Bar Biting?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Abbie

Abbie

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
May 30, 2014
Messages
1,772
Reaction score
1,862
Points
805
Location
Sutton in Ashfield, UK.
So I've noticed one of my pigs have started biting the bars!

I was just wondering if this can be bad for their teeth? And if there's anything I need too do?

I've noticed that it is usually when I am going too take the food. I think he does it from excitement! And I'm just worried something will happen to the teeth!

Also, they do have other chew toys and get lap time and floor time! So I don't think it is boredom! Just excitement for food!

(Sorry if this is already a thread! Or sounds a bit silly!)
 
Last edited:
One of mine (my avatar pic) started doing this...it was really bumming me out, because she usually did it when I was getting her morning snack , and moving around, getting her vitamin etc. and it isn't cute...it is kind of annoying actually...not like their cute weikks and squeaks... I started just instantly putting the stuff down and walking out of the room for at least 5 minutes before coming back if she did it...it was harder for me than it was for her, but she stopped doing it for the most part...every once in a while she does, and I always just drop whatever I'm doing and walk away from her...but I'm not rushed in the morning...so I can do that...just conditioning...they do learn...bite the bars...don't get a snackie...
 
It's actually kind of funny, because a lot of the time she will open her mouth and put it on the bar, and then pull her head back without biting...like, 'oh, right, don't do that' then she does it again...almost forgets...and then pulls her head back...it is like you can see her little brain struggling for control....because she wants that snackie so BAAAAADDDDD!!
 
Awwwww. Silly piggie!

I'm just worried about him hurting his teeth or something like that!

Bars are not chewable silly piggies!
 
One of mine does this when he's waiting for veg. He actually broke his top teeth but luckily they quickly grew back ok. He didn't learn his lesson though, and I'm constantly worried he's going to break them again. I agree with what you said about not reinforcing the behaviour by making them wait until they stop before giving the treat but at the same time am just worried about him damaging his teeth so want to stop him doing it asap so give in.
 
My pigs do it all the time and it drives me loopy, they started eating the correx base of their cage too, the little devils so i had to start putting these up.


I put them all around the sides, by cutting them in half and then cable tying them, luckily it's stopped the correx chewing but not the bar biting, i've tried ignoring them but they just get worse, i spent over an hour and a half one morning getting up and tapping my pig on the nose every time he chewed but he still didn't get the message so in the end i gave up and just let them have their breakfast!
 
Further to what I said this morning about my boy breaking his top teeth I've just given him his check over and seen that he's done it again! One top tooth is about half the length of the other one. Hopefully it will grow back fine as before. He is still eating perfectly well. I just worry that it will start to have a detrimental effect on his back teeth.
 
piggie smitten said:
Further to what I said this morning about my boy breaking his top teeth I've just given him his check over and seen that he's done it again! One top tooth is about half the length of the other one. Hopefully it will grow back fine as before. He is still eating perfectly well. I just worry that it will start to have a detrimental effect on his back teeth.
Click to expand...

Silly piggie!

This is what I am worried about! I don't want my boy too break this teeth and for him too have problems with eating and getting ill! I'm hoping he stops with it soon!
 
All four of mine do this. One piggie taught the rest and they all teach each newcomer that comes.

It drives me nuts but I can't stop them doing it. They only do it when its food/veg time.
 
I've been worried about this for a while but i wasn't sure if there was anything i could do about it.

Mine six start biting the bars at veggie time but don't at any other time, i might try the not giving them their veggies until they stop and see if it works because it does my head in, they start as soon as my alarm goes off in the morning because they know the first thing i do is feed them.

I'll let you guys know how i get on...

:)
 
Julesie said:
All four of mine do this. One piggie taught the rest and they all teach each newcomer that comes.

It drives me nuts but I can't stop them doing it. They only do it when its food/veg time.
Click to expand...

I've noticed it's only one of my pigs at the moment! I'm hoping the other one doesn't start! I've also noticed it's only during food time!

Tomorrow I'm ordering grids for a C&C cage, because I'll finally have the money!:yahoo:

So I'm hoping a C&C cage will help limit the biting!
 
MushiiPeas said:
I've been worried about this for a while but i wasn't sure if there was anything i could do about it.

Mine six start biting the bars at veggie time but don't at any other time, i might try the not giving them their veggies until they stop and see if it works because it does my head in, they start as soon as my alarm goes off in the morning because they know the first thing i do is feed them.

I'll let you guys know how i get on...

:)
Click to expand...

I might try the same thing! Hope it stops him!
 
Abbie said:
I might try the same thing! Hope it stops him!
Click to expand...

Good luck, i hope i can stop it too, they go into some kind of frenzy when it's veggie time and it's bizarre because they get veggies twice a day so it's not like they never get them of something... silly piggies! :)
 
MushiiPeas said:
Good luck, i hope i can stop it too, they go into some kind of frenzy when it's veggie time and it's bizarre because they get veggies twice a day so it's not like they never get them of something... silly piggies! :)
Click to expand...

Piggies are so silly!

They should have a C&C by the end of next week! so I'm hoping that will stop him a little!
 
You could cover the area of bars they're chewing with correx or even wood.
 
Abbie said:
I've noticed it's only one of my pigs at the moment! I'm hoping the other one doesn't start! I've also noticed it's only during food time!

Tomorrow I'm ordering grids for a C&C cage, because I'll finally have the money!:yahoo:

So I'm hoping a C&C cage will help limit the biting!
Click to expand...
Mine are in a CC cage and trust me, it doesn't stop them. Ryou, the one who does it the most finds it fun to bite each bar in turn.
I hope yours doesn't teach the others like mine did.
 
Cheese chews the bars all the time, when I feed Pickles, when I come back from the garden and even when the fridge is opened!
Once his lips started to get red, so I put a bit of vaseline on the bars and he stops.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top