Posted: March 31, 2008, 5 a.m. EDT
Guinea pigs are sensitive and are prone to suffering from trauma and stress. You can tell a guinea pig is experiencing stress if you see the following signs:
- Hiding a lot and refusing to come out of the nest box
- Sleeping a lot
- Nervousness
- Irritability
- Not wanting to be handled
- Poor appetite
- Hair loss
The best ways to prevent stress is to provide a guinea pig with a comfortable cage located in a quiet area of the house. Keep dogs and cats away from the guinea pig’s cage. Supervise children when they handle the guinea pig, and be sure to give the guinea pig time to relax and not be handled.
Provide your guinea pig with another cavy as a cage mate, and give them a good diet with plenty of hay to gnaw on. If a small pet seems ill, take it to an exotics vet right away.