shy piggy

Question
hi lacey, i got my piggy 3 weeks ago and since found out she is pregnant. i have split her from our rabbit and she is housed inside. i have handled her everyday but she is still scared of me. she makes shuddering sounds every so often and also on differnt occasions a tweet like chirp i have never heard from any of my past piggys, is this a scared sound? she hides away under her canopy and only comes out when we're not there. she runs away and won't eat if i hold the food to her, she just stands completely still and shudders. i am so stuck, i think she's a week-ish away from giving birth and i'm afraid that she won't accept me at all. is there anything i can do? thanks katrina

Answer
I'm so sorry your pig is pregnant. That happens at a lot in pet stores I've noticed (2 of my pigs were also pregnant when I purchased them). I hate to say this, but your poor little girl sounds like a classic case of pet store abuse. First thing I must say, please don't give up on her! It sounds like she's been kicked around enough, and doesn't need any more stress. I was wondering, when she makes the shuddering sounds if you're petting her? Sometimes they can be sighs of content resulting from you stroking her gently. If the sound end on a low note, she is most likely happy. If it ends on a high note she could be distressed. This is not always reliable though, but I'd say it's accurate 50% of the time. It's a very high possibility she is scared of you. It's not just you I'm guessing. She's probably scared of all humans. Sometimes pig hides because they find it fun to run from you and to keep from being picked up. My pigs are wild things and they always run into their house, and then when I take it out, they go tearing through their cage, then are perfectly content on my lap. However, it sounds like this is not the case for you. I have personally never heard of a guinea pig not eating food out of someone's hand. Seriously. Something does not sound right unless she just doesn't like what you're giving her. Have you tried a variety of fruits and veggies? I highly reccommend apples, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, DANDELION GREENS (as long as your yard isn't treated chemically), spinach, lettuce (no iceberg) and radishes. Also peaches, nectarines, and pineapples(if canned rinse unless in water, and feed tiny portions). I would be guessing your piggy might of had a bad experience while eating. Maybe someone teased her, hit her, screamed at her, I'm not sure. Do you know how old she is? This I know is going to take time for you to woo her. A guinea pig's gestation is approximately 60-75 days. When she's due, she'll look like she swallowed a watermelon sideways. It will be harder for her to get around. To check to see if she's going to be giving birth soon, feel her pubic bones. They're right above her vagina. They'll be about a finger's width apart when fully spread. I think over time she'll accept you. It's just going to take time. A guinea pig responds to music and color just like we do. You could try playing her some of your favorite softer music. Pigs respond to color too. My pig Carrot's favorite color is dark green. If I put any other igloo house in his cage he'll tip it over. I set the green one in there, he's content, and sleeps. Also, try to be quiet around her. Try putting her cage in a quieter part of the house, but keep an eye on her. When getting ready to hold her, turn down the TV and try to keep family activity to a minimum. Pick her up gently. I reccommend a palm under the belly and one over the back for pregnant females. Sit down and talk to her. Tell her how beautiful you think she is, what a great pig she is, how much you appreciate and lover her, why you picked her, etc. Then stroke her, try to massage her. I start at my pig's heads then work my way down towards their hind quarters. Also, have you ever tried outdoor supervised time? Even if you just use the top of your cage as a "play pen" that would work. Or if  you trust yourself to be able to keep an eye on her that's fine too. The outdoors may relax her. Have you ever tried laying on your back and putting her on your chest? This gives pigs a sense of security since they're the ones hovering over you instead of vice versa. Also try rubbing noses with her. This is one of the way pigs introduce themselves to each other. Don't be afraid, there's a low chance she'd bite. Try wrapping her up in a towel. This gives a sense of security, and keeps her from making a mess on you. One last thing I need to ask is are you sure the rabbit hasn't abused her? I ask this because Carrot, the pig of mine I was telling you about earlier, was in a pen with a rabbit at a pet store. Carrot was almost bald, and chattered his teeth for weeks. Being with a rabbit can sometimes cause anti-social behavior. If you have any more questions feel free to ask me. I will try to do more research on this for you if I can find anything. I wish you and your pig a lifetime of health, happiness, love and peace. Good luck both of you :)