Concerning about guinea pig

[mollyandme]

Although my parents don't believe my guinea pig is sick, I want help. My guinea pig is normally in a hunched posture. She shreds A LOT of hair. Whenever shes either, around me, or just in general, shes always itching, sneezing, or making the weird sorta like "bird noise". Some people say the bird noise is rare, it's not for me. My guinea pig makes that noise weekly. Last time she made the noise was 2 nights ago. I was downstairs, watching tv. Then I hear my guinea pig loud as can be making the bird noise. No it's not the squeaking they make when it's snack time. I don't know if this has to do with anything, but last night I had a dream about my guinea pig having a seizure, she was twitching and hurdling in my sweater. I'm keeping an eye on her just in case, if you can send feedback about any of this information, please reply to this.

 

[PigglePuggle]

It sounds like your guinea pig needs to see a vet, itching and sneezing need checking out if they happen too often, and a hunched posture is often a sign of pain.
Does your guinea pig live alone? Guinea pigs are social animals and without companionship of their own species can become withdrawn and depressed. But if you are at all concerned for her health a vet check is always the best place to start.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’d go to a vet as well. Shedding hair, the occasional sneeze and scratch in themselves are not always anything to be concerned about ie shedding hair is normal, they can sneeze if they eat too fast etc, but it’s not worth leaving her unchecked if it is happening a lot. The hunched posture would be of concern.

The noise is a rare sound. Nobody really knows why they do it. There is some discussion on it in this thread below.
What Does This Mean? Chirping

 

[DMS260820]

It sounds like your guinea pig needs to see a vet, itching and sneezing need checking out if they happen too often, and a hunched posture is often a sign of pain.
Does your guinea pig live alone? Guinea pigs are social animals and without companionship of their own species can become withdrawn and depressed. But if you are at all concerned for her health a vet check is always the best place to start.

That's the problem, if the pig is alone, and the parents don't care about the one she has, then it's bad to get another, but then the lone pig really needs another... Such a tough situation.

 

[Wiebke]

Although my parents don't believe my guinea pig is sick, I want help. My guinea pig is normally in a hunched posture. She shreds A LOT of hair. Whenever shes either, around me, or just in general, shes always itching, sneezing, or making the weird sorta like "bird noise". Some people say the bird noise is rare, it's not for me. My guinea pig makes that noise weekly. Last time she made the noise was 2 nights ago. I was downstairs, watching tv. Then I hear my guinea pig loud as can be making the bird noise. No it's not the squeaking they make when it's snack time. I don't know if this has to do with anything, but last night I had a dream about my guinea pig having a seizure, she was twitching and hurdling in my sweater. I'm keeping an eye on her just in case, if you can send feedback about any of this information, please reply to this.

Hi!

A huched posture is generally a sign of pain. Please weigh your girl daily at the same time instead of the normal weekly to check the food intake and make sure that she is not losing weight. Cheap kitchen scales are perfectly OK.
Is your girl and only piggy and does she have a house to sleep in?

Does your piggy have bald skin patches in the areas she is shedding hair and scratching?

Is your hay dust extracted and what bedding is she on? It could be the cause of sneezing.
Unfortunately hay is what your guinea pig should eat all day long so you can't leave that out; it should make over 80% of what it is eating with veg and pellets only making about 10% and 5% of the daily food intake respectively.

Here is more detailed information on skin parasites and fungal skin infections (scratching), respiratory infection, weight management, what is normal and what not in a guinea apig body, early signs of illness, chirping (making bird noises, including videos):
- New piggy problems: URI - ringworm - skin parasites
- Guinea pig body quirks - What is normal and what not?

- Weight - Monitoring and Management
- Early Signs Of Illness
- Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

- Chirping

Here is more information o n

 

[mollyandme]

Hi!

A huched posture is generally a sign of pain. Please weigh your girl daily at the same time instead of the normal weekly to check the food intake and make sure that she is not losing weight. Cheap kitchen scales are perfectly OK.
Is your girl and only piggy and does she have a house to sleep in?

Does your piggy have bald skin patches in the areas she is shedding hair and scratching?

Is your hay dust extracted and what bedding is she on? It could be the cause of sneezing.
Unfortunately hay is what your guinea pig should eat all day long so you can't leave that out; it should make over 80% of what it is eating with veg and pellets only making about 10% and 5% of the daily food intake respectively.

Here is more detailed information on skin parasites and fungal skin infections (scratching), respiratory infection, weight management, what is normal and what not in a guinea apig body, early signs of illness, chirping (making bird noises, including videos):
- New piggy problems: URI - ringworm - skin parasites
- Guinea pig body quirks - What is normal and what not?

- Weight - Monitoring and Management
- Early Signs Of Illness
- Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

- Chirping

Here is more information o n

Thank you, I will buy a scale for my piggy. Yes, she has a house to hide in, I did not know I had to weigh her daily. I called my dad, but he took it as a joke when I brought up ringworm, and common skin parasites. I will notify my dad to take her into a vet sometime tomorrow. Yes, she is an only pig, my dad won't let me get another one because he thinks shes more used to living alone. She need a bigger cage. I don't know how many times I need to tell myself, and my dad. We got her cage when she was 1-2. Now she is way bigger; 2, almost 3. My piggy does not have skin patches. Can guinea pigs do self-harm? Whenever I let my pig out to run for a bit, but when it's feeding time, I have to put her back in. When I go get veggies, I find her biting, or chewing hard on her cage, then pulling on it with her teeth. I am concerned that she is hurting her back, and front teeth. Anyways, thank you for your reply.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you, I will buy a scale for my piggy. Yes, she has a house to hide in, I did not know I had to scale her daily. I called my dad, but he took it as a joke when I brought up ringworm, and common skin parasites. I will notify my dad to take her into a vet sometime tomorrow. Yes, she is an only pig, my dad won't let me get another one because he thinks shes more used to living alone. She need a bigger cage. I don't know how many times I need to tell myself, and m dad. We got her cage when she was 1-2. Now she is way bigger; 2, almost 3. My piggy does not have skin patches. Can guinea pigs do self-harm? Whenever I let my pig out to run for a bit, but when it's feeding time, I have to put her back in. When I go get veggies, I find her biting, or chew hard on her cage, then pulling on it with her teeth. I am concerned that she is hurting her back, and front teeth. Anyways, thank you for your reply.

You weigh any healthy guinea pig once weekly and any guinea pig you have worries about once daily at the same time.
This guide here explains it all in detail, including how you can work out whether you guinea pig is underweight or overweight for its size at any age. PLEASE take the time to read the guide links in this and my previous post. They will REALLY help you to know what exaclty to look out for. It is not something you can explain in just to short quick sentences and hey, presto, the problem is fixed!
Here is our weighing guide again. Weight - Monitoring and Management

For the long term a same sex companion would be lovely as guinea pigs are group animals and not wired to be on their own. Sadly Switzerland is still the only country where it is forbidden by law to keep any group animals on their own, including specifically guinea pigs and rabbits. Being alone in a new home is very stressful, but even more so for ne
But your first priority has to be working out whether your piggy is ill or not. If you are in the US and have had her for less than 30 days, you can reclaim any vet cost from the pet shop. In the UK, the period is 2-3 weeks after purchase.
Unfortunately, you need a hands-on examination for that - we can only advise you on the basis of what you are telling us, not being able to see the piggy and handle it.

It might help if you posted a picture of any bare areas that have not got the same bare patch on the other side of the body (which means that any symmetrical bald areas are normal) if you are worried about skin parasites or fungal (of which you can find information and pictures in the guide link in my first post).