Cookie is squealing lol

[Ava for guinea pigs]

Is cookie in pain when I pick him up because he some times squeals when I pick him up. Is it pain or something worse? I did google it and a similar sound but it’s not that is it? Hope he’s fine. Thank you for any comments, it’s probably nothing at all. Wish well for your guinea piggies! I‘m new to here so I don’t really know much. thank you.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m afraid we can’t know if he is in pain - only a vet can determine that. He may be squealing because he doesn’t like being picked up (most piggies don’t), or he could also be squealing because he doesn’t want to be away from his cagemate

 

[Ava for guinea pigs]

Oh, ok. He doesn’t do it every time. So, idk.

 

[Viennese Furbabies]

Guinea pigs don't really like being picked up. Some squeak really loud when it does happen.
They can also squeak if they are picked up in a way that hurts them.
But if you think that he could be in pain, a vet should take a look at him.

 

[Shambles]

My Pippa squeaks everytime I pick her up. She really doesn't like it, but she also won't allow me to herd her into a box or a snuggle sack

 

[Black piggies]

Are you gently holding his back end as you pick him up? Might make it more comfortable. He's a gorgeous boy

 

[Wiebke]

Is cookie in pain when I pick him up because he some times squeals when I pick him up. Is it pain or something worse? I did google it and a similar sound but it’s not that is it? Hope he’s fine. Thank you for any comments, it’s probably nothing at all. Wish well for your guinea piggies! I‘m new to here so I don’t really know much. thank you.

Hi and welcome

Try our way of picking her up without using your hands. Picking up cuts very close to prey animal instincts.

You can learn more about how prey animal instincts in guinea pigs function and how you can work around them (plus how you can use piggy whispering tips to help reassuring them that you aren't a predator).
Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering and Cuddling Tips

Here is our pick up guide with videos and pictures: How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pigs Safely

All these guides are part of our very comprehensive New Owners practical and helpful information resource. You may want to bookmark the link, browse, read and re-read at need: Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides

Please accept that we cannot necessarily comment without a video or picture because we can guess only on the basis of your own guesses. Guinea pig communication is not just sounds; it has a situational context, and body language is crucial. We already miss out on the world of communication by scent/pheromones.
PS: if you want to post a video on here, please upload it elsewhere on a public setting and then copy it across. We don't have a video upload facility as we are entirely run by voluntary member donations and are moderating for free in our free time.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Welcome to the forum

 

[Ava for guinea pigs]

Thanks for all the message. Lol, is he ill?

 

[Ava for guinea pigs]

He keeps plopping sloppy plop.

Are you gently holding his back end as you pick him up? Might make it more comfortable. He's a gorgeous boy

Maybe I was holding him to hard. I stopped the hardness and picked him up more gently. He doesn’t squeal now, thanks!

 

[Black piggies]

Are you able to post a photo of the poos? Is that all that's wrong? If you post in the illness section you can get advice on your worry.

 

[Ava for guinea pigs]

Thanks, lol, I cleaned it up but if it’s still here today, I will send a photo. That’s all that’s wrong, I think. He sometimes shakes like he saw a monster, is that anything to worry about? He's only 2-3 months old along with Muffin. Muffin does it too. Muffin always just stays still and quiet while life gets on and only squeaks when Cookie stands on him to try to get under her brothers fav person in the house‘s neck lol. Cookie, she runs up to snuggle and squirm and wriggle but poor Muffy, we’ll he gets trodden on by his sister and is so quiet we think he is ill or something like that. I googled it and it said they could do it when they want to let their owners know they are happy, Muff is the one looking away from the camera and Cookie is eating (as usual because that plop business was probably because of her greedy ness) It wasn’t like proper plop, it was half of plops, the last one, don't think I’m weird but it’s true, had an end on it. After that, he did another pile so it couldn’t of been the last bit. I even stopped him eating for a second, didn’t work! Don’t mean to be mean but ,lol, he plopping on Muff’s fav person’s foot. I had another piggy called Cookie but, you could guess.

 

[Ava for guinea pigs]

Guinea pigs don't really like being picked up. Some squeak really loud when it does happen.
They can also squeak if they are picked up in a way that hurts them.
But if you think that he could be in pain, a vet should take a look at him.

Yeah, probably was a way that hurt her.

 

[Black piggies]

Thanks, lol, I cleaned it up but if it’s still here today, I will send a photo. That’s all that’s wrong, I think. He sometimes shakes like he saw a monster, is that anything to worry about? He's only 2-3 months old along with Muffin. Muffin does it too. Muffin always just stays still and quiet while life gets on and only squeaks when Cookie stands on him to try to get under her brothers fav person in the house‘s neck lol. Cookie, she runs up to snuggle and squirm and wriggle but poor Muffy, we’ll he gets trodden on by his sister and is so quiet we think he is ill or something like that. I googled it and it said they could do it when they want to let their owners know they are happy, Muff is the one looking away from the camera and Cookie is eating (as usual because that plop business was probably because of her greedy ness) It wasn’t like proper plop, it was half of plops, the last one, don't think I’m weird but it’s true, had an end on it. After that, he did another pile so it couldn’t of been the last bit. I even stopped him eating for a second, didn’t work! Don’t mean to be mean but ,lol, he plopping on Muff’s fav person’s foot. I had another piggy called Cookie but, you could guess.

They are gorgeous. Why do you think Muffy is ill? Do post in the illness thread if you think she needs it, it's so helpful

A poo with a tail could be stringy poo, which they can get if their tummies aren't quite right. What do you feed them?

 

[Piggies&buns]

If your guinea pig is suffering with soft poops, then you must remove fresh vegetables and grass from the diet. Soft poops occur when there is an imbalance in the gut bacteria. 80% of the diet needs to be hay so if too much fresh food has been given, then it can cause an overgrowth of the wrong gut bacteria. So you remove all fresh food and feed only hay and the normal one tablespoon of pellets per pig per day to allow the fibre rich diet to rebalance the guts. You can also give a probiotic a couple of times a day. You also need to switch from routine weekly weight checks and instead weigh daily. This enables you to keep a closer eye on hay intake. If a piggy loses weight, then you must step in and syringe feed. If after a few days without fresh veg the poops normalise, then you an give it a further 24 hours without veg and then slowly reintroduce fresh food again, starting with herbs is usually best. I’d the poops don’t normalise, you will need to have them seen by a vet.

Also, you mention he and she in your post - do you have one male and one female in the same cage?

Digestive Disorders: Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement) And Not Eating
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Weight - Monitoring and Management

 

[Ava for guinea pigs]

Fresh vegetables and dry bits from the pet shop

 

[Black piggies]

What dry bits?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Fresh vegetables and dry bits from the pet shop

Any hay? their main part of their diet must be hay - this is essential for healthy gut and dental function and needs to be available 24/7 in large piles in their cage

 

[Ava for guinea pigs]

no, my friend calls them she’s when they are he’s and it kinda makes me say it. Also I left them for 4 days at a hotel so I knoW they fed them dry food but idk if fresh food or how much.

 

[Piggies&buns]

You don’t give them hay?

 

[Ava for guinea pigs]

Yeah, green flavoured hay that the pet shop fed them. They have hay in their cage too. I’ll tell you when I next see it/feed it them. Fruit flavoured I think.

 

[Ava for guinea pigs]

It says I have to wait a while to send things so I could be a bit slow replying to y’all comments.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yeah, green flavoured hay that the pet shop fed them. They have hay in their cage too. I’ll tell you when I next see it/feed it them. Fruit flavoured I think.

Fruit flavoured hay? Please do clarify. Some hays have other items added in such as chamomile, dried dandelions or other forage. These are fine to use but considered more of a treat hay.

Please do read my post at #15 about removing fresh food from the diet to allow the gut to stabilise. Soft poops are a sign something is wrong

 

[Ava for guinea pigs]

Herb flavour I think. Two handfuls a day because their are two. Yes, I will.

 

[Ava for guinea pigs]

No veggies today, sorry Muffin, don’t be so greedy Cookie.

 

[Black piggies]

They need big piles of basic meadow or timothy hay. You can get better stuff online but can you go to a shop and get this? Morrisons, wilko, pets at home, could you get there?

Hay is 80% of their diet. A little veg on top. I'm not sure you can stop veg till you feed them some hay..

 

[Piggies&buns]

Herb flavour I think. Two handfuls a day because their are two. Yes, I will.

It’s fine to keep a treat hay to two handfuls a day, as long as they have plenty of other piles of plain meadow or timothy hay elsewhere in the cage at all times

Each piggy can have one cup/50g of veg per day (once the digestive problems have resolved), and then one tablespoon (6-10g depending on brand) of plain guinea pig pellets per day.

 

[Ava for guinea pigs]

Oh, ummm. I guess I aren’t a good piggy parent. I only give them herb hay, fruit dry food and fresh veggies

 

[Black piggies]

You're a good piggy parent because you're on here posting Just need to get lots of hay. Cheaper than herb hay.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’ve linked our feeding guides below to help you.

You should look to switch away from a fruit dry food as that isn’t healthy for them - a plain timothy hay or grass based guinea pig pellet is best, and kept to just one tablespoon of day. Pellets still aren’t particularly important to them (they only account for 5% of the daily food intake) and too many can contribute to unhealthy weight gain, poor dental and gut health and excess calcium intake (which can contribute to bladder stone formation).

Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
Pellets Or Muesli / Dry Mix?
Nugget Comparison Chart