Guinea pigs have different habits that may have their own meaning, so we need to know if it’s okay when they do something unusual.
My guinea pig sometimes knows how to drag his butt on the floor of the cage, and I immediately wondered what this behavior of theirs meant.
Why guinea pigs rub their bums on the floor?
Guinea pigs rub their bums on the floor when they have injuries, parasites, dirty behinds, and when they want to mark their territory. Guinea pigs drag their bums to the floor when they are done mating or when they have an anal impaction.
in today’s article you will learn in more detail about all the possible reasons why guinea pigs rub their bums on the floor.
Why guinea pigs rub their bums on the floor?
Guinea pigs rub their bums on the floor and this can be completely normal, but sometimes it can also be a sign of a health problem.
If the guinea pig is sick then it should be taken to the vet immediately.
But the rubbing of their bums can also be when they want to mark their territory, or they have some parasites, injuries and other reasons.
Here are some reasons for this behavior of guinea pigs, and how to help them.
Dirty rear end
Guinea pigs may rub their bums on the floor if it is too dirty.
They clean themselves but sometimes they just can’t clean themselves completely and then they rub their bums.
If you notice that the guinea pigs often rub their bums on the floor, you may also need to bathe them, although you should not do this often, maybe 2-3 times a year.
But when guinea pigs have a wet tail then rubbing the bumps on the floor does not help, and you will have to take your pet to the vet for treatment.
Wet tail is very dangerous for guinea pigs and if not treated in time can cause the death of your pet.
Marking a territory
Although guinea pigs like to live in a group, they still mark their territory and do not want other guinea pigs to threaten it.
They then rub their bums on the floor or some objects in the cage to let the other guinea pigs know that this is their territory.
If the other guinea pigs do not respect the marking of the territory, then fights can also occur.
Guinea pigs mark their territory with their scent glands, which are located near their bums, so they rub it to leave their scent.
Guinea pigs can do this marking of territory several times, until other guinea pigs accept the message not to approach.
Male guinea pigs rub their bums more often to mark territory, but females may do the same.
Female guinea pigs rub their bums on the floor when they have babies because they want to create a safe zone for their babies.
Anal impact
When guinea pigs can’t poop they rub their bums on the floor. This happens when they have an unbalanced diet and their digestive system does not work properly.
Poor nutrition will cause anal impaction, meaning the guinea pigs simply won’t be able to poop enough and will start accumulating poop in their bums.
When guinea pigs have an anal impaction, it is accompanied by an unpleasant smell, which feels very unpleasant.
You can treat this condition at home and help the guinea pigs to poop normally and get rid of accumulated feces.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Take your guinea pig and turn them belly up so you can access their bums.
- Massage the area around their bum with a cotton ball soaked in warm water, which will relax the muscles and allow the poop to come out.
- Then wash their bum with warm water, and wipe it with a dry and soft cloth.
If this method fails then take your pet to a vet for help.
Parasites cause rubbing bumps in guinea pigs
Guinea pigs, no matter how clean they are, can sometimes have parasites such as fleas or lice.
Then they have an unpleasant irritation on their skin and will try to rub their bum on the floor or some object to remove the parasites.
When guinea pigs have parasites on their skin they have other additional signs and symptoms such as:
- loss of appetite
- inflammation and redness of the skin
- loss of fur
- weight loss
- biting the skin
In these situations it is best to contact a veterinarian to help them with anti-parasite treatment. You can also try to help your guinea pig at home by isolating the infected guinea pig from other guinea pigs.
You should clean the cage to prevent the spread of parasite infection, as well as use antiparasitic drugs.
Injuries
When guinea pigs are injured they may rub their bums on the floor.
Especially if it is a more serious injury or fracture of the hind limbs they will drag their bums because they will not be able to walk.
When the cause is an injury, then it is easier to notice because the guinea pigs will be scared and will make sounds of displeasure due to the pain.
In these situations, you should immediately take your guinea pig to a veterinarian for treatment.
Rough or uneven surfaces
When guinea pigs have a floor or substrate that is not flat or has a rough surface they then rub their bums.
Guinea pigs do not like to have a rough surface under them and they will try to make the surface softer and free of roughness by rubbing.
If you notice this phenomenon, you should change the substrate so that there is no more discomfort for your guinea pig.
After mating the guinea pigs rub their bums
When guinea pigs mate, they then rub their bums on the floor, which is completely normal behavior.
It’s simply their way of behaving every time they finish mating, which shouldn’t worry you. When guinea pigs rub their bums after mating, it is because of pleasure and happy moments of male and female guinea pigs.
They want you to show them attention
Guinea pigs are social animals that are very smart. If they feel that you are not giving them enough attention they will start rubbing their bums on the floor.
They then want to let you know that you are not giving them enough attention and you should play with them more often.
Guinea pigs want you to show them that you love them, they can immediately notice if there is a change in your behavior towards them and will start rubbing their bums as a sign of revolt.
Read more: Why Hamster Bleeding From Bottom? All You Need To Know
What to do to keep guinea pigs from rubbing their bums on the floor?
If guinea pigs are rubbing their bums on the floor for marking territory or after mating, then there is no need to take any action as this is a normal reaction.
Whereas when the cause is an injury, pooping problems or some disease, you should immediately help them and take them to the vet.
There are situations when you can help by paying more attention to your pet, but when they rub their bums because of a wet tail then you need to act quickly to save your pet’s life by taking them to the vet.
Read more: Why Do Guinea Pigs Smell Each Others Bottom? Let’s Find Out
Conclusion
Guinea pigs rub their bums on the floor for a variety of reasons such as marking territory or due to illness.
They also do this when they have parasites on their skin or when they have finished mating. When guinea pigs can’t poop then they rub their bums on the floor or some object.
Rubbing bums on the floor is normal guinea pig behavior that shouldn’t worry you, unless they are injured or sick and need to be taken to the vet.
Read more: Why Do Guinea Pigs Bite Each Other Bums? Let’s Find Out
