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Is My Guinea Pig Mentally Hadicapped?

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Kate L

Kate L

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Hi, a week and a half ago I adopted a male coronet guinea pig named bear. He is about 4 months old. Hi doesn't move much and just sits on you when you pick him up. If you lay him on his back he just lies there and doesn't move. He isn't scared thought because he never shakes or acts as if anything is wrong. I have owned over 20 guinea pigs over the years and I have never in counted a guinea pig like this! He is very soft and just sits in what ever position you put him in, all my other guinea pigs hate going on there backs or sitting in a uncomfortable position. (they will roll straight over). Do you think he could be mentally handicapped, as he is just quite strange.
If you are wondering he had 4 days of just being in his cage by himself (to settle in), then I slowly gave him short cuddles and tried feeding him food out of my hand.
I know he is new but none of my other guinea pigs when I got them were like this?
Please get back to me :) :ple::help::btt:
 
He could be scared. I know he may not seem it but there could be a chance he is. My newest guinea pig Bakura would let me do anything with him when he was a baby. But it was out of fear. He used to go so limp and many times I thought he was dead. He's not like it anymore he's older and confident. So it could be your guinea pigs way with handling fear.

If not there might be another reason that someone more vet savvy than me may know.
 
I can't speak on him being mentally retarded but I know you should never put a Guinea flat on its back. The head always needs to be elevated for them to breathe I believe so please don't continue to do that. If he's really that unresponsive I would try seeing a vet but if he truly is that terrified I would give him more time unbothered to adjust to new surroundings. Does he have a friend?
 
He's scared. Being still is a fear response for a prey animal.

In the wild prey animals such as guinea pigs will stay perfectly still when they think a predator is around. A bird of prey will find it harder to spot a guinea pig who is standing like a statue.

As Keiko mentions, please don't put him on his back. It's not a natural position for them, and he can easily injure his back.

He needs time to settle in. Don't overwhelm him. I've got a pig like this and I do things in his time, spending more time interacting with him whilst he was in his cage, rather than taking him out and scaring him. He's okay with being out of the cage now, although he's still not a fan of floor time. We'll take it all at his pace.
 
Kate L said:
Hi, a week and a half ago I adopted a male coronet guinea pig named bear. He is about 4 months old. Hi doesn't move much and just sits on you when you pick him up. If you lay him on his back he just lies there and doesn't move. He isn't scared thought because he never shakes or acts as if anything is wrong. I have owned over 20 guinea pigs over the years and I have never in counted a guinea pig like this! He is very soft and just sits in what ever position you put him in, all my other guinea pigs hate going on there backs or sitting in a uncomfortable position. (they will roll straight over). Do you think he could be mentally handicapped, as he is just quite strange.
If you are wondering he had 4 days of just being in his cage by himself (to settle in), then I slowly gave him short cuddles and tried feeding him food out of my hand.
I know he is new but none of my other guinea pigs when I got them were like this?
Please get back to me :) :ple::help::btt:
Click to expand...

it sounds like he is scared stiff, poor guy!
Please use the tips in these guides here; it is likely to take weeks or months to gradually bring him round, but it is worth the effort.
How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?
How To Understand Guinea Pig Instincts And Speak Piggy Body Language
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig
 
Wiebke said:
it sounds like he is scared stiff, poor guy!
Please use the tips in these guides here; it is likely to take weeks or months to gradually bring him round, but it is worth the effort.
How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?
How To Understand Guinea Pig Instincts And Speak Piggy Body Language
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig
Click to expand...
No No No, sorry I wrote it as if I was putting him on his back for fun. When we adopted him the owner put him on his back, I was fascinated because he didn't move and most guinea pigs would flip right around. So I carefully wrapped him in a blanket and put him on his back for about 30 seconds. He didn't move that's how it all started! I would never put a guinea pig on its back for fun (that's ridiculous). He has been slowly getting better, he is eating out of my hand and will now comfortably sit in a cuddle sack for cuddle time, he also wheeks when I come in. He is still very soft and mellow though.
But I will keep working on him, he may just be a softie.
On another post someone asked if he was with a friend, he will be living in my room for about another month. Before he is fixed and bonded with my girls :hug::jel:
 
I'd just echo what has been said about not putting him on his back.

If you plan to neuter him to live with your girls please keep him separate from them for SIX weeks post neutering so as to ensure no live sperm survive. So if you plan to wait a month to neuter him that will be at least 10 weeks he will need to live alone.
 
Kate L said:
No No No, sorry I wrote it as if I was putting him on his back for fun. When we adopted him the owner put him on his back, I was fascinated because he didn't move and most guinea pigs would flip right around. So I carefully wrapped him in a blanket and put him on his back for about 30 seconds. He didn't move that's how it all started! I would never put a guinea pig on its back for fun (that's ridiculous). He has been slowly getting better, he is eating out of my hand and will now comfortably sit in a cuddle sack for cuddle time, he also wheeks when I come in. He is still very soft and mellow though.
But I will keep working on him, he may just be a softie.
On another post someone asked if he was with a friend, he will be living in my room for about another month. Before he is fixed and bonded with my girls :hug::jel:
Click to expand...

Please be aware that the post neutering operation waiting time is 6 weeks until a boar is 100% safe. I have the unplanned daughter of a supposedly safe and vet cleared over five weeks post-op boar (not one of mine) living with me, just to prove that particular point! All good rescues in the UK practice the 6 weeks cut off for their neutered boars (including rehoming sows to live with a neutered boar), and there have been no accidents since then.
 
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