Vocalization In Guinea Pig

[Candice Warner]

No other small pet has the unique variety and range of vocalization that the guinea pig had, which of course simply adds to their charm. Hamsters, gerbils, rats, mice, hedgehogs-whatever the pet, most other small mammals (with the possible exception of ferrets) are nearly always silent except for that regular late night refrain of their squeaky exercise wheel. Guinea pigs however constantly 'talk' to their humans, even if the language is unfamiliar to most humans. However, with a little practice and this helpful guide, you will have little doubt what your fury friend is trying to communicate to you.

LOUD SQUEAKS OR WHISTLES:
This Is a sound which is commonly referred to as 'oinking' by many guinea pig owners. It is a demanding sound that guinea pigs make to inform their owners that they are hungry, lonely or simply desire acknowledgement. There Is also a more intense form of squeaking which is made out of fear.

PURRING
Purring is a happy sound made when a guinea pig Is being snuggled or stroked by it's owners, as a love sound between two guinea pigs, and also as a utterance of uncertainty when a piggy hears a new, unfamiliar sound.

BURBLING, CHATTING
These sounds are heard when guinea pigs are happily wandering the house during playtime or when their human companions are paying attention to them.

GRUNTS
Short grunting sounds are made between two guinea pigs and are often accompanied by nose to nose butting. This Is usually a display of rank.

TEETH CHATTERING
A guinea pig's teeth will chatter as a display of aggression when he is annoyed about something that either another guinea pig or his owner is doing for example, trying to catch him when playtime is over. Although biting rarely follows such a warning, it is always wise to keep your fingers away from the piggies mouth.

I hope this thread helps you, but if you hear a unfamiliar sound, please contact a professional.

 

[Freela]

I think that guinea pigs may be more apt to use sound in order to communicate DIRECTLY to humans (i.e. wheeking for food.) Linney will wheek at me when I walk by if the water bottle runs dry during the day. She obviously understands that she has a problem, that I will remedy the problem for her, and that she should use sound to draw my attention to this fact. I've had a lot of rodents through the years, but none of the other species used sound specifically to communicate that way. However, I did hear sounds from all my rodents, even though a lot of it was low, barely audible whistling (my rats and mice all made similar whistles to the guinea pigs when they were happy and going about their business and all was right with the world... I always think of it as the 'happy rodent' noise.) My experience is that hedgehogs do vocalize as well... from a huffling/purring/popping sound when they are unhappy and warning you that you are about the get a face full of spikes to a very low whistling that is not that different from a guinea pig. I also have heard them make a shrill, repetitive 'eeee....eeee...eeee' sound, but only the males. I always thought it might be the mating call of the hedgehog, or else something territorial. My male hedgie only did it a few times that I ever heard, but my cousin's male hedgehog would 'sing' in response to an alarm clock that beeped in a similar tone and pattern. He must have mistaken it for another hedgehog! I also had two female hedgehogs, but never heard that particular noise from them, though I did hear one scream when she got stuck under a bookcase and was badly scared.

 

[Mav]

This is going to help me so much when I get my guinea pigs! (: Thank you!