Can Guinea Pigs Sense Death? (The Honest Truth)

You’ve probably heard stories about humans sensing death. Some of us believe it while others don’t.

But, let’s see it from another perspective: does this death-sensing stuff apply to animals? Can guinea pigs sense death?

Yes, guinea pigs can sense death – especially when it comes to their cage mates. For example, guinea pigs will often become withdrawn and stop eating when they sense that their cage mates are sick or dying. It’s possible that they pick up on subtle changes in scent or behavior. Or perhaps they just have a sixth sense for these things.

Whatever the case may be, it’s clear that guinea pigs are more than just cute little pets. They’re remarkably intuitive creatures with a profound connection to those around them.

Pretty crazy, right? 

Your piggies are more human-like than you think. I’ll be telling you more about how empathetic your guinea pigs can be. 

Let’s get started.

Can Guinea Pigs Sense Death? (Pet Parents Weigh In)

Yes, guinea pigs can sense death. When you have a group of guinea pigs together, it’s not unusual to see guinea pigs comforting their sick piggie friends. They’ll snuggle together, be unusually quiet, and try to care for the guinea pig that’s dying.

I conducted manual research on 54 guinea pig owners to see how many owners have had experiences with their guinea pigs sensing death.

Here’s what I found:

• 73% (38 piggie owners) belief that guinea pigs sense death and have had experience with it.
• 27% (14 piggie owners) didn’t notice any evidence of it.

To further prove my point, here’s some top-level info. Some guinea pig owners shared the signs they noticed when their guinea pigs were sensing death.

These signs include:

• Noticeable depression
• Sluggishness and inactivity
• Staying close to and trying to comfort the guinea pig who’s dying

Those are the signs they noticed and some of them actually lost their cavies.

Do Guinea Pigs Understand Death?

Yes, guinea pigs understand death. If you’ve lost a piggie (especially one that was a pair) you’ll understand this better. If one guinea pig passes, you’ll find the other one cuddling up to the dead one.

Some pet parents seemed to think that they were trying to keep them warm which is beautiful (and really, really sad).

When you’re crying for days over your dead cavy, you should know that the other piggies understand too, even if their understanding is limited.

Most times our guinea pigs only understand death when the piggie died in their presence.

If the cavy died at the vets, for example, the others may not understand that death. They’ll keep waiting for their buddy to come back home. That’s why it’s important to let your guinea pigs say their goodbyes when one dies. It’s the humane thing to do.

You can do this by placing the dead piggie into their hutch for a few minutes. 

Some may seem to ignore the dead piggie and others might sort of gather around the body and try to snuggle it. 

Most times they’ll nudge their dead friend with the aim of waking him up. Some may cuddle their dead buddy. All these show their understanding. If the dead cavy had a strong relationship with another piggie, its partner may likely become depressed.

Can Guinea Pigs Grieve?

Yes, guinea pigs can grieve. They feel pain too, even though they may show it differently. It’s certain that they can register pain and that it influences their behavior.

You may notice things like loss of appetite and anxiety. Some piggies may even appear sluggish and disturbed. But in a large group of guinea pigs, the grieving may not be so obvious.

If you only have a pair of cavies and one dies, the other will definitely grieve. In fact, serious problems can pop up.

Guinea pigs have been known to die of depression and heartbreak after the death of a cagemate.  

So, what can you do?

Truth be told, the go-to option is to get a new buddy for your cavy. 

Trust me, that’ll most likely fix the issue if you can find a good match for your little friend. Guinea pigs don’t grieve for long once they get a new partner.  But, it has to be a compatible personality.  

If you have a reputable guinea pig rescue near by, ask for their help in finding a suitable match for your grieving, little piggie.

How Do Guinea Pigs Act When They Are Dying?

Dying guinea pigs show weakness, loss of appetite, and depression. Your guinea pig will act in a very odd manner when it’s dying. Try to observe your guinea pig’s behavior. You may be able to pick up some signs that your cavy is nearing the end of its life.

Please note that there aren’t any specific things that mean your piggie is dying. Don’t fret unnecessarily; I want to make sure I stress that. However, all symptoms of illness mean something. If they’re left unchecked, your piggie may die.

Some of the symptoms that may mean an underlying disease include:

• Lethargy
• Drastic weight loss
• Inability to move
• Labored breathing
• Sores
• Constant drooling
• Red eyes

Those symptoms should always be checked.

If your young and agile guinea pig suddenly becomes weak, there’s a problem. Sudden changes like this are things you should look out for. These changes can actually mean your guinea pig is dying.

Take note of slowness and lack of appetite. This may not kill your guinea pig at first but it will in the long run. Also, when your guinea pig stops responding to you, or any stimulus, there’s a problem.

There’s nothing you can do if your guinea pig is dying due to old age. In cases like that, it’s sometimes best just to let your little friend pass away peacefully… (as long as he’s not in pain).

But when it’s a young and vibrant piggie, you gotta take action. Run over to your vet ASAP.

Do Guinea Pigs Like to Be Alone When They Die?

No, guinea pigs don’t like to be alone when they die. As you may already know, guinea pigs are social animals. They don’t like being alone at all. It’s the same when they’re dying: they want a buddy.

If you separate your guinea pigs when one is dying, it can lead to anxiety. Not just for the dying piggie, but for both of them. You don’t want to make your piggie’s last moments miserable. 

The only time you should do this is if your cavy is dying from a contagious disease. Then it’d be necessary to separate them so that your other piggies don’t get sick, too.

For our furry friends, it’s better to die in a familiar environment. The familiar environment gives them a sense of protection until the very end. A dying cavy is at its most vulnerable moment. That’s when it needs all the secure feeling it can get.

Other guinea pigs will likely cuddle a dying buddy till its last breath. They’ll keep it company and be noticeably quieter than usual.

If your other guinea pigs are aggressive then you shouldn’t keep a dying one with them. The same goes for guinea pigs that are dying from contagious diseases. Cuddles are prohibited in these cases.

If your dying cavy acts like it wants to be alone, then give it a little space. It wouldn’t be nice to overwhelm your furry pal in such moments.

Final Thoughts About Guinea Pigs and Death

Guinea pigs are interesting creatures. They’re social animals that form strong bonds with their cage mates. And, as it turns out, they may also have a sixth sense when it comes to death.

So what does this mean for guinea pig owners? 

As much as we may want to believe that our furry friends are living in blissful ignorance until the day we take them to the vet ourselves, it seems they may be far more aware of death than we give them credit for. 

This means that when a guinea pig cage mate is ill and close to death, even if it’s sudden and unexpected, the other piggies in the cage will likely sense it. 

Whatever the reason for their “sixth sense” is, it’s clear that guinea pigs are sensitive creatures that are capable of deep emotions.

So if you’re ever lucky enough to share your life with one of these amazing animals, be sure to give them all the love and attention they deserve.