As an extremely social species, they live in the wild in small groups, seeking “safety in numbers,” because more eyes help alert them to the presence of predators. They can often be seen standing or lying side by side when resting and when eating.²¹ Bonding has been shown to be very important in domestic guinea pigs, and evidence of the effect of social support has been quantified by the detection of lower cortisol levels in both males and females placed in challenging situations when supported by a familiar guinea pig. Cortisol levels (as a measure of stress) are even lower when guinea pigs are challenged in the presence of a bonded mate.²⁶

In a study of the effects of social stress in guinea pigs, unfamiliar males were paired and their behavior and physiological parameters measured over an 8-day period. Despite the fact that visual agonistic behaviors did not appear to increase during the duration of cohabitation, physiological parameters—including weight loss, lower testosterone levels, and higher glucocorticoid and plasma catecholamine titers—indicated that the stress levels increased for the less dominant males.⁴¹ The subordinate males behaved increasingly more passively until they finally ceased feeding and drinking.⁴¹

Despite the fact that guinea pigs are a precocial species that requires little maternal involvement after birth, social influences of the mother and other adults have been found to have a marked influence on behavior of the offspring.¹² In a study of social preferences in young guinea pigs it was noted that both male and female pups stayed near the mother even through the postweaning period. Littermates continued to spend time together, and periadolescent animals reaching sexual maturity did not appear to associate more with novel animals or potential breeding partners.¹⁹ It is interesting to note, however, that male and female guinea pigs that were housed apart from the mother would then interact with her as if she were an unfamiliar female when reunited.¹⁴

Early social stress in guinea pig pups has been shown to create endocrine changes and changes in brain function, both of which are evidenced later by social behavioral changes. For example, several ontogenic studies have indicated that prenatal and immediate postnatal environmental and social factors affecting pregnant female guinea pigs can in turn affect how offspring will interact as adults. Stress of the mother during these periods may create a behavioral masculinity in the daughters (as evidenced by urine spraying).^28,²⁹ Also, more infantile behavior of the males in adulthood was noted. This was probably attributable to an increase in androgens in the stressed pregnant female as well as to the effect on the endocrine system in a stress response.^25,^27,^29,⁴⁰

Evidence of mother-infant attachment was demonstrated when increased cortisol levels were found in lactating guinea pigs (3 days postpartum) when their pups were removed and taken out of auditory range.^15,^18,³⁹ Plasma cortisol levels also were elevated and vocalization was greater in the pups that were removed from the mother, more so in those placed alone than in those kept with their littermates.³⁹ The presence of an adult female guinea pig, both familiar and unfamiliar, has also been shown to decrease the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal response in younger guinea pigs, even though behavioral interaction did not indicate this. The presence of an unfamiliar male did not evoke the same decrease in the stress response.^14,¹⁶

All of this research would indicate that because of the extensive social nature of guinea pigs and their obvious need for support, in captivity they tend to do better in bonded pairs or trios rather than as solitary pets (Figure 5-2). Various reports in the lay literature suggest that bonding can be accomplished except with two intact males. Suggestions for the bonding process are outlined in the next section.

Figure 5-2 Guinea pigs are a very social species and do best if kept in pairs or trios.

(Courtesy Darice Heishman.)

Taming and the Bonding Process

Guinea pigs are generally very gentle creatures that are not prone to scratching or biting unless provoked. Each has its own personality, however, and some will bite if an unwelcome procedure such as nail trimming is performed. Care must be taken with shy, not well-socialized cavies, as they are easily stressed and may injure themselves in attempts to escape.

It is important to approach slowly and speak softly when attempting to handle a shy guinea pig that is not used to being handled. Short periods of acclimation may begin with the handler sitting with a hand inside the cage and talking in a quiet, gentle voice. This should be repeated several days in a row. As the guinea pig becomes more trusting, favored vegetable treats may be hand-fed.

Do not stress the guinea pig by chasing it around the cage before lifting, as guinea pigs that are unaccustomed to handling may run if approached from behind. Once the cavy is accustomed to a hand in its cage, you may begin to gently but firmly stroke the head and the top of the nose. Many guinea pigs like to be scratched behind the ears or petted under the chin with one finger. At this point the handler may try lifting the cavy gently and firmly by scooping the rear end as the pig is supported behind the front legs.

This process takes time, and it is best to work with shy individuals for short intervals in order to allow them to get accustomed to you without causing undue stress. An unsocialized guinea pig may also be more likely to approach a person that is no longer at predator height, so lying on the floor in a guinea pig–safe environment may be an excellent way to increase confidence and encourage handling and bonding. Once a trusting relationship is established, a daily “cuddle” session is encouraged in order to maintain it.

Intraspecies aggression can occur with two males in the presence of females. It may also be seen between cavies that have not been raised together, especially between two unaltered males. Introducing a new pig should be done slowly and carefully and with direct adult supervision. The supervisors should be prepared to separate the guinea pigs if they begin to fight. This is best accomplished by wearing leather gloves or putting tennis shoes on the hands to protect them from being bitten. A plastic dustpan or a spray bottle of water may also be used.

As with other species, introductions may be best performed in neutral territory such as in the bathtub or in a laundry basket while on a car ride, with greens and hay provided as an additional distraction. The cavies may find comfort in each other in these strange situations, creating a bond more quickly. It may also be helpful to introduce the more-dominant cavy into the established territory of the less-dominant one, giving the subordinate guinea pig a “home field” advantage. Some owners have also placed cages near each other for several weeks (not too close, so that biting or fighting cannot occur through the cage wire), after which the guinea pigs’ cages are switched in order to familiarize each guinea pig with the other’s scent. Castration and ovariohysterectomy may make introductions and bonding easier, as hormonal influence on behavior will be more suppressed.

Despite the risks associated with predator-prey relationships, guinea pigs can and do live in households with other pets, in some cases rather closely. It cannot be overstressed, however, that domestic pets still do what is instinctive. Therefore, close adult supervision is essential. In addition, knowing that stress can create severe physiological consequences, owners and caretakers are encouraged to examine the practice of housing different species together, as the stress that it may cause in their pets may not be readily recognizable to them.

Sensory Behaviors

Visual Behaviors

Guinea pigs have relatively small eyes compared with the size of their heads and have a prominent third eyelid tear gland that may prolapse. Cavies are nearsighted, and their eyes are placed laterally on the head, as they are in other grazing herbivorous species.

Vocalization Behaviors

Many individuals, including owners, fanciers, and researchers, have characterized guinea pig vocalizations. The most common vocalizations include short impulse sounds such as the chip, purr, and chutter and the slow, modulated, relatively long call, the whistle.⁴² A list of common vocalizations as reported both in the lay literature and by researchers is included in this chapter (Box 5-2).

BOX 5-2 Common Vocalizations of Guinea Pigs ^*

♦ Grunting—Mating sound made when aroused and can sometimes be associated with hunger.

♦ Chutting—A sound made to signal curiosity.

♦ Purring or gurgling—An expression of contentment and happiness.

♦ Teeth clatter, clacking, or hissing—A chattering of teeth that denotes threat or aggression and indicates “stay away.”

♦ Weeping, wheeking, whistling—A high-pitched sound denoting happiness or anticipation of a favored treat, person, or companion. Also made when cavies are hungry.

♦ Squealing—A high-pitched alert sound to signal warning of danger, pain, fear, or the need for help. Domestic cavies will also squeal when begging for food.

♦ Drr—A sound made as the pig becomes frightened or aroused.

♦ Cooing—A low, quiet sound that a sow makes to her babies to comfort them if they are frightened or that is made to reassure other adults.

♦ Whining—A sound made to signal danger, fear, or pain.

^* Additional information on guinea pig vocalizations can be found in Berryman JC: Guinea pig vocalizations: their structure, causation and function, Z Tierpsychol 41:80-106, 1976, and Harper LV: Behavior. In Wagner JE, Manning PJ, editors: The biology of the guinea pig, New York, 1976, Academic Press.

Auditory Behaviors

Guinea pigs have relatively good hearing, which makes them susceptible to loud noises. It is therefore important to house them in areas where noise is minimized. This is true both in the home and in the hospital environment.

Locomotor Behaviors and Activities

A diurnal (crepuscular) species, cavies are most active in the early morning and the evening and, if not disturbed, will spend most of the day quietly resting with intermittent periods of activity and nibbling on food. In one study, guinea pigs in breeding groups were videotaped to determine their level of activity in a 24-hour period and were found to be active intermittently throughout both the day and night with “no prolonged period of quiescence that would be associated with sleep.”⁴⁵

When at rest guinea pigs will lie on their sides with feet extended or they will remain sternal with their feet tucked under them. If presented with the opportunity they will often seek the shelter of a towel or hide box during resting periods. They often remain still with eyes open during midday sedentary periods and may startle and jump if disturbed.

When active they ambulate by alternating all four feet as they walk, and their weight is carried evenly on all legs. Cavies walk with only the pads of the feet touching the ground. The legs are also alternated when running, but occasionally, when excited or during play, they can be seen kicking out with the rear legs as they run. With a guinea pig patient that is lame, the body weight is often shifted to compensate for the injured limb, making it difficult to assess which leg or foot is actually affected. It is therefore important to palpate and examine all four legs. If amputation of either a front or rear limb becomes a medical necessity, guinea pigs generally acclimate well postoperatively.

Head tilt, paralysis, and paresis are seen less commonly in cavies than in lagomorphs (Figure 5-3). Rule-outs, however, are similar and include trauma, infection, neoplasia, and parasites. Trauma is perhaps the most common cause. Prevention of traumatic injury necessitates care in handling and direct supervision when not in a guinea pig–safe area or when the guinea pig is being handled by young children. Pododermatitis can occur, especially in obese cavies, when bedding is not kept clean and dry. Secondary infection with Staphylococcus aureus is common, and it will cause significant pain, vocalization, and reluctance to walk. Severe untreated infections can lead to osteomyelitis of the affected limbs.

Figure 5-3 Guinea pigs can live well with a head tilt if managed carefully.

(Courtesy Teresa Bradley Bays.)

As a species guinea pigs are intelligent and playful and will often initiate play with both human and animal companions, including chase-type games. Caged guinea pigs often become obese because of overfeeding and limited exercise; therefore periods of exercise should be provided at least several times per week, preferably daily.

An increase in physical activity, as in humans and other species, may be chondroprotective, and the decrease in body mass that can be associated with increased exercise will also reduce the progression of osteoarthritis.⁴ Despite the fact that it has been shown that guinea pigs respond adversely to the stress associated with change, small changes in the cage space and enclosure furniture may encourage increased motility and exercise because of increased exploratory behavior (Figure 5-4).²

Figure 5-4 Grass can be organically grown for behavioral enrichment and to encourage exercise for guinea pigs.

(Courtesy Darice Heishman.)

Many owners create a guinea pig–safe area for their cavies to run in by eliminating the hazards of electric cords and dangerous items that can be eaten or chewed. Guinea pigs generally do not climb or jump, so it is not necessary to provide tops on enclosures, and small foldable portable fencing is available to create an exercise pen for cavies. Care must be taken, however, to eliminate any hazards that might be created by other household pets when these exercise pens are used. Alternatively, if these pens are used outside, it is imperative that an adult supervise the guinea pigs to eliminate the chance that they will escape or be molested or attacked by outside pets, strays, and wildlife (Figure 5-5).

Figure 5-5 Outside pens can be easily fashioned to allow for exercise. It is imperative that shade, ventilation, and hide boxes are provided and that the guinea pigs be supervised by an adult.

(Courtesy Rebecca Howell.)

Cavies have little sense of an edge when placed on a table, counter, or bed and may readily walk off the edge and fall to the ground. When carried they will wiggle and squeal if they are not well supported and can hurt themselves in the process. Handling correctly includes grasping the trunk behind the front legs while scooping up and supporting the hindquarters with the other hand. Close supervision of children is recommended to ensure proper handling of their guinea pigs. For younger children it is best to place the guinea pig in a towel on the child’s lap. Alternatively, the guinea pig may be placed on the floor in a guinea pig–safe area so the pig can be petted without carrying and therefore may feel more secure.

Grooming Behaviors

All breeds of guinea pigs have longer guard hairs with an undercoat of finer hairs. Like most small mammal species, guinea pigs tend to be meticulous groomers. However, it is important to brush longhaired species regularly to minimize matting and ingestion of hair as it is shed (Figure 5-6). Since guinea pigs are unable to vomit, prevention of trichobezoar production is important. For this reason I do not recommend bathing guinea pigs, unless medically necessary, as the hair is shed readily after bathing. If bathing is needed, care must be taken to dry and brush the guinea pig well before self-grooming is allowed.

Figure 5-6 Longhaired guinea pigs should be groomed on a regular basis to prevent matting and ingestion of hair during grooming.

(Photo courtesy Teresa Bradley Bays.)

Cavies have sebaceous glands along the dorsum and in the anal area. The glands on the dorsal rump are often used for marking and occasionally are thought to be pathologic when “discovered” by the owner or an unknowing clinician. These glands will overproduce and create a greasy feel to the dorsum, especially in older, overweight, intact males and those with mite infestations.

Generally, little mutual grooming occurs among guinea pigs; however, mutual or self-barbering and ear nibbling can occur when a guinea pig is bored, stressed (a possible dissociative behavior), or in a situation in which a dominant pig (usually a male) barbers subordinates.^9,¹¹ Self-barbering should be considered if only the head and neck, which cannot be reached, are unaffected. Self-barbering in rabbits has been found to be associated with low-fiber diets^20,^23,²⁴ and may also have the same cause in guinea pigs.

Barbering can be distinguished from other causes of alopecia by the fact that the hairs will be chewed near the skin and feel bristly whereas the skin beneath appears to be healthy. Stressful environments that elicit barbering may be corrected by decreasing overcrowding and providing free-choice grass hays. Hide boxes and other distractions such as cardboard boxes and paper towel rolls will also help to curb these negative behaviors. Paper towel rolls should be cut in half lengthwise so smaller cavies do not get stuck in them.

Alopecia in guinea pigs can have many other causes. Hormonally induced alopecia created by functional ovarian cysts will result in bilaterally symmetric hair loss in the flank regions. Late gestation sows may also lose hair because of hormonal influence. Guinea pigs will pull and chew hair at sites of pain, including on the limbs and the abdomen. If the hair and skin are otherwise normal and alopecia is noted dorsally, laterally, or in the flank area, it is wise to palpate for masses or pain in the abdomen.

Dermatophytosis and ectoparasites may also result in alopecia. Occasionally pathologic conditions of the skin such as a serious mite infestation can lead to severe seborrhea and a secondary overproduction of secretions from glands in the skin (Figure 5-7). Often these cavies will have rough hair coats, appear unkempt, and be too uncomfortable, in too much pain, and too pruritic to groom. They often squeal, panic, and run when touched. Pruritus may be so severe that the guinea pig will begin to seize as it scratches and can often be seen scratching again as it comes out of the seizure. In some cases, especially in overweight males, the penis can become surrounded and even constricted by a combination of these secretions and shed hair (Figure 5-8). Therefore, careful examination of the penis should be performed in all male guinea pigs during physical examination, especially if mites are suspected.