understanding pigs' language

[kyra_w]

i have had my pigs for a few months now but have yet to understand what all of their sounds mean. i know their happy squeaks and their angry grumbles but there is one i am unsure about. when i give them baths, they make the angry sound when they are getting rinsed but when i am just holding them and lathering the shampoo they are totally relaxed and not squirming at all but making a really loud whistle/squeal sound like wheeee. i would assume this means bad but they are totally relaxed and their body language would suggest they are enjoying being lathered up and massaged. is this an angry sound or a happy sound?

thanks!

[Piggypult]

Most all pigs hate baths. and they naturally freeze up in utter fear when you're lathering them and wheek louder then you've ever heard them before to show there fear and warn others etc.

http://www.mgpr.org/MGPR/Guinea%20Pig%20Sounds.htm

alot of there sounds can be found there, some might not sound exactly like your pigs but some simularity.

I've found putting them in the bathtub and chasing them with the water to get them wet and rinse them off is best, move the water away and comfort them as you lather them then rinse them off gives them the ability to run away some so they aren't as afraid (you'd be freaked out too if you were being forced into a confined spot and blasted with a water hose).

To them probably more like getting caught in the rain then being captured. I also bath mine all together so they can huddle up and talk to each other

[JarBax]

Please correct me if I'm wrong anybody, but I don't think piggies are really supposed to get bathed all that often. They have sensitive skins, and all that shampooing will be getting rid of the natural oils, which may irritate them - especially if it is more than just an occasional bath.

If I notice mine smelling a wee bit on the wiffy side of fresh, I just give them a quick rub-down with a moistened baby-wipe, (much to their annoyance) which is enough to remove the cause of the odour - without risking drying out their skin.

[Piggypult]

yeah, good point, You only want to bath them some 2-3 times a year, i added an extra bath when i first was introducing my newest pig to the others so they all smell fresh and new and as someone posted somewhere here.. suffer the fear together and becoming closer. They instantly got along after that as soon as i put them all fresh and dry back in the cage

[dangness]

I listened to the sounds and I think they should have added the disclaimer "or pig that thinks it is hungry" after Hungry Pig!

[Percy's Mom]

Because they ALL think they are hungry ALL the time!