I've had my guinea pig for a year now, and for the past three days she's been lying in the corner of the cage, barely moving, and refusing hay. The room temperature is normal, the cage is clean. Is this a disease or just boredom? Do I need to take her to the vet urgently?
Refusing food for three days is already a serious warning sign, not just boredom. Guinea pigs' digestion works continuously, and when they stop eating, it quickly leads to serious complications, so you shouldn't wait. Lethargy, loss of appetite, unwillingness to move can indicate an infection, dental problems, gas buildup in the intestines, or other conditions that require a specialist's examination.
You need to take her to the vet the very next day or even today if it's possible. During the consultation, the vet will figure out what's going on - check her teeth, listen to her belly, take tests if needed. In the meantime - offer her something soft and appealing (carrot, apple, cucumber) so at least something gets into her system, and make sure she's drinking water at least.
Three days without food for a rodent isn't boredom - it's a distress signal. Guinea pigs have such a metabolism that they literally can die within a few days if they stop eating, so don't wait around.
You need to get to a vet right now, don't put it off. Lethargy plus refusing food could be an infection, intestinal blockage, stress that's caused organ failure - there are tons of possibilities, but all of them need medical attention. I once dragged my feet about getting an animal checked out, thinking it would pass on its own, and I really regretted it later - we did manage to help, but it was close.
Before the vet visit, offer her something soft and wet to eat (carrot, cucumber) - maybe she'll respond to something soft. Make sure she doesn't get too cold; the cage needs to be kept warm.
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