Suddenly very nervous..

Two_Wheeks

Two_Wheeks

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Hello everyone, I hope you and your piggies are all doing well..!

One of my boys, Higgins, has been acting odd the last 10 days or so. It's like he's really, really scared or nervous. He rarely leaves his house. I've put a cover right across the top of their cage, which usually calms him a little, but it doesn't seem to have worked this time. He's eating (if I put it in the house) and drinking (the bottle is right by one of the doors), and when I pick him up he's not lost weight, his coat is healthy and he's got no lumps, bumps or otherwise. Peeing and pooping the same.

I first noticed it after a weekend in their big run while I was washing their bedding. The big run is massive, I fill it with packaging paper and Higgins in particular goes bonkers running under it like a mad thing! No difference this time, I left them in overnight as they were so happy even Gibson was running and popcorning which is unheard of!). Put them back in their regular home and he seemed unsettled. Come the following week they're back in the big run for clean out day, this time very little running around, mostly just hiding in the hay, so I put them back home the same day. And he's been like this ever since.

Gibson doesn't go in the house, just sleeps outside (he has no fear!), and now Higgins doesn't leave the house. Nothing has changed, haven't changed food, routines, fabric wash for their bedding, the hay is the same batch as it has been for weeks.. What could it be? Is 'something' spooking him? It's horrible not seeing him up at the bars in the morning shouting for his breakfast. I know some pigs take time to get over a spook, but can it be this long? I don't want to put him through the stress of a vet visit when there doesn't seem to be anything physical wrong with him.
 
Gibson said:
Hello everyone, I hope you and your piggies are all doing well..!

One of my boys, Higgins, has been acting odd the last 10 days or so. It's like he's really, really scared or nervous. He rarely leaves his house. I've put a cover right across the top of their cage, which usually calms him a little, but it doesn't seem to have worked this time. He's eating (if I put it in the house) and drinking (the bottle is right by one of the doors), and when I pick him up he's not lost weight, his coat is healthy and he's got no lumps, bumps or otherwise. Peeing and pooping the same.

I first noticed it after a weekend in their big run while I was washing their bedding. The big run is massive, I fill it with packaging paper and Higgins in particular goes bonkers running under it like a mad thing! No difference this time, I left them in overnight as they were so happy even Gibson was running and popcorning which is unheard of!). Put them back in their regular home and he seemed unsettled. Come the following week they're back in the big run for clean out day, this time very little running around, mostly just hiding in the hay, so I put them back home the same day. And he's been like this ever since.

Gibson doesn't go in the house, just sleeps outside (he has no fear!), and now Higgins doesn't leave the house. Nothing has changed, haven't changed food, routines, fabric wash for their bedding, the hay is the same batch as it has been for weeks.. What could it be? Is 'something' spooking him? It's horrible not seeing him up at the bars in the morning shouting for his breakfast. I know some pigs take time to get over a spook, but can it be this long? I don't want to put him through the stress of a vet visit when there doesn't seem to be anything physical wrong with him.
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Hi!
Is the guinea pig new to you?
 
Oh no, sorry, should have said! He's 4 years old now and been with me since he was a few weeks old
 
I would suspect if this has been going in for 10 days that there may be some health issue or injury. Please weigh him daily to check his weight. Have you seen him out and about at all? Has he perhaps hurt himself running round and is now Hiding away because he is in discomfort?
 
VickiA said:
I would suspect if this has been going in for 10 days that there may be some health issue or injury. Please weigh him daily to check his weight. Have you seen him out and about at all? Has he perhaps hurt himself running round and is now Hiding away because he is in discomfort?
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He was out a bit more yesterday, even ate outside, this morning he's back in the house. He still comes to the bars for his Vitamin chews and asks for food, his weight is stable and I can't see any sign of injury.
I have some in-date metacam, shall I give him a small dose, see if it helps?
 
Please don’t give medicine unless directed by a vet.
what are the vitamin chews? If they’re eating hay and a variety of veg they should be getting all the nutrients they need, vitamins and minerals included.
 
@Siikibam yes I thought better of it and didn't give him anything. The chews are Oxbow Vitamin C and Urinary Support chews - more of a way to placate two chattering boars up at the bars (I'm a softie so it's treats really!). Sadly I've made it part of their morning and bedtime routine now, and we all know what piggies are like with a routine..!
Higgins seems to be getting back to himself - he's been out rumble strutting and humping Gibson's head, and spending far longer out of his house (even ate dinner 'out' last night), so I'm assuming whatever was spooking him has gone (as I type he is rumbling around like a nutter!)
 
Gibson said:
@Siikibam yes I thought better of it and didn't give him anything. The chews are Oxbow Vitamin C and Urinary Support chews - more of a way to placate two chattering boars up at the bars (I'm a softie so it's treats really!). Sadly I've made it part of their morning and bedtime routine now, and we all know what piggies are like with a routine..!
Higgins seems to be getting back to himself - he's been out rumble strutting and humping Gibson's head, and spending far longer out of his house (even ate dinner 'out' last night), so I'm assuming whatever was spooking him has gone (as I type he is rumbling around like a nutter!)
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Aww. Let's hope whatever it was has passed now. I'm sure you are, but still keep a close eye on him, weighing him etc. I love rumbling boars ❤️.
 
i remember I had a lot of celery in my hand and my guinea pig was spooked by it he was jumping so high and it was not popcorning. He was in his hut a ton and was not fond of going to the food side. I had a close eye on him and within a week he was back to normal. Hope my story gives you hope your piggy will be fine ♥
 
Glad to hear he's back to his usual self. There is no need to placate them. If they have hay and it's not time for food then you don't give them anything. It can become a habit, but I know how tempting it is to give in :)
 
Well, he had a late night of rumbling and humping last night, and both have slept pretty much all day today. I've had Gibson out for a cuddle but left Higgins to sleep in the house - don't want to stress him out! He's been out for hay and a drink, so he's fine.
@walnutandpeanut that made me laugh! I hate celery too - I'd react the same I imagine!
@Siikibam we're awful here, whenever we eat, so do the animals! But you're right, they shouldn't.. Bless their little hearts it's hard to say no!
 
It is but you must for their sake. Hay should make up the biggest part of their diet. If they’re getting other things then they won’t eat as much hay as they should.
 
@Siikibam yes the majority of what they get is hay - they're currently on a new box of Timothy from Dust Free Hay and are loving the number of seed heads in it! It's quite stalky this time around though so they've got some meadow hay for rummaging!
They're out in the big run today in the living room, I've pegged a low-slung sheet across so Higgins has plenty of cover and he's happily popcorning around, so he must be feeling better..!
 
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