Depressed Guinea?

Status
Not open for further replies.
banapple008

banapple008

New Born Pup
Joined
Feb 19, 2014
Messages
14
Reaction score
1
Points
0
Okay so I bought a guinea pig today.. I've wanted one for a while so went to all the pet shops around and finally decided to buy one from my local shop because the guy said no one would buy that one it had been in the shop for 4 months now and he let me hold it and it was find didnt move which is what I was looking for one that I cause pet and wouldn't mind being handled.

She was in the cage alone she came with the cage but the cage is very small I don't think it is anyway near the minimum for a guinea I'm making a c&c cage for her when the materials get delivered next week but for now she is in the cage she came with. I think she might be depressed she doesn't have a cage mate hasn't in the shop either only ever been in the cage she is in as the pet shop guy didn't have space to let her out in a pen and what not.

Anyway is my guinea depressed I went to see her a few times before I finally bought her and each time I was in for about an hour at a time talking with the man about her and touching her etc she never moved apart from when he tried to pick her up and I've had her all day now and she just sits with her head in the corner of the cage staring at it I understand that because she is in a new environment she is scared and that may be the reason why but do you think she is depressed I made some toys and put them in but she isn't even achnowleging them and doesn't move, if she is depressed how could I fix this and get her out of depression and make her a happy guinea pig the man says she thinks she is about 7 months old but she looks older than that to me but what do I know?

I need advice guys what should I do to help her? And do you think she is depressed
 
The main thing she needs is a friend. Also if a guinea pig is so scared they can either freeze or run for it. Your piggie may be the type that freezes which would explain why she's never run from you all those times.

I'm sure if you take her to a rescue she can find a friend. If you are in England theres a rescue locator at the top of the site. :)

I'm not sure what else to suggest if she's not playing with any toys. Is she possibly ill? Sometimes when ill guinea pigs don't do much at all. Does she look puffed up at all?
 
It will help if you get her a house so she has a place to feel safe. She really needs a same sex friend or neutered boar.
 
She could just be scared of her new environment although piggies are very good at hiding illness so a trip to a cavy savvy vet wouldn't hurt.

Plus a friend might bring her out of her shell - piggies are group animal and need the company of other piggies.
If that is a plan the future for the time being a piggie safe size toy and also a mirror will help her. Those are only temporary measure also you'll need to spoil her and give her loads of attention so she isn't getting bored or lonely
 
Julesie said:
The main thing she needs is a friend. Also if a guinea pig is so scared they can either freeze or run for it. Your piggie may be the type that freezes which would explain why she's never run from you all those times.

I'm sure if you take her to a rescue she can find a friend. If you are in England theres a rescue locator at the top of the site. :)

I'm not sure what else to suggest if she's not playing with any toys. Is she possibly ill? Sometimes when ill guinea pigs don't do much at all. Does she look puffed up at all?
Click to expand...
I'm not in england I'm in Scotland and I'm not sure if she is puffed up as this is my first guinea pig and I don't know the difference in what it would look like?

So I shouldn't keep her alone? I just got her today as an older one to get used to a guinea pig before getting a baby who isn't as tame since I never had one before. I was planning on getting used to this one for one or two months maybe longer until I felt completely comfortable that I would be able to tame a baby safely and properly and be able to be the best owner i can be then introduce a new younger female guinea pig to this one? I bought her from the shop mostly because the man said she would have a better life with me as I'd have more time to love and handle and take care of her more than he can in the pet shop because he looks after all the animals.
 
jesss said:
She could just be scared of her new environment although piggies are very good at hiding illness so a trip to a cavy savvy vet wouldn't hurt.

Plus a friend might bring her out of her shell - piggies are group animal and need the company of other piggies.
If that is a plan the future for the time being a piggie safe size toy and also a mirror will help her. Those are only temporary measure also you'll need to spoil her and give her loads of attention so she isn't getting bored or lonely
Click to expand...
I plan on buying another one in a few months time when I have gotten more used to looking after this one as I am a first time owner. I will pick up a mirror and a stuffed toy tomorrow when I'm out and see if that helps with her any as I said I only get her early today I'm unsure if she is just afraid it only got me thinking because I was wondering why she was just staring at the corner of the cage a depression came up when I googled it and I thought about the size of the cage and how I've never seen her with any energy and the lack of a friend or any floor time for 4 months or longer..
 
It is essential she has a friend as soon as possible as she will be very lonely. Did you do any research on guinea pigs? Having two is no different to one so there is no need to worry. There are rescues in Scotland. Check the rescue locater on the top. This is a pro rescue forum and strongly advises the rescuing of guinea pigs from shelters. If you take her to a rescue she will be able to choose her own friend which avoids getting one and them not being compatible. You cannot just put two guinea pigs together and assume they will get on.
 
Hi and welcome!

Your girl is very probably very frightened/traumatised and is holding still and hiding as much as she can. Guinea pigs are prey animals and are not born as pets. They will play dead when picked up by predators in the hopes that they will lose interest and let them go. Please give her a hidey where she can feel safe and eventually explore the cage from; if you haven't got one, just peg a tea towel to the bars for a little tent. She will probably come out for food when nobody is on the room.
Here are tips on how to bring out skittish piggies; it is not a quick process: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/faq-how-do-i-settle-shy-new-guinea-pigs.36239/

Alternatively, she could be ill. If in doubt, please have her checked by a vet; we have a piggy savvy UK vets locator on the top bar. Weigh her daily to make sure that she is not losing weight.

Please be aware that guinea pigs are not wired to be on their own; ideally they should have a companion of their own and even better of their own choice. You will find that company will suddenly bring her to life. You may need to adjust the cage size, though. Two guinea pigs need a 2x4 ft cage as per RSPCA minimum recommendation, which is pretty much the same as one single piggy should have.You can find good standard rescues that offer dating at the rescue via our rescue locator on the top bar.A good rescue can also confirm the sex before bonding to make sure that you don't end up with problems through mis-sexing.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/faq-companionship.37654/
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/biological-facts-and-guinea-pig-society.109062/
http://www.cavyspirit.com/sexing.htm
 
She's probably a little nervous - you'll have to be patient because she will come out her shell eventually. Try hand feeding her veggies mine are particular partial to coriander that'll get the bonding starting between piggie and owner and she'll start trusting you
 
piggyfan said:
It is essential she has a friend as soon as possible as she will be very lonely. Did you do any research on guinea pigs? Having two is no different to one so there is no need to worry. There are rescues in Scotland. Check the rescue locater on the top. This is a pro rescue forum and strongly advises the rescuing of guinea pigs from shelters. If you take her to a rescue she will be able to choose her own friend which avoids getting one and them not being compatible. You cannot just put two guinea pigs together and assume they will get on.
Click to expand...
I did a lot of research before I decided to get one I was trying to get two of them together but I could only either get two babies together that have been brought up together or this older one who was alone I thought I'd give this older one a chance and get her a friend as soon as I could the man in the shop said that she would be okay for a while as long as I didn't leave her alone which I'm not going to I will be in most of the day and she will be out the cage I have guinea proofed my room so that when she is settled and ready to come iyt the cage in a few days she can wander around the safe area I have created which I about half my room so a large area for her to play and explore which she will be in mostly all the time unless I'm out or asleep. With lots of toys and my company all the time the man said she would be okay with that for a while?
 
jesss said:
She's probably a little nervous - you'll have to be patient because she will come out her shell eventually. Try hand feeding her veggies mine are particular partial to coriander that'll get the bonding starting between piggie and owner and she'll start trusting you
Click to expand...
I haven't tried to do anything with her yet as I just got her today I'm just observing from a far what she is like so she can get used to her new environment and just talking near the cage to get her used to my voice I will start to try and hand feed her tomorrow if she isn't so afraid I'm just trying to see what would be best for her if she is depressed and how to help it
 
banapple008 said:
I haven't tried to do anything with her yet as I just got her today I'm just observing from a far what she is like so she can get used to her new environment and just talking near the cage to get her used to my voice I will start to try and hand feed her tomorrow if she isn't so afraid I'm just trying to see what would be best for her if she is depressed and how to help it
Click to expand...

She's not depressed so don't worry about that - just a little scared/ nervous. When it comes to the hand feeding hold it out near her hidey and let her take it from you. When she gets braver she'll venture out and not worry about being out in the open
 
It is great you researched. Has she a house or cardboard box? It will help her feel safe.
 
piggyfan said:
It is great you researched. Has she a house or cardboard box? It will help her feel safe.
Click to expand...
I put in a cardboard box as she didn't have one in the pet shop but she won't he near it at all I put it for her to hide but she is just avoiding everything I have put in the cage completely and looking away from them sometimes looking and looking away I think she may be frightened?
 
piggyfan said:
Aww. It does sound like she is frightened. Poor thing.
Click to expand...
I have no idea what to do to help her I'm staying away as much as possible as not to scare her I'm just watching from the other side of the room

She has finally went in the hidey I made her cause I approached the cage and said hello girl so at least she is In that and will feel safer now. She didn't have a hidey in the pet shop she was in the cage I have now without a hidey so maybe she was just confused about it or something?
 
It does take them a while to get used to things. Being in a pet shop is an awful environment. Bad diet,small cage,being alone. It is no wonder she is nervous. Just give her time. Did you put hay in the cage?
 
piggyfan said:
It does take them a while to get used to things. Being in a pet shop is an awful environment. Bad diet,small cage,being alone. It is no wonder she is nervous. Just give her time. Did you put hay in the cage?
Click to expand...
Yes there is lots of hay that was in there before and I put some hay in a toilet roll tube for her to play with cause I read that guineas like that.
 
I was also wondering what soft of toys you would recommend for her?

I'm going out tomorrow to buy toys and some fleece for the cage as she came with saw dust bedding and I read that it hurts there feet and that fleece is the best so I'm going to buy that tomorrow so she is more comfortable and was going to get toys but I'm unsure what toys would be best for her that she would like most maybe there is a favourite with piggies?
 
piggyfan said:
That is a good idea. Is there fresh water? What dried food did you buy?
Click to expand...
I bought the food he was feeding her in there I asked which one was her favourite and bought that one its called Gerty guinea pig complete muesli, if you recomment a different brand which is better I'll be sure to pick that up tomorrow and try get her onto that food
 
Mine do not like toys. They like paper bags with hay,wooden cabins and tunnels. It is great you are switching to fleece. You will need to wash and dry it three times without fabric conditioner to prepare it. I used a layer of towels and two of fleece. Twice a day you need to remove poops and it all needs to be washed every three days on 60 degrees.
 
banapple008 said:
I bought the food he was feeding her in there I asked which one was her favourite and bought that one its called Gerty guinea pig complete muesli, if you recomment a different brand which is better I'll be sure to pick that up tomorrow and try get her onto that food
Click to expand...
That is unhealthy. She needs a pellet but it needs to be introduce slowly. I use burgess excellent. Mine love it.
 
banapple008 said:
I was also wondering what soft of toys you would recommend for her?

I'm going out tomorrow to buy toys and some fleece for the cage as she came with saw dust bedding and I read that it hurts there feet and that fleece is the best so I'm going to buy that tomorrow so she is more comfortable and was going to get toys but I'm unsure what toys would be best for her that she would like most maybe there is a favourite with piggies?
Click to expand...

A baby toy will be suitable just need to check it over just in case piggie turns out to be a destructive pig
take any labels off too
guinea pig size would be good too :)
 
piggyfan said:
That is unhealthy. She needs a pellet but it needs to be introduce slowly. I use burgess excellent. Mine love it.
Click to expand...
How would I introduce it slowly to her like add some into the other food the slowly decrease the amount of the other food until its just that food? Well that's what I was going to do but if that is incorrect I'd appreciate advice on how to do it right?
 
banapple008 said:
How would I introduce it slowly to her like add some into the other food the slowly decrease the amount of the other food until its just that food? Well that's what I was going to do but if that is incorrect I'd appreciate advice on how to do it right?
Click to expand...
That sounds perfect.
 
piggyfan said:
Mine do not like toys. They like paper bags with hay,wooden cabins and tunnels. It is great you are switching to fleece. You will need to wash and dry it three times without fabric conditioner to prepare it. I used a layer of towels and two of fleece. Twice a day you need to remove poops and it all needs to be washed every three days on 60 degrees.
Click to expand...
Is there a specific type of fleece which is best and where to buy it?
 
I used to buy mine from primark. Supermarkets often sell it as does IKEA.
 
I get pet fleece from b&m. I also put puppy pads under the main fleece then towel and smaller fleece where mine pee.The smaller fleece and towel gets changed every day.She will probably wee were the cage is covered.When you.get the c&c you could use the cage as a kitchen .Good luck with her and please try to get her a friend from rescue
 
Toys wise - mine love their cardboard tunnel and use it to run through when popcorning (£1.49 from Wilkos) - although they're going through a chewing phase with it atm! They also love these - http://www.wilko.com/small-animal-toys/wilko-large-seagrass-funball-for-small-animals/invt/0303670 (and wicker ones too!) and have a tendency to toss them around the cage!

Beds wise - I use fleecy bedding by Snoozies Cozies (https://www.facebook.com/SnooziesCozies?fref=ts), with vetbed (a layer of puppy pads/newspaper underneath). I change the puppy pads every other day and wash the vetbed/fleece bedding every 3-4 days, and they have a hay tray in the corner.

Good luck with the little lady and I hope she comes round soon xx
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top