How do you know if your guinea pig is happy?

Guinea pigs are very friendly rodents that are becoming increasingly popular as pets. Small, playful and intelligent, they adapt well to life in the home and can form very strong bonds with their guardians. Although they may seem like inexpressive animals that are difficult to decipher, guinea pigs have a wide language that includes a variety of sounds, behaviors, and body expressions that they use to communicate their emotions.

But how do you know that your guinea pig is happy? If you are also asking yourself this question, in this student pets article we will help you interpret their behavior and find out if your pet is really having a great quality of life.

He wants to interact with you

The fact that the guinea pig is calm in your presence, can sleep or rest even when you are around, accepts food from your hand, follows you to play and look for you, or allows you to pet or hold it is a sign that it is familiar to you and therefore comfortable, which is one of the signs that will help you understand how to know if the guinea pig is happy.

For this to happen and for a bond of friendship to develop between you and the guinea pig they must understand your language and respect your space. It is very important that you do not force the animal or constantly pick it up or touch it, as guinea pigs are quite sensitive and can get very stressed easily. Also, avoid punishment or intimidation so that the furry one will not be afraid of you. Dedicate valuable time to him and accompany him while he engages in pleasurable activities.

Enjoys the company of other members of his species

Guinea pigs are very social animals, living in fairly large groups in the wild. This means that they usually enjoy the company of other members of the same species to interact with. It often improves the quality of life of these animals to have more than one guinea pig in the house that now has a constant companion, but this is not necessarily true in all cases in India and to ensure a good relationship between them it is important that the animals are socialized and that the introduction of each one is gradual and controlled.

It is also important to have a space large enough to accommodate several animals and with all the necessary elements for each of them to be comfortable (feeders, burrows, beds, drinking fountains, comfortable temperature, adequate lighting among others.) In addition, it is very important to note that it is not appropriate to keep guinea pigs in a cage 24 hours a day. For a guinea pig to be very happy, it needs to explore, jump, run, play and also interact.

Makes mini jumps and runs

A very characteristic and curious behavior of the guinea pig is called popping, which consists of a brief but intense episode in which the animal runs very quickly, suddenly changing direction and sometimes making small, noticeable jumps.

If you have ever seen a guinea pig behave like this, you were probably surprised by this behavior. But don’t worry: this kind of rite happens when the guinea pig is happy and has a playful attitude. Guinea pigs usually run and jump when they can get out of their cage and usually have plenty of space to explore and also interact with their owners or other guinea pigs.

Lick or nibble your hand gently

Another way to tell if a guinea pig is happy is a clear sign of affection for his owner: if he has the habit of gently licking your hand after smelling you, or giving small bites with his mouth, skin or clothes continuously and painlessly, this may be a way to get your attention so that you can interact with him.

On the other hand, if your guinea pig is not gentle, but hard, teethy, and causing you pain, this indicates that he is really uncomfortable or anxious and therefore needs space. Guinea pigs can bite for various reasons, and if this happens with a certain frequency, it is necessary to thoroughly investigate what is bothering the animal, or if it is suffering from pain or illness, and therefore get it treated as soon as possible.

Emits happy sounds

Guinea pigs make various noises to express themselves, and of course not all of these noises are related to negative emotions: some of them indicate that your guinea pig is very happy.

For example, a series of very high-pitched and also repetitive squeaks can be an indication that your guinea pig is feeling relaxed and secure, or that it wants your attention. On the other hand, “chutting” low frequency noise similar to the dripping of a faucet, expresses well-being and comfort in the animal. Therefore, hearing it while petting your guinea pig is a great sign.