Guinea pigs make a plethora of sounds that may be obscure, particularly for those who’re new to caring for them. They wheek after they’re joyful, chirp when alarmed, and chatter their tooth when irritated. There are additionally sure sounds that point out a guinea pig is sick, akin to wheezing, loud night breathing, or moaning.
On this article, we’ll focus on 15 guinea pig sounds and their meanings. Needless to say some sounds are in a number of sections under, as they’ll imply numerous issues relying on context.
It’s at all times necessary to look at your piggies’ physique language and setting in addition to the noises they make, as a way to perceive them as a lot as attainable.
Sounds Guinea Pigs Make When They’re Completely happy
Wheeking
Wheeking is without doubt one of the commonest joyful guinea pig sounds. You’ll usually hear it when your piggies need one thing, akin to round veggie time.
Many guinea pigs wheek after they hear the fridge open or a plastic bag rustle. It means they’re excited for what’s coming!
Purring
When your guinea pig makes a purring sound, they could be both joyful or upset. Completely happy purrs are usually longer, whereas scared piggies will make brief purrs.
Take note of your piggies’ different physique language and what’s occurring round them to find out why they’re purring. As an example, a guinea pig laying flat as a pancake whilst you pet them is probably going purring out of contentment.Â
Clucking or Chutting
Guinea pigs usually make clucking or chutting sounds whereas exploring, and it means they’re pleased with their little journey. Possibly you’ve simply cleaned their cage or having fun with ground time.
Clucking could be used to let different piggies know the place they’re. These sounds are very fast and never continuous, whereas repetitive chut-chutting noises can point out annoyance.
Cooing
Guinea pigs usually make cooing sounds at their offspring. It’s doubtless a comforting noise for piggies due to this, and typically adults will coo at each other as nicely.
Sounds Guinea Pigs Make When They’re Scared
Chirping
A guinea pig who makes a chirping sound like a fowl is often burdened. As an example, I’ve spoken to somebody whose piggy chirped when there was a mouse close to their cage! You may additionally discover them startle or freeze as a consequence of anxiousness.
Piggies appear to chirp most frequently at night time. It could even be a sound of grief over a cagemate’s passing, and a few individuals declare their piggies chirp for no purpose in any respect. After all, we will’t actually know why every particular person piggy chirps since we will’t learn their minds!
Nevertheless, it appears to be extra frequent in very anxious guinea pigs or in the event that they’re in some way reminded of one thing dangerous occurring previously. So, there could also be a purpose behind your piggy’s chirping that you simply don’t understand–or, maybe, a few of them identical to to be noisy!
Whimpering or Moaning
Whimpering or moaning could be a signal of worry, however it could additionally point out ache or sickness. An occasional whimper or moan may imply your piggy is scared or irritated, however ongoing sounds imply it’s time to see the vet.
Sounds Guinea Pigs Make When They’re Aggravated
Rumbling
Guinea pigs usually do one thing often called rumble strutting, the place they make a rumbling sound and their hips transfer facet to facet as they stroll.
This could occur for numerous causes, one being that they’re irritated. They may even be attempting to point out dominance over one other pig. Rumble strutting is commonest throughout guinea pig bondings, however can persist even in bonded pairs or teams.
Rumbling will also be used to point out different guinea pigs that they’re considering mating.
Enamel Chattering
A tooth chattering sound or guinea pigs clicking their tooth collectively, normally means they’re irritated about one thing. It’s frequent throughout bondings and may prelude aggression, however doesn’t at all times.
Purring
Brief purrs are most certainly to imply your guinea pig is irritated, whereas longer purrs might point out happiness.
As we mentioned above, observing their physique language is a good way to inform the distinction. In case your guinea pig is operating from a cagemate, for instance, they’re doubtless not too joyful!
Sick Guinea Pig Sounds
It’s very important to study the sounds guinea pigs make after they’re sick, as they’re fragile animals that cover sicknesses nicely. The earlier you may get your sick piggy to the vet, the higher!
It’s additionally necessary to do a weekly or month-to-month well being test at house, which is able to assist you to to identify signs of sickness together with among the sounds under.
Choking
Some guinea pigs make choking or hiccup sounds whereas they eat. This may be as a consequence of consuming too quick and typically isn’t a problem.
Different instances, your guinea pig may very well be choking or have one thing caught of their throat. Chances are you’ll discover them cough up pasty-looking, ground-up meals, and even one thing arduous like a seed.
To forestall choking, make sure you hold choking hazards out of your guinea pigs’ cage. This contains toys with small components and pellet mixes with seeds in them.
In case your guinea pig is making choking or hiccuping sounds incessantly, see your veterinarian to make sure they’re wholesome!
Coughing
A cough at times doesn’t at all times point out a problem for guinea pigs. A coughing sound could be them consuming too quick or having one thing of their throat, as we mentioned above. Nevertheless, constant coughing is certainly trigger for concern!
Coughing could be a signal of significant sicknesses akin to upper respiratory infection (URI) or pneumonia, which may kill guinea pigs shortly if left untreated.
Signs you may discover alongside the coughing are bother respiratory, discharge from the eyes or nostril, decreased urge for food, and tiredness.
Sneezing
Like coughing, an occasional sneezing sound is normally nothing to fret about. When guinea pigs sneeze frequently, it may be a symptom of a URI or pneumonia.
Convey your guinea pig to the veterinarian as quickly as attainable–you don’t need to wait days to see if it clears up, as a result of sicknesses like these can progress in a short time in guinea pigs.
Different signs to observe for alongside the sneezing embrace coughing, respiratory difficulties, eye or nostril discharge, lack of urge for food, and lethargy.
Crying
In case your guinea pig makes a crying sound, like a squeal, they could be in ache. Nevertheless, guinea pigs cry for numerous causes–together with anger at a cagemate and worry.
Search for different indicators of sickness akin to weight reduction, behavioral adjustments, eye or nostril discharge, bother respiratory, and adjustments in urge for food.
Wheezing
In case your guinea pig is wheezing, they should see a veterinarian immediately. This means that they’re struggling to breathe, and sure have a URI or pneumonia.
It’s value seeing you probably have an emergency vet clinic that sees guinea pigs or in case your common vet takes emergency appointments.
Different indicators your piggy is struggling to breathe embrace clicking, crackling, or hooting sounds after they breathe. Chances are you’ll discover these extra for those who deliver your piggy to your ear to take heed to their breaths.
Whimpering or Moaning
In case your guinea pig makes a whimpering or moaning sound, it’s doubtless they’re in ache. As a result of they cover ache very nicely, they’re normally in a substantial amount of it earlier than you’ll hear them complain.
Chances are you’ll discover them making these sounds particularly when touched. This could inform you extra about the place the ache is situated, so make sure you deliver it as much as your vet!
Guinea pigs might whimper or moan minimally when irritated, but when the sound persists, it’s time to see a vet.
Loud night breathing
In case your guinea pig makes a loud night breathing sound whereas they sleep, it doubtless means they’re congested. This could point out a URI or pneumonia, so it’s greatest to get them checked out by a vet shortly.
Hiccuping
Guinea pigs usually hiccup in the event that they eat too shortly, as mentioned above. Nevertheless, these hiccups shouldn’t be frequent or final various minutes. Extended hiccups can point out well being points.
Sounds of a Feminine Guinea Pig in Warmth
Feminine guinea pigs in warmth don’t essentially make particular sounds. They could rumble, as this can be a frequent sound heard in piggies in search of a mate.
Different indicators your piggy is in warmth embrace heightened pressure between cagemates. As an example, there could be extra chasing, humping, or rumble strutting.
There’s no have to separate your guinea pigs as a consequence of these behaviors except true aggression happens and certainly one of them is harm. After all, intact females and males ought to by no means be stored collectively–whether or not the feminine is in warmth or not, being pregnant is extraordinarily doubtless.
How Do Guinea Pigs Make Sounds?
Guinea pigs make sounds utilizing their vocal cords, the identical as people. They may additionally make sounds utilizing their tooth, akin to tooth chattering.
Regardless of being small animals, guinea pigs will be very noisy. I bear in mind my piggy, Child, waking me up each morning squeaking for veggies!
After all, guinea pigs fluctuate in how vocal they’re, with some seldom making noise and a few chattering away all day.
They’ll additionally make sounds people can’t hear, however different guinea pigs (and perhaps even different pets within the family) can. This is because of their excessive pitch!
Guinea pigs make sounds not solely to speak with their cagemates but in addition with their people! It’s necessary to study all you can about their sounds, physique language, and extra to be able to perceive what they’re saying.
