Can guinea pigs go deaf due to age?

[Liane]

My 5 year old guinea pig, Missy seems to have gone deaf. I’d noticed a couple of months ago that she didn’t respond as quickly and seemed to be sleeping more so I took her to see Simon and he said she was in very good health and he’d have never have guessed she was 5 years old.

Now I’m wondering if she might have gone deaf. She doesn’t respond to her name anymore and doesn’t squeak when I rustle bags. I’ve tried clapping and she doesn’t react (although it’s not easy to see her ears due to her long hair).

Do guinea pigs go deaf with old age, or is it a sign that something’s wrong? She doesn’t have a head tilt, her ears look clear, and they’re nothing obvious I can see wrong with her.

 

[sport_billy]

@Wiebke @Siikibam @Piggies&buns @PigglePuggle @furryfriends (TEAS)

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

Yes, I think they do! They certainly become less responsive to noise or the sound of your voice. It maybe that they sleep more deeply, but I think hearing deteriorates, with age, as it certainly does in other species.

 

[Wiebke]

Some piggies can go deaf(er) with age; as long as you check that it is not due to blocked ears and that they are healthy by themselves, there is nothing to worry.

I would recommend to switch from audio cues to sight/movement and scent based alerts and enrichment.https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/enrichment-ideas-for-guinea-pigs.168336/

 

[Freela]

They can lose some hearing as they age, I also find that older piggies sleep more deeply and are sometimes slower to respond to sounds even when they can hear them.

 

[Liane]

Thank you for the replies

Some piggies can go deaf(er) with age; as long as you check that it is not due to blocked ears and that they are healthy by themselves, there is nothing to worry.

I would recommend to switch from audio cues to sight/movement and scent based alerts and enrichment.https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/enrichment-ideas-for-guinea-pigs.168336/

Thanks for the link.

I need to come up with a way of getting her attention in the run when giving out treats At the moment I have to reach in and wave them in front of her face lol