Melancholy in guinea pigs can occur for quite a lot of causes, together with dwelling alone, missing area of their cage, dropping a cage mate, or recovering from sickness. Indicators of despair in guinea pigs embody lethargy, poor urge for food, aggressive habits, and barbering.
On this article, we’ll talk about the whole lot there’s to find out about despair in guinea pigs, together with its signs and causes, and the best way to assist.
Can Guinea Pigs Get Depressed?
Guinea pigs can get depressed. This usually occurs after they’re saved in improper situations or after they’re grieving a cage mate.
Nonetheless, we must always by no means assume an animal is depressed earlier than ruling out bodily diseases first.
Different illnesses have related signs to despair, together with lethargy, poor urge for food, and extra. This consists of bloat, GI stasis, and respiratory infection, all of which will be lethal.
In case you assume your guinea pig is depressed, convey them to the veterinarian as quickly as potential. In case your guinea pig stops consuming, please know that that is an emergency, as they’ll go into GI Stasis in as little as six to eight hours.
Causes of Melancholy in Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs can grow to be depressed for a number of causes, starting from poor care to well being points. The commonest causes of despair in guinea pigs embody:
Residing Alone
Guinea pigs are social animals–you must by no means have only one. Whereas some individuals assume they are often sufficient for his or her piggy by spending a whole lot of time with them, that is like anticipating a human to socialize solely with guinea pigs!
We don’t communicate the identical language. Laborious as we attempt, simply can’t present them with the socialization and luxury as their very own species. We additionally produce other obligations and can’t be with them across the clock.
The identical goes for housing guinea pigs with different animals. Being saved with rabbits, canine, cats, or different pets is harmful and may result in sickness or harm. Rabbits, canine, and cats can all be silent carriers of Bordetella, which might kill guinea pigs.
Grief
After dropping a cage mate, guinea pigs will usually expertise grief. This may end up in short-term despair and even proceed for longer, particularly if they’re alone after the dying.
As we mentioned above, maintaining only one guinea pig received’t meet their social wants. It’s okay to present your self and your piggy time to grieve, however take into account that they may want a good friend quickly and that remaining alone can worsen their despair.
If you understand that you simply don’t need extra guinea pigs after yours passes, think about fostering for a rescue or shelter. Many will help you return the brand new guinea pig after yours dies, and can then discover them a ceaselessly residence.
Whereas grief may be very regular after dropping a cage mate, it’s necessary to verify together with your vet that they’re wholesome. That is very true if the cage mate died of an unknown trigger or contagious sickness, as it could have been handed to your present piggy.
Ache or Sickness
Not solely can ache or sickness trigger depression-like signs, however these items can even trigger despair. Your guinea pig might grow to be depressed whereas recovering from an sickness or surgical procedure as nicely.
As we mentioned above, it’s necessary to not assume despair is the reason for your guinea pig’s habits. Particularly as they’re recovering, these signs may very well imply they’re getting sick once more or having issues after a surgical procedure.
Please rule these items out together with your veterinarian first!
A Small Cage
Small cages can result in lowered exercise and despair. Identical to us, guinea pigs want room to stretch their little legs!
They want sufficient area to run round, popcorn, and in addition to get area from their cage mates. This retains them each bodily and mentally wholesome.
The minimal cage measurement for 2 guinea pigs is 7.5 sq. toes, however 10.5 sq. toes or extra is very preferable. Three or 4 guinea pigs want much more room (see our guinea pig cage calculator).
Sadly, most cages offered in pet shops don’t meet this standards. The excellent news is you can make your individual cage simply and for a lot lower than the price of pet retailer cages!
There are additionally pre-built cages that meet the minimal requirement such because the Midwest guinea pig cage, and you may put two or extra of those collectively to present your piggies more room.
Indicators of Melancholy in Guinea Pigs
Signs of despair in guinea pigs embody:
- Lethargy
- Hiding and decreased interplay with individuals or cagemates
- Lack of curiosity in enrichment objects or treats
- Decreased urge for food
- Aggressive behaviors
- Barbering (or pulling out their fur)
As we’ve mentioned, many of those signs additionally happen when a guinea pig may be very sick bodily–so it’s very important to see a vet earlier than assuming your guinea pig is depressed.
Easy methods to Assist a Depressed Guinea Pig
The very first thing you will need to do in case your guinea pig acts depressed is to see a veterinarian. They could be severely unwell and wish therapy.
As soon as your vet has given them a clear invoice of well being, you must have a look at assembly your guinea pig’s primary wants.
Cage Mates
A cage mate is the most effective enrichment you may supply a guinea pig. They take cues from each other and discover consolation in simply the presence of one other piggy.
Earlier than adopting a cage mate on your guinea pig, please analysis guinea pig bonding to find out about regular and irregular behaviors.
It’s necessary to introduce them in a very impartial space with objects which might be clear or haven’t been used earlier than in order that they don’t have both piggies’ scent on them. It’s additionally necessary to not separate them except they damage each other or present true aggression.
Chasing, humping, and rumble strutting are regular behaviors, although they understandably make some piggy mother and father nervous!
Increasing Their Cage
Cage expansions, particularly in case your cage is at or beneath the minimal measurement, can encourage your guinea pig to run round and discover.
Train is necessary for a guinea pig’s psychological well being in addition to their bodily well-being. The most well-liked (and most cost-effective!) cage choice is a selfmade C&C cage. There are additionally pre-build C&C cages in the marketplace in addition to the Midwest and Kaytee Open Residing guinea pig cages, which have barely completely different supplies.
You may see among the greatest guinea pig cages right here.
Serving to Guinea Pigs Via Grief
In case your guinea pig is depressed as a result of they’re grieving a cage mate, they could merely want time. Everybody goes by grief at their very own tempo, piggies included.
You may attempt cheering them up by offering their favourite veggies and treats, or scatter feeding their pellets or some forage across the cage to get them shifting extra.
In case your guinea pig likes to be held or they take pleasure in floortime, attempt giving them extra of these items to spice up their spirits.
In the event that they’re now dwelling alone, you also needs to think about a brand new cage mate. Although it doesn’t must occur straight away, it ought to occur quickly, particularly in the event that they’re already depressed.
Some individuals give their guinea pigs small stuffed animals whereas they seek for an actual good friend for them–some piggies received’t care, whereas others might deal with it like one other guinea pig. Simply make sure that they don’t chew it!
Serving to Therapeutic Guinea Pigs with Melancholy
In case your guinea pig has simply been by sickness or surgical procedure, that is one other factor that will require time. As soon as they heal up and really feel higher bodily, the despair will doubtless subside.
In case you’ve ever confronted a extreme sickness or harm, or undergone surgical procedure your self, you’ll know that it may be tougher to dwell your life usually. Ache could make guinea pigs irritable, drained, and never fairly themselves.
Be sure you observe your veterinarian’s suggestions for therapy, and don’t be afraid to ask for an additional check-up or ache remedy for those who really feel your guinea pig wants it.
Once more, don’t assume despair till it’s confirmed by a veterinarian, because it’s potential your guinea pig is definitely getting sicker and wishes assist.
Can Guinea Pigs Die of Melancholy?
Melancholy can weaken guinea pigs as a result of they’re not consuming or exercising as they need to be. Nonetheless, despair alone received’t kill them.
They could be extra inclined to illness or have much less fats or muscle to lose, thus making illness progress extra rapidly than it could in a wholesome, plump piggy.
Do Guinea Pigs Get Depressed by Themselves?
Sure, guinea pigs can get depressed by themselves. Whereas not all guinea pigs will react this option to dwelling alone, all of them do must socialize with different piggies! Please by no means maintain only one guinea pig for an prolonged period of time.
Whereas there’s the uncommon piggy who can not get together with others, they’ll normally bond if given sufficient probabilities. This may be troublesome to facilitate by yourself since you may’t simply maintain adopting piggies hoping they’ll get alongside!
I extremely advocate asking rescues and shelters close to you in the event that they’ll allow you to convey your guinea pig in for bonding. Usually they may enable this, and you may then attempt pairing your piggy with a number of others till you discover a good match.
Others will help you foster a guinea pig briefly, and return them in the event that they don’t get alongside together with your present guinea pig.
In case your piggy actually can’t get together with others even after offering further assets to maintain them from preventing, they need to nonetheless be saved side-by-side with different guinea pigs in a unique cage. That is the second-best choice because it nonetheless permits them to see and listen to different piggies, which can make them really feel much less remoted.
I hope this text has helped you to be taught extra about guinea pigs and despair. Keep in mind to see your veterinarian first, then search for methods you may assist your piggy akin to adopting a cage mate for them or giving them a bigger cage.
