18 Things Guinea Pigs Hate

In this video, we’ll discuss the top 18 things that guinea pigs hate and you should avoid.



Loud Noises
Loud noises are stressful for your guinea pig because they have much more sensitive hearing than humans. Keep in mind that guinea pigs are prey animals and their sense of fear is a survival tactic.
The sound of fireworks, thunder, loud music, horror movies, loud vehicles, slamming doors, shouting or your vacuum cleaner can be terrifying for your guinea pig.
Having nowhere to hide
Guinea pigs are prey animals and open spaces without a hideout make them feel nervous and vulnerable.
It is important for your little pet to have a safe place to hide when they feel threatened or get spooked. Hideouts are an essential item for your guinea pigs' cage and they will help your pet feel safe and confident.
Cold Temperatures
Guinea pigs hate cold weather. They can tolerate temperatures as low as 60 degrees Fahrenheit, but anything below that is chilly for guinea pigs and they need your help to stay warm.
Heat
Guinea pigs are very vulnerable to heat. They don’t like to be hot, just as much as they don’t like to be cold. In fact, guinea pigs cannot sweat because they have no sweat glands. If it gets hotter than 80 degrees Fahrenheit, your pet could get heatstroke.
It is advisable to keep them in an air conditioned and ventilated room. If they are outside, it’s important to keep them away from direct sunlight.
Being picked up
Guinea pigs hate being picked up. In the wild, only predators pick them up, and after that not much is left. So when you try to grab them, it reminds them of being captured by a predator, which can cause them a lot of stress.
Being lonely
Guinea pigs are very social creatures, and they need constant companionship.
Ideally guinea pigs should be kept in pairs – but if you have a single guinea pig, then make sure the company comes from you. A lonely piggy can suffer from depression, stress and boredom.
Traveling
Guinea pigs hate traveling because they would rather be at home where they feel safe. Being outside of their known environment makes them feel anxious and vulnerable.
Touching their butt
Most guinea pigs don’t like being touched on their rear end. They prefer to be scratched on the nose, under the chin or behind the ears, but try to keep your hands away from their butt. This is especially true with male guinea pigs. Touching their butt is an act of dominance and they don’t like being dominated.
A home full of urine and droppings
Guinea pigs are very clean animals and they appreciate a clean, nice environment.
Damp, stale dusty hay
It’s important to give your guinea pig high quality hay. It needs to smell nice and be dust free. Hay is the most important part of a guinea pig's diet as it provides the fiber necessary to keep their digestive systems healthy.
Guinea pigs should have a daily diet of mostly hay, a smaller amount of fresh vegetables, and a limited number of pellets.
And remember, guinea pigs cannot make their own vitamin C, so they require vitamin C-rich foods in their daily diet. Be sure to provide them with vitamin C-rich vegetables and fruit on a daily basis. You can also choose vitamin C-fortified pellets with no seeds or dried fruit added.
Socializing with predators
By nature, dogs and cats are predators, and guinea pigs are prey.
You may think it’s cute to introduce your little pet to cats or dogs, but these are predatory animals and they can be very frightening for your little pet.
Washing them
Guinea pigs are known to be very clean animals who groom themselves often. Therefore, they rarely need to a bath. These animals also have sensitive skin and unnecessary baths may result in dry fur coats and skin.
Guinea pigs are also sensitive to temperature changes, which is another reason why bathing them isn't recommended. Damp fur can keep their little bodies too cold, and that chill can cause upper respiratory infection.
Not enough space to exercise
Although guinea pigs are small, they need plenty of room to exercise, explore tunnels, and play hide and seek. This is because their bodies are built to run and jump around. A pair of guinea pigs need a space that is at least 10.5 square feet.
Being held for too long
You’ll find guinea pigs don’t like being held for more than 15 minutes.
And guinea pigs urinate approximately every 15 minutes, so your piggy may actually be trying to save you the trouble of getting wet.
Living with rabbits
Rabbits and guinea pigs are similar in size and both are prey animals but they should not be kept together in the same hutch. This is because rabbits may injure guinea pigs by kicking them with their powerful back legs.
Dressing them
Some guinea pig owners confuse caring for their pets with treating them like babies.
A common example is an owner who dresses up their pet for a cute photo, or because they may look cute in them.
Keep in mind that guinea pigs are animals and keeping clothes on them will agitate them.