What is guinea pig popcorning

So it is important to assess what is going on when you witness the behaviour. Is there another animal such as the pet dog or cat nearby or moving into the guinea pigs environment? Has something suddenly changed? Was there a loud noise or scare? Many people are concerned when they first see this behaviour that the guinea pig is having a seizure or in pain.

True popcorning as explained above is usually not a cause for concern. If your guinea pig is in pain you would expect them to be quieter in themselves. They may be reluctant to move around or displaying different behaviours to normal. If you have witnessed any of these changes, or are concerned your guinea pig is not just displaying typical popcorning behaviours it is important to take them to your local veterinary surgeon as soon as possible so they can be checked over.

Being a prey animal, pain can be more challenging to spot in guinea pigs. So it is important if there is any doubt they have a health check. Each time you swap them out, your guinea pig will appreciate the novelty. Just be sure to thoroughly clean toys before swapping them back in. If they smell their scent on it, they might not be as excited. Most popcorning is positive. In moments of fear or startlement, a guinea pig might also popcorn. Guinea pigs can get pretty used to the everyday sounds of your home.

However, loud guinea pig sounds can still cause them stress. Sudden loud sounds are even worse. If you need to do something louder, we recommend moving your guinea pig to a quieter room until you finish your task. Another indication your guinea pig is popcorning out of fear are the behaviors that accompany its jumping. Watch out for if your guinea pig runs to hide after popcorning. And, listen for any shrieking sounds. You know your guinea pig better than anyone, and you likely know what sounds it makes when unhappy.

If any of those sounds happen before, while, or after popcorning, then try to find what startled your piggy. Get the source of fear out of there , and your guinea pig can return to a life of happy popcorning. But why do guinea pigs do this specific behavior? Why not something else, like rolling around? From a scientific point of view, there might be a good explanation. Popcorning is an instinct that guinea pigs carry from before they were domesticated.

A healthy and happy guinea pig might popcorn as an instinctual way of readying itself to avoid predators. First, popcorning suddenly strengthens their muscles. A strong, healthy guinea pig would be more likely to escape any predators.

They do say happiness is contagious. Our favorite reason for popcorning is when a guinea pig sees or hears his favorite hooman. In rare instances popcorning can be a sign of stress, fear, or overstimulation. For example, some guinea pigs popcorn when they hear the vacuum cleaner. Does this mean he hates the vacuum or loves it?

It depends. Some guinea pigs are more reserved than others, just like us humans. He may communicate that he feels safe by relaxing with his tootsies stretched out or sleeping with closed eyes. Or, he might tell you he appreciates the chin rub with some kisses. Although joy is the usual reason for popcorning, fear is sometimes the cause. If it seems to be from fear rather than fun, find out and remove the cause of the fear.

Want to see a guinea pig popcorning in slow motion? This YouTube video from Adam Peiken delivers. Guinea pigs are not known as jumpers or climbers. Most guinea pigs live happily in lidless enclosures with walls only a little more than 2 feet high.