Guinea pigs always laying down and inactive.

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Ilovemyguineapigs21

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Hi! I have 3 female guinea pigs that are 2, 5, and 6 months old and I’ve noticed that they are not active at all and always spend their time laying down. The only time they ran around and popcorned was when I set up a new fleece liner and other than that, they’re very inactive. I tried taking out their hidey but still, theyd just go to a different place and lay down there. They eat normally, they drink and are quite fatty. Any idea why? Pls help idk if I should be worried.
 

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Ilovemyguineapigs21 said:
Hi! I have 3 female guinea pigs that are 2, 5, and 6 months old and I’ve noticed that they are not active at all and always spend their time laying down. The only time they ran around and popcorned was when I set up a new fleece liner and other than that, they’re very inactive. I tried taking out their hidey but still, theyd just go to a different place and lay down there. They eat normally, they drink and are quite fatty. Any idea why? Pls help idk if I should be worried.
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It sounds like your pigs are lethargic, and you should take your guinea pigs to the vet for a full checkup. Your guinea pigs might have a slow metabolism, be dangerously overweight or have some other underlying health condition that's contributing to their lack of energy and their resulting lethargy.
Do you give your guinea pigs lots of floor time? They may need more space to run around, or they could be overweight. It is hard to say an estimate of what a guinea pigs weight should be, as all guinea pigs are different, but the way to check if they are overweight is: feel along their sides. You should be able to just about feel their ribs, but with no protruding.
Also, you should have at least one hidey per pig or they may fight over it.
 
I take out their fleece hideys (leaving the wooden and cardboard tunnels in) if my two are just lazing around and it does get them moving and exploring more but they also need something to do to be active - Do you give them any enrichment - Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

Do they get time out of their cage? Floor time indoors, or outside in a run?
 
What is their diet? A guinea pig should have a table spoon of nuggets per day (about 10 - 12 nuggets), 10 - 15 % of veggies, unlimited, fresh hay (80 %), fresh, unlimited water and you could give them treats (check the packet for how often to give these. I usually give my pigs treats 2 or 3 times a week.)
Try getting them exercise toys (NOT exercise balls, these could seriously damage their spines.)
 
You say they’re fat, how much do they weigh? And what is their heft like?
 
PoppyFloss said:
What is their diet? A guinea pig should have a table spoon of nuggets per day (about 10 - 12 nuggets), 10 - 15 % of veggies, unlimited, fresh hay (80 %), fresh, unlimited water and you could give them treats (check the packet for how often to give these. I usually give my pigs treats 2 or 3 times a week.)
Try getting them exercise toys (NOT exercise balls, these could seriously damage their spines.)
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Pellets, timothy and orchard grass hay of course at all times, at noon they all get a piece of cucumber, and at night they get veggies which I try my best to give different varieties everyday, but I always give them bell peppers, little bit of carrot, cucumber, romaine lettuce, and parsley. And they have a chew toy but its almost finished. And what do you mean by nuggets? thanks
 
Ilovemyguineapigs21 said:
Pellets, timothy and orchard grass hay of course at all times, at noon they all get a piece of cucumber, and at night they get veggies which I try my best to give different varieties everyday, but I always give them bell peppers, little bit of carrot, cucumber, romaine lettuce, and parsley. And they have a chew toy but its almost finished. And what do you mean by nuggets? thanks
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Nuggets is just another word for pellets. They should only have one tablespoon of pellets per day and then remove the bowl and don’t let them have anymore pellets until the next day

Carrot is too sugary to be fed daily and parsley is too high in calcium to be fed daily. These items should only be fed once per week.

And to confirm, are they 2 months, 5 months and 6 months of age?
What are all their weights?
 
PoppyFloss said:
It sounds like your pigs are lethargic, and you should take your guinea pigs to the vet for a full checkup. Your guinea pigs might have a slow metabolism, be dangerously overweight or have some other underlying health condition that's contributing to their lack of energy and their resulting lethargy.
Do you give your guinea pigs lots of floor time? They may need more space to run around, or they could be overweight. It is hard to say an estimate of what a guinea pigs weight should be, as all guinea pigs are different, but the way to check if they are overweight is: feel along their sides. You should be able to just about feel their ribs, but with no protruding.
Also, you should have at least one hidey per pig or they may fight over it.
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Thanks for the info Ill definitely take them to the vet. My guinea pigs' cage is a 3 by 7 c & c so they have lots of space to run around on but I rarely give floor time which I should. And sorry for the misconception but they arent fatty they're 550 grams. And yes they all have their own houses.
 
Piggies&buns said:
Nuggets is just another word for pellets. They should only have one tablespoon of pellets per day and then remove the bowl and don’t let them have anymore pellets until the next day

Carrot is too sugary to be fed daily and parsley is too high in calcium to be fed daily. These items should only be fed once per week.

And to confirm, are they 2 months, 5 months and 6 months of age?
What are all their weights?
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Oh no really? that means I've been giving them a little bit too much pellets so ok Ill change that. Yes they are.
2 months: 520 grams
5 months: 550 grams
6 months: 550 grams as well
 
Piggies&buns said:
I take out their fleece hideys (leaving the wooden and cardboard tunnels in) if my two are just lazing around and it does get them moving and exploring more but they also need something to do to be active - Do you give them any enrichment - Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

Do they get time out of their cage? Floor time indoors, or outside in a run?
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Alright and they have 2 tunnels but thats about it, Ill look into the Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs forum.
 
Ilovemyguineapigs21 said:
Oh no really? that means I've been giving them a little bit too much pellets so ok Ill change that. Yes they are.
2 months: 520 grams
5 months: 550 grams
6 months: 550 grams as well
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Hay is the only food they should have constantly. Veg can be one cupful per day, pellets one tablespoon per day (per pig)

Below is the feeding guide. Do give it a read

Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

I am very surprised that a two month old and six month old weigh both the same. Check their heft by seeing if you can feel their ribs.
Weight - Monitoring and Management
 
Oh so about that, for the last 2 weeks my guinea pigs didnt like the pellets I gave them and didnt eat any which is why the older guinea pigs are similar in weighht as the young one because I recently just got the young one and since she had pellets from the breeder which is why shes fattier than the older in comparison to age and weight. But just recently it's all sorted now, each of my guinea pigs have a pellet preference and they are all safe pellets. And ill check on that.
 
Ilovemyguineapigs21 said:
Oh so about that, for the last 2 weeks my guinea pigs didnt like the pellets I gave them and didnt eat any which is why the older guinea pigs are similar in weighht as the young one because I recently just got the young one and since she had pellets from the breeder which is why shes fattier than the older in comparison to age and weight. But just recently it's all sorted now, each of my guinea pigs have a pellet preference and they are all safe pellets. And ill check on that.
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No That’s not why - if a piggy is losing weight it’s because they are not eating enough hay. Not eating pellets for two weeks would not have an effect so great because they should just be eating the hay instead and therefore maintaining their weight on that. Pellets should never be the reason piggies gain weight. Pellets are merely a snack and should never make up more than 5% of their daily food intake. If your piggy has lost weight then it’s potentially a medical matter and/or they’ve only ever been eating pellets too much and never eaten enough hay

What did the older piggy weigh (before not eating pellets)?
 
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Are you sure? I read online that pellets are the main source of protein and its what gives them fat but before she was around 545 grams and shhe only gained a little after eating pellets but its no big drop in weight or anything like that before eating pellets. Then I really dont know why she lost a little weight after not having pellets.
 
Piggies&buns said:
No That’s not why - if a piggy is losing weight it’s because they are not eating enough hay. Not eating pellets for two weeks would not have an effect so great because they should just be eating the hay instead and therefore maintaining their weight on that. Pellets should never be the reason piggies gain weight. Pellets are merely a snack and should never make up more than 5% of their daily food intake. If your piggy has lost weight then it’s potentially a medical matter and/or they’ve only ever been eating pellets too much and never eaten enough hay

What did the older piggy weigh (before not eating pellets)?
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Also can I ask what is the healthy weight for guinea pigs? (female, ages of 2, 5, and 6 months)
 
Ilovemyguineapigs21 said:
Are you sure? I read online that pellets are the main source of protein and its what gives them fat but before she was around 545 grams and shhe only gained a little after eating pellets but its no big drop in weight or anything like that before eating pellets. Then I really dont know why she lost a little weight after not having pellets.
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Absolutely certain. Pellets are not healthy and must never be the main food source - hay is always the main food source. If a piggy loses weight it’s because they aren’t eating enough hay.

80% of the daily food intake is hay
50g of veg which accounts for about 15% of the daily food infake
1 tablespoon of pellets (which is around 10 individual pellets, or about 6g) amounting to just 5% of the daily food intake

Pellets (if overfed) and unfiltered drinking water are a major source of calcium which if fed in too large a quantity can lead to bladder problems.

Please read the feeing guide I linked in above.
 
Ilovemyguineapigs21 said:
Also can I ask what is the healthy weight for guinea pigs? (female, ages of 2, 5, and 6 months)
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There is no set weight as such as they all gain weight in their own time if fed a healthy hay based diet. I would not expect a two month old and six month old to weigh the same though - something isn’t quite right somewhere.

How much hay do you feed them?
 
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They don’t ‘need’ fat or protein. They’re evolved to eat mainly hay/grass. They both help keep their teeth worn down and contain vitamin c which they can’t produce themselves.

I was also going to ask if they have access to hay 24/7. Do you change out any wet hay?
 
oh i forgot to tell you that i got the “2 month” old one from the pet store and they say its 2 months but idk if they really know its 2 months. And hay is unlimited.
 
Siikibam said:
They don’t ‘need’ fat or protein. They’re evolved to eat mainly hay/grass. They both help keep their teeth worn down and contain vitamin c which they can’t produce themselves.

I was also going to ask if they have access to hay 24/7. Do you change out any wet hay?
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Yes they have unlimited hay and i only change wet hay after 2 days if they dont eat it.
 
Siikibam said:
They don’t ‘need’ fat or protein. They’re evolved to eat mainly hay/grass. They both help keep their teeth worn down and contain vitamin c which they can’t produce themselves.

I was also going to ask if they have access to hay 24/7. Do you change out any wet hay?
Click to expand...
Oh and thanks for the info!
 
Piggies&buns said:
Absolutely certain. Pellets are not healthy and must never be the main food source - hay is always the main food source. If a piggy loses weight it’s because they aren’t eating enough hay.

80% of the daily food intake is hay
50g of veg which accounts for about 15% of the daily food infake
1 tablespoon of pellets (which is around 10 individual pellets, or about 6g) amounting to just 5% of the daily food intake

Pellets (if overfed) and unfiltered drinking water are a major source of calcium which if fed in too large a quantity can lead to bladder problems.

Please read the feeing guide I linked in above.
Click to expand...
Oh wow okay then. Then idk why theyre weight dropped but the breeder I got one of my guinea pigs from said that they give a little bit of critical care everyday to gain weight a little even if theyre not ill so maybe because shes not getting the usual critical care, making her weight drop? And the breeder said that her weight was around 700 grams when she had her so I was shocked that it dropped a lot to 550 but idk if i should give her critical care even when shes healthy
 
Ilovemyguineapigs21 said:
Yes they have unlimited hay and i only change wet hay after 2 days if they dont eat it.
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Hay should be given fresh every day and wet hay removed every day



Ilovemyguineapigs21 said:
Oh wow okay then. Then idk why theyre weight dropped but the breeder I got one of my guinea pigs from said that they give a little bit of critical care everyday to gain weight a little even if theyre not ill so maybe because shes not getting the usual critical care, making her weight drop? And the breeder said that her weight was around 700 grams when she had her so I was shocked that it dropped a lot to 550 but idk if i should give her critical care even when shes healthy
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The breeder sounds like they are making them artificially gain weight for no real reason - you don’t feed critical care to a piggy who is well and healthy just to make them gain weight. They gain healthily by having a good quality hay based diet throughout their entire lives. How old was she when you got her to weigh 700g?

There is no need to give critical care to a piggy who is well and eating enough hay for themselves. That is a lot of weight to lose from 700 down to 550.

Ensure they get plenty of fresh hay every single day and monitor their weight to ensure it continues to go up. Keep pellets strictly limited to the one tablespoon. Ensure they have lots of enrichment to keep them active. As young piggies I would not expect them to be sitting around a lot, yes they will nap, but youngsters are usually very active.
 
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Have you been weighing them the same time every week?
 
Piggies&buns said:
Hay should be given fresh every day and wet hay removed every day





The breeder sounds like they are making them artificially gain weight for no real reason - you don’t feed critical care to a piggy who is well and healthy just to make them gain weight. They gain healthily by having a good quality hay based diet throughout their entire lives. How old was she when you got her to weigh 700g?

There is no need to give critical care to a piggy who is well and eating enough hay for themselves. That is a lot of weight to lose from 700 down to 550.

Ensure they get plenty of fresh hay every single day and monitor their weight to ensure it continues to go up. Keep pellets strictly limited to the one tablespoon. Ensure they have lots of enrichment to keep them active. As young piggies I would not expect them to be sitting around a lot, yes they will nap, but youngsters are usually very active.
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Okk, I didnt straight away weigh her when I first got her though so I dont know. But this week her and all the others are steadily gaining weight so thats good.
 
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