Whats my guinea saying?

[Misty1984]

Hey peeps
Can anyone answer a behaviour question for me. My oldest female guinea Misty is in the house with us. She has a tendency to sleep most of the time now, she is getting old now. When we go to talk to her she will lift her head at us and its almost like she is sniffing us but she has her mouth slightly open...I know that sounds bizarre but thats what its like. Is she listening or trying to understand what we're saying? Or trying to figure out who it is? She does it every time we talk to her and she isn't the only one. What is she doing/saying?
Also she squeaks when she goes for a wee and has done since she was a few weeks old. We initially thought she was in pain and it does honestly sound like she is but she has done it since day 1 and does so now 4 years later.....can anyone explain that?
Also do guineas enjoy having their chins tickled? She certainly seems to as she lifts her head right up for us to tickle her.
Why do guineas lick our hands/noses? Most of our guineas do but they only appear to do that with my other half and my mother more than myself even though its me that feeds them
Another burning question is when you stroke your guineas and they purr (may not be purring but thats what it sounds like), is it a sign of unhappiness or happiness? I've been accused of being cruel to my guineas when I stroke them and this happens.....they never seem to be in any distress. Can anyone please enlighten me...

Ok I'm done..enough questions

Many thanks

 

[Wiebke]

When guinea pigs smell the air they have their mouths open (probably some scent pads up there).
Purring is the sound of an ECSTATICALLY happy pig.
Some pigs absolutely adore chin tickling - others do not at all!
Perhaps you are too clean or use a skin product that your piggy doesn't like, but she certainly loves licking the salt on the skin. Perhaps you could try a mineral lick?

I can't say about the weeing - that sounds dodgy. Have you ever had her x-rayed in case there is an obstruction in the urethra or the bladder? You shouldn't need a full anaesthetic for that.

 

[Sarah from Chucklebunnies]

Carmina lifts her head to us more now, with the slightly open mouth, and I know she's develping cataracts. So perhaps it's a 'helping with working out who you are' thing.

Guinea pigs 'talk' to you and that's what the noises are when you cuddle them. An upset guinea pig is unmistakeable and very loud. Purring is happiness, little teeth chittering is 'I want' or 'put me down now', vague rumbling with no real direction to it can be 'happy' to 'I need a wee' to 'cuddle me more' to 'leave my bottom alone' to 'put me down'.....basically they all seem to have variations on the theme of a few sounds and apply meanings as they like! Carmina uses sounds differently to Columbine for instance. But purring piggies are just plain happy!