Hunched pig

[Sally Newbie]

Hi.
Puff does not seem herself today. I am not an expert in guinea pigs - we have only had them 8 weeks. She was absolutely fine yesterday. It was a colder night than normal and we stuffed their boxes with hay but this morning she is a bit hunched up and fluffed up and not as lively as normal. If I lift her box up she is moving about ok. She is eating. I have put a heated Snugglepad in her sleeping area and think it's probably best to see leave her alone for a bit and see how she is. Could she be cold still?

 

[Piggylove82]

Hi.
Puff does not seem herself today. I am not an expert in guinea pigs - we have only had them 8 weeks. She was absolutely fine yesterday. It was a colder night than normal and we stuffed their boxes with hay but this morning she is a bit hunched up and fluffed up and not as lively as normal. If I lift her box up she is moving about ok. She is eating. I have put a heated Snugglepad in her sleeping area and think it's probably best to see leave her alone for a bit and see how she is. Could she be cold still?

You've had them 8 weeks, how old are they now?

 

[Sally Newbie]

We got them from the RSPCA and their age is unknown. All we know is that they had babies with the RSPCA and then we got them both.

 

[Piggylove82]

But are they babies now? The cool night may have been a shock to them if they are. I adopted a boar in March and although they didn't know his exact age I was given an approximation.

My pigs are housed outside and some mornings when I open up the hutch there are sniffy noses thinking "mmm must be time for food", other times they're more like "oh hey I need more sleep, just leave the food over there". It very much depends on their individual mood at that time.

Puff might just want more snuggle time. But guinea pigs will also hide things too, so I'd keep a really close eye on her. That she's eating is a good sign but doesn't mean there's nothing wrong. Have you got a favourite food you could offer to see if that perks her up?

 

[Sally Newbie]

They are not babies but RSPCA had no idea on their age. She had a bit of grass this morning, her usual veg, her usual pellets, has her hay as normal but normally she's desperate to get out which she is not today so she is definitely off-colour. They have had a new hay this week for the first time on Monday - could that be it? I'm wondering whether to book a vet's appointment for later on today just in case she doesn't change. I could always cancel it if she perks up....

 

[Piggylove82]

They are not babies but RSPCA had no idea on their age. She had a bit of grass this morning, her usual veg, her usual pellets, has her hay as normal but normally she's desperate to get out which she is not today so she is definitely off-colour. They have had a new hay this week for the first time on Monday - could that be it? I'm wondering whether to book a vet's appointment for later on today just in case she doesn't change. I could always cancel it if she perks up....

It's always better to be safe than sorry. Hope everything goes OK x

 

[Sally Newbie]

The vet has told me to bring her in for a couple of hours so I've separated them and Puff is in the pet carrier in the house in a dark corner with Snugglepad, hay and some veg (treat as that normally happens at 5pm!). Vet said to check for wees and poos and just keep her for a couple of hours so she can warm up. So I will see how she is at 12:30ish.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi.
Puff does not seem herself today. I am not an expert in guinea pigs - we have only had them 8 weeks. She was absolutely fine yesterday. It was a colder night than normal and we stuffed their boxes with hay but this morning she is a bit hunched up and fluffed up and not as lively as normal. If I lift her box up she is moving about ok. She is eating. I have put a heated Snugglepad in her sleeping area and think it's probably best to see leave her alone for a bit and see how she is. Could she be cold still?

Hi!

Hunching is a sign of pain, and being quieter than normal is a red alert that she is feeling ill.
Guinea pigs are prey animals, i.e. they are hard-wired cover up any signs of illness for as long as possible; this means that you cannot wait and dither for long. They can also fall ill very quickly and go downhill very quickly.

Make sure that you switch from the normal weekly health monitoring weigh-in and body onceover to weighing daily at the same time. Poo output is generally running a day or two behind while the kitchen scales aren't.
Around 80% of the daily food intake is hay, which you cannot control by eye. 15% of veg and 5% of pellets are more in the way of an afternoon snack. Hay is generally the food group first impacted when a piggy is not well; and they can lose a lot of weight very quickly without you being aware. Step in with feeding support as soon
Early Signs Of Illness
Emergency Information and Care
Tips For Vet Visits

Please bring your piggies inside for the cooler half of the year. They are not winter hardy and are best treated the same as tender perennial plants.
Cold Weather Care For Guinea Pigs
Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike

You can find all these guides and much more helpful information in our New Owners guide collection; which I would recommend to you to bookmark and use as a resource. The collection specifically addresses all the areas new owners have the most questions and concerns; it has guides that help you learn to understand guinea pig behaviour and body quirks plus what is normal and what not, avoid the most common mistakes and pitfalls as well as information on how to work out whether your piggy is not well and what you need to do in an emergency.
Here is the access link: Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides

Good that you have got an appointment straight away! All the best!