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Guinea pigs are entertaining little masters of body language. You can laugh the entire time your little guy is exploring, watching all of their funny mannerisms. But guinea pigs might not always be so happy. Just how can you be sure your tiny buddy is enjoying their life?
Watching behavior is really important since it gives you all the clues you need. If you’ve recently noticed a big change in the way they act, you might be wondering if maybe something is wrong. Or maybe you just want to know that you’re a good owner. Either way, let’s talk about guinea pig happiness.
Healthy Guinea Pig Behavior
Guinea pigs are adventurous, bright-eyed little creatures with an amiable nature. However, they might take a minute to get warmed up at first. These little prey animals are prone to hyper-focusing on everything around them. It’s permanently ingrained in their DNA, as these guys are easy targets in the wild.
Once they get over the hump of pinning down exactly who you are, they will start to get curious. These rodents can become beloved family pets who love to hang out with you outside of their enclosure with frequent interaction and socialization.
The 9 Signs Your Guinea Pig Is Happy
So, how can you know if your guinea pig is happy? There are tons of actions and vocalizations to let you know how your piggy feels. Let’s explore each.
1. Popcorning
If you get your little one out for playtime, you might notice them popping up in the air like little kernels of popcorn—hence the cute nickname “popcorning.”
It’s not unusual to see a guinea pig popcorn for glee when they get a treat. This action is one of pure excitement and happiness. So, if your little piggy is popping in the air, you’re doing something right.
2. Purring
Whenever your guinea pig is excited or content about something you might hear them purring. However, the context is always important to consider when you hear a low roaring purr. This noise could mean that they love whatever is happening but it could also mean that they are not happy about something. Knowing your guinea pig’s likes and dislikes as well as the natural behavior of the species is important to understand the reason behind their purring.
3. Socializing
If your pig is out of his cage and wants to interact with you over exploring, this is a very good sign you’ve made a friend. They feel comfortable enough to abandon their prey animal ways, trusting that you mean no harm.
They will also play with other guinea pigs too. They love roaming around freely, chasing their friends in a controlled environment. If they interact and play—whether it’s with you or their like-friends—it’s a perfect indicator they love their life.
4. Not Hiding
If you come close to the cage, some guinea pigs might fearfully hide in their huts. However, if they curiously come up to the cage edge, this means they’re very comfortable with you.
These little critters know you mean no harm, which is huge for a little animal that spooks so easily. Consider this a real honor.
5. Squealing
You might be all too familiar with this noise. If they hear your voice or a rattling bag of food—all of a sudden, there’s a chorus of squeaks. They are plumb excited that they’re about to get something yummy to eat.
Guinea pigs use vocalizations to send you messages. Even though they can’t speak your language, hearing exciting squeals can speak loud and clear.
6. Cuddling
A comfy guinea pig will cuddle you to pieces. They want to be nestled in your shirt or cozy in your arms. If a guinea pig is tense, fidgety, or jumpy, they might not be enjoying handling so much.
Cuddling, or even closing their eyes, in your presence means they feel entirely at ease. That is a sign of a very content piggy.
7. Nose Rubbing
You might find that when you pick up your little piggy, their noses wiggle against yours. These guinea kisses are the best.
Nose rubs are a very friendly gesture piggies use toward one another. So, if they use it with you—feel extra special! This means they consider you part of their family, or herd in guinea pig terms.
8. Grooming
If your guinea pig starts to groom you or their friends, this is a sign they’re content and ready to show affection. This action happens when guineas are relaxed, so you’ll never find a skittish pig taking time for a grooming session.
If a guinea pig licks you, they might also just enjoy the salty taste on your skin.
9. Playing
Happy guinea pigs will gladly engage in play. They may want you to chase them around on the floor or play hide and seek. They have wonderful, active personalities when they are at ease.
You will have so much fun watching your little piggies exploring the house or their own private mazes.
Signs Your Guinea Pig Is Not So Happy
Of course, the unfortunate reality is that sometimes our pets aren’t as happy as we wish they were. But all that really means is that we have to learn what’s wrong and work to fix it. All guinea pigs have different personalities that require special handling and care.
Teeth Chattering
Teeth chattering usually happens when a Guinea Pig is trying to warn off another Ginuea Pig or when their humans make something that upsets them, for example taking too ling to serve them their food.
Chirping, Hissing, or Strutting
Often territorial behaviors, guinea pigs don’t mind showing when they’re upset. If you bother them when they’re not in the mood, they might warn you not to intrude—your best bet is to listen.
Purring
If you’re rubbing your guinea pig’s back and you hear them purring, this might be a sign that your guinea pig is not happy.
This is because guinea pigs show dominance when mounting each other’s backs. Purring can be a sign of fear, anxiety, stress, or simply a request to be left alone!
Biting, Nipping, or Bucking
If your guinea pig is snippy or mean, they don’t love whatever is happening. Usually, this occurs when they are trying to assert their dominance and can happen very quickly with males at sexual maturity.
Why Isn’t My Guinea Pig Happy?
If you’ve read through and noticed that your piggy is displaying much more negative than positive behaviors, you probably want to know why. There can be several environmental factors that influence the behavior of your pet.
No Guinea Pig Playmates
Guinea pigs are social creatures, and they can get very depressed if they’re all alone. It might seem like human company suffices—but as you might relate, it’s not the same as bonding with your own kind. Your guinea pig should always have at least one properly socialized, compatible playmate, preferably from the same sex.
Incorrect Diet
If your little one isn’t getting all of the proper nutrition, it can cause all sorts of unwanted health issues, including depression.
- Commercial pellet food
- Vitamin C supplement
- Hay
- Fresh fruits and veggies
Like humans, guinea pigs don’t produce their own vitamin C, so they must draw it from their diets. Buying food that is nutrient-rich in vitamin C is essential. Lack of vitamin C can cause vitamin C deficiency or scurvy.
Scared of Owners
Since guinea pigs are prey animals, they can be really sensitive to their environments. If there’s any over-stimulation happening, it might cause them to fear you.
Skittish behavior might also result from not having enough interaction. It’s crucial to bond with your guinea pig regularly but respectfully to keep them feeling safe and socialized.
Not Enough Exercise
How often do you get your piggy out to play and mingle? If you have been falling behind lately, they might be down in the dumps—or developing a skittish streak. Daily positive interaction is vital to enforce and strengthen your bond, take some time to hand-feed them their favorite treats every day.
On average, your piggy needs at least one hour of floor time to explore, play, and interact daily.
- You might also like: Can Guinea Pigs Sense Human Emotions
Final Thoughts
If your guinea pig appears bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, chances are they are happy with their life. It can be possible for guinea pigs to exhibit territorial or aggressive behaviors, especially in same-sex pairs. But this should be introductory level behavior and level out over time.
Ensure your guinea is well-fed, living in a clean environment, and getting out for daily exercise. Active lifestyles and play equal happy piggies.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay
