Biting, chewing and swallowing

[tatals]

Hey, guys. I need some advice.

I've recently adopted a new pig - he's about 2 to 3 months old. He's EXTREMELY energetic. Recently, though, he acquired the habit of biting, chewing on and even swallowing a lot of stuff around him: the pads, the plastic hideys, the clay drinking pots. I'm very frustrated, because I can't seem to find a way to prevent him from doing that. He lives in a 2m x .8m enclosure with another pig, and has plenty of hay, vegetables and pellets available. He used to eat his food properly, but changed habits recently, eating less hay and food, and biting into everything else, so I wonder if it can be anything related to his health.

I've had pigs biting on things before, but never to this level. Any advice is much appreciated.

 

[tatals]

Just after clicking 'post', the little brat decided to eat some hay just to prove me wrong, thank god. Let's hope he keeps doing that.
_
Yeah, well, he didn't. I posted too soon.

 

[Free Ranger]

I had a girl who started to bite at wood in the garden when her incisor teeth (the front ones) got too long. She wasn't eating it - just biting at it. She was ill though and wasn't eating anything on her own so was being support-fed mush, thus her teeth were overgrowing. The vet spotted them on a check - she couldn't close her mouth properly so it was pretty obvious. They were quickly trimmed.

Maybe try something wooden if he feels the urge to chew - or even try a cardboard box? Check no staples or glue etc. and make it into a hidey. Mine enjoy demolishing cardboard boxes and it actually benefits my older boar who is prone to impaction by increasing bulk in his diet! But my fluffy girls enjoy a 'haybox' too so we had to get one each.


Perhaps he's expending his energy? If you can set up a giant floor run with bath-towels or something he might blow off a little steam. See how that affects his chewing habits after.

Mine have chewed plastic doorways a little bit before to make them a bit wider but not out of habit. I'd be very careful with the soft plastic of puppy pads - the piggie gut is long and narrow and you wouldn't want him to ingest any of puppy pad - especially the absorbent bit. Good luck little chomper!

 

[Wiebke]

Just after clicking 'post', the little brat decided to eat some hay just to prove me wrong, thank god. Let's hope he keeps doing that.
_
Yeah, well, he didn't. I posted too soon.

Be patient and treat your piggy like a toddler starting to learn walking - everything potentially dangerous should be moved out of reach.

Your little one is simply exploring his surroundings the way young guinea pigs do - by tasting them.
Piggies learn what is edible and what not from their elders who teach them to master their environment and teach them the complex social interaction that guinea pigs have during the formative 'school weeks' between weaning and teenage, which is the age your little piggy is currently in.
Journey through a Life Time: The Ages of Guinea Pigs (see chapter 3)

Is he single or does he have a more timid companion?

 

[tatals]

Thank you, guys. I'll be more patient. He has toilet paper rolls available, as well as a wooden toy - proper for pigs -, but he's a little rebel and prefers forbidden stuff.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you, guys. I'll be more patient. He has toilet paper rolls available, as well as a wooden toy - proper for pigs -, but he's a little rebel and prefers forbidden stuff.

Welcome to the world of guinea pigs - plastic in any form (including slipper soles and wrappings), ribbons, cables, wallpaper, furniture - you name it, they will give it a try!