Hiya there I don’t know if anyone can help me but I got my guinea pig on the 23rd of December and for the past 2 days now he has been hiding in his hay but he will only come out for a drink and he will just mainly his hay and nothing else just abit concern
Hi and welcome!
Please weigh your piggy daily at the same time and see a vet if there is a weight loss of more than 50g/2 oz. You can reclaim any vet cost in the UK in the first 2-3 weeks and in the US in first month from a pet shop chain. the good news is that hay should make over 80% of the daily food intake, so your piggy is feeding itself.
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
Early Signs Of Illness
Please be aware that guinea pigs are prey animals that live in groups and that are not wired to live on their own, which is adding massively to the already high stress level of coming into a completely new and very frightening home environment with all the new noises, smells and close human contact where they are suddenly expected to function as animated cuddly toys, never having had much in the way of friendly human interaction. High stress can additionally lower an immune system still under construction.
Settling in and making friends with a skittish and lost piggy will take more time than you expect. Please place a towel over the top of the cage to give your piggy an added feeling of security. The following links will help you making friends with your piggy in ways that it instinctively understands and by helping you to avoiding predatory/hunting behaviours.
Talking gently from the moment you come into the room means that you are not hunting, creating firm rituals in the daily routine is helping your piggy make sense of its bewildering and frightening new home.
Go gentle on the veg; your piggy may not be used to what you offer. It also hasn't got the 'I want to eat what you have' incentive from a companion, as babies learn what is safe to eat from their elders. Try fresh herbs and greens in small quantities so they cannot upset the gut. Our diet guide has got a picture of a balanced sample diet, by the way.
Companionship
How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
All these guides are part of our New Owners collection, which you may find very helpful for a good and hopefully smooth start into your piggy ownership. You can get it this link here:
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
We have got lots more information on a very wide range of topics, which you can access via the guide shortcut on the top bar.
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