My new guinea pig isn't drinking or coming out. Is this normal?

Hi, change can be stressful in guinea pigs and they need the time to adjust to it. Are they caged in a quiet location ? I am not sure if you have tried to handle them yet but you should just offer them food and water for the first few days, then gradually handling them for a couple of minutes at a time once a day, then twice a day.Have you offered cucumbers as a treat ? See if they are interested in cucumber and other veggies that are suitable for Guinea Pigs. Also make sure you are sticking to the food and diet that they were used to previously. Hope this helps !

I am sorry to haer about your concern for your guinea pigs. They can be nervous creatures at first and are probably a big scared in their new surroundings. I would put them in the quietest room of your house with the door shut and lights out and give them some time. Provide them with plenty of hay, fresh water, pellets, and perhaps a treat of a carrot or apple slice and just give them a bit of time!

I think this is normal behavior for a guinea pig that is in a new environment. It will take some time for her to get used to her new home and her new enclosure. I would encourage you to spend as much time with her as possible to help her feel more comfortable. When you are handling her or playing with her offer her her favorite treats so that she will learn that she can trust you. I think small amounts of fruit are fine to give her but start off slowly. If you give her too much of a new thing all at once she may develop diarrhea. Congratulations on your new pet! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is very important that Guinea Pigs continue to eat and poop continually. If Cookie hasn't been eating, drinking or pooping for over 12 hours, he should be seen by a vet. It could be due to the new environment causing stress and setting off a gastric stasis event, however this needs to be treated. Best of luck with Cookie!

Oh my, he is so adorable. My advise is be patient. If he has not been handled a lot they are usually very skittish. Keep talking to him and holding him so he gets used to you and your touch. He will come out once he becomes more comfortable in his new surroundings. He should have a good pellet diet with vitamin C, have timothy hay at all times and you can offer him a variety of green leafy vegetables and fruits. The darker green the better like parsley, spinach, etc. He will learn about those yummy treats and they will usually come running to you!! Make sure he is eating and drinking and you are seeing lots of feces. give him time and I think he will learn to trust you and be less skittish.

Guinea pigs do not drink much, so it is normal that you do not see them drink often and that the water level doesn't seem to change a lot. do not worry, they drink the amount they need, you do not have to do anything to make them drink more.

Hello, thank you for your question about Layla. It is possible that Layla is experiencing mild stress secondary to her recent move. I would recommend continuing to monitor her for the next 24-36 hours and ensure that you offer her a wide variety of foods including fruits and vegetables. If her signs do not resolve or she develops any additional symptoms I would recommend having her evaluated by a veterinarian. Hope this helps, good luck!