that she is healthy and well in herself and that her weight/size ratio around her ribs is still OK. See a vet if necessary. The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight
 
sport_billy said:
Hello, welcome to the forum :)

How is her weight is she eating and drinking okay?

As piggies get older they get like us hoomans and slow down a little. All our senior piggies as they get older spend more time in their houses asleep rather than running around.

Does she come out for veggies at tea time?
Click to expand...
I havent checked her weight, but she seems to be eating and drinking okay. She tends to eat and drink in sort of a pattern. One day she eats and drinks alot, the next; not as much. Also yes, she does come out for veggies. She can be a bit picky depending on whats on the menu for that day and will do a sort of “pout”, but eventually cant help herself and eats all her veggies up.
 
Caffee said:
I havent checked her weight, but she seems to be eating and drinking okay. She tends to eat and drink in sort of a pattern. One day she eats and drinks alot, the next; not as much. Also yes, she does come out for veggies. She can be a bit picky depending on whats on the menu for that day and will do a sort of “pout”, but eventually cant help herself and eats all her veggies up.
Click to expand...

Please keep a regular eye on her weight and weigh weekly, as well has her heft - older piggies should still not feel too bony around the ribs, never mind how saggy the rest of their body is.
It sounds like general health check at the vets might not be a bad idea.
 
Wiebke said:
It is not uncommon in older piggies; I have some that just have a very quick mooch around and then hole up in the roaming hay tray or a hidey. I still give them roaming time around cage clean so it is for them to choose how they want to spend the time, and those are more active still get their normal regular roaming slot.

Please make sure that she is healthy and well in herself and that her weight/size ratio around her ribs is still OK. See a vet if necessary. The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight
Click to expand...
Should i offer floor time still then here and there and see how she reacts? Also thank you.
 
Caffee said:
Should i offer floor time still then here and there and see how she reacts? Also thank you.
Click to expand...

Yes, continue to offer her floor time and let her choose whether she wants it or not. Has she got company or is she an only piggy?
 
Wiebke said:
Yes, continue to offer her floor time and let her choose whether she wants it or not. Has she got company or is she an only piggy?
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She used to have some company, but sadly my other girl passed away about a year and a half ago so now she lives alone
 
I have a 6 year old whose idea of floor time is to have an amble for a short while then find the hay toy and destroy it with naps in between to keep her going.
 
Merab's Slave said:
I have a 6 year old whose idea of floor time is to have an amble for a short while then find the hay toy and destroy it with naps in between to keep her going.
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Sounds kinda like what my girl does in her cage, she likes to throw her house around with her head (shes done this since she was little) and also occasionally knawing on her woven wood ball and tearing it up
 
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