Why Does My Guinea Pig Wheek So Much? 3 Reasons Why!
Contents
Guinea pigs are among the most vocal small pets. One of their best-known sounds is the wheek, a loud, high-pitched call that can startle new owners.
Guinea pigs wheek mostly to get attention, very often because they expect food. Wheeking also signals excitement, and some guinea pigs are simply more talkative than others. It is rarely a sign of a problem.
Knowing what the wheek means helps you respond to your guinea pig and tell it apart from sounds that do signal trouble.
Your Guinea Pig Wheek Because It Wants Attention
The wheek is loud and hard to ignore, which is exactly the point.
Guinea pigs wheek to get the attention of their people or of other guinea pigs. Most often, they are asking for food.
Many guinea pigs learn to link certain sounds with feeding time. The fridge door, a rustling bag, or footsteps in the kitchen can set off a chorus of wheeks.
Your guinea pig may also wheek when it hears you come home or sees you walk by. It has learned that you are the source of food and attention.
Regular meals help. Guinea pigs need unlimited hay and daily fresh vegetables, and they cannot make their own vitamin C. The Merck Veterinary Manual says they need at least 10 mg of vitamin C per kilogram of body weight each day.
Guinea pigs are social animals and usually do best with a companion of their own kind, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. A lone guinea pig may call for company more often.
Your Guinea Pig Wheek Because It Is Happy
Wheeking often comes with excitement and anticipation. Your guinea pig may wheek when it sees you coming with vegetables, or when it knows floor time is about to start.
Excited guinea pigs sometimes "popcorn" too. They jump straight up, often twisting in the air, sometimes several times in a row.
Popcorning is most common in young guinea pigs and is a sign of a happy, healthy animal.
Your Guinea Pig Wheek For No Reason At All
Sometimes you will not be able to tell why your guinea pig is wheeking. Some guinea pigs are just louder and more talkative than others, the same way some cats meow more.
If your guinea pig is eating, drinking, pooping, and acting normally, frequent wheeking is nothing to worry about.
Is It Bad If Your Guinea Pig Wheeks A Lot?
Usually not. Wheeking is a normal sound of excitement and attention-seeking.
Pay attention to other sounds, though. A single loud, piercing squeal can mean pain or fear, while wheeking is a repeated, whistle-like call.
If your guinea pig squeals when touched, stops eating, has fewer or smaller droppings, or seems hunched or lethargic, take it to a vet who treats small mammals. Guinea pigs hide illness, and they can go downhill quickly once they stop eating.
Final Words
Your guinea pig wheeks mostly because it wants food or attention, or because it is excited. Some guinea pigs are simply more vocal than others.
Listen for squeals of pain and watch for changes in eating or behavior, and call your vet if you notice them.
Sources
- Special Considerations for Guinea Pigs, Merck Veterinary Manual
- Nutritional Problems of Guinea Pigs, Merck Veterinary Manual
