Why does my guinea pig sit in the corner?
They have a belief that this indicates that the guinea pig is “feeling sad” or “depressed”. Guinea pigs have no way to show emotions such as sadness so this perception is mostly subjective. However, studies have shown that cavies are affected by depression and sitting in a corner could be an indication of it.
What kind of behavior does a guinea pig have?
A guinea pig may also urinate on particular areas or objects to mark them, similar to the behavior seen in dogs. They may also sit down and rub their rump up along the surface of the ground. Guinea pigs are most likely to practice scent markings when outside of their cages or when their cage has just been cleaned.
Why does my guinea pig keep scratching herself?
Guinea pigs may scratch themselves simply to cure an irritating itchy spot that’s been troubling them for a while. Excessively doing so, however, could be a sign of ticks or fleas. Owners that spot this behavior are advised to check their cavy for any bald spots, flakes of skin or anything else that might indicate a health issue.
Can a guinea pig be aggressive to its owner?
A guinea pig very rarely shows this type of aggression towards its owner but if it and when it does, it’s recommended to take a step back and leave it alone for the meantime. Most of the time, this behavior will be seen primarily between two guinea pigs.
What are the symptoms of a sick guinea pig?
The symptoms of a digestive disorder include diarrhea, weight loss, dehydration, a lack of energy and a lack of appetite. Dental issues, such as slobbering. This is caused by a misalignment of your guinea pig’s teeth, which then make it difficult for your guinea pig to swallow or chew. This can result in excessive slobbering or drooling.
Why is my guinea pig not eating anything?
Things as simple as moving the cage or introducing a new guinea pig, or an upper respiratory infection or ectoparasites like lice can stress your guinea pig out enough so that it doesn’t eat and develops ileus. Monitor food intake and be aware of how any changes may have impacted your pet.
When to get medical attention for a guinea pig?
Your guinea pig should receive immediate medical attention if you suspect ileus, so it can get a diagnosis and be prescribed the proper medications. Ileus can be caused secondarily by an underlying illness or stressor which, in turn, causes your guinea pig to stop eating.
What should I do if my guinea pig is uncomfortable?
If you’re uncomfortable, so is your guinea pig. Provide cooling options in the cage, such as frozen bottles of water or a guinea pig-safe pet cool plate. And don’t aim a fan directly at your guinea pigs.
How can you tell if a guinea pig is barbered?
A barbered guinea pig can be identified by chewed-up hairs over a bald patch on their body. Separation of the conflicting guinea pigs is the first step in preventing barbering.
Why do guinea pigs jump in the air?
Popcorning is the name for those crazy leaps your guinea pigs do in the air. Because of the Suddenness of The jumping, it’s been dubbed as popcorning. Running in happy guinea pigs is often accompanied by leaping. When people see it, for the first time, some think that the pet is suffering.
What does it mean when guinea pig throws its head back?
This behavior is characterized by a guinea pig tossing its head back in rapid motions. It may last a few seconds followed by a brief pause and then, continuation of the behavior. Guinea pigs that exhibit head-tossing while being petted are showing annoyance and would like the petting to stop.
Why does my guinea pig keep biting the bars?
Mange mites are a painful condition for a guinea pig. Biting the Cage Bars Some guinea pigs are prone to biting the bars of their cage. Three of my piggies will only do this when they think its veggie time or they hear something that makes them think veggies are on the way.
How many guinea pigs do you need to keep from chewing on cage bars?
To discourage your guinea pig from using their bars as a chew toy, you need to make sure that there is no reason for them to do so. Although guinea pigs are social creatures, they aren’t fans of sharing. If you have two guinea pigs, I recommend having at least three chew toys in their house. Three guinea pigs, at least four.
They have a belief that this indicates that the guinea pig is “feeling sad” or “depressed”. Guinea pigs have no way to show emotions such as sadness so this perception is mostly subjective. However, studies have shown that cavies are affected by depression and sitting in a corner could be an indication of it.
Why do guinea pigs climb up on other guinea pigs?
During the spring season, you may notice your guinea pig climbing up more frequently in a few weeks only for this reason. A guinea pig can also mount on another guinea pig if they have other aromas upon them, and they want to re-mark their territory.
Normally cavies like to sit with their bum in the corner or against something (a wall, feed dish, other pigs) so they can see what is going on around them – this is due to their ‘fight or flight’ behaviour as a prey animal, & they feel safer.
