Biting Piggy

[Michele's piggy]

Hello! i'm new to the guinea pig world, i got my baby piggy in December, she was around 2 months old. i've been taking her out everyday and petting her, she makes some noises which i believe are happy noises, but the last 2 times i've picked her up she has bitten me quite hard i'm not sure what has prompted her to bite me, i'm afraid of picking her up and being bitten now, can someone help?

 

[herbertsmum]

Has seh bitten and drew blood or just a nibble, some times a nibble is a friendly hello. I have learnt that offering a finger to nibble one encourages a bite though, try the flat of you palm and if she nibbles and licks its probably a hello that got a bit hard?

 

[Michele's piggy]

thanks for the reply, hard bite she drew blood both times

 

[piggyme234]

Does she bite you when you are trying to catch her or when you are actually holding her? If it is the first then it might be fear, something might have scared her into thinking you are going to do something nasty. If it is when you touch her that she bites you but she is happy in her house then she might be in pain. What technique do you use to pick her up? Some are less scary for piggies than others.

 

[Michele's piggy]

both times she has bitten my finger as i was carrying her back to put her in her cage, she'd been fine with me holding her until that point. i hold her with both hands, against my chest, maybe she has started not liking going back in her cage? my guess is that she has become lonely and unhappy, recently she hasn't been making much noise, and no noise when i've been petting her, then i've gone to put her back in cage and she has bitten. i think i may have to get a bigger cage and a second pig? but i'm just guessing... would be good to know why she is biting in first place before i go get another cage and second pig, thanks for your post!

 

[piggyme234]

I have been nipped by Lexi and Annabelle because they want me to put them in the hutch. They both want to be back with their friends, Lexi is very protective of her sister and wants to be with her all the time, Annabelle is new and still scared of me. It is possible that she wants something and that is how she lets you know. Does she nibble you a little bit at all when you are holding her or is it just a bite out of the blue? Most of my girls will nibble gently if they need to go back in the hutch to go to the loo. Perhaps your little one doesn't realise she should do it gently.

 

[PiggiePal]

Hi there, All piggies are much happier with a mate of their own kind. You should definately think about adopting a female from a local rescue as a friend for her. Where do are you located? I think the biting may be a result of not wanting to go back in. However it may be that she's in pain for some reason. Have you checked her skin, teeth etc to make sure? xx

 

[Michele's piggy]

i'm taking her next week to see the vet to be sure there is nothing physically wrong with her, i agree i think she needs a mate, i need a larger cage first though, i'm in Toronto (ontario). thanks everyone for the tips

 

[PiggiePal]

Good luck with finding her a friend, and make sure that her friend is female or a neutered boy xx

 

[tylerina]

My Patch tends to bite me quite hard when I am carrying him back to his cage after snuggle time - he seems to be scared of being carried around. Probably feels insecure - he too is absolutely fine when on my lap and being picked up