Is Cashew having me on?

[YorkshireLass]

The boys are 7 months old, never been keen on being handled, Cashew spends most of his grooming time wandering purposefully off my knee and under the nearest cushion.

However in the last couple of days he’s jumped every time I touch him, but not in a very specific area. Basically anything behind his head and backwards. He doesn’t shout or cry, he just looks determined and I think it’s an extension of his ever-increasing dominant streak. I made him succumb to a fingertip search and could see nothing either sore or alive on him. He hasn’t started extra grooming, scratching or any other worrying behaviour.

Is he just getting even more sensitive and, apparently, in charge?

 

[Wiebke]

The boys are 7 months old, never been keen on being handled, Cashew spends most of his grooming time wandering purposefully off my knee and under the nearest cushion.

However in the last couple of days he’s jumped every time I touch him, but not in a very specific area. Basically anything behind his head and backwards. He doesn’t shout or cry, he just looks determined and I think it’s an extension of his ever-increasing dominant streak. I made him succumb to a fingertip search and could see nothing either sore or alive on him. He hasn’t started extra grooming, scratching or any other worrying behaviour.

Is he just getting even more sensitive and, apparently, in charge?

Try the tips in the guide below and keep an eye out for potential mange mites in the coming week or two. The sudden sensitivity can be very first symptom of discomfort in the skin long before any other more obvious signs appear.
Who is the boss - your guinea pig or you?
New piggy problems: URI - ringworm - skin parasites

However, the more dominant teenage boars around this age are at their most difficult and can also be tricky to handle; so it is more a matter of keeping your options open and keeping an eye out on developments. As an observant owner you often catch problems very early on before anybody can really tell what is going on. See a vet if you notice signs of hair loss on the back.

 

[YorkshireLass]

Thanks Wiebke. I hope it’s not something which has come in their hay. It’s a fairly new bale (the second since they arrived back in September) so I suppose it could be the source of critters.
I will keep a close eye on him. He won’t like it!

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks Wiebke. I hope it’s not something which has come in their hay. It’s a fairly new bale (the second since they arrived back in September) so I suppose it could be the source of critters.
I will keep a close eye on him. He won’t like it!

Most mange mites (trixacarus caviae) are in many cases already present in the skin as eggs, which are normally kept under control by fully working immune system.
Hay mites (chirodiscoides caviae) fix their tiny eggs to hairs at the bum end (feels liky very, very small beads on a hair) can come with hay, especially imported hay.
As long as your piggies get the appriopriate treatment when there is an acute outbreak, this will never get past a short-term nuisance and is nothing to panic over.

You can't feel or see either mite, so please don't subject him to regular searches. This only serves to upset him and feed your own anxiety. There is no reason to panic at any stage; especially not at this one.
You will notice increasing vigorous scratching and then hair loss - by which stage your vet should be able to diagnose. Until then, your boy is just a testosterone driven teenager...

 

[YorkshireLass]

Unfortunately for the dude I’ve only just read this. We have just spent a while doing a trim and search operation but he got some rocket for his troubles.

Am glad to hear I wouldn’t see anything, because I was squinting at a little brown line on his fur and there were a few tiny white flakes like mini dandruff on the sofa...but you have set my mind at rest. I’ll look out for any scratching or hair loss.

 

[Black piggies]

Lightning had a lump removal op in Oct and her fur didn't grow back, and she's always loved affection and she went off it. No scratching or symptoms I could see. She had vet jab for mites 3.5 weeks ago and follow up treatment, and loads of fur has regrown and she's back to being my affectionate piggy again, thank goodness.

Hope Cashew is just spreading his wings but thought I'd mention in case similar.