Indicators of Ache in Guinea Pigs

By Kim Halford BVetMed MSC, MRCVS. Masters in Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Non-Practising Veterinary surgeon

Guinea Pigs are prey animals. Within the wild, to stop them getting caught by predators, they conceal indicators of ache and sickness. We cry out in ache and anticipate animals to do the identical, but when they did this within the wild it might enhance the chance of them getting caught. 

As guinea pigs (like rabbits) conceal their ache nicely, house owners typically don’t recognise when they’re in ache and sometimes misread it. Many additionally imagine they don’t expertise ache to the identical diploma as individuals or that some issues that are painful to us don’t harm them. In actuality, it’s thought that they expertise ache the identical as us however present it otherwise. Although guineas are widespread pets, the signs for ache haven’t been significantly studied with a few of these indicators not even being recognised by animal specialists. The remainder of this text covers the principle behaviours related along with your pet being in ache/discomfort. Take be aware; by themselves, every of those indicators might not imply that your guinea pig is sore; it’s extra once they present numerous these indicators collectively. 

Brief Time period Indicators

1. Vocalising “Squeaking/screaming” 

When in sudden ache, guinea pigs might make loud and high-pitched squeaks. These are totally different and sometimes longer lasting than their regular decrease pitched “wheek”. They solely often cry out with sudden, intense forms of pains, not normal aches. One instance is that if contact/maintain an space of their physique that’s sore. 

2. Writhing/Belly Contractions

Some belly contractions (when their stomach will get tight) may be regular in guinea pigs nonetheless, these might worsen or be extra common if their tummy is sore. For those who see contractions and them stretching their physique out, particularly if they’re doing this typically, they’re doubtless in ache. Writhing/Belly Contractions

3. Adjustments in Posture

How they’re stood can change relying the place their ache is. With stomach aches (eg. If their guts will not be working nicely) they might have their again arched. They might stand or stroll with their our bodies very tense. Adjustments in posture are additionally seen when mendacity. Usually guinea pigs lay with their again legs tucked underneath them however when their backbone, stomach or again legs are sore they could have one or each again legs stretched out behind them or splayed to the facet. Bear in mind; wholesome guinea pigs generally alter their place. Some guinea pigs might discover it comfortable to lie in these positions when nicely. It’s essential to have a look at what’s regular to your guinea pig; if they’re appearing otherwise it might be attributable to ache/sickness/stress.

4. Flinching

Most guinea pigs flinch when in ache. Their our bodies try to maneuver away from no matter is inflicting the ache. This will likely occur when you contact a sore spot. They might even flinch if nothing is close to them attributable to ache inside them. Flinching is extra widespread with sudden and stunning ache

5. Shaking

When in ache, your guinea pig might shake attributable to worry or adrenaline working by their veins. Like us, guinea pigs shiver/shake when chilly too. Shaking may be very delicate and could also be laborious to see, so just isn’t probably the most dependable signal. It may be brought on by stress or unwanted effects from medicines.

6. Paying Consideration to Sore Space

Such as you, if a guinea pig has a sore patch, they could have a look at, or contact it, loads. Your guinea pig might groom, scratch or chew on the space extra leaving moist or broken pores and skin/hair. Generally they could all of a sudden cease what they’re doing and repeatedly flip their head/physique to take a look at no matter is inflicting them ache. 

7. Shifting Slower

Once you harm it typically worsens the sooner you progress so that you decelerate. Animals do the identical. Guinea pigs transfer slower, incessantly alter their posture (like when you’re in ache you could toss and switch in mattress) or transfer stiffly. Drugs inflicting sleepiness (eg. anaesthetics or some robust painkillers) might trigger your guinea pigs to maneuver slower even when not in ache. In case your guinea pig has had surgical procedure and is transferring slower ask your vet whether or not that is doubtless as a result of medicines or ache.

8. Shifting Much less and Laying Extra

When in ache, animals have a tendency to remain nonetheless to keep away from additional ache. Ache is tiring so they could sleep extra. Your guinea pig could also be scared as a result of ache and when guinea pigs are scared they could freeze, that is referred to as tonic immobility (and is like when a rabbit/ deer freezes if automotive headlights shine on them). They’re prone to be quieter when in ache although some will behave usually. Guinea pigs transferring much less might be attributable to stress/tiredness from surgical procedure or attributable to medicine unwanted effects. For example, robust ache killers might trigger guinea pigs to lie down extra even when they aren’t sore. 

9. Limping

Limping is often solely an indication of ache in a leg or their again/ neck. Sometimes lameness is from non-painful nerve/muscle issues but when your guinea begins limping and it doesn’t enhance shortly (or they’re instantly dragging their legs/ not placing them to the ground in any respect) take them to a vet to see what’s fallacious. Not all guinea pigs in ache will limp. As they conceal their ache, guinea pigs might have a sore leg however not seem like limping. As a substitute you could discover them not transferring round their cage as simply.

10. Bar Biting

Chewing cage bars just isn’t a traditional behaviour. Guinea pigs chew on their cage bars if they’re annoyed, pressured or bored. Abruptly beginning bar-biting is an indication one thing isn’t proper and you’ll want to discover, and resolve, the trigger. Their bar-biting might cease when you kind out the explanation behind it. If left, chewing the bars can flip right into a behavior or compulsion which may be distressing and harm their enamel.

Longer Time period Indicators of Ache

1. Consuming Much less and Shedding Weight

In case you are ailing, you lose your urge for food; this is identical along with your little buddies. Wholesome guinea pigs spend a lot of their day grazing/foraging/consuming hay. However, when unwell or in ache, they typically eat much less. However beware, some will nonetheless eat tasty treats shortly. Bear in mind although, you could not discover them consuming much less, particularly if they’ve a few buddies who eat the leftovers! Monitoring consuming as an indication of ache may be tough and inaccurate; you’re prone to solely realise they’re consuming much less and, due to this fact in ache, after a number of hours. Even when they’ve been in quite a lot of ache, by the point you’ve observed them consuming much less, they could have improved. For those who’re not in search of the opposite indicators of ache too, the delay in noticing this signal means your pet can have suffered greater than they wanted to, earlier than you recognised it and obtained assist.

2. Ingesting Much less

Like with consuming, painful guinea pigs don’t wish to drink. Some cease consuming altogether. With others once you come to alter their water bottle you could discover it’s fuller than regular. Noticing your guinea pig consuming/consuming much less or dropping pounds offers you a clue they’re not feeling 100%. When you discover this behaviour change search for different indicators of ache to resolve if they’re in ache. Attempt to resolve whether or not they’re sore or if there are different causes for them consuming much less. For example, their water might style totally different to normal.

3. Unkempt Coat and Grooming Much less

Apart from them focussing their consideration to grooming a painful sore extra, guinea pigs might take much less care of their coat. They groom themselves much less both as a result of they don’t have the power or their ache worsens when within the positions wanted to correctly groom. This signal is tough to identify as guinea pigs might groom themselves when hiding so you could not see. As a substitute of trying on the time spent grooming give attention to whether or not their coat seems clear and tidy. This will likely take time to be noticeable so in case your guinea pigs coat seems soiled watch what they’re doing for some time to see how they’re appearing.

To Summarize

The indicators of ache in guinea pigs are very delicate and poorly understood. There are some simpler indicators to search for, corresponding to limping or crying out, however the extra delicate indicators could also be extra correct. Every signal, on their very own, might be unrelated to ache however once they present a number of indicators collectively, they might be sore. In case you are apprehensive your guinea pig is in ache watch them from afar or, even higher, arrange a digital camera and movie them once you’re not within the room. 

They might not conceal their ache as a lot when alone. You’ll be able to evaluate the footage straight after. For those who disturb them, they could “act laborious” and never present any indicators. It’s additionally essential to recognise that each one species of animals have distinctive methods of expressing ache, the indicators given right here could also be totally different to how different animals will act when sore. 

If involved any of your pets are in ache contact a vet as quickly as doable. Your vet will assess whether or not they’re in ache and search for the trigger. Following this they’ll advocate a course of remedy, if wanted, which ought to assist your furry pal to really feel loads brighter.