Owning and caring for a guinea pig is a lot of fun, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t be concerned about certain things. Some new guinea pig owners are a little taken aback if their new pet is incredibly quiet.
Perhaps you’ve been exposed to guinea pigs before and they were always a lot more vocal. Is there something wrong with your guinea pig that is causing it to be super quiet?
Keep reading to learn about reasons why a guinea pig might be very quiet. This should help to set your mind at ease, but it’ll also show you what you should do if something is wrong.
It’s good to be a proactive pet owner who wants to ensure that everything is okay. Once you’ve read the information below, it’s going to be a lot easier to care for the guinea pig and ensure that it’s happy.
Some Guinea Pigs Are Quieter Than Others
Before going any further, it’s important to know that some guinea pigs are just quieter than others. Humans have personalities and some humans are a little bit quiet and shy.
Guinea pigs have personalities as well, and not all of them are going to be very vocal. You might just have a guinea pig that prefers to be a lot quieter than you’re used to.
If you remember having a guinea pig as a kid that made a lot of noise, then that might be throwing you off. In all likelihood, everything is fine if your guinea pig is quiet, but there are some caveats to consider.
Just know that it isn’t necessarily concerning if your guinea pig is quiet once you get it home. That could just be its personality, and you don’t have to assume that something is wrong based solely on how vocal the guinea pig is.
Personality Changes
There’s a difference between a guinea pig being quiet as a normal aspect of its personality and a guinea pig suddenly becoming quiet. If your guinea pig used to be very vocal and has suddenly stopped being vocal, then that could be very concerning.
This could be a sign that something is wrong, and you might want to get the guinea pig checked out. There’s a possibility that something could have occurred that caused your guinea pig to go through a change, but this could be a sign of health issues, too.
Pay attention to your guinea pig to try to get an idea of what is happening. If you observe some other changes in behavior, then you’ll want to take action right away.
Generally, it’s always best to make an appointment with a veterinarian if you are worried at all. You’re better off getting the guinea pig checked out just to be safe if you suspect something is amiss.
Other Changes
Often, a guinea pig being quiet will not be the only thing that has changed. If your guinea pig is quiet and it also appears to be sluggish, then that is a definite sign that something isn’t right.
Is your guinea pig moving around as normal or does it seem far less active than it usually does? Is the guinea pig taking the time to eat food as normal, or is it not eating as much now that something has changed?
If there are physical changes that coincide with the guinea pig being quiet, then it’s a sign that something is wrong with its health. This means that it’s time to call in a veterinarian right away to get to the bottom of things.
Situations such as this can occur when guinea pigs get sick, and they can also develop dental issues that will cause them to be quiet and sluggish. Your veterinarian should be able to thoroughly examine the guinea pig to determine the best course of action.
Stress
You should consider whether your guinea pig is being quieter than usual due to stress. Sometimes guinea pigs can get scared or stressed due to certain things happening around your home.
For example, if you have other pets in the house, then your guinea pig could be scared of those pets due to them being so much larger. A cat could be scaring the guinea pig or a dog could be barking and causing the guinea pig to get nervous.
Certain things in the environment can cause guinea pigs to feel scared or stressed, and this could lead to behavioral abnormalities. Even something such as loud noises in the house could cause issues here and there.
If something has changed recently, such as the introduction of a new pet or moving to a new home, then that could be the cause of your guinea pig’s issues. Ensuring that you’re caring for the guinea pig well and making it feel safe might be enough to get it to warm back up to you and the environment again.
Guinea Pigs Might Warm up to You Over Time
If your guinea pigs are still relatively new to your home, then you should know that they might warm up to you over time. Whether you’re caring for one or two guinea pigs, it’s important to know that it takes time to build a bond with them.
Some guinea pigs will be happy and vocal right away, but others might take a while to feel comfortable. Just keep caring for the guinea pigs and do your best to give them a good home.
Once you’ve built a bond with your pet, it’s likely that they will make a bit more noise. You know a lot more now about personality changes in guinea pigs and what they can mean, but it’s also important to understand that some guinea pigs just aren’t going to be super vocal.
Do your best to keep an eye on your guinea pig whether it’s quiet or loud. Recognize changes in behavior so that you can help it if it winds up needing medical attention.
In all likelihood, everything is going to be just fine, but being an attentive pet owner matters. If your heart is in the right place and you’re trying to care for your pets well, then you’re going to be able to do a good job.
I have a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When I’m not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, I’m at home with my wife, two daughters and a dog. Outside of family, I love grilling and barbequing on my Big Green Egg and working on projects around the house. Growing up, I had pet dogs, cats, deer, sugar gliders, chinchillas, a bird, chickens, fish, and a goat.