Biting Pig

[guineapiggoddess]

I believe Oscar is healthy but just a little naughty. When we first got Nugget, at 2 months, she bit when we were walking with her and when I held her up to check her nails. I blew in her face once but that didn't seem to help. Putting her in with my other girls made it stop completely. They are now frineds, hardly any fights, maybe he's just nerveous around people. I would consider adopting his brother. But maybe Nugget's just a wierdo. He seems to be one of those tempormental pigs though.

P.S. He's becoming a full grown pig. Pigs are considered adult at around 9 months (after teen satge) He's not a teen anymore. Nugget is just becoming a teen, she's 4 months now.

[piggieluver101]

Blowing in her face seemed to work for me...

[AmysAnimals]

When Oscar went to the vet he got a completely clean bill of health. Hes mite-free, lice-free etc. He doesnt mine being touched (his body), even when we are walking around, just as long as I am sure to keep my fingers out from infront of his face. The vet accredits his behaviors to lack of socialization when he was a baby. Our vet is one of the best exotic vets in the area and owns many guinea pigs himself so hopefully hes right when he says Oscar will grow out of this phase. Oscar lived in bad situations during the first 4 months of his life until he came to the rescue where he stayed for 8 months. I had taken some time to talk to the rescue and find out about his background. As I suspected, he was owned both times by women which could be why he was initially squrimy for the three women in the household but not the men.

Since Oscar enjoys laptime as long as I am sitting down, I theorized that sometime during his youth, he was dropped which caused him to be scared of heights. This would obviously increase his biting whenever I am holding him and not sitting since I am 5'11".

As far as the teeth grinding, since we can rule out any health problems since he was just to the vet, sometimes I think its more of an attitude problem. The reason I think this is because he grinds his teeth whenever I let other people hold him. He is always in his cuddle cup and held closely so proper handling isnt really the issue as far as I can tell. I'd like to think he is just a mama's boy and it ticks him off that I would dare let other people hold him.

I intend to start trying all the different tips that everyone gave me (thanks by the way!) as well as watch his behavior to see if certain situations increase his biting. Hopefully I can come to some conclusion. I suppose its possible that he just bites because my fingers get in his way when we are walking around (he likes to look all over the place to see where we are going) but you would think a pig afraid of heights wouldnt want to see how high up he really is. So far, Oscar is a big mystery to me but one that Im more than willing to figure out.

Thanks again everyone for all your advice! Hopefully I can get to the bottom if this.

[AmysAnimals]

Babys Mom, thanks SO much for that link! I just read this article http://www.jpgpr.com/jpgpr1201.html and Oscar has experienced many of the things that would make a piggy bite! Lets see, Ill list all the possible suspects that I know of:

-Traumatic Handling (well, this is just an assumption seeing as how he came from a breeder that probably could care less how he was held)

-lack of socializing (This would have happened before he came to the rescue, of course)

-Isolation (He was kept in a Rubbermaid bin as a baby)
It also said that isolation such as this can cause him to react to sudden movements which he does. Even though he lived in the really nice rescue for 8 months, he probably was traumatized as a baby from isolation. His first 4 months when he wasnt in the rescue Im sure is where all his behaviors and trauma came from.

Thanks so much. I definatly have a better understanding of his behavior now.

[BABY'S MOM]

The picture of Oscar (your avatar) is priceless.

You could almost read his thoughts - "Do I look like I would bite? I'm a sweetheart, I'm innocent!"

[piggieluver101]

Baby's Mom, That is soo true! He looks as if he would never leave such marks! Well, we can tell Amy is now a guinea pig and hamster slave!

[cielo]

AmysAnimals: I think you should listen to Foggy. You can do a preventive mites treatment (at home or consult your vet) just to rule it out. He can be a temperamental pig anyway, but at least you'll know he is not in pain. Read this: http://www.guinealynx.info/forums/viewtopic.php?t=30325

I had a similar problem with Linny. I still don't understand why he would enjoy being with my daughter so much and never bited her, and why he would bited me so hard that made me bleed.

With the others I would say no when they nip my fingers. Chibi used to do it more when I got her. With time she stoped. You say he is being with you for 3 weeks. My piggies needed more time to get use to us. Penny (since march) and Chibi (sice july) are use to us by now, but Chimicuino (since july) still needs more time.

[piggieluver101]

Cielo, I think you ment to say bit. Not bited, lol

Yeah, Oscar (cute name by the way) might need some time.

[cielo]

Sorry, my english is so wrong lately! I hope you underdstand me...LoL!

[piggieluver101]

Yeah I can. It just sounded funny. I talk like that in the morning. lol