This
page will help you to understand what the sounds
and body language of a guinea pig mean. Sounds
come first. Example:
A(ction):
What the guinea pig does.
M(eaning):
What the action means.
R(eaction):
How you should react to the action.
Sounds
A:
Short, high pitched notes
M:
The guinea pig is in pain
R:
If you are cutting the claws, maybe you should cut
off a smaller part, so that you don't hit the blood
vessels. Also look if you're not making the guinea
pig uncomfortable, example: handling it the wrong
way.
A:
Short, grumbling, continuous noises
M:
Peace, the guinea pig is in a good mood
R:
That's how happy guinea pigs act
A:
A high pitched, insistive note
M:
A demand for food, water, attention, etc.
R:
Check the animal's food and water bowls, if one
or more of them is empty, the guinea pig is probably
hungry or thirsty, if they're full, the guinea pig
might be needing attention. Or, if it "smells"
the door being open, the reason might be that it
is needing to be walked (let outside, or allowed
to walk in the house).
A:
A guinea pig (male) makes a continuous hitting
sound with his teeth.
M:
A warning for another male guinea pig in the same
cage
R:
If two males are in the same cage, one of them should
be permanently moved to live in another cage, to
avoid a fight. Separating the guinea pigs during
a fight is not recommended, as during fighting guinea
pigs are highly tensed and can bite, if they take
your hand for an opponent.
A:
A low, short, grumbling sound, exchanged by guinea
pigs, accompanied by freezing at spot
M:
Something worries the guinea pigs
R:
Something worries the guinea pigs, which can be
a strange sound, (like cars on the road) sudden
movement, etc. Talk to your guinea pigs in a calm
voice, assuring them that it is nothing to be afraid
of - it works. Imagine - you're a guinea pig, you
are afraid, but the master is relaxed. Surely the
master won't behave like this if there was any danger.
Body
Language
A:
One of the guinea pigs throws his (or her) head
up as a reaction to a small "hit" by another
guinea pig
M:
The guinea pig accepts the dominance (leadership)
of another guinea pig
R:
The guinea pig shows the soft spot on the throat,
where a bite is a good way to defeat another guinea
pig. By revealing the throat the guinea pig "surrenders",
and accepts the fact that another guinea pig is
the leader. These are often done by females.
A:
A male sniffs at a female's anal opening
M:
The male checks if the female is ready to mate
R:
If the female is ready to mate, the guinea pigs
will start mating, and pregnancy will follow. If
pregnancy is unwanted, the guinea pigs should be
separated.
A:
A male guinea pig starts purring a continuous "brrrr"
sound, slowly waggling its hind part
M:
A male is showing off before a female
R:
If pregnancy is unwanted, the guinea pigs should
be separated. If not, I personally highly recommend
to watch the piggies mate! (Here's an episode from
the life of my piggies: A male shows off, receives
an aggressive reply, hides behind a box, grooms
himself, and tries again!)
A:
A male sits himself on the back of a female
M:
The male is mating a female
R:
If pregnancy is unwanted... you can't do anything
now! Await the birth of at least one miniature guinea
pig in about two or three months!
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