Change In Poppy's Behaviour

[Chelseaspiggies]

Today I noticed a change in my oldest pigs behaviour. She is now around 8 months old, and she started chattering her teeth when I went to pick her up for lap time (not usual for her). She eventually allowed me to pick her up and later I noticed she seemed rather agitated when I stroked the side of her stomach. She usually has no issue with anyone doing this but today she jumped and tried to kick my hand away. I put her back in her cage and she seems to be eating and drinking just as good as she usually does. She just seems more grumpy and should no longer be in season as she was a few days ago

I should probably mention I did the tap test to see whether she is bloated and didn't hear a hollow sound, I am just really concerned as this seemed somewhat out of character as if her stomach is sore. Perhaps this is me being a paranoid piggy owner but I wanted to know if anyone else has had a similar issue

 

[Abi_nurse]

What breed of piggie is she? I have a couple of abysinnian's who are often like this and at 8m old she would be approaching adolescence.

However as this is not normal for her I would just keep an eye on her for now. Ensure she is eating/drinking ok and producing faeces. It's possible she could have a mite infection if she is funny about you touching her so I would suggest a treatment for this. And failing that, if she doesn't improve or shows any other signs then perhaps a quick vet check might out your mind at ease.

x

 

[Chelseaspiggies]

She is a short haired crested piggie. My other piggie is an Abyssinian (Maisy) so I know what you mean It makes me laugh how she bucks when you touch her. That is how Poppy was behaving today, exactly the same but she never usually does that. She is drinking really well and munching her hay as I speak so shes doing okay in that department. As for the faeces, its difficult to tell how much she is pooping as she shares a c&c with my other piggy, but there were a lot of poops when I spot cleaned tonight and I doubt Maisy could produce that many poops by herself. I have also noticed her eating the faeces from her bottom quite often too (a bit gross I know)

 

[Wiebke]

I would think that your little girl is suffering from a hormonal spike (girls have them, too, only that they don't fight) and that she is coming out of herself enough to tell you what she really doesn't like. Most piggies do not like being touched on the sides and belly; especially as you cannot find any irregularities in her body and poos/eating.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...stincts-and-speak-piggy-body-language.117031/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/how-to-pick-up-your-guinea-pig.126359/

 

[Chelseaspiggies]

I would think that your little girl is suffering from a hormonal spike (girls have them, too, only that they don't fight) and that she is coming out of herself enough to tell you what she really doesn't like. Most piggies do not like being touched on the sides and belly; especially as yu cannot find any irregularities in her body and poos.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...stincts-and-speak-piggy-body-language.117031/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/how-to-pick-up-your-guinea-pig.126359/

Thank you so much. Its nice to know its likely just hormones. Ive noticed she is becoming more naughty too and doing things such as chewing the carpet on her ramp. Could this harm her in any way. Paranoid piggy owner here freaked out when I saw her chewing it this morning as I worried it may cause some sort of problem

 

[Critter]

I hope someone else will confirm this but I've read of them eating plastic, chewing fleece and fluffy things and each other's fur without it causing any problems. Indeed mine have nibbled at things without issue. She probably won't chew the carpet for long, some pigs explore with their mouths. My Cloud was a right one for that, and Penny (8 months old) does this a but too.

 

[Chelseaspiggies]

Its such a pain how they chew things at times. They have plenty of space and things to chew in their cage, numerous wooden arches and chew toys. It just seems that my piggies go for the objects that arent intended for that use

 

[Critter]

Yup. Cloud chewed large sections of Correx to bits. Hmph . Penny just gives the odd nibble. I had a huge shock around a year or so ago when I had accidently left a plastic glove in reach and Cloud had chewed and eaten a whole finger of it! Didn't do her any harm, but it scared me!

 

[Abi_nurse]

They are all so naughty aren't they, even most of my 5 year old ladies still steal things and eat what they shouldn't.

x

 

[Wiebke]

Some piggies are naughtier than others. I have currently got some bin and hay bag, correx and wallpaper chewers... Not to mention carpets, carpet fringes, insulation thread on radiator valves, any soft plastic they can lay their mouths on!