My guinea pig is hiding and squeaking when handled. What's wrong?

Thanks for reaching out about Cheech. A veterinary visit is highly recommended, ASAP. Grunting noises could be pain or a respiratory infection. During the veterinary visit, examination of cheek teeth is recommended, as this is a common prevention of appetite. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Snickers. It sounds as if she is painful. A veterinary visit is recommended. Check for appetite, water consumption, urination and defecation. Offer water via a syringe of no urine or drinking detected. Good luck.

I think is perfectly normal for her to do that (vocalizing may be an actual good sign!) and, by your description of what you are doing, I think you are not doing anything wrong at all! Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Hello, and thank you for your question. I'm very sorry to hear that Marshall is unwell. If he is lethargic, not eating well, cried when you pet him, or is teeth chattering, I would be worried he is in pain. Possible sources of pain include intestinal bloat, dental pain, scurvy, or infection. I would highly recommend getting him seem by a vet within the next 24 hours, preferably one that has experience dealing with guinea pigs. They can help to determine the source of Marshall's pain, and offer supportive medication such as fluid therapy and pain medications, and antibiotics if necessary. In the meantime, try to minimize stress by not handling him too much, and provide easy access to his food and water. If he is not eating well, try offering more of the fresh veggies that he typically enjoys. Make sure you are feeding both pigs plenty of vitamin C which will help prevent scurvy. Oranges, green peppers and pellets fortified with vitamin C are all good choices. I hope this helps, and that Marshall is feeling better soon!

Excessive vocalization can sometimes indicate pain or illness, so following up with your vet to see if Toffee's infection has cleared is best. It may be that she is also feeling a bit better and is more active/excited to see you and thus vocalizing. Taking into account other things such as her activity levels, how much she's eating and drinking, how playful she is, etc can help give you a better indication of her health and pain levels than just squeaking alone.

It's possible Sally could be a bit constipated, ill, or have irritation/infection that is causing some swelling or discomfort. If she can't go potty at all, there is swelling/oozing of debris, or she seems in distress, it is a good idea to bring her to your vet for an exam. Otherwise, keeping everything clean and dry and making sure she is eating and drinking may help her stay comfortable.

You have every right to be concerned about Ferb, and I would recommend getting him in to see a veterinarian. Guinea pigs can be very subtle about showing that they don't feel well, and they can go downhill very quickly. Additionally, we worry about things going wrong in older animals, and Ferb is considered a geriatric/old guinea pig. You can find a veterinarian who is comfortable seeing exotic companion animals, such as guinea pigs, on the AEMV website. You can also call around to clinics to find recommendations as well. I hope that this gives you a place to start, and that Ferb feels better very soon!