When i got my guinea pig he was about a year old. He used to be quite jumpy. Now alls he will do is chew on ANYTHING he can, i get him toys and little hay balls but it's like hes not amused hes only about 2 years old. Hes about 10 inches long and almost as heavy as a 5 pound bag of sugar i am worried about his heath, All day he will drink water and eat and sleep i try to play with him but he just runs to a corner and chews..what should i do... what is wrong... Help !!!
2006-12-28 20:38:58 · 10 answers · asked by catieann 3 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Why are people answering these questions when they obviously know nothing about guinea pigs?
First of all, do not get him a run around ball. They're not right for guinea pigs, it bends their spine unnaturally and can cause spinal damage.
Guinea pigs are also not "short lived" as someone else claimed. Average life for a guinea pig is 5-8 years. So no, he's not old.
Guinea pigs, as they become adults, do tend to be less active and hyper than they were as young pigs, as well as fill in physically. However, he's probably not moving much because he's trapped in a small cage by himself. Guinea pigs are social animals that do better in pairs, even the males. (I'm sure someone's going to claim they fight to the death, but we've paired over 60 in the past year in our rescue, and they're all alive.)
If you were trapped in a bathroom by yourself with food and water for a year, don't you think you'd eventually turn to just laying around? There's nothing to entertain you in the bathroom, what's the point in moving.
I'd reccomend adopting him a friend and building him a bigger cage where he'll feel more need to explore.
Check out http://www.guineapigcages.com for how to build a cage, and www.petfinder.com for guinea pig rescues in your area.
I have six guinea pigs, and 4 of them are over 2 years old, and they still chase each other, play, and are generally energetic because they've got someone to help entertain them.
2006-12-28 23:12:22 · answer #1 · answered by Lotus Effect 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should take him to a vet to get him checked out. But with him still eating and drinking (which are good signs) it makes me wonder if you did something to frighten him before. Guinea pigs do get a little slugish when they get older. Its only natural. So just take him to the vet and hopefully he'll live another 5 years with you.
Also do not get him one of those big balls to run in. Guinea pigs have bad backs. just letting him get some floor time to run around would be fine.
2006-12-29 06:36:54 · answer #2 · answered by Bartleby 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Get a big ball that you can put him inside (like the ones for mice and hamsters) so he can run around. Plus make sure you're giving him veggies and hay because thats what they need for vitamins that they can't get through regular food. If they don't eat those regularly they can pork up. Take him to the vet if these things don't work. I've owned several Guinea Pigs and these things worked for me.
2006-12-29 04:42:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You could take him to a vet, but guinea pigs don't last forever. Eventually they slow down, sleep a lot, and ultimately pass away.
That said, are you sure he's 5 pounds? If so, that's one hell of a guinea pig. I'd take him to a vet.
2006-12-29 04:47:44 · answer #4 · answered by T J 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well my sister has a guinea pig go to the store where you bought him and get suggestions on dietery foods he seems a bit fat let him run around so he gets some exercise and also check his urine for blood sort of pinkish in the bottom of the cage if so go see the vet he may have an infection of the bladder, my sisters vet told her it happens often with male guinea pigs it makes them sluggish , they also get kidney stones more often than females
2006-12-29 04:56:38 · answer #5 · answered by lorie v 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You should call the vet. Any sign of excessive weight gain and increased laziness is something to worry about. Are you giving him the proper diet of fruits/vegetables, vitamin c, pellets, and water? If so, this is a problem.
2006-12-29 11:53:50 · answer #6 · answered by Genius Next Door 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Guinea pigs have a pretty short life span....my niece had one and it just died. It didn't show any symtoms until a day or two before it died. I think that the life span is about 3-4 years....so yours is in the later half of its life. Call your vet and ask what you should do.
2006-12-29 04:42:45 · answer #7 · answered by stacy 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Have you taken him to the vet. If he drinks a lot maybe he's diabetic. Most mammals can suffer from it so why not guinea pigs.
2006-12-29 09:09:05 · answer #8 · answered by gerrifriend 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Call the repo-stork.
Tell'em you got a defective guinea pig and that you want a new one.
On a serious note, see a vet.
2006-12-29 04:42:14 · answer #9 · answered by guru 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
did he recently get married.
2006-12-29 04:41:10 · answer #10 · answered by Comedian James Uloth 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋