Guinea pigs are far from silent creatures. They are very contactable and emotional. This is their special charm. They know how to convey emotions with a palette of melodic sounds. Over time, owners will be able to recognize the pig's tongue, but it is better to learn to understand the meaning of sounds as quickly as possible. Then it’s easier to make friends, and you can rest assured that your pet’s wishes are correctly understood.
Squeaks: all emotions in one sound
The squeak of a guinea pig has the largest range of values.
The reasons why your pet squeaks may be as follows:
- The animal was scared. In this case, the squeak is an involuntary reaction of the animal caused by fear.
- Newborn cubs squeak, expressing concern that they want to convey to their mother.
- Squeaking is chosen as a method of communication by males during the courtship period.
- If the animal is in pain, it squeaks.
- If there is an owner nearby who does not pay attention to the pet, the animal squeaks to evoke pity.
- Squeaking can mean indignation and protest. Animals love to spend time on their owner's lap. If you put them in a cage, they will squeak and be indignant that they were deprived of pleasure.
- Squeaking can mean a desire to get something. For example, when the owners sit down at the table and feed the pet at the same time. One day they won't do this, and he will squeak, begging.
- The pet may squeal with joy when it sees its owner entering the room. This expresses joy.
- A thin, plaintive squeak indicates that he would like to refresh himself.
Don't ignore the sounds of guinea pigs. The animal no longer has the opportunity to communicate its feelings.
Variety of breeds
Species diversity is characteristic not only of dogs and cats, but also of guinea pigs. The photos demonstrate that there are both short-haired and long-haired breeds. The conditions of detention are the same for all, with the exception that long-haired dogs need to be combed and, in some cases, trimmed. The most popular breeds are:
- American Teddy;
- English self;
- satin;
- alpaca;
- skinny;
- Himalayan;
- Peruvian;
- Abyssinian;
- Sheltie;
- texel;
- crested.
They all have differences in coat type and color, as demonstrated by photos of guinea pigs. In addition, there are outbred smooth-haired and rosette pigs. Everyone is equally good-natured, trusting and timid, which makes them incredibly cute.
Purrs? Hums? Growls?
Purring can mean a good mood. The animal approves of some actions. For example, he was treated to cookies. He was delighted and purred.
Rumbling can express a negative attitude towards what is happening. If you try to take away a favorite toy from an animal, it purrs without letting go of the object.
If you carefully observe the animal, it is easy to understand its mood and distinguish a cute purr from rumbling sounds reminiscent of a roar. Purring combined with body vibration means pleasure.
A “wary” rumbling indicates that the animal is dissatisfied. The animal purrs and vibrates in anticipation of pleasure, for example, when it sees that the refrigerator has been opened.
Growling is similar to rumbling, but at lower tones. It can be heard during mating season and mating. These are guinea pigs' mating sounds and don't worry about them.
What to feed?
Guinea pigs are herbivores, so the basis of their diet should be hay. It should be in the cage at all times, just like water and food. Specialized food for such rodents can be purchased at a pet store. At the same time, you should avoid those that contain grain, as it is not absorbed properly in the animal’s stomach.
In addition to dry food, a guinea pig should receive two servings of fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as herbs daily - they are rich in vitamins and microelements and are vital. The optimal dose of succulent food is about 10% of the animal’s own weight daily.
Grinding or chattering of teeth
When your guinea pig chatters its teeth, you need to be wary. This extreme degree of anger, which does not happen often. Often guinea pigs make sounds similar to hissing, chattering their teeth and showing a grin. This means the animal is aggressive. And there are good reasons for this.
A fight is inevitable if you do not react in time and do not seat the animals. At the same time, it is necessary to remove a less aggressive animal so as not to turn out to be “extreme”.
Why can rodents quarrel? More often this is a division of territory. To avoid such disagreements, you need to install a very large cage to house two or more animals. Animals are accustomed to being neighbors in stages. It is possible that, like people, they may exhibit psychological incompatibility due to their diametrically opposite character.
To begin with, they place the cages close to each other, but so that the voice of the guinea pig can be heard by the future neighbor. After one or two weeks they can be placed side by side. And only in ten days will they be given the opportunity to share one place of residence.
If conflicts are excluded and no other external irritants can be detected, the animal should be shown to a veterinarian. This may be deviations in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, the growth of teeth that were not sharpened in time.
Anxiety, fear and aggression
A short, high-pitched “brrr” will indicate that your pet is irritated or frightened. This is how the animal will react to loud voices and sounds that appear unexpectedly. If your pet whines or moans, then he is irritated . Also, the rodent is not happy with its fellow who is nearby. You will know about fear or an incipient fight when you hear teeth clicking and tapping. The pig is hostile and ready to attack. This situation occurs when two males are nearby.
Teeth chattering also symbolizes anger and dissatisfaction. It is worth eliminating the object or subject of aggression so that the rodent does not become nervous. Hissing has a similar interpretation.
What to do if the animal squeals, whines, moans?
Strange sounds, similar to squealing, can express delight when the pig is noticed after long hours of solitude. This is a socialized animal that needs not just attention, but communication.
If household members are at work all day, then it is better for the animal to buy a pair. It must be two girls or two males. But it happens that a pig chooses a decorative rabbit, a cat, a Pekingese or a soft toy as a friend.
The animal may squeal while trying to free its stuck paw. A screaming guinea pig asks a person for help. She moans and whines when she gets sick. As soon as the source of suffering is eliminated, the whining will stop.
Negative signals
A frightened guinea pig will say a dull “Urrrr”, similar to a vibrating alert on a phone, and will tremble slightly. But she indicates irritation with a short sharp squeal - for example, when you carelessly touched her. If the pig is angry, it squeals for a longer time, while clicking its teeth, as if warning: “I’m not in the mood for jokes!”
One of the most impressive sounds a pig makes can be heard at night. This is a very sharp intermittent squeak, similar to the cry of a bird caught in a snare. At the same time, the pig freezes in place, her gaze glazes over. An inexperienced owner may be afraid for his pet. This sound is used by pigs to call their relatives. Little pig babies can express their fear this way.
Since guinea pigs are herd animals, they find it sad to live alone. If your pig makes this noise frequently, try petting your pig more often or give him a buddy in his cage.
If the pig is hungry, you won't miss it. She will stand up and scream shrilly throughout the apartment: “Wee-wee-wee!”, moving her ears. It’s amazing how loud such a small animal can be! Guinea pigs study their owners. They usually remember sounds, such as the sound of a knife hitting a cutting board when preparing a salad or the rustle of a bag from which cabbage is taken out. Subsequently, upon hearing these sounds, the pigs whistle invitingly. They also have a well-developed sense of smell. So you’re unlikely to be able to quietly snack on a cucumber; the alarm will immediately go off!
Cute chirping, tweeting
It's not often that you hear a guinea pig making strange sounds that sound like birds chirping. Psychologically, from the outside, this can be compared to when a person sings in the shower. This behavior continues for no more than half an hour. Animals in the process of tweeting do not notice anyone around.
Chirping can be triggered by a state of strong excitement or emotional stress. For example, after a quarrel with cagemates.
The females chirp with the knowledge that she will soon have cubs and is happy to announce it. The male can thus invite the female to mate. When guinea pigs talk by chirping, there is no cause for concern.
Guinea pigs chirping
This is the most unusual and mysterious sound of guinea pigs, for which a clear explanation has not yet been found. Not many pigs are lucky enough to hear with their own ears the “chirping” of their pig.
But when you hear this sound, you will be amazed at how similar it is to birdsong. Just listen to the audio below!
No one knows for sure why guinea pigs chirp. Some say that at this moment the pig seems to be in a state of trance, others argue that, on the contrary, this is how the pet shows its excitement. And still others claim that this is how pigs “sing” after the loss of their relative.
Be that as it may, there is still no clear and intelligible explanation.
And another interesting fact is that other guinea pigs that hear the “chirping” begin to behave. Weird. In this case, experienced breeders advise isolating the vocal “Pavarotti” from the general enclosure until he finishes singing!
Either way, it's quite an interesting sight!
Source
When should you be wary?
So, the same sound can mean both good and bad emotions; you need to delve into the context of what was “said.” Look at the environment, at the events that preceded the sound.
List of sounds that you should be wary of when you hear them:
- The animal squeaks shrilly. If no external irritants are found that need to be eliminated, the animal should be taken straight to the veterinarian.
- Grinding of teeth almost always means problems with chewing function. It is necessary to examine the animal's teeth. An infection can settle there. Only a veterinarian can see this.
- The loud cry of a rodent means that the animal is scared and in danger. Stress factors for the pig must be eliminated, otherwise it can become seriously ill.
- Wheezing when breathing is also a reason for urgent medical attention.
Each animal can bring personality and express special emotional notes. The squeak of a guinea pig is an expression of a palette of feelings. Recognizing them is a difficult but interesting task.
How to tame?
Why does my guinea pig squeak immediately after being brought home from the pet store? In this way, she can react to a change in environment and show fear. It is very important not to touch the animal in the first few days after acquisition, providing it with a large supply of food and water. Gradually, after the pig has settled in its new place, you can briefly pick it up and pet it.
You should not expect feline affection from a pig, as it does not become attached to people. However, the rodent remembers those who feed it and allows itself to be stroked. These animals are more suitable for observation than for affection. When the pig is completely accustomed to its new owners and does not feel dangerous around them, it will allow itself to sleep on the lap and lick the person’s fingers.
The gender of the guinea pig does not play an important role when choosing a companion animal, since their habits are very similar. The only nuance is that it is recommended to keep animals in same-sex couples in order to avoid the appearance of unwanted offspring.
Whistling, sniffling, wheezing
If guinea pigs make sounds similar to snorting or whistling, this means pleasure or anticipation of it. This happens before a walk or after a treat. By whistling, the pet makes it clear that it is ready to eat or greets the owner.
The appearance of wheezing means breathing problems. Wheezing is a bad signal that indicates a possible illness or that the animal has something stuck in its throat. The animal must be taken to a veterinary clinic and first aid provided.
