Why Does My Guinea Pig Lay Down So Much?
Guinea pigs, in most cases, are energetic and active pets that are mostly seen playing in their cages. However, this is not always the case. At times guinea pigs sleep for long hours without playing. This makes most pet owners wonder why their pets lay down a lot.
So, why does my guinea pig lay down so much? The main reason is that they are relaxing or they are lazy and bored. When they lie down, it’s a sign they are comfortable with their surroundings. Observe their sleeping position to know why they lay down.
Apart from these there are other insights. Read the whole article to make your pet’s life a little better.
Why Does My Guinea Pig Lay Down Too Much?
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According to research, guinea pigs lay down to relax after their day’s activities. Most times you will notice them laying down flat with their legs spread out for comfy.
However, sometimes you may notice you cavy laying down too much beyond the normal routine. Below are reasons for your cavy laying down too much.
Old age
Young energetic guinea pigs spend most of their time playing and feeding in their cages. This is not the case with old guinea pigs. Mostly you will find them laying down too much tucked at the corner.
Guinea pigs have a lifespan of 5-7 years. If your cavy is above five years, it will lay down too much to preserve energy. Others will feed when lying down.
Bumblefoot condition
Bumblefooot is a foot swelling condition that is common in heavy weight guinea pigs. The condition gets worse with wire meshed bottom cages. The pressure on their feet inflicts pain and your cavy will lay down too much to reduce the pressure on their feet.
Wrap their feet with bandages treated with antibiotics and keep the cage clean with ground cover such as wood shavings.
Overfeeding
With right feeding programs, guinea pigs lay down in a normal posture. However, when you feed your cavy on heavy meals such as pellets and hay, they tend to become lazy and often lay down too much.
Since their metabolism rate is slow, they lay down for extra hours to digest the excess food. On such occasions, avail a lot of water to your cavy to ease digestion. You may try to wake it up for exercises which help increase the metabolism.
They are bored
Guinea pigs lay down with their legs kicked out when relaxing in a normal routine. However, if you leave your cavy alone without toys to play with, they quickly get bored and lay down too much for abnormal amounts of time.
You will notice them yawning and making weird sounds as a sign of boredom. Spend quality time with your cavy or provide toys to keep them busy when you ain’t around.
They are sick
Even though it’s normal for guinea pigs to lay down, when they fall sick, they tend to lay too much on the ground.
You will notice a restless cavy trying to shift from one sleeping position to the other. This will be coupled with particular sounds trying to communicate a problem. Attend to the animal and seek medical attention from a veterinarian.
Is It Okay For My Guinea Pigs Laying Down So Much?
![Is It Okay For My Guinea Pigs Laying Down So Much](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Is-It-Okay-For-My-Guinea-Pigs-Laying-Down-So-Much.webp)
The good news is that it is very okay for your pet to relax. You might notice some vibrational sounds they make while laying down, communicating various messages.
If you find your pet lying down, don’t be in a hurry to wake it up. Always make predictable moves and avoid those sudden frightening moves.
However, it might be abnormal if the guinea pig lies down without feeding. If your cavy exceeds 4 hours laying down, you may need to check on the cause of its prolonged sleep.
How Long Should A Guinea Pig Lay Down?
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Even though it’s normal for your cavy to lay on the ground, there is a recommended time limit that your guinea pig should last lying down.
Depending on the reason, guinea pigs can lay down for 2-4 hours under normal conditions. Within 4 hours, the food has already been digested, and you might notice some excretes on the ground where the cavy is sleeping. The cavy gets up in search of food and water as you play with it.
If guinea pigs exceed the time limit, be keen to inspect their behavior and act accordingly. Try and pet it softly without making sudden moves. Tease it with its favorite meal. If the pet does not respond positively, check for any anomalies.
Should I Be Concerned If My Guinea Pigs Are Laying Down Too Much?
![Should I Be Concerned If My Guinea Pigs Are Laying Down Too Much](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Should-I-Be-Concerned-If-My-Guinea-Pigs-Are-Laying-Down-Too-Much.webp)
In some instances, as a pet keeper, you ought to be concerned if your cavy lays down a lot. If it lays down a lot without responding to the surroundings, take time to know why.
Here are some occasions when one should be concerned if guinea pigs sleep a lot.
- If your pet is not responding to your petting moves on its body. Guinea pigs should respond positively to petting moves.
- If your pet exceeds the 4 hours time limit without making a move and remains in the same position.
- Suppose it’s not feeding even when you provide its favorite meal. A healthy and normal pet should quickly rise and enjoy the meal.
- Finally, if your cavy is making weird sounds such as groaning out of pain or restlessness.
Such signs should worry you and prompt you to seek medical attention from the veterinarian. Generally, check on your pet’s behavior, and if you detect an abnormal response, be quick to inspect the pet for possible problems.
Why Does My Guinea Pig Lay Down When I Pet Him?
![Why Does My Guinea Pig Lay Down When I Pet Him](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Why-Does-My-Guinea-Pig-Lay-Down-When-I-Pet-Him.webp)
The majority of guinea pigs like to be petted. They tend to sleep and relax as you pet them. However, as a pet owner, you must master the safe ways to pet a guinea pig.
A small mistake when petting guinea pigs can make them wild and might bite your fingers too. Avoid petting them on the face, stomach, and feet, and tapping its far backward. Such moves will trigger the pet to react ruthlessly.
When you pet them slowly around the head and under the chin, guinea pigs slowly lie down and spread their legs outwards. These responses indicate the pet is comfortable and secure around you and thus positively responds to your moves.
The soothing moves of your fingers in the growth direction of far makes the pig feel comfy and tend to sleep. If you pet it well, you will notice vibrations and sounds similar to those of a cat warming your lap.
FAQs
Below are frequently asked questions to help you understand the guinea pig and its sleeping habits.
Why does my guinea pig keep lying down?
The main reason your guinea pet is lying down is that it is trying to rest and relax. Observe the sleeping mode and position; if it is lying down with the legs spread out, it might be relaxing.
If the guinea pigs are sleeping in a restless position, inspect them for possible illnesses. The bottom line is that it’s normal for your pig to relax while lying down.
Should I wake my guinea pig if it lays down for a long time?
It is okay to interrupt your pet if it sleeps beyond the normal routine but with caution. However, never make sudden moves that will frighten the pet. Make predictable and slow moves on the guinea pig to wake it up.
If it had a playful and exhausting day, allow it some time to relax, especially after a shower and proper feeding. Such prior activities followed by petting will send your pet to a relaxing slumber for even 5 hours.
Conclusion
It is normal for your guinea pigs to relax for some duration after a playful session. Guinea pigs relax by laying flat on the ground with their legs spread out for comfy. An abnormal sleeping position should indicate a sick or restless guinea pig.
If your cavy exceeds the four hours limit lying down, tease it with its favorite meal or try to pet it. If there is no positive response, observe its behavior for any anomalies.