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27 results for “guinea pig behavior”
What are the signs of a guinea pig in heat?
Females in heat vocalize, eat less, lower the body, sway the hips, secrete white fluid, and bite the cage. Males get excited and fight more, sometimes growling; caged with females they show courtship.
How do I get my guinea pig to use a litter box?
Getting a guinea pig to use a litter box is about building habit. First prepare a suitable box (store-bought or a clean plastic/paper box) with cat litter, wood shavings, or newspaper at the bottom, and clean it regularly. Second, place the box where the guinea pig is active, near food and water, and add hiding spots like cardboard or towels for security. Finally, when it shows pre-potty behavior like scratching or circling, move it onto the box and reward it with a treat after it goes.
Signs of Pregnancy in a Guinea Pig
A pregnant guinea pig stops coming into heat and rejects the male, eats roughly double her normal amount, and her belly swells — by about a month it may be twice normal size. She grows touch-shy and irritable early on, then calmer and sleepier near term. Avoid full baths; use bath sand for spot cleaning.
What Different Guinea Pig Sounds Mean
Guinea pigs make a surprising range of sounds, each carrying a different message — from a hungry "wheek" and contented purrs to warning growls and distressed squeals. Learning these vocalizations helps you understand what your pet needs and when it feels unsafe.
Guinea Pig (Cavy) Basics: Origins, Traits, and Diet
The guinea pig (cavy) is a South American rodent with a ~8-year lifespan, a long colon for fiber, and ever-growing molars that need hay. It eats its own soft droppings for vitamins, cannot climb, and must avoid toxic foods like potato, cabbage, onion, and starch.
Tips for Keeping Guinea Pigs Together (Co-Housing)
Guinea pigs are social and suit co-housing, but opposite-sex pairs and many details need care. Here are the points.
Symptoms of Urinary Stones in Guinea Pigs
Guinea pig urinary stones usually come from too much calcium and too little water, causing painful, slow, or bloody urination. Diagnose early by signs, urine color, palpation, or X-ray, and treat with fluids, potassium citrate, or a vet procedure.
Why Does a Guinea Pig Bite Its Cage?
Guinea pigs bite cages when hungry or thirsty, to grind their constantly growing teeth, or out of boredom. Provide chew toys and regular free-roam time to prevent the behavior.
What happens when a female guinea pig is in heat?
A female guinea pig in heat shows clear behavior and physical changes: swollen vulva, increased discharge (white or pale yellow), reduced appetite; she becomes more excited and irritable, may sniff items frequently, squeal, bite the cage, and present to males. If multiple are caged together they may fight. Guinea pigs cycle year-round, but continuous breeding burdens them — keep males and females separate.
How can I tell if a guinea pig is pregnant?
A pregnant guinea pig shows clear signs: weight gain, swollen abdomen, swollen and prominent nipples. It may become quieter and less active, and later show nesting behavior like gathering grass and wood. Appetite may increase to nourish the fetuses. The most reliable confirmation is a vet exam via palpation and X-ray.