• DONATIONS NOW OPEN! TGPF relies on donations to run. If you'd like to donate towards running costs you can find out more HERE
  • Fresh grass and lawn tips to avoid springtime deaths Click here for details

Any idea's how to stop this?

Status
Not open for further replies.

Millie's-Mummy

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Nov 22, 2008
Messages
4,213
Reaction score
15
Points
525
Location
Kent
I've had Eli a year now and for some reason in the last 2 weeks he's got very nasty towards me.
I went to get him out for a cuddle last night and he start running at me, i picked him up for a cuddle and he really bit me hard.
I really dont know whats got in to him, i haven't changed anything in the routine and he is fine in himself other than the biting.
Any idea's anyone?
 
Last edited:
i cant see any signs of mites although i will get get some stuff and sort the 3 of them out xx
 
I remember once Eliza was a bit snappy when I went near her and she didn't really like being touched. I gave them both a bath and she soon went back to normal. He could just have something irritating his fur like Eliza did. I hope he stops biting you soon xx
 
Sorry, I can't help you on that. I hope that he settles down again!
 
I'm no help but I hope the wee chap gets back to normal soon for you hun.
 
I'm thinking some kind of irritation too. Hope it's sorted soon hun.

x
 
Perhaps a bath and a good look at him can solve the mystery?
 
Piggies hide their illnesses because they are prey animals. Illness is a sign of weakness and must be hidden. If he's never bitten before it could be pain. Have you examined him properly and gently massaged him all over to find out if there are any sore patches? The mites idea is a good one, but sudden pain can cause abrupt biting in response.
I know when I pick my piggies up I grip them fairly firmly to keep them from being dropped. It was Carmina's odd response to being handled that showed me she had a problem that turned out to be infected ovarian cysts - she must have been in a lot of pain but never showed any sign of it while moving around the hutch. It was only when I touched certain areas on her that she threatened me with teeth - very unlike her!
 
He's always been a biter but never like this, i did have a good look at him as he is with chestnut and i like to make sure there are no wounds in case they scrap while i'm out or something, i just dont get it
 
Is he actually biting hard and breaking the skin, or giving you a short, sharp nip? I ask because the two can sometimes have slightly different "meanings" or "reasons", although there are reasons that apply to both biting and nipping.

If it's a hard bite, breaking the skin, there may be a behavioural problem there - as you say, he's always been a biter to some degree - or there may be some significant irritation or pain leading to his behaviour.

If it is a warning nip - a short, quick lunge towards you and placing teeth on you but not breaking the skin - it sounds more likely to be something along the lines of territorial behaviour. Is he very territorial about his cage, or very protective or dominant over Chestnut? Does he nip you when he's completely away from the cage, or only when you go near the cage? Does he exhibit any other behaviours - rumbling, swaggering, teeth chattering - if he sees you're near the cage, or when you put your hands inside the cage?

There are a few things I would suggest trying, and they have already been suggested. Hard as it will be, given his current behaviour, I think treating him for mites - minimum of two doses Ivermectin - and giving him a bath would be the first place to start. This would rule out any irritation. If he's got no other physical symptoms, you could probably rule out pain - pain from cystitis and pain from bloat would be ones to consider and rule out in particular, each can cause significant pain and distress in guineas.

If you can rule out a physical problem, you could consider if it's a "conditioned behaviour" so to speak...just a bad habit that he's learned affects you.
 
Last edited:
Thank you so much.
He is breaking the skin and causing blood thats why i am worried.
I am going to buy some Ivermectin tomorrow and treat them all.
He doesn't do this when i'm near the cage but then maybe he knows Chestnut's not been well so might see me as the bad person.
If it doesn't improve then i will take him to the vets to get checked over.

xx
 
Poor little guy. He's obviously got something bothering him. I just hope it's nothing serious.

Let us know how he gets on :(
 
One of my pigs attacks me too, he was my first pig and should be the tamest, he just doesn't like me in his cage. He's ok with other people! Thick gloves and lots of hand feeding should help
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top