Why is my guinea pig Wheeking loud?

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Do Guinea Pigs Speak to Each Other?
Do Guinea Pigs Speak to Their Owners?
Are There Specific Guinea Pig Sounds with Specific Meanings?

By Jen Davis

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Guinea pigs can make a wide assortment of noises. The noises your guinea pig makes will change depending on his mood and the message he is trying to convey to you or to other animals within his living area. Learn the intentions behind the noises your guinea pig makes to help improve your interactions with him.

Guinea pigs do not actually bark, or rather, guinea pigs do not bark in the same way that your dog will bark. If your guinea pig is making noises that sound to you like barks, he is probably chirping, chutting or even wheeking. Guinea pigs have a wide range of vocalizations. Your guinea pig is an individual with his own voice, and it is quite possible that his unique voice or manner of vocalization just happens to sound like barking.

Wheeking is one of the most common sounds a guinea pig can make. While wheeking is most often described as a loud squeal, its repetitive nature might make it seem like your guinea pig is barking. It's normal for your guinea pig to make wheeking noises when he is happy or trying to express his excitement about something. Wheeking is common when your guinea pig is hungry or thinks treats might be a possibility in the near future. Rewarding this behavior with food almost guarantees that your guinea pig will continue to make the noise at feeding time, as well as whenever he thinks it should be feeding time.

Guinea pigs make a noise known as "chut." A chut is essentially a short, low-pitched wheek and may sound a bit like the guinea pig is muttering to himself. Continuous chutting may be mistaken for barking in some situations. Guinea pigs who are chutting are typically going happily about their own business and fairly content. Chirping is another noise that might be mistaken for a barking sound, though it is much more common for guinea pig chirping to be compared to the sound a bird makes when it is chirping or singing. It is unclear why guinea pigs chirp, but the general consensus is that it is not a bad noise and does not have any negative connotations. A guinea pig who chirps is likely happy enough with his environment.

Guinea pigs are very vocal animals. If you encourage and respond to your guinea pig's vocalizations, he is likely to continue expressing himself with his voice. Purring is a sign of happiness and contentment. Growling and teeth chattering are signs of fear, anger or general unhappiness Guinea pigs will let out loud, high-pitched shrieks when they are afraid, surprised or in pain. The more time you spend with your guinea pig, the more accustomed you will become to the noises he makes and the easier it will be for you to tell what each individual noise is trying to tell you.

Guinea pigs did not originate in New Guinea and they are not pigs. The origin of their name is mostly unknown, but you might be right in guessing that the latter part of their name has something to do with all of the noises they make. These chatty pets tend to make quite a ruckus with their squeals, chirps, and chatter, but what does it all mean?

While filming our last vlog, you may realize that all throughout the video both of my guinea pigs were very vocal. There were lots of wheeking and chattering, mostly at each other signaling different emotions. Usually when my guinea pigs are as vocal as they were in our vlog, it could mean several things. They could be expressing their emotions ranging from happiness or frustration.

For most people, guinea pig noises may be funny or entertaining, however, experienced guinea pig owners and researchers have found meaning in these sounds. Let’s explore the meaning behind guinea pigs’ diverse noises so you can better understand what all that chatter is about!

Do Guinea Pigs Speak to Each Other?

If you think about the natural origins of guinea pigs, it makes sense that they would need to communicate amongst themselves. The ancestors of these pocket-sized pets were just as defenseless, making them the perfect prey animal. They also lived in small groups for protection, so they needed to communicate to maintain a social hierarchy and to warn others of danger.

Researchers have found that guinea pigs’ brains light up in different areas depending on what calls they are exposed to. Mother guinea pigs even have the ability to distinguish their babies’ calls from the calls of other young guinea pigs. This suggests that guinea pigs may be able to recognize individuals by their voice

Do Guinea Pigs Speak to Their Owners?

The good news is that guinea pigs and humans have a lot of similarities in our internal ear structure, allowing for similar interpretations of certain sounds. This is great because it allows us to hear variations in guinea pigs’ calls so we can differentiate them and discover their meanings.

While we may not be able to hear every nuance in a guinea pig’s chatter, we can hear a decent amount, and some findings even suggest that there is a guinea pig sound specific to interactions with humans, wheeking.

Are There Specific Guinea Pig Sounds with Specific Meanings?

Considering the social structure, auditory capabilities, and consistent context in which most guinea pig noises are produced, it is very likely that their sounds have specific meanings. While we can’t be completely confident of a guinea pig’s intent each time it makes a noise, we can use research and context to make an educated assumption.

Listed below are some of the most common guinea pig noises and their interpretations

Wheeking

This “wheeek wheeeek” sound normally starts low and increases in pitch towards the end of each-drawn out “wheek”.

This noise is possibly one of the most iconic guinea pig calls. It always maintains its distinct “wheek” sound but can vary in intensity, pitch, frequency, and repetition. Wheeking is most commonly expressed when guinea pigs are anticipating food. In some cases, they may even use this vocalization to remind their owner that they are hungry.

Wheeking has not been recorded as a vocalization in wild guinea pig populations, suggesting that it may be a noise specifically produced to communicate with people

Purring, Chuttering, and Rumbling

When listening for a guinea pig’s purr, don’t think of a cat’s purr. Instead, imagine a low repetitive grumbling noise. Chutting or chuttering is similar to purring, but with shorter sounds. Chuttering and purring are commonly associated with a content guinea pig, but purring can also be produced out of fear. Use body language to interpret these sounds more accurately.

Rumbling can be hard to distinguish from purring because it follows similar patterns and sounds at a lower pitch. This sound normally comes with a swaying strut as a way to woo a mate. Some may refer to rumbling as "rumble-strutting", as it is a clear sign of expressing dominance. The reason for it being called "rumble-strutting" is because of the action that comes with it. Some guinea pigs will often hold their head high or swing back and forth in the process.

Hissing, Shrieking, and Teeth Chattering

The first two sounds in this category are hard to miss, though they shouldn’t happen too frequently for safe and happy guinea pigs. As with most animals, a hissing noise is a way toward off unwelcome attention or a perceived threat. Shrieking can be the guinea pig version of a scream, so when you hear a sudden shriek it’s good reason to look for discomfort or danger.

Teeth chattering is one of the lowest noises and it can sound like a series of rapid and short squeaks or little “tick-tick-tick” sounds. Chattering can also be expressed as a sign of dominance. This vocalization generally happens before two males fight, when guinea pigs aren’t getting along, or when they are otherwise unhappy. If you remove a stimulus and find that the teeth chattering stops, you can determine what is upsetting your pet.

In Conclusion

There are plenty more sounds your furry friend can make. With experience and attention to detail, you can learn the intentions of your guinea pig’s specific sounds. Try your hand at deciphering a guinea pig’s noises next time you have the pleasure of meeting one, and always remember to consider physical cues with verbal cues. Always try to keep in mind what makes your guinea pig happy or unhappy to improve the bond between you and your guinea pig! Happy chatting