Can Guinea Pigs Suffer Or Die From Depression? (Find Out Now)

Depression is a deadly mental health disorder that affects millions of people every year. But what about guinea pigs? Do they get depressed too? Let’s find out.

Yes, guinea pigs can get depressed. When a guinea pig is depressed, it may not eat or move around as much as it usually does. Small things can make a depressed guinea pig even more stressed. Changes in environment, being alone, and not being taken care of properly can all lead to a guinea pig becoming depressed. Just like humans, guinea pigs need social interaction and plenty of love and attention to stay happy and healthy.

Guinea pigs are usually happy animals.  Their eyes are bright, their little noses twitch. They love to exercise and explore their environment. 

But let’s explore the darker side of a guinea pig’s mental health.  Let’s investigate guinea pigs and depression…the causes, the symptoms, and how to help them.

Can Guinea Pigs Suffer From Depression? 

Yes, guinea pigs suffer from depression.  That’s right!  Your little loveable furball can become depressed just like you can. 

Guinea pigs can feel many basic emotions.  Depression (or sadness) being one of them. So, they can suffer all the effects of depression, just like you can.  

Can Guinea Pigs Die Of Depression? 

Yes, guinea pigs can die of depression just like people.  But unlike people, they don’t have the same coping skills that we have.  They can’t read, or listen to music or go to therapy.  There’s no prozac for your piggie.  They may not be able to pull themselves out of the dark.  Unfortunately, some don’t make it.

Depression Symptoms That Can Kill Guinea Pigs 

The best thing to do is to.  By doing so, you may notice the symptoms before they get too bad.  Noticing the symptoms early is the key to helping your furry friend.  Let’s take a closer look at some of the more common symptoms.

Lack Of Appetite 

Did you give your furry friend a special treat and it was untouched?  Was the bowl of food still full at the end of the day?  When your piggie is feeling sad, he may not feel like eating.  Sound familiar?  Depression can take away any desire to eat.  This is very dangerous for the little creature you call friend.  

Weight Loss 

Is your little fur ball good at hiding the food he doesn’t eat?  Well, even if he is, in a very short period of time, he’ll start losing weight.

If you’re regularly petting or holding your piggie, then you’ll be able to notice the difference. First make sure that it isn’t something physical.  If your furry friend isn’t sick, then it could be depression. 

Be careful – your little friend can’t afford to lose too much weight. 

Refusal To Move 

Is your favorite buddy not interested in running around?  Does he hang out in a corner or in his little hideaway and not come out?  Instead of popcorning with glee, he is moping around?  

Sometimes when a piggie is feeling sad, or depressed, he doesn’t want to do anything. He doesn’t want to be with anyone.  He doesn’t know what to do with himself.  It’s time for you to help him.

Increased Stress Levels

Is your furry friend more jumpier than normal?  If your little furball is getting more sensitive to noises or movements, it may be a sign.  Maybe he is normally used to your child running around but now it’s bothering him.  He might even start stressing out when you are picking him up when he normally doesn’t. It’s time to figure out what’s wrong. 

Take a look at the video below:

What Can Cause Guinea Pigs to Be Depressed? 

Guinea pig depression can be caused by many things.  It’s different for each little piggie.  What might trigger depression for one furbaby may not trigger it for another.  Let’s review some common reasons for depression in guinea pigs.

Unfriendly Cage Mates 

Is the little piggie new to your herd?  Or did you recently add a new piggie to his habitat?  They may not be getting along as well as you think.  Keep an eye out for bullying behaviors from one of your furballs.  It’s true, you want them to be best buddies. But your little piggie could be saying this relationship is not going to work.

Living Alone

Maybe it’s the opposite.  Is your little furball all alone in his habitat?  You may be ok with him being your one and only.  But what if he isn’t? 

Guinea pigs are social animals and usually live in communities for protection.  He’s only one little fur ball in a big world.  Your furry friend may feel more comfortable with another furry friend by his side. 

No Hiding Huts

Think about it.  Centuries of evolution are embedded into your little friend.  Your piggie’s brain is telling him to watch out for predators all the time.  He’s naturally programmed to hide if he feels in danger.  A hideout helps him feel safe from predators.  It also gives him a quiet place to rest.  If he doesn’t have this, he’s a stressed out mess all the time.  Stress is a huge factor in depression.

Separation From a Mother

Imagine this.  You are a wee little piggie, safe in your mother’s hutch.  When your 3 week birthday comes, someone takes you away from all that is known. 

You’re put in a box, bounced around in a car, and placed in a strange new home.  Your mother is gone and you have no one to help you feel safe. 

For your new piggie, this is a traumatizing event.  One that can easily lead to depression.

Cage Is Too Small 

Let’s take a trip to the zoo 50 years ago.  All the animals were in cages.  There were no natural features for them to explore. They sat around and did nothing all day. It was not a happy situation for any of the animals.

Now fast forward to today.  The average zoo has large “enclosures” that resemble the natural habitat for each animal.  They stimulate them with games and treats and toys.  The animals look and feel a lot healthier.  They can be themselves.

Now think about your furry friend.  Does he have enough space to move around and explore?  Can he stretch his legs with a bit of a run? 

Does he have places to hide, places to popcorn, things to do?  If he doesn’t, your little piggie could feel like those zoo animals 50 years ago – lonely, trapped, and depressed.  

Health Problems

It’s amazing how physical health affects mental health and vice versa.  If your little fur baby is feeling sunder the weather or suffering from an unseen illness, he could fall into a depression.  He could be in constant pain.  Or maybe he’s unable to function normally. 

Either way, he has no way of telling you so he suffers in silence. If you can’t figure out why he is blue, it’s a good idea to get your piggie to the vet to see if extra care is needed.

Piggie Friend Has Recently Died

This one is a sad but true fact.  Guinea pigs are social animals. They bond with their fellow cage mates.  When one of them passes, the one left behind is the one who suffers. 

They’ve lost the one true friend they can relate to and it’s hard.  Who can they play with and socialize with?  Who can they cuddle and snuggle with? It’s a depressing situation and your fur baby is going to need some help.

Operation Blues

You now know that when your piggie is not feeling well, he may not be doing well emotionally.  The same thing happens when they have surgery.  The recovery time could be rough for your furry little friend.  The longer the recovery, the deeper the depression can be.

Other Signs Of Guinea Pig Depression

Now you know some of the top symptoms to look for that could give you a clue that your little piggie is depressed.  All little piggies are different.  It is true then, that not all the symptoms are the same.   Here are a few other things to look out for.

Grumpy

Is your piggie a bit nippier than he was?   Your little friend might not want to be held or pet when he’s feeling blue. He also may be a little more short tempered than usual. 

Don’t let this discourage you from paying attention to him. This is a cry for help, and he needs your attention right now.

Won’t Socialize

Your guinea pig is staying in his hut or corner of the cage.  He doesn’t want to play with his furry friend…or you.  He doesn’t even come out when his favorite treat is dropped into his cage.  

Like people, your little piggie is withdrawing from society because of his depression.  He would rather spend time by himself because he is too sad to be with others. He can’t interact with others like he normally does.

Barbering  

Most piggies will do a bit of chewing and licking as a part of self-grooming – and grooming others in their herd.  And self-care is definitely important for the little creatures.  But did you know it’s possible for them to over-groom.  This over-grooming is called barbering. 

A guinea pig can chew off his hair, just like when a person bites their fingernails.  And it can get worse when they’re stressed out.  Unfortunately, your little furball can chew so bad that bald spots appear.  If he’s chewing too much, it could also lead to open sores and infections.

How Do I Make My Depressed Guinea Pig Happy?

You want to make your depressed guinea pig feel happy.  Now what do you do about it?  Well, in a survey of 125 guinea pig owners, the following top 3 suggestions were made:

• 85% (106) piggie parents suggested that you give your little furbaby a lot of extra attention.  Snugglin’, Cuddlin’, and Lovin’ were their favorite cure for depression
• 10% (12) piggie parents suggested that a new friend would help your furry friend out of his woes (primarily for single guinea pigs)
• 5% (7) piggie parents suggested that providing some extra toys and maybe a small teddy could possibly help your sad friend feel better.

While none of them listed music, it’s said that ‘music soothes the soul’.  There are a lot of YouTube videos out there that claim to help guinea pigs. 

In reality, helping your guinea pig become happy again depends a lot on what’s making them depressed to begin with.  For example:

• If it’s a cramped living arrangement, giving your guinea pig more space could cure his depression
• He may not be getting everything he needs from the limited diet he gets.  Trying to mix his menu up might help.  Make sure he’s getting all the nutrients the little furball has to have.
• Is your guinea pig getting depressed because he has nothing to do but stare out of his cage all day or play with the same toys?  It might be time to get him some new enrichment toys or change his environment a bit.  Maybe give him some more floor time or play with him a bit more.
• If it’s loneliness that’s causing it, giving him a companion would be the most beneficial.  But you can also help by paying extra attention by cuddling with him or interacting with him.

Can Guinea Pigs Get Depressed By Themselves? 

Yes, guinea pigs can get depressed by themselves.  Loneliness (and lack of attention) is probably the top reasons why guinea pigs get depressed.

Typically, guinea pigs do best when they’re in the company of other cavies that they like. This provides a couple of things. 

Your piggie is a social animal who is used to living in groups.  This gives him friends, protection and reassurance.  Without it, your little furball is lost in a world of giants (yep, that means you).

Do Guinea Pigs Die From Loneliness? 

Yes, unfortunately, guinea pigs can die from loneliness.  If your piggie’s best fur-friend passes away, it’s very easy for the little furball to become very depressed. 

It’s possible for your poor little friend to pass away from a broken heart.  Being depressed and lonely also makes it easier for your little piggie to become sick which can then lead to death.

Can Guinea Pigs Die From Stress? 

Yes, guinea pigs can die from stress just like humans can.  Your little piggie is a fragile creature.  If he is under constant stress, it can affect his mood and his body in all sorts of ways.  This stress could be from loud noises, a cramped living area, large predatory family pets…or even small children. 

It’s your job to make sure your little furry friend is living a stress-free life at all times, if at all possible.

Final Thoughts

People are used to hearing the words stress and depression when it comes to mental health issues.  But most are only used to hearing it when it refers to people.  They forget that animals have emotions also.  They feel a range of feelings just like us.  The same is definitely true for guinea pigs.

We have more in common with the little creatures than most of us choose to admit.  Unfortunately, that includes depression, its causes, and its symptoms.

There are a lot of different causes for their depression.  There are a lot of different symptoms for their depression.  And there can be a number of outcomes due to depression.

It is up to their piggie parents to determine that they are depressed.  It is up to the piggie parents to determine why they are depressed. 

And it’s up to the piggie parents to help the little fur babies bounce back.  After all, when people choose to bring a guinea pig into their family to cherish, they take on the responsibility of the little creature’s mental health along with it. 

And without us, they may not make it through to the depression to the happiness on the other side.