Why did this happen ?

[NikuS3701]

Hello,

I wasn't sure under what category to post this. Hope this is okay.

I recently got my guinea pig a salt lick, however, the second I put it in the cage she freaked out.
She briefly smelled it and run away from it and stayed far away in a corner until I removed it from the cage. She still mostly stays in the corner (it all happened about 30 minutes ago) but leaves to get some food or a drink.

I just also read that they can be very bad for your guinea pigs but couldn't find anything about why she would be so scared of it.

Did this happen to anyone else?
If so, what can I do to help my guinea pig not be so scared?

I took her out so she doesn't have to stay in the cage and she seems fine.

Thanks in advance

Do

 

[Siikibam]

They can be scared by different things. It's good you took it out because they don't actually need them. You could cover the cage with a blanket so she feels safer.

Does she live alone? And will you be getting her a friend? Sorry if it's already been asked.

Please can you also add your location to your profile. County/state or country is enough.

 

[NikuS3701]

They can be scared by different things. It's good you took it out because they don't actually need them. You could cover the cage with a blanket so she feels safer.

Does she live alone? And will you be getting her a friend? Sorry if it's already been asked.

Please can you also add your location to your profile. County/state or country is enough.

Thank you for your advice!
I will cover the cage with a blanket and hopefully she'll feel better soon.

She currently lives alone as her friend recently passed away. I was thinking of getting her a new friend but that'd be hard right now.

And ah yes I'll do that in a second.
Thank you!

 

[Siikibam]

I'm sorry for your loss. Do please contact rescues (near and far) so they can put you on a waiting list. It's hard at the moment because of lockdown but please do it as soon as possible. We'd love to see photos and know more about her.
Rescue Locator

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for your advice!
I will cover the cage with a blanket and hopefully she'll feel better soon.

She currently lives alone as her friend recently passed away. I was thinking of getting her a new friend but that'd be hard right now.

And ah yes I'll do that in a second.
Thank you!

Guinea pig have much finer sense of smell and double the amount of taste buds to humans, so it is easy for her to be sppoked by something you wouldn't notice.

Thankfully salt licks are not at all necessary on a good diet and will be firmly ignored by properly fed piggies in my own experience. It is just one of the many things that well meaning owners buy because it is there in the shop... and not because it is necessary of even good for a guinea pig.

You may find our diet guide helpful because many people think that fruit and veg are the mainstay of a guinea pig diet, whereas piggies live off unlimited hay (and, if possible,dog pee free grass in summer), a little preferably green veg and fresh herbs (fruit and root veg should only be an occasional treat) and only 1 tablespoon of pellets max per piggy per day.
The diet guide looks at all food groups and their role in the diet as well as in practical detail at each food group, including treats: Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

 

[LizzyHoy]

In my experience it is quite normal for a guinea to be scared of something new. I once got my guinea pig Toni a heat pad - I was excited for her to enjoy it, but she didn't understand it and it took a while for her to be bold enough to approach it properly! Eventually she learned that it was ok and liked to sit on it.

Seeing as this happened 30 minutes before you posted I wouldn't be concerned. Hopefully she has now perked up again.

Also as others have said, a salt lick isn't necessary so she's not missing out.