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Flinch

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Beautifulmess

Beautifulmess

Adult Guinea Pig
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Africa (my guinea pig) flinchs when you touch him, He's alright when you hold him (once you've caught him) altho he's very stiff for a while before he decides your not going to eat him. I'm just wondering if the flinching when you touch him is ok? It's usually his back end/rump. I've checked his skin and it seems fine and I bath him in some anti fungus stuff from gorgeous guineas so I don't know.

P.S. he has the most gentle bite lol, almost like he's too scared to give you a taste.
 
If he flinched every time you touched him, it could be suggestive of a skin problem. Has he been treated for mites at all recently? Has he been bathed within the last few months?

It is not uncommon for pigs to flinch if you touch them more suddenly than they expect. Some of mine have been here months and still need a very gentle, smooth touch each time I handle them.
 
There looks to be nothing wrong with his skin, I think maybe it is the fact he's a very aware of himself guinea pig, so if you touch him he automatically thinks your going to eat him, I was just wondering if it was a normal think, they've never been mite treated, i don't quite know where they could possibly catch them from since I don't have a garden and they don't see other guinea pigs. x
 
Some shy guinea pigs flinch for quite a time -I found it best to tell them that they are going to have a "touchie" and do it very slowly and gently. It will die down eventually, as your piggy relaxes more.

Perhaps it helps Africa to relax more quickly, if you let him sneak under your pullover where he can feel safe, yet is close enough to bond with you.
 
Yeah, he does start moving alot when he's sat on your knee for around 5 minutes, even climbs me and bites my nose. He has a little obsession with noses.
 
Beautifulmess said:
Yeah, he does start moving alot when he's sat on your knee for around 5 minutes, even climbs me and bites my nose. He has a little obsession with noses.
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Some guinea pigs don't like to be cuddled - I find that the "under the pullover" method prolongs the time you can have him out. Please respect when he gets wiggly and put him back.
 
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