Is it stress or excitement?

[monica1607]

Hi I got my son a guinea pig at the start of September, and he was already around 6mnth when we got him so hes now about 9mnths now. The thing is when we hold him we always put a towel on our laps just incase of any accidents, well ever so often he will grab the towel in his mouth and pull it and stay still, pulling it for a couples of seconds, sometimes he will lye down after doin it but not always, he also does it to our clothes if he gets ahold, but he does it all the time repeatedly when we stand up and take him back to his cage, and once in the cage he does a little 'rumble', is it stress, excitement or both? Ive had guinea pigs before but none have ever done this, plus he has a habit of biting ever so often too (I think he wants to do it to our skin?!)

 

[Beautifulmess]

My pedigree pig does this and it seems to us, he's either had enough of cuddle time or is telling us he needs to pee. If you over hold him but be prepared for an accident, that might answer that part of it.

The rumble in my pigs usually means they don't like the sound of something, they've been started, or with Kenya its his randy dance lol

 

[monica1607]

Oh, we know when he needs a pee as he starts to squeak even if we dont touch him, and as soon as we put him in his cage he will pee but the biting and pulling material he will do from the moment we pick him up

 

[monica1607]

The 'rumbe' he does when we put him back in his cage, so I think that rumble is hes glad to be back home, but he also does it when I rattle keys and I think that 'rumble' is that he dont like it. He quite a weird one cause he will squeak for his food but has also started knawing his teeth at me when he wants something too?!

 

[Sarah from Chucklebunnies]

Making a teeth chattering noise also means 'I want', you're quite right. The rumble can be 'this is my pad and I am the man'.

The towel pulling may be an attempt to communicate, like the skin nipping. Or he may simply like pulling on something, they do enjoy that as it seems to be a movement they make when pulling at food.

If you want him to stop skin nipping then try making yourself 'mum' when you cuddle him. Try fondling and pulling gently on his ears, as Mum would. If you can stand it then 'wash' them with a damp finger. This reduces him to 'baby' status and then, if he nips, tell him off with a gentle tap on the nose or to the side of the head just as 'mum' would.

Have fun working out his body language!