Why does guinea pig bite

If they stop signaling you, they may begin to relieve themselves wherever they want, and it can be hard to convert them back. Since these pets are fleeing animals, they will only bite when feeling trapped or pushed into a corner. The most common cause of this type of nibbling is because a stranger is attempting to lift the guinea pig out of the cage from one of the corners. As the strange hands are coming toward it, it tries to back away, but the cage walls block the way.

Instruct the handle only to lift the animal from the center of the cage, and if it gets away, give it a few minutes to adjust before making another attempt. If you have handled your guinea pig for years and are sure that the biting you are experiencing is something new, it could be that your pet is not feeling well.

Nibbling is a primary way to communicate, as we know from them telling us when they need to use the bathroom. They will also tell you if they are not feeling well. If you suspect that poor health is the reason your guinea pig is nibbling on your hand or other surfaces, the best thing to do is to take them to the vet immediately. Your veterinarian will be able to run some tests and quickly tell you what is wrong so you can get your pet back on track to good health. The most likely reason your pet is nibbling is that it is simply exploring its environment and learning how to get around.

If you have just placed something new in its cage or in its regular path, it will need to explore that as well. Guinea pigs will not hurt you, and you should not be afraid to let it nibble on your finger to bond with you and to let you know when it needs to use the bathroom.

Take a look at 6 possible ways you can do this. Remember, your guinea pig will bite if it feels stressed or afraid. Sticking your fingers through the hutch or run, or allowing someone else to, will most definitely result in a bite from your piggy.

Never be rough with your cavy. And understand its likes and dislikes. Before you handle your piggy, remember to wash your hands. With their sensitive noses and excellent sense of smell, they associate certain smells with food or danger. They are more inclined to nip or bite if they pick up a scent they like i.

For a relatively small animal, a guinea pig needs a lot of room to roam freely and explore. Invest in a good-sized hutch, a run and plenty of tunnels, toys and places to hide.

Fear, stress or illness are possible causes, but it could also have something to do with their environment. This will be seen as a reward and may encourage bad habits. Instead, when your cavy is behaving well, reinforce that behaviour with a cuddle or a snack. As a general rule of thumb, no, guinea pig bites are usually more of a nip or a nibble.

This is when the bite can be far more painful and even draw blood. If your guinea pig does sink its teeth into you, accidentally or otherwise, you need to treat the bite as quickly as possible. Use an antimicrobial ointment on the wound to prevent bacteria from building up and causing an infection. If you see blood, apply pressure to the area for a few minutes, with a clean cloth or a bandage. Should the injury look more serious, you will want to have it treated by a GP as soon as possible.

Should this be happening, you need to look at the possible reasons why and take action as quickly as possible. Leaving this type of behaviour to get worse can lead to far more serious consequences, sadly for both you and your piggy. Let us know in the comments below or tell us all about it on our Facebook page. If we open the door to our piggy cage she tends to allow us to pet her, but she then turns quickly n nips at either my son or myself. Think about why the guinea pig resorted to biting and change your behavior.

If someone held you against your will and you were afraid, had to urinate, or were hungry, would you consider biting? Did you know you can get expert answers for this article?

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Related wikiHows How to. How to. More References 5. About This Article. Co-authored by:. Co-authors: Updated: September 16, Categories: Guinea Pigs. Article Summary X If your guinea pig is biting you, try to stop this behavior by washing your hands before handling it in case your pet is picking up scents it associates with fear. Nederlands: Zorgen dat je cavia stopt met bijten.

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read , times. They are adventurous piggies, and they like exploring and lettuce. Ruby is three years old and Marley is two years old. I found them in a rescue. Rated this article:. More reader stories Hide reader stories. Did this article help you? Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy.

Panagiota Chaldeou Jul 25, Bette Curtin Nov 28, Porky is two years old now, has the run of the bedroom, no threats of other animals. Since I read your article, I'm going to spend more bonding time. Wish me luck and thank you. Ajwan Al Awadhi Jun 13, I did so much research, but this one has really helped me more than any different programs or videos. Anonymous Jun 3, We will consider the method in the following section, and resolve to have a plan of action to prevent further bites.

You must give your Guinea pig the right kind of attention so that they do not feel the need to exert their dominance over you. Condition your cavi to expect kindness and affection from you whenever they see you. If you can achieve this, your pet will likely refrain from biting you anymore. This will likely stress your guinea pig out. If your cavi feels threatened, they are likely to lash out and bite you. Do not give them an opportunity to hurt you.

These rodents have a very keen sense of smell; they associate certain smells with danger and can react negatively to those smells. Consider the reasons your Guinea pig bites. Biting occurs out of fear, but environmental and biological reasons can also play their part. If you own a non-neutered male, they tend to show more dominance than females, and it may cause them to act out aggressively.

Does your Guinea pig bite the bars of his cage? Perhaps they are lonely and want attention. This may not be threatening behavior initially and may biting may be accidental.

If the cage is placed in a busy part of your home where there is a lot of activity and noise- this can stress out your cavi. Put their cage in a quieter and calmer part of your home; this will make an enormous difference to their behavior. Ensure that the room is sufficiently warm, with no drafts and no other causes of stress. For example, if you were to own other pets — like cats, refrain from letting them enter and be in this room. Allow your Guinea pig to explore their space freely; if your pet is new, it will take time for them to adjust to their new surroundings.

Letting them investigate their surroundings and find suitable hiding spaces will help them to feel more comfortable. If you do not have a sufficiently large cage, consider upgrading it. Guinea pigs need to be able to roam freely and can be very stressed out if they are living in cramped conditions.