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Guinea Pig Stuck! Help!

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Loz1892

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i have 2 New Guinea pigs. Had them for a week.
We have a run for them from our previous pig but quickly learned these 2 are too small and can fit through the bars so they have not had any exercise (unable to get a new run till the weekend)

We had (what we now realise is a stupid) idea. We figured we could let them have a run in the bathroom for half an hour, not realising there was a hole behind the toilet.

We managed to pull one out as he was right near the edge, however the other is right under the ubend and completely out of reach. I've tried poking him out and making a lot of noise. He seems to be trying to back himself out when I make the noise but he can't. There's a bit of plastic in the way which I presume he's jumped over to get in but he can't work out when he's backing. I can't see why he won't go forward. I'm getting worried now. I've put some food out but he's not coming for it.

Any help appreciated
 
Can you call your local vet? They should have an emergency number. Be careful, your pig may be hurt if you try and pull him out. Can you get him hay and water? If he's out of reach under the U-bend, is he under a pipe? I'm slightly confused as to his exact location. Try and make him comfortable if you really can't coax him out.
The thing is, although guinea pigs aren't like rats, mice and hamsters, they can squeeze through tight gaps, so it's odd that he can't get back out. He's probably terrified.
Stay calm, and good luck.
 
hi, sorry so it's hard to explain but the back of the toilet is hollow and he is right at the back behind the ubend. Like I said it seems he is trying to back himself out but the small plastic ledge he has gone over on his way in seems to be stopping him. He sticks his leg through the small gap he can then stops and goes back. I'm not sure what a vet would do as he's inaccessible
 
Loz1892 said:
i have 2 New Guinea pigs. Had them for a week.
We have a run for them from our previous pig but quickly learned these 2 are too small and can fit through the bars so they have not had any exercise (unable to get a new run till the weekend)

We had (what we now realise is a stupid) idea. We figured we could let them have a run in the bathroom for half an hour, not realising there was a hole behind the toilet.

We managed to pull one out as he was right near the edge, however the other is right under the ubend and completely out of reach. I've tried poking him out and making a lot of noise. He seems to be trying to back himself out when I make the noise but he can't. There's a bit of plastic in the way which I presume he's jumped over to get in but he can't work out when he's backing. I can't see why he won't go forward. I'm getting worried now. I've put some food out but he's not coming for it.

Any help appreciated
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Can you give it an hour without standing there and see whether the little one can work himself back out while it is quiet? Otherwise you may need to see whether you can contact an emergency plumbing service?

I am very sorry; it is an anxious time. Youngsters have a seventh sense for getting into exactly the kind of scrapes you want to see them least. :(
 
I would try leaving him alone too, perhaps put a hidey in the bathroom so if he emerges he has somewhere else to hide. Bless him, and you!
 
Like @Wiebke said, a plumber would be a good idea. Your pig may actually work his way out by himself, leave his favourite treat there and keep him as calm as possible- if he panics he could get himself stuck further. Good luck x
 
Thanks everyone. I've left a pile of food to see if he nibbles it. Atleast I know then if he can get out. Any ideas on what to do then? I mean I feel like if he can get out, it's such an enclosed space that if he even pops his head out I'm not going to be able to grab him. I have put a box out as suggested but just fear he's Gona bolt back under as soon as I open the door
 
Poor piggy, and what a horrible situation for you! So, if you try and get him clear in the middle of the bathroom, or in a tunnel so you can pick him up? I hope you can solve the situation soon:(
 
would he be making a lot of panicked noises if he was trapped? He's pretty quite apart from the odd rustle under there. I was going to go to bed and just see if he had moved or eaten by the morning but I couldn't go to sleep knowing he's not sat under there of his own free will.
 
Hmm. I think if he was trapped he would be terrified, maybe he's actually not too unhappy? I think if you make him as comfortable as you can, then go to sleep, it would be best. Maybe if you wake up in the night you could check on him.
 
Hoping that by now you've got him back, but I had a similar issue with Poglet when she was a baby. When let them run around the living room and she hid under the sofa; it's too heavy for me to lift and simultaneously try to hurry a pig out. I was concerned that if I did lift it, I may end up putting it back down on her (as I wouldn't have been able to see under the sofa if I was lifting it). Syllabub had already been captured and put back into the cage. The only thing I could really do was put a pile of carrots in the middle of the floor and eventually she came out of hiding. It took two hours for her to appear, but appear she did! She was just still very cautious of me. Fortunately, she's too big to get under the sofa now!

(When I lived at home we also had piggies who would hide under the sideboard, which, when full, was impossible to move. Again, we'd pile up food on the floor and, in time, they would would all come out of their own accord. They sometimes like being in places where we can't get them.)

I think you'd know if he was hurt/agitated though; there would be lots of squeaking and scrabbling as they tried to get out. Sounds like he's just hiding to me. Hope that if he's not out already then he is soon! =)
 
We once lost my hamster for 2 days and made a home made trap with a ramp. We basically put a tub with high sides and lots of food in it and then set up a ramp with food on that as well to entice them in. I mean it didn't work for the hamster but it might work for a pig (maybe). Might put your mid at rest that if he comes out you might have a chance at him being caught. We also lost a pig under the couch and we had to move the couch to get him out.

Can you get anything behind him to give him a gentle poke? It might encourage him to make his own way out, that was the only way we got one of our pigs out from under the kitchen cabinets.
 
I can't quite visualize where he is, but hopefully if you leave the room and sit outside for a bit he will be able to extricate himself to get to the food. Maybe you could listen for sounds outside the door. I one had a hedgehog get into my kitchen and crawl behind the fridge... I had to get my landlord to help me move the fridge away from the wall because I couldn't move it myself. She got as close to the motor as she could (it was probably warm there!) So you're not alone... hope you've already manged to retrieve him!
 
I'm not sure how the pig is actually positioned... but would you be able to get the piggy if you moved the toilet? I know it doesn't sound pleasant but if it were me I would pull out the toilet. Not sure where you are or how your toilet is installed but they are usually pretty easy to move once everything is turned off.
 
Thanks everyone for the help. We have him back now. Left him overnight with some food and when I got up this morning it was still there so was slightly worried. But once the lights were on he stuck his head far enough for me to grab him.

He was soaking wet so not sure if he's chewed a pipe or something (that's the next problem) but he seems fine. Had the morning sat in front of the heater with some parsley and he seems fine!
 
I'm glad you've managed to get him out, it must have been scary for you both!
 
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