Hello!
I recently got a baby boy guinea pig a couple days ago from a pet store. I know buying from pet stores is not the best and should rescue or adopt when you can, but there aren’t any breeders near me. I already have a teenage male, so I knew if I wanted to get him a friend it would have to be younger than him. Thus the pet store being my best option.
Anyway, I know guinea pigs need time to adjust before you start handling them so they get used to their surroundings so I’ve mostly been leaving him alone. However I notice sometimes it seems like his breathing is a little heavier. I know this could be a sign of a URI, however I also read that fear and anxiety could cause this as well. And since he is newly added, I thought this could be why but I’m not sure.
Hes eating and drinking fine, as well as going potty. Eyes, nose and ears look clear, and I can’t hear any heavy breathing. I haven’t tried listening to his chest closely though since I haven’t been handling him yet. I also notice him sneeze every now and then (usually during eating or right after).
He also isn’t as skittish as my other guinea pig was when I first got him, and will walk up to my hands and sniff when I have food if I move slow enough towards him.. I’m not sure if this is due to him having lack of energy to bolt off as soon as I move towards him or if he’s just getting used to me already.
Those are really the only symptoms I see. He doesn’t always breathe heavy though, like when he’s out eating he seems to breath normally just sometimes it’s a little heavier but it’s hard to tell if it’s because of the fear of being somewhere new or because he’s sick
I recently got a baby boy guinea pig a couple days ago from a pet store. I know buying from pet stores is not the best and should rescue or adopt when you can, but there aren’t any breeders near me. I already have a teenage male, so I knew if I wanted to get him a friend it would have to be younger than him. Thus the pet store being my best option.
Anyway, I know guinea pigs need time to adjust before you start handling them so they get used to their surroundings so I’ve mostly been leaving him alone. However I notice sometimes it seems like his breathing is a little heavier. I know this could be a sign of a URI, however I also read that fear and anxiety could cause this as well. And since he is newly added, I thought this could be why but I’m not sure.
Hes eating and drinking fine, as well as going potty. Eyes, nose and ears look clear, and I can’t hear any heavy breathing. I haven’t tried listening to his chest closely though since I haven’t been handling him yet. I also notice him sneeze every now and then (usually during eating or right after).
He also isn’t as skittish as my other guinea pig was when I first got him, and will walk up to my hands and sniff when I have food if I move slow enough towards him.. I’m not sure if this is due to him having lack of energy to bolt off as soon as I move towards him or if he’s just getting used to me already.
Those are really the only symptoms I see. He doesn’t always breathe heavy though, like when he’s out eating he seems to breath normally just sometimes it’s a little heavier but it’s hard to tell if it’s because of the fear of being somewhere new or because he’s sick