weird behavior (i think)

[hun999]

i got a new female cavy today and got her home asap and she was fine when i got home.(she was playing dead and running into the hay to hide and stuff) and i left her but when i got home earlyer - after leaving to give her some peace while she settled in - and i had some apple to put in. so i oppened the cage and expected her breathing to pick up a bit but her to stay perfectly still. and nothing happened. ie her breathing stayed slow. i thought she might be asleep still. so i tried wispering her name and still nothing. i lightly stroked her and still nothing. so i tried to pick her up. expecting her to run away and panick but she didnt move. i panicked and thought she might be dead so i felt her pulse and she was still breathing really slowly. so i want to know if this is usual behaviour or isnt it?
thanks xoxo

 

[GuineaPigs-4-eva]

Iam sure someone else will help you more But what i would do is take to the vets as it sounds to me like your piggie may have a problem .

 

[moonie8404]

hi and welcome to the forum

you piggy will need time to settle in and probably is a bit scared. It is in a new environment and will want to hide up - its their way of protecting themselves, they would do this in the wild to protect them afgainst predators.

Is you piggy a lone piggie? is it best for piggies to be in twos, i would suggest maybe getting her a friend. What age is your piggie?

I wouldnt worry - she just sounds like shes a little nervous. Give her a couple of days. Hold her lots, and talk to her softly. Always though get to the piggie level to get her out the cage, you looming down or her anvery very scary for her.

 

[rebecca79]

i agree with the previous post she is probably unsure of her suroundings and needs time to settle in. just pick her up slowly and talk to her quietly and stroke her slowly. I'm sure she will soon get used to her new environment.

 

[nutmeg]

Often when piggies are frightened or don't feel safe they can just stay still like a statue, maybe thinking if they don't move nothing can see them? Not sure about the slow breathing though. xx

 

[Pigglywink's Rachel]

It's the prey reflex... on the basis that most hunters won't go after them if they think they're dead. Doesn't really work in the wild, but it must have at some point in time, because lots of prey animals have the instinct, poor little things. You'd think nature would have organized it a bit better.