won't let me touch

O

ourpiggypalace

New Born Pup
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one of my piggies, coco (had for a little over a month) won't let me touch her body, i normally wouldn't worry but she's okay with me stroking her chin and head. she also eats from my hand and is okay with me being around her but stroking her back or tummy is a no-no, she usually jumps up and runs in the other direction. is it possible she could be injured? should i be worried?
 
You should always see a vet if you are concerned about the possibility of an injury, but guinea pigs are prey animals and not wanting to be touched in certain places, or not wanting to be touched at all as well as hating being picked up are all normal behaviours for guinea pigs.

Neither of my boys like it if I touch their bodies. One will let me stroke his head (he is the most skittish of the two so the times he lets me touch him are few and far between - I’ve had him 18 months and he has only let me touch his head in the last six weeks), and the other will let me stroke his head and under his chin
 
By far not all my piggies like being touched when in the cage or free-roaming. As far as I am concerned, it is their right - after all piggies are prey animals and not naturally born cuddly toys! Trust grows on mutual respect of each others personal limits. If a piggy won't like being touched and cuddled outside regular grooming, then that is fine with me! It doesn't mean that they do not trust me and that we cannot have a relationship in other ways by sharing quality with the piggies having fun.

I do try to build up trust by using guinea pig social interactive behaviours to slowly make friends in ways that they understand. That usually works rather well and speeds up the process in my own experience with a number of skittish piggies.
Please take the time to read these guide links here. I hope that they help to you to understand better how things look from the guinea perspective, how you can work around problems as well as how you can create fun time and bond with your piggies without the need for cuddles.
Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs


However, if your piggy suddenly stops wanting to be touched or stroked, then please see a vet; it could be the very first sign of an outbreak of mange mites or signal a pain issue somewhere in the body that needs hands-on investigation.
 
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