Guinea pig change in behaviour, but doesn’t seem ill?

[beautiful_day]

Hi,

I am a bit concerned about one of my piggies. The past week, he has been acting differently. He has always been very sociable and bold, and suddenly he is hiding in the house all the time. He doesn’t run around and play with his friend. He is still ok-ish being picked up, but doesn’t make chirpy noises when being stroked, and doesn’t go off exploring like he always did if we put him somewhere. He also takes food into the house to eat alone.

He used to chirp and wheek constantly, and now barely makes a sound. He doesn’t popcorn around the pen like he used to.

But he is still eating and drinking well, he isn’t fighting with his piggy friend, he doesn’t seem to have lost weight, in fact he is a hefty piggy and just gets huger. Doesn’t seem ill in any way. He possibly doesn’t seem to like being touched on one side near the leg, but not always, and maybe he just doesn’t like being prodded there anyway. I can’t see any soreness or swelling. He moves around as before, without difficulty.

Anyway, I know you don’t necessarily have answers, I am just not sure what to think. If I take him the the vet, I am not sure what to say.

Thanks....

 

[Lady Kelly]

It's a difficult one. We recommend weighing weekly at the same point in the day (I do it shortly after veggie time) to pick up any weight loss or patterns. The general rule is if you are concerned at all visit the vet. Perhaps just book in for a health check and let the vet know you are looking for reassurance as his behaviour has changed and he is more withdrawn.

A good vet will do a thorough check and be able to find the cause of the change or to put your mind at rest. It's worth noting that with piggies they are prey animals and hide illnesses well. Often weight loss will be the first sign which is why we recommend regular weigh ins.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Hope your little chap picks up soon x

 

[Wiebke]

Hi,

I am a bit concerned about one of my piggies. The past week, he has been acting differently. He has always been very sociable and bold, and suddenly he is hiding in the house all the time. He doesn’t run around and play with his friend. He is still ok-ish being picked up, but doesn’t make chirpy noises when being stroked, and doesn’t go off exploring like he always did if we put him somewhere. He also takes food into the house to eat alone.

He used to chirp and wheek constantly, and now barely makes a sound. He doesn’t popcorn around the pen like he used to.

But he is still eating and drinking well, he isn’t fighting with his piggy friend, he doesn’t seem to have lost weight, in fact he is a hefty piggy and just gets huger. Doesn’t seem ill in any way. He possibly doesn’t seem to like being touched on one side near the leg, but not always, and maybe he just doesn’t like being prodded there anyway. I can’t see any soreness or swelling. He moves around as before, without difficulty.

Anyway, I know you don’t necessarily have answers, I am just not sure what to think. If I take him the the vet, I am not sure what to say.

Thanks....

Hi! Please switch from weighing once weekly to weighing daily at the same time (the weight swing in 24 hours is around 30-40g) in order to monitor the hay intake, which is making over 80% of what a piggy on a good diet is eating in a day. You cannot judge that by eye.

See a vet if you are worried, especially if there is a gradual weight loss.

How old is he? Piggies calm down a lot as they grow out of their baby months.

 

[beautiful_day]

He’s 9-10 months, approximately. Adopted, so can’t be totally sure. He doesn’t seem to have lost weight, but I’ll start weighing him daily. He’s 1,200 grams now, is that a lot? He seems big!
Thanks!

 

[Piggies&buns]

He’s 9-10 months, approximately. Adopted, so can’t be totally sure. He doesn’t seem to have lost weight, but I’ll start weighing him daily. He’s 1,200 grams now, is that a lot? He seems big!
Thanks!

Sounds about right. My 9 month old boar weighed 1150g at his last check.

 

[DMS260820]

He’s 9-10 months, approximately. Adopted, so can’t be totally sure. He doesn’t seem to have lost weight, but I’ll start weighing him daily. He’s 1,200 grams now, is that a lot? He seems big!
Thanks!

1,200 is on the larger side, my boar of around the same as has hit 1200 hes just had a huge growth spurt. Hes not overweight, just quite long

 

[beautiful_day]

No weight loss, I thought he was better as he had a great run around yesterday and seemed to be having fun, but he just now bit me when I was carrying him back to his cage :-(. He has never done that, quite hard too, might have drawn blood if it hadn’t been through a sleeve. I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary and he was held snugly against me, as usual.

 

[Wiebke]

No weight loss, I thought he was better as he had a great run around yesterday and seemed to be having fun, but he just now bit me when I was carrying him back to his cage :-(. He has never done that, quite hard too, might have drawn blood if it hadn’t been through a sleeve. I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary and he was held snugly against me, as usual.

You may want to have him given a thorough once-over at your vets with respect to some pain somewhere, but it is not bad enough to affect the appetite. You are a very observant and caring owner that registers even subtle changes in behaviour long before you see more obvious symptoms.