How to help my guinea pig get over his seperation anxiety?

Question

Since I was in the middle of a move I left my guinea pig with my dad for a week, when Squeaker was in my dad's care he became really violent <trying to bite and scratch my dad when he fed him and when he tried to pet him>. Since I finished with the move Squeaker has been really upset like he would freak out if I left the room for even a second <he starts screaming>. I try giving him floor time all he does is hop in my lap <he doesn't want to run around or anything like normal> and he acts like he has no energy and spends the time when he's not begging to be held sleeping.

I know my dad didn't do anything to hurt him and he is in perfect health but this is awful to watch. Is there anything I can do to help him feel better?

Thanks in advanced :)

Piggy · Accepted Answer

Sounds like you have a close bond with your piggy and he was really worried that he had lost you.

What you could try is wearing an old T shirt for a couple of days, then leaving it in his cage, so that it has your natural body odour on it and he will feel you are around even when you are not holding him.  That should help him to settle.  As you have moved somewhere new, everything will smell, sound and look different to him, so he wants you to be near as you represent safety to him.  Also cuddle him on the same towel on your lap, so that becomes another familiar item.

? · Answer

Guinea pigs get very attached to their guardian if they look after them and love them, but with your guinea pig, it sounds like he just needs another companion of his own kind. Does he have another guinea pig friend with him? If not, then it simply means that he just wants company from another guinea pig, or even more than one. If you do decide to buy more than one guinea pig, make sure that the number is even, for example, don't end up having three guinea pigs, because one will be left out and then that one will become lonely. Also, if you have three, one might become jealous of the other if he/she is getting more company from the third one. 
Guinea pigs are naturally and were originally herd animals, so they're used to having AT LEAST another guinea pig there with them. If you are going to get another guinea pig to accompany your current male one, just remember that two or more males tend to fight and argue a lot, so I think adopting a de-sexed female guinea pig for your male would be the best option if you don't want them to mate. Also, if you do end up adopting another guinea pig for your male, he probably would become much more friendly to you and your Dad when you're there and you might be able to spend more time away from him without him getting too upset. After all, I've found that they express themselves by chattering to each other as a past-time, even when eating or at night time, so maybe this is what your male guinea pig is looking for. My two female guinea pigs love to curl up next to each other at bed time to provide each other with warmth, comfort, love, and general company. They're sisters and are very attached to each other, because they've been with each other since birth. If I separated them, they'd most likely pass away from loneliness and depression, which I've heard true stories about.
Anyway, I hope that helps you and I especially hope that it helps your guinea pig by making him more cheerful and happy.

How to help my guinea pig get over his seperation anxiety?

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