Ginny Is Out Of Sorts

Roclibrarian

Roclibrarian

Teenage Guinea Pig
Joined
Jul 12, 2016
Messages
734
Reaction score
2,384
Points
845
Location
St Helens, Merseyside, UK
I hope I'm just being paranoid, but something about Ginny is not quite right. I first noticed that she won't let me stroke her in the cage (which she usually does). Then I noticed that she is lying down a lot more than usual. She will come running for food, but then lie down to eat it. She's even lying down to eat hay which is unusual.
I've spent a lot of time watching her tonight and just can't put my finger on it.
She's eating and drinking fine, weeing and pooing ok. Her tummy feels nice and soft. Can't find any lumps and she didn't seem to have any pain when I felt her over.
She has strong seasons with lots of rumble strutting which isn't happening at the moment. Maybe she's got PMT and the rumble strutting will start tomorrow? I hope it is just that!
Any ideas? Anything else that I've missed? Am I just being paranoid?
 
Roclibrarian said:
I hope I'm just being paranoid, but something about Ginny is not quite right. I first noticed that she won't let me stroke her in the cage (which she usually does). Then I noticed that she is lying down a lot more than usual. She will come running for food, but then lie down to eat it. She's even lying down to eat hay which is unusual.
I've spent a lot of time watching her tonight and just can't put my finger on it.
She's eating and drinking fine, weeing and pooing ok. Her tummy feels nice and soft. Can't find any lumps and she didn't seem to have any pain when I felt her over.
She has strong seasons with lots of rumble strutting which isn't happening at the moment. Maybe she's got PMT and the rumble strutting will start tomorrow? I hope it is just that!
Any ideas? Anything else that I've missed? Am I just being paranoid?
Click to expand...

Just keep an eye on her and if necessary switch to weighing daily at the same time in the feeding cycle (like before dinner or breakfast). See a vet if she is losing more than 50g in a very short space of time (40g is the difference between a fully tummy and bladder and an empty one).
None of the signs is ringing alarm bells with me. She sounds rather relaxed to me, actually.
 
Roclibrarian said:
I hope I'm just being paranoid, but something about Ginny is not quite right. I first noticed that she won't let me stroke her in the cage (which she usually does). Then I noticed that she is lying down a lot more than usual. She will come running for food, but then lie down to eat it. She's even lying down to eat hay which is unusual.
I've spent a lot of time watching her tonight and just can't put my finger on it.
She's eating and drinking fine, weeing and pooing ok. Her tummy feels nice and soft. Can't find any lumps and she didn't seem to have any pain when I felt her over.
She has strong seasons with lots of rumble strutting which isn't happening at the moment. Maybe she's got PMT and the rumble strutting will start tomorrow? I hope it is just that!
Any ideas? Anything else that I've missed? Am I just being paranoid?
Click to expand...
Let’s hope that you are just being paranoid!
There’s something about the holidays that make us like that. We all think something will go wrong with one of the pets when the Vets are closed and it’s an emergency service only.
It’s very reassuring that she’s doing all the right things though isn’t it? Eating, drinking weeing and pooing.
Fingers crossed. x
 
Well Ginny is eating hay stood up today, so that's an improvement lol. She's the ginger one.
20171223_113417.webp
She let me stroke her this morning, but lay down while I did it....so mixed results! In the cold light of day I think I'm just being paranoid. Maybe she was just having a lazy evening. I will weigh her for a few days anyway.
Thanks for your support guys x
 
Sounds just like a bit of a chilled out lazy sow to me. Poppy ( definitely overweight) often lays down to chomp. Just wish I could get her moving around more! Regular weighing should reveal if there is any weight loss or more to identify as some kind of an issue.
 
Roclibrarian said:
Well Ginny is eating hay stood up today, so that's an improvement lol. She's the ginger one.
View attachment 77307
She let me stroke her this morning, but lay down while I did it....so mixed results! In the cold light of day I think I'm just being paranoid. Maybe she was just having a lazy evening. I will weigh her for a few days anyway.
Thanks for your support guys x
Click to expand...

Guinea pigs that are realxed and happy their surroundings tend to eat lying down. I would see that as a very auspicious sign!
For me, that is often the point when I know that one of my skittish rescue piggies has finally fully settled in and is completely relaxed and happy with their home and company. By then, they also have found the courage to tell me whether they loke being cuddled or not. An important part of a relationship based on trust - having the right to say no. ;)
 
Wiebke said:
Guinea pigs that are realxed and happy their surroundings tend to eat lying down. I would see that as a very auspicious sign!
For me, that is often the point when I know that one of my skittish rescue piggies has finally fully settled in and is completely relaxed and happy with their home and company. By then, they also have found the courage to tell me whether they loke being cuddled or not. An important part of a relationship based on trust - having the right to say no. ;)
Click to expand...
Oh Ginny is definitely OK with telling me no! She'll shove my hand of the way to get more comfy on my lap and nibbles me gently to let me know she wants to go back in the cage. She's running round like a loon this morning telling me to stop being a worry wart lol. We've had a cuddle and she washed my arm for me. Such a sweetie.
 
Roclibrarian said:
Oh Ginny is definitely OK with telling me no! She'll shove my hand of the way to get more comfy on my lap and nibbles me gently to let me know she wants to go back in the cage. She's running round like a loon this morning telling me to stop being a worry wart lol. We've had a cuddle and she washed my arm for me. Such a sweetie.
Click to expand...
I have to ask, but feel I may regret it - when you say 'washed' your arm....you do mean she licked it right?
 
aww bless, I find that sometimes a piggy can have an 'off day', but then again you know your own piggy, so I always think that you monitor the piggy for longer to be sure or until their normal behaviour returns. Captain Jack does this to me too and I go into panic mode. But he's getting on a bit to be honest.
Love your fluffies :hug:
 
Mother Hubbard said:
aww bless, I find that sometimes a piggy can have an 'off day', but then again you know your own piggy, so I always think that you monitor the piggy for longer to be sure or until their normal behaviour returns. Captain Jack does this to me too and I go into panic mode. But he's getting on a bit to be honest.
Love your fluffies :hug:
Click to expand...
Love Captain Jacks name.. reminds me of the Billy Joel song x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top