New pet parents are often confused as to how to know if the guinea pig is excited.
Every guinea pig is different, but there are a few signs that are true for almost all guinea pigs.
Guinea pigs are gentle, lively, and responsive pets, primarily if you handle them with diligence and attention.
Guinea pigs are naturally clean and trendy pets, which turn out to be excellent first pets for children.
They may be nervous at first, but they become used to your care and affection if significantly handled, and become great companions because of their dynamic, curious behaviors.
If you want to build a closer relationship with your furry friend, you need to understand more about them.
Interpreting and learning about different behavioral changes and signs will help you make a healthy relationship with your guinea pig.
Table of Contents
Signs of Excited Guinea Pig
If your guinea pig is happy and excited, there is no better feeling than this.
It is like a confirmation message from your pet that confirms all the love, care, and efforts of making him happy are paying off.
Every guinea pig owner struggles to give a healthy and happy environment to their guinea pig.
But sometimes, it isn’t easy to know in the beginning how he feels at the particular moment.
Your furry friend guinea pig is a happy, enthusiastic, and loving creature.
Guinea pig noises are amazingly appealing and loveable.
But how can you guess if your guinea pig is genuinely excited?
Here are some of the common guinea pig noises for you to distinguihs whether your guinea pig is happy or excited.
Behavioral Expressions
The first sign of their excitement is yawning and stretching. which they often do after waking up from a nap.
Guinea pigs who are stressed or feel unsafe usually start running around immediately after waking up because they are ready to flee and relax.
On the other hand, comfortable guinea pigs, feel safe enough to take some time before it gets ready to run around.
If your guinea pig is excited, he will find ways to express this through his body language like rubbing his nose, being active, or popcorning.
Rubbing noses is an of happiness, they rub their nose and lick as a friendly gesture.
Active guinea pig means they are happy.
If they come up to greet and run around it, they have some positive energy in them to do so.
Popcorning is another very common way to express happiness.
It occurs because of a freshly cleaned cage or some favorite food they like.
The reason for calling it popcorning is when they are excited, they hop in the air twice or thrice like corns when they are heated up to make popcorns.
Whatever the reason is, popcorning is an adorable way to show excitement.
Their favorite hay getting fed accordingly and socializing are the main reasons for popcorning.
If the cage or space they’re living in is small, they cannot hop and pop.
They require plenty of room to jump.
A pet guinea pig needs plenty of free space to function and play.
Sounds of Excitement
Guinea pigs seem like quiet creatures, but they often use non-verbal communication and noises to express themselves.
Knowing guinea pig noises is the key to understanding your excited companion.
These guinea pigs make little noises, which sounds like little talking to themselves while eating hay, exploring, or relaxing.
These sounds are softer and quieter than squeaking, and it sounds relaxing when the guinea pig is eating hay together, walking around the cage, or relaxing next to each other.
Whistling
Whistling is just another way to show their excitement.
They often let out a whistle to tell you about their playtime or feeding time.
Purring
Purring means speaking in a low and deep voice.
This deep, soft and relaxed voice means your guinea pig is expressing contentment.
In comparison, a higher-pitched purring or hissing implies the sound of annoyance or aggressive moment.
Wheeking
Wheeking is a ubiquitous sound they make when they hear you chopping veggies or opening a bag of chips.
These sounds trigger their excitement and make them think about the yummy food you will be feeding them.
It is the sound of anticipation and excitement for food.
Your guinea pig has many ways to pass their messages, especially when they are happy, through clear vocal communication.
These wheeking sounds are not familiar in wild cavies.
Only pet and domestic guinea pigs make wheeking sounds for humans.
Sleeping
Guinea pigs love to sleep in dark corners where they have a roof over the head.
If a guinea pig feels happy and excited, they sometimes sleep out in the open, for example, if they love to sleep next to the hayrack on top of some excess hay.
If they feel comfortable, they lay down for a nap pretty much everywhere, roof or no roof.
Roaming Around
Happy guinea pigs love to run in a group and explore whether you provide some floor time, put new bedding or fleece, or rearrange something in their cage.
Guinea pigs love to run around in a herd, and an exploring piggy is a happy and comfortable piggy. Exploring goes hand in hand with popcorning and excited squeaks.
So if your guinea pig is roaming around happily, that means he is excited.
Feels Comfortable Around Their Owner
They came running towards the owner and want to know whether their owner has some food.
That means they don’t see you as someone who could harm them, but the only reliable person; this also means that they feel comfortable and excited around you.
Sometimes your guinea pigs lick your hands or lick each other’s ears to calm each other or show affection.
That’s just how guinea pigs are showing you their excitement and love.
You’ll feel that they approach you more and more if they are comfortable with their surrounding.
Hide and Seek
If guinea pigs are hiding away or trying to disguise themselves in a blanket and start closing their eyes and start drifting off to sleep is a sign of content and excitement.
They love warm cozy blankets where they can hide and relax.
Sometimes you have to give in to your instincts to figure out if your guinea is happy or not.
Guinea pigs are prey animals, and although we’ve domesticated them, we are never going to breed out that large that they have to run and hide.
A guinea pig should genuinely feel safe and have some space to run around and hide.
It’s sometimes unfair to them to keep them in a small place.
They should have an opportunity to run and feel safe; otherwise, it will be stressful.
There is nothing more adorable than discovering your piggie emerging from their hideout.
How to Figure out if your Guinea Pig is Unhappy
It is essential to learn and figure out all the behavioral signs of your guinea pig.
It will help you to know that they are not in their best spirit.
You can then take precautionary measures to avoid such situations again.
Here are some signs of vocal and physical communication of your guinea pigs that will help you to make sure of their feelings at the moment.
Aggressive
You can identify this type of behavior when they lift, stand on their two hind legs, and rise following hissing and chattering sounds.
They also bear their teeth and fluff out their coats to show their feelings.
Another sign of aggressiveness is they move on their stiff legs.
Fidgeting or Freezing
When they feel perceived danger, they respond by flight and freezing.
They tend to become immovable or make an attempt to escape.
Depression and Unhappy
Guinea pigs also become quickly unhappy and depressed, just like any other pet animal.
Signs of their low mood are lack of energy, laziness, annoyed and irritation.
Your guinea pig can also show a loss of appetite or not having enough food.
When they are depressed, they often go off feed and are hospitalized.
Tossing Head
Sometimes your guinea pig wants to be left alone and doesn’t need any attention.
And also show signs of aggressiveness by tossing their head.
Food and Healthy Balanced Diet
Health is the most crucial thing when it comes to the happiness of your guinea pigs.
A balanced diet for guinea pigs can make them less exposed to diseases.
The food preferences established in the early life of these guinea pigs are better for their mood.
If their food is frequently changing, they often refuse to eat.
The change in type, appearance, or presentation of food can result in the refusal of taking food.
You must provide them with different varieties of food at a young age, so they get accustomed to other foods.
It is also imperative to consult your vet about a healthy and balanced diet for your guinea pig.
Again, ask him to recommend exact portions that your guinea pig should take daily.
Carefully use food holders and feeders to provide a contamination-free environment.
These food holders are also a great source of entertainment activity.
Different Accessories or Toys
There are different types of accessories available for guinea pigs to help accomplish your goal to make your pet happy and always excited.
A simple upside-down card box accessory is suitable for them, but they may get moisture or may be more challenging to clean.
For this purpose, you can purchase a suitable one.
Make sure to include more tunnels, toys, and accessories to keep them entertained.
Cardboard tubes, on the other hand, are great for hideouts and perfect for chewing.
Guinea pigs love to run in and out and love to hide in them.
Guinea pigs most commonly use fabric tunnel owners.
These fabric tunnels are not only warm but give them a cozy hideout.
Guinea pigs’ teeth never stop growing, so you should buy a chew toy that will help them grind.
Their health and well-being play a vital role in their happiness.
Communication with your Guinea Pig
It will take some time to grow and build a level of trust and understanding between you and your guinea pig.
If you have just adopted, give your guinea pig time before trying to approach it.
The first step of grooming your pig is to establish a level of trust.
If guinea pigs feel secure around you, you can instantly build a strong and close relationship with them.
If they allow you to touch and hold, that means they think your secure presence.
You can start by feeding him gently with your hand while talking in a low soft voice, then pet it.
This way, you can make them comfortable with you.
Make sure to touch them with great affection, and you don’t need to worry that it might bite you because they rarely bite.
How to Handle Your Guinea Pig?
The best method to pick and hold it is to approach it on its level and start whispering.
Let it come to you by giving your hand, and gently place your hand on its shoulder with your thumb.
Then place your hand under its body to support its weight.
Hold it carefully in your lap.
Piggie Company
The prey animals living in the wild are used to living in groups.
They naturally feel safe and happy when they have company, adding another one is the easiest way to make them excited and happy.
You can improve their happiness and bring another guinea pig to your family and get to know them, and also you can see how excited they are by interacting with each other.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, guinea pigs are social animals who prefer being in the company of another guinea pig
Clean Cages
Guinea pigs naturally start to get interested and excited when something is happening in their cage, and this can be cleaning or when you’re moving some of the cage accessories around, and you’re cleaning around them also.
On the other side, guinea pigs start to notice if the cage starts getting dirty.
Social Environment
These guinea pigs are social animals by nature, and they seek physical interaction with other guinea pigs when housed together.
The presence of other cavies helps to reduce stress.
They enjoy playing and interacting with other guinea pigs.
Socializing and interacting with these pets are significant parts of guinea pigs’ lives.
If you neglect or ignore them, it could lead to depression and sadness in them.
And if you have a single guinea pig at your home, it is imperative to spend more and quality time with him to avoid despair.
Home Sweet Home
If your guinea pig is not happy or excited, another reason for not being so excited is the CHANGE.
These pets are not very accustomed to rapid changes in their surrounding environment.
They need time to adjust themselves to a new environment.
Suppose you will adopt a new guinea pig and think about bringing him home and setting up a new and peaceful home suitable for their needs.
Make sure to allow a few quiet times before handling your new guinea pig.
These social creatures need a lively and happening place or area of your home.
It must be a place that encourages interaction with all the other family members.
Also, make sure that allows them to have a rest period and quiet time during the day.
Never expose guinea pigs to high levels of temperatures and humidity.
They can able to tolerate or bear a cool temperature than a warm environment.
Make sure to provide them with places to hide and play within their enclosure.
This exposure gives guinea pigs a sense of security and alleviates stress.
Spend Quality Time with your Guinea Pig
The most important thing is how to spend quality time with your guinea pigs and create a strong bond with them.
Guinea pigs are very social creatures and love to interact with their own kind and owners as well.
Your guinea pigs need company, whether that of a human or other guinea pigs.
You need to cuddle and create a close relationship with your pet guinea pig, especially if you have only one guinea pig.
They love when you pet them or rub them gently.
These small gestures make your guinea pig a relaxed and happy guinea pig.
These moments are also an excellent opportunity to make sure to perform a health check if they are in perfect shape physically.
Guinea pigs are active animals by nature.
It is essential to include some physical exercise because they need to release excess energy.
Play with them often, so they positively utilize their energy; otherwise, they may get depressed.
Final Thoughts
Knowing guinea pig noises is important if you want to make your pet a happy guinea pig.
Eventually, with time, you’ll be able to figure out signs of excitement and respond appropriately to your guinea pig’s happiness signs.
Take care of your pet guinea pig and arrange everything according to its needs, feed it with fresh food and clean the cage regularly.
Pet parents should understand the ways in which a guinea pig expresses contentment and happiness.
