Jumping on hind legs after falling out tube?

[rustypete]

i somehow accidentally deleted my post. 

my 2 guinea pigs Pete and Rusty have been fine,  they don't use the ramp of the hutch. So to lock them in at night. The other day i tried to use a tube however as soon as i picked the tube up Pete jumped out.  He seemed fine and doing usual guinea pig activities. Since then i pick them up to lock them in and they haven't struggled and are calm when being picked up. However recentley since Pete jumped out. I noticed he's been jumping on his hind legs to run around and sometimes walking as well looks a bit like bunny hopping.   His brother Rusty has never done this.   When i picked him up earlier just to check his legs/feet they looked fine however he did squeal for a minute and then stopped.  He was fine before and i've never heard him squeal or seen him do like bunny hopping.   Is this usual? or is it a sign he's injured himself.   He is only 10-12 weeks. 

[3piggles]

Chances are he landed wrong and injured himself, but the injury could just be bruising. Gently feel around on the leg/foot his not using. If he squeals, take him to a vet. It may only be bruised, but it's better to be sure, and get it treated if needed.

I had a pig limp for a while. I took him to the vet, got his leg x-rayed, everything, and nothing was found. After a while, it just went away. the vet thought it was bruised or strained, and it healed. At least I knew nothing was broken or sprained.

[rustypete]

Oct 15, 2021 20:18:26 GMT 3piggles said:

Chances are he landed wrong and injured himself, but the injury could just be bruising. Gently feel around on the leg/foot his not using. If he squeals, take him to a vet. It may only be bruised, but it's better to be sure, and get it treated if needed.

I had a pig limp for a while. I took him to the vet, got his leg x-rayed, everything, and nothing was found. After a while, it just went away. the vet thought it was bruised or strained, and it healed. At least I knew nothing was broken or sprained.

Thanks, I'll have to check tommorow morning as it's late here now.       if he does squeal and need to see the vet,  Would Rusty, (who is fine) his brother be alright on his own  or is best to take them both and just explain Rusty is his cagemate.     They do have a strong bond as they like following each other and snuggiling etc..   or in this situation does the rule with companionship not apply?    (thought i'd ask as if he does i may be able to take him to vet tommorow, if it's open)

[rustypete]

Oct 15, 2021 20:18:26 GMT 3piggles said:

Chances are he landed wrong and injured himself, but the injury could just be bruising. Gently feel around on the leg/foot his not using. If he squeals, take him to a vet. It may only be bruised, but it's better to be sure, and get it treated if needed.

I had a pig limp for a while. I took him to the vet, got his leg x-rayed, everything, and nothing was found. After a while, it just went away. the vet thought it was bruised or strained, and it healed. At least I knew nothing was broken or sprained.

Just wanted to update. I just checked him over he didn’t squeal much however he did a little when I was feeling his hips. He still doing the slight bunny hopping but not as much as yesterday.

[Bean]

If I'm taking one pig to the vets, I'll often pop a companion in with them to keep them calm. Unless the pig I'm taking is very confident and their companion is a more nervous type, then I'll leave the other one at home! The vets have never questioned it, I think it's a pretty common thing to do.

I hope Pete is fine this morning, and giving you no cause for concern. But if his legs do still seem a bit tender, I hope the vet can reassure you. Sometimes a bit of anti inflammatory pain relief like Rimadyl can help take the edge off this kind of injury. Good luck, let us know how you get on.

[3piggles]

I agree with Bean. Since pigs base a lot on smell, if a pig is absent from the cage, then returns smelling differently, it can undo the bond. If both pigs go together, they will both smell of the vets, so nothing new when they return.

Also, I think going to the vet is fairly stressful for the pigs, especially the one getting checked. Having his buddy along gives him some added security. All of this is dependent on them being really bonded, so being put in a carrier won't cause them to fight.

I hope he's doing better. It sounds as if he's healing

[rustypete]

Oct 16, 2021 19:27:07 GMT 3piggles said:

I agree with Bean. Since pigs base a lot on smell, if a pig is absent from the cage, then returns smelling differently, it can undo the bond. If both pigs go together, they will both smell of the vets, so nothing new when they return.

Also, I think going to the vet is fairly stressful for the pigs, especially the one getting checked. Having his buddy along gives him some added security. All of this is dependent on them being really bonded, so being put in a carrier won't cause them to fight.

I hope he's doing better. It sounds as if he's healing

I thanks, haven’t been to the vet, as earlier today he didn’t squeal when I picked him up and he seemed fine.


He is still doing the little bunny hops though. I now assume this is normal as his brother Rusty has started doing it a little too not as much though and he only does it when running. Pete does it when running and walking fast

[3piggles]

LOL, he'd probably be really miffed if you took him to the vet for doing a cool guinea pig thing

[rustypete]

Oct 16, 2021 19:36:37 GMT 3piggles said:

LOL, he'd probably be really miffed if you took him to the vet for doing a cool guinea pig thing

Thanks, I assume guinea pigs bunny hopping is normal then. Sorry for asking. Wasn’t sure as I’ve never seen it before.

Since he seems fine and not squealed when I last picked up. Unless anything changes then it’s not needed to take him to the vet.

[Bean]

I can't really visualise what you mean by bunny hopping. Do you just mean one hop from a place to another rather than moving around in that way?

If they're both doing it, and Pete seems comfortable, that's a good sign it's normal!

[rustypete]

Oct 17, 2021 7:31:05 GMT Bean said:

I can't really visualise what you mean by bunny hopping. Do you just mean one hop from a place to another rather than moving around in that way?

If they're both doing it, and Pete seems comfortable, that's a good sign it's normal!

Oct 17, 2021 7:31:05 GMT Bean said:

I can't really visualise what you mean by bunny hopping. Do you just mean one hop from a place to another rather than moving around in that way?

If they're both doing it, and Pete seems comfortable, that's a good sign it's normal!

Yeah it is that I way, I assume it’s excitement.

[3piggles]

Have they popcorned, yet? I love popcorning guinea pigs

[rustypete]

Oct 17, 2021 17:53:09 GMT 3piggles said:

Have they popcorned, yet? I love popcorning guinea pigs

What does popcorning mean?

[3piggles]

It's when they seem to jump in the air and twist at the same time. It's called a binky when rabbits do it. No one is sure exactly why they do it, but think it's a combination of happiness and excitement POPCORNING

[rustypete]

Oct 17, 2021 18:24:07 GMT 3piggles said:

It's when they seem to jump in the air and twist at the same time. It's called a binky when rabbits do it. No one is sure exactly why they do it, but think it's a combination of happiness and excitement POPCORNING

Sounds interesting to watch.
looks interesting and cute. I don’t think I’ve seen anything like that yet. Just curious why is it called a different name for both guinea pigs and rabbits when it’s the same thing. Also popcorning is an interesting name for it as sounds like it’s something to do with actual popcorn

[Bean]

The way they can just throw themselves into the air and around, it is actually quite like corn popping in a pan! I have no idea why we have different words for similar species doing the same thing, or where the term binkying comes from!

Now I think about it, I have seen them kind of galloping when they're young, moving in a more rabbit like way. It's usually when they're a bit giddy, and they set each other off doing it, dashing from place to place. It's cute!

[rustypete]

Oct 18, 2021 7:05:18 GMT Bean said:

The way they can just throw themselves into the air and around, it is actually quite like corn popping in a pan! I have no idea why we have different words for similar species doing the same thing, or where the term binkying comes from!

Now I think about it, I have seen them kind of galloping when they're young, moving in a more rabbit like way. It's usually when they're a bit giddy, and they set each other off doing it, dashing from place to place. It's cute!

Yeah, I think I have seen that actually as when I let them out (I give there pellets in the morning) Pete starts

Eating a couple of pellets and then stops and starts running around and jumping very fast (not very high just a little( and then Rusty
Eats a couple of pellets and then joins in to the point they end up running into the edges of
the hutch or each other Pete & Rusty like to follow each other around and copy each other sometimes. Is that galloping or Is it small popcorning then? As with popcorning in the video it was shown a lot of the time they jump high

[3piggles]

I've seen high jumps and hardly perceptible jumps, especially in the older pigs. I think it's all popcorning, just to whatever extent each pig feels and can manage I have no idea why it's called binkying for rabbits, but apparently it's been used for a really long time.

[rustypete]

Oct 18, 2021 18:47:46 GMT 3piggles said:

I've seen high jumps and hardly perceptible jumps, especially in the older pigs. I think it's all popcorning, just to whatever extent each pig feels and can manage I have no idea why it's called binkying for rabbits, but apparently it's been used for a really long time.

Thanks for that info