Depressed guinea pig

[Twigyythepiggy]

Hi I don’t know weather this should be under this section but my guinea pig is acting a little differently. She is 12 weeks old and she has kind of long hair. Yesterday she had very messy fur so I have her and her sister a baths so they both had the same smell. But she’s gotten her self very messy again. I don’t want to give her a bath often but I don’t know how to clean her. Anyone got any tips? But that’s not all since she’s had a bath she’s hasn’t been eating all her food as normal. It takes her a while to get down her usual amount of food. But also she isn’t running around and she’s been walking slowly. She just doesn’t seem her normal self. Does anybody know what to do? And also is she depressed?

 

[Mo & Stubbins & Vani]

How was the water temperature in her bath (I just want to make sure that she did not go into shock from cold water)?
Please refer to this guide on how to bathe your piggy: How To Bathe Guinea Pigs - Including Ears & Grease Glands
Have you considered giving your piglet a haircut? I would recommend cutting the hair around her behind area short to prevent matts.
Here is another thread that you can reference: Long Haired Guinea Pigs Maintenance
Has your piggy lost any weight?
I will tag some people who may be able to offer more advice:
@Wiebke @sport_billy @Siikibam @Betsy

 

[Twigyythepiggy]

How was the water temperature in her bath (I just want to make sure that she did not go into shock from cold water)?
Please refer to this guide on how to bathe your piggy: How To Bathe Guinea Pigs - Including Ears & Grease Glands
Have you considered giving your piglet a haircut? I would recommend cutting the hair around her behind area short to prevent matts.
Here is another thread that you can reference: Long Haired Guinea Pigs Maintenance
Has your piggy lost any weight?
I will tag some people who may be able to offer more advice:
@Wiebke @sport_billy @Siikibam @Betsy

I made sure the bath water was like warm and it didn’t go near the face area.i did try giving her a hair cut but she kept trying to run and she was squeaking very much. But thank you

 

[Mo & Stubbins & Vani]

Do you have anyone who can help you?
With nervous piglets, it is best to have someone hold them and distract them with veggies or treats while the other gives them the haircut.
I am not experienced with long-haired guinea pigs, though.
I am sure that someone who is will be around shortly!

 

[Twigyythepiggy]

Do you have anyone who can help you?
With nervous piglets, it is best to have someone hold them and distract them with veggies or treats while the other gives them the haircut.
I am not experienced with long-haired guinea pigs, though.
I am sure that someone who is will be around shortly!

mall of my family don’t like holding the guinea pugs so I’m a little stuck but I’m working on them and persuadí them slowly. I have a short haired piggy and I didn’t realise how difficult long haired were ( she doesn’t even have very long fur!)

 

[LMPigs]

Could you share a picture of your guinea pig so we can see what you mean by very dirty?

Also, do you weigh her regularly and can you advise whether there has been any weight loss? If you do not weigh her at the moment you should start - have a read of this for all the details: Weight - Monitoring and Management

If she appears to be off her food, a daily weigh in at the same time may be a good idea.

 

[sport_billy]

Guinea pigs really really should not need bathing often. We only bath if medically needed.

when we have along haired girl, her bum fur used to get matted. We would Lee this trimmed short it is important to only trim hair with someone else holding the Piggy there is no chance of any tragic Accident.

we also used to just sponge bath he bum fur occasionally and I mean occasionally if needed

can you please explain what you mean? Do you just mean by messy so funky hair? long haired piggy look messy it is part of their charm- but if no poo stuck on fur etc... you should not be bathing, it can remove skin oils and as you have seen scares them and makes them quiet after a fright

 

[Siikibam]

Have a read of the trimming thread below. If you can get her in a tunnel of some sort and distract with some food/treats you may be able to trim her. As for not eating, I don’t know really. Did you let her dry thoroughly before putting them back in their cage? Also instead of washing perhaps just give her a bum bath if she’s dirty. But it shouldn’t be that often unless she’s really mucky.
An Illustrated Guide to Hair Cutting

 

[Betsy]

Have a read of the trimming thread below. If you can get her in a tunnel of some sort and distract with some food/treats you may be able to trim her. As for not eating, I don’t know really. Did you let her dry thoroughly before putting them back in their cage? Also instead of washing perhaps just give her a bum bath if she’s dirty. But it shouldn’t be that often unless she’s really mucky.
An Illustrated Guide to Hair Cutting

I was going to suggest the same guide @Siikibam!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi I don’t know weather this should be under this section but my guinea pig is acting a little differently. She is 12 weeks old and she has kind of long hair. Yesterday she had very messy fur so I have her and her sister a baths so they both had the same smell. But she’s gotten her self very messy again. I don’t want to give her a bath often but I don’t know how to clean her. Anyone got any tips? But that’s not all since she’s had a bath she’s hasn’t been eating all her food as normal. It takes her a while to get down her usual amount of food. But also she isn’t running around and she’s been walking slowly. She just doesn’t seem her normal self. Does anybody know what to do? And also is she depressed?

Hi!

Please have your girl vet checked promptly; it sounds like she could have either a cystitis (if the urine is very stale smelling) or something more serious.
Here is our emergency and bridging care guide with all the necessary information on vets and how to find them, how soon to see a vet, support feeding and how you can improvise in a pinch etc. Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

Switch from weighing one weekly as part of the life long health monitoring to weighing daily at the same time. Kitchen scales will do. If she is not eating properly and is lethargic, then she needs to see as soon as possible.
Keep in mind that unlimited hay is the mainstay of any healthy guinea pig diet and should make around 80% of what a guinea pig eats in a day. You cannot control that by eye. Your baby can lose a lot of weight very quickly if you just look at the 15% veg and the tablespoon of pellets that makes about 5%.
Weight - Monitoring and Management

A bum bath with plain baby warm water is generally enough. it is much more effected to keep the hairs around the back end cut short so they are not dragged through urine puddles and tangle up.

The sooner your piggy gets an antibiotic, the better.

 

[Twigyythepiggy]

Hi!

Please have your girl vet checked promptly; it sounds like she could have either a cystitis (if the urine is very stale smelling) or something more serious.
Here is our emergency and bridging care guide with all the necessary information on vets and how to find them, how soon to see a vet, support feeding and how you can improvise in a pinch etc. Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

Switch from weighing one weekly as part of the life long health monitoring to weighing daily at the same time. Kitchen scales will do. If she is not eating properly and is lethargic, then she needs to see as soon as possible.
Keep in mind that unlimited hay is the mainstay of any healthy guinea pig diet and should make around 80% of what a guinea pig eats in a day. You cannot control that by eye. Your baby can lose a lot of weight very quickly if you just look at the 15% veg and the tablespoon of pellets that makes about 5%.
Weight - Monitoring and Management

A bum bath with plain baby warm water is generally enough. it is much more effected to keep the hairs around the back end cut short so they are not dragged through urine puddles and tangle up.

The sooner your piggy gets an antibiotic, the better.

Thank you I will get her there soon

this is there cage set up is that ok?

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you I will get her there soon
View attachment 144429
this is there cage set up is that ok?

Yes, it is!

 

[Twigyythepiggy]

Yes, it is!

Thank you

 

[Twigyythepiggy]

Hi every one thank you for all the help! I gave her a haircut and tried feeding her and she was very hungry she seems much better so I think she just needed a cut seeing as it has been very warm in England