Sudden Behaviour Change

rufcjoe87

rufcjoe87

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi all

We have two guinea pigs, Henry and Twirl, both around 3-4 years old, they live seperately in cages on top of each other. We regularly get them out for cuddles and they 'talk' to eachother.

Twirl was a rescue piggy and we've had her for about 18 months, Henry since he was a pup.

Recently, Twirl, when we try to get her out she has started biting. She was always a bit reluctant to come out and was a bit of a chase, but once out she loves cuddles and often falls asleep.

But this last week when we go to get her she has started biting, not nipping, biting. Now shes fine when we feed her, clean her out and onec we have her she's absolutely fine and loves cuddles, we can't think of anything that could have caused her to be more aggressive, just wondered if anyone knew of any reason or has experienced anything similar.

Like I sy health wise she's fine and it's literally ONLY when we try to get her out, once she's out, or if shes being fed or cleaned out, shes fine.

Is there anything we've done, or can do to help her, we want to get her out but not stress her.

We never get them out together by the way and never have so that's not an issue

Thanks in advance

:)
 
Can you give her something to chew, and while she chewing and her mouths full, get her out? Not sure why she is biting though, they can be strange can’t they!
 
To be honest when you notice a dramatic behavior change in a piggy that you know well, my first thought would be a quick check up with the vet.

Our very laid back boar started biting at one point and it was becasue he had mites and was in pain.
So first step would be to rule out pain (parasites, ear infection, dental issue or skeletal problem).

Failing that there is a good thread here on how to deal with biting - maybe that will help.
" Biting" And What You Can Do
 
Did you check out Wiebke’s sticky post on biting? It sounds a bit like tweaking - eg expressing unhappiness about being picked up. One of my pigs chews (I say chew as he tries to continuously bite rather than lunching) me when transferring from cage to sofa or carrying him for any other reason. Once he’s on the sofa he’s fine. He doesn’t like being handled but is happy with strokes and cuddles once he got his feet on solid ground. He bites hard enough to go ouch but never drawing blood. I just keep my skin out of his mouth’s way - I don’t have kids and no other human carries him. I sometimes use a basket if it’s on hand but generally I’m just aware.

If your piggy stops being happy to be stroked it may be that’s shes agitated from some kind of medical issue eg cysts, mites or fungal infection. Otherwise I wouldn’t worry (if she’s not lunching at you) as she has just decided she doesn’t want to be picked up. It could be the way she’s being picked up but then she would’ve probably done it previously too. Perhaps put her in something safe like a basket or box to handle her.

Wiebke’s post has some tips on how to gently teach a piggy to stop biting which may be helpful.
 
Swissgreys said:
To be honest when you notice a dramatic behavior change in a piggy that you know well, my first thought would be a quick check up with the vet.

Our very laid back boar started biting at one point and it was becasue he had mites and was in pain.
So first step would be to rule out pain (parasites, ear infection, dental issue or skeletal problem).

Failing that there is a good thread here on how to deal with biting - maybe that will help.
" Biting" And What You Can Do
Click to expand...

My post crossed with this one, which says in a more concise way what I was trying to say!
 
@ Wiebke 's behaviour guides are great, one of our piggies was a vicious vampire pig a few weeks after we first got her and she started being confident enough to show her disapproval of handling (she bit piggy daddy on the neck once very hard and he has a blood clotting disorder so it was a bit like a horror film!) But following the advice in the piggy whispering guide and the biting guide she's now chilled out enough and submissive to her hooman herd leaders enough to come over and be stroked and picked up without any fuss. The ear nibbling/gently pulling trick is an absolute winner :)
 
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