Scared Or Ill?

[rufcjoe87]

Bit of a strange one this...

We have two piggies who live in separate cages (on top of eachother) and have done for a while. They don't get on but they 'talk' to eachother and are happy

Twirl, and 18 month old sow is always out of her bed munching and running around.

Since yesterday afternoon she hasn't come out of her bed. She always comes out for 'tea' and breakfast. Now if we give her food in her bed she'll eat it. She still squeaks loudly when we rustle in the fridge and she has eaten her hay, grass, and food we have put in her bed

The only thing is she is so skitty and timid all of a sudden and won't come out of her bed. She is pooing ok (perhaps a little less) and all the signs are ok

Any idea what it could be? We have no other animals and I cannot think what, if anything scared her. I think the signs point to fear rather than illness, any ideas on how to help her regain some confidence if thats what it is or anyone had something similar?

When we get her out shes fine and talkative too seems just in her cage.

 

[Wiebke]

Bit of a strange one this...

We have two piggies who live in separate cages (on top of eachother) and have done for a while. They don't get on but they 'talk' to eachother and are happy

Twirl, and 18 month old sow is always out of her bed munching and running around.

Since yesterday afternoon she hasn't come out of her bed. She always comes out for 'tea' and breakfast. Now if we give her food in her bed she'll eat it. She still squeaks loudly when we rustle in the fridge and she has eaten her hay, grass, and food we have put in her bed

The only thing is she is so skitty and timid all of a sudden and won't come out of her bed. She is pooing ok (perhaps a little less) and all the signs are ok

Any idea what it could be? We have no other animals and I cannot think what, if anything scared her. I think the signs point to fear rather than illness, any ideas on how to help her regain some confidence if thats what it is or anyone had something similar?

When we get her out shes fine and talkative too seems just in her cage.

Please have her vet checked. Signs of illness can be very subtle; you need to close out this angle before you can concentrate on any others.

Pooing less means that she is not eating fully. Many people are not aware that 80% or more of the daily food intake comes from hay, which you cannot control. If you are in any doubt about your piggy's health or wellbeing, switch from weighing once weekly for healthy guinea pigs to weighing daily at the same time in the feeding cycle, like before the breakfast or dinner. Start extra offering syringe feed once a guinea pig has lost more than 50g in a short time and is not looking right in order to keep the guts and her fighting strength going. This is just home care and does not replace a vet trip.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

 

[rufcjoe87]

Thank you for your advice

She has eaten everything we have put down for her this morning though and there are a few more poos. Her behaviour is entirely normal with the one thing that she simply will not come out of bed. She is eating her hay (her bedding hay) just seems really strainge. Not saying we won't take her to the vet of course just that it seems like something happened which has scared her?