Online Meetings Bothering my Guinea Pig?

[Merry2018]

Hi everyone,

So due to corona virus I am at home and in meetings for about 6 hours everyday throughout the weekday. Since I've had to start doing this, Merry has seemed a little off. He seems a little irritated at times and like he is having trouble napping. He went to the vet about a week ago, and he is in perfect health! He is almost 2.5 years old, and I got him some new toys and changed his cage set up to be interesting, but that doesn't seem to have helped. I haven't been wearing headphones during my meetings and I was wondering, since we are in the same room, if the frequencies coming from the computer at such a constant rate throughout the day are disturbing him.

I'm not sure if this is just his daily routine when I used to be away at this time, or if he actually is upset by all the commotion. He isn't doing anything besides flipping his hay bowl over and doesn't seem to be getting a solid nap that makes me concerned, but I just wanted to make sure that I am not making him uncomfortable throughout the day.

Thank you!

 

[Free Ranger]

I know if I take George into a different room and there is a conversation going on he doesn't like it and there's a bit of chuttering. He doesn't complain when we talk outside his cage although he may be quietly hoping we'll just bog off. Hub's louder, deeper voice seems to disturb him more. He doesn't like the radio loud either - I think they've got sensitive hearing. Electrical frequencies I don't know, although there is a clear, high-pitched whine associated with computers that people often can't hear so well (and I don't mean the noise the offspring make when the wi-fi cuts out!) It could just be the talking and hearing strange disembodied voices? If you're anything like me your piggy voice is quite different to your people voice ☺
By the way, I don't usually carry him round all day like a handsome accessory! George doesn't have a piggy companion at the minute which is why we're trying to compensate with human company...

 

[Siikibam]

I don’t know that the electronic frequency would affect him. Is there a noise he doesn’t like?

Does he live alone as well? If yes, no amount of toys can rid him of the lack of company. And if he’s used to noise he will likely nap through it.

 

[Little Ones]

My guinea pigs sit through constant noise pretty much everyday and they have no problem sleeping. If there’s a noise he’s scared of then he’d likely do the low purr and run into a hidey. My Peanut used to do this if anyone coughed or sneezed, I’d try to do them quietly or out of the room so not to scare him but eventually he got used to it and doesn’t care anymore. But no, the noise shouldn’t stop him from napping though.
I should point out that guinea pigs should never live alone. They are herd animals and require round the clock company of their own kind. It is actually illegal in some places, I believe Switzerland, to keep guinea pigs alone as it is a basic requirement to live in a pair at the very least.

 

[Merry2018]

Thank you all for the information!

Merry does live alone, but because we just can’t seem to find a match. His brother unexpectedly died a little over a year ago and he just doesn’t do well with other guinea pigs. He’s seems happy with just me for the time being, but hopefully COVID will wrap up soon and we can continue trying to find another guinea pig pal for him!

 

[Siikibam]

Have you tried rescues? I don’t know where you are so don’t know whether there are any within reach of you. Otherwise the other option is to have him neutered and find him a sow or two once he’s six weeks post neuter.

 

[Free Ranger]

This is the problem poor George is also having at the minute - our local rescue has stopped taking guinea-pigs due to expanding their rabbit and dog areas, and some branches of Blue Cross are just not accepting intake. Even the 'adoption centres' at Pets-at-Home (which house a mix of genuine rescues and their left-over stock) are all totally empty round this area, and our usual local social media enquiry has turned up empty too...
... but we're working on it, aren't we you old Grumpus? (George says I'll believe it when I see it, but as he's already rather violently rejected one young lady we've got to get this right!)