Strange behaviour?

[Sodapops]

I'm thinking the end result is going to be a vets visit but just wondered if anyone had any ideas of what could be wrong.

My eldest guinea pig homer is what we call our 'human' guinea pig because basically he'll run to the side of cage when called, if you call him from across the room he'll shout back. about 6months ago he was separated from his son due to them fighting - they each live as single pigs in a double cage. Serious consideration is being given to me getting both the boys neutered and taking 2 girls from my group of 5 females and neutereed male (leaving them as a group of 4).

Up until late last night Homer was fine - in fact only 30mins previous to this particular incident he was climbing the bars chatting to us and generally being himself. Nothing had changed and me and my partner were sitting down watching TV while my daughter was playing on her laptop about 7ft away from the piggies cages.

Out of the blue Homer was startled by something - at that poiunt of him being startled he was sitting in his litter tray eating hay - (there were no loud noises - everyone was sitting still) - so we checked him over and he appeared rather scared and very reluctant to go near the litter tray/hay rack. We took him out for lap time and tried to calm him down - his eyes looked very enlarged and he was clearly stressed about something.

Normally when Homer comes out for lap time, he's very happy to jump back in his cage - but ever since this happened last night he wont go in his cage. He's constantly sniffing the air and is backing away from areas in his cage. He's also been chattering his teeth a alot - so he's clearly not happy about something.

We've taken the hay rack and litter tray out completely cleaned it and also put in newly washed fleece - ive taken out his tunnel as he goes half way in and immediately back out running away from it.

He's been like this now since 10pm last night.

I dont see any marks./scratches/cuts on him and he will eat if offered it - he's just not very happy about walking around his cage and seems very apprehensive/scared of his surroundings

Any advice is greatly appreciated - I'm really worried about him

 

[sharonS]

Do you think he may have been bitten by something in the hay? If so then you will be rid of it by now, as you said you cleaned it out. He will still think that it will happen again, hence he is reluctant to go back in. I take it you have talked to him calmly and reassured him as you have put him back in, it may take some time for his confidence to return. It is a strange one though, I don't know what to think about it.

 

[Sodapops]

i thought it was hay related - but his reluctance to walk around his cage (constantly sniffing the air and backing away chattering his teeth) indicated this wasn't something within the hay. I'm intrigued now - what sort of insects within the uk bite? that also could have gained access in to the hay/our home?

For informational purposes Homers cage is a double one that sits on top of a trixie 5ft cage - he's in the top half of the cage so his cage stands about 5ft off the ground

Since my initial post he's had a lengthy drink from his water bottle (that used to sit over his litter tray) - we've now moved his cage around and his litter tray/hay rack are siting at the opposite side of the cage - he slowly appears to be getting back to his normal self - but until then I'm keeping a very close eye on him and will book a vets appointment if i see now improvement in the next 24hrs.

(Homer is a fairly laid back pig and i have looked inside his mouth - i dont see any obvious injuries) so here's hoping he just spooked himself....that in itself is rather unusual as he's never been scared of anything...

 

[MargaretB]

How is Homer now? You don't say how old he is, but I wondered if there may be a medical reason for his behaviour? Might he have had a small seizure or something? Does he appear to be able to see ok?

I don't mean to alarm you and hope that things are back to normal with him now. I guess I have seizures on my mind a bit as my chinchilla has them, since he had a stroke a few months ago.