Biting Pig

[AmysAnimals]

Some of you may have heard of my nipping little friend before. Oscar, my 1 year old, rescued boar has a severe biting problem. Oscar has bitten everyone in my family since the day we adopted him about 3 weeks ago. Initially, I assumed he was biting out of fear but now I am second guessing this theory.

I read on a website that pigs typically bite for two reasons--fear or dominance. I first thought Oscar was biting from fear because he is a fairly shy little guy but Im not so sure about his motives anymore. After 3 weeks of constant, daily cuddling and petting one would think some of Oscars fear would have gone away or atleast enough to lessen the frequency of his chomps. Now I am leaning more towards the dominance theory which states that some pigs will bite because they want what they want when they want it. For instance, Oscar only really bites whenever Im walking him around to get from point A to point B or when he is getting close to his cage. This behavior makes me think that he is biting because he wants down that very moment so he can do whatever it is he plans on.

For those of you who would like clarification on what I mean by biting, I will explain to you. Oscar bites hard enough to break skin and cause bleeding. If he doesnt break skin the first time, he has no problem coming after the same spot for a second try. I have numerous bites on my fingers due to this. I might be able to understand his biting if, per say, I was just caring him but when I carry him I always put him in his plushy cuddle cup so he will feel more secure. I hold him closly to my body and watch every step I take. Id like to assume he just wants down so he can run around the house,however, when he has the oppurtunity to run around he stays still and doesnt budge.

His biting had gotten so bad that I am really the only person that will pick him up in my household. Despite the various cuts I have accumulated, I still try to hold Oscar for short periods of time and then let him sit in his cuddle cup on my desk while I watch him. Everyday I keep hoping that if I show him compassion, love, and attention that his biting will stop and that other family members will feel confident enough to pick him up once agian.

When I went to the vet on Friday for his wellness check up they told me that he is nearing the end of his "baby" stage and is entering more into a teenager stage, which could be why he is biting and testing his limits. I understand this but isnt there some way to show him that biting is not exceptable? I read that giving a small puff of air to the face when your piggy is biting could break them of this habit, but I dont really know if I feel comfortable with this idea.

Can anyone offer me a way to show Oscar that biting people hurts? Is that something thats even possible or will this just be a constant behavior to expect from him? Can guinea pigs learn whats "right and wrong"? I really need some advice on this or a pair of bite-proof gloves.

[piggieluver101]

Nugget nibbles but never broke the skin. Goofy is the only one who has broken the skin. I don't know what it could be. Air in the face is what I heard too. I did it to Nugget when she bit me hard once, now she doesn't. I don't know...

[BABY'S MOM]

Brown Sugar is 5 months old, and they say that he's a teen ager too. He used to bite hard.

One day, I was holding him, and he bit me. By accident I said a loud, "Ouch!" It startled him, and he sat there, and looked at me in fear. Of course I cuddled him after that. But he hasn't bit me hard ever since. He's nibbled, but not hard.

So I'm wondering if he's learned that something scary comes from biting. I didn't intentionally try to teach him this, but am glad that he's learnd biting is not good.

[AmysAnimals]

Im not sure what to do anymore but Im getting at my wits end trying to think of solutions. It just stinks when youre the only person who is willing to hold him. It makes it very difficult for me to clean his cage, or leave the room to use the bathroom or anything along those lines because no one else really wants to touch him. I cant really blame them I guess. I mean who would voluntarily want to lose a chunk of skin? I was thinking of trying what mothers do when their children suck thier thumbs. They would put something on the thumb that the baby wouldnt like the taste of.

I was thinking of putting some vinegar on my fingers. The smell might be enough to turn him off of biting them and if the smell doesnt getting him, the taste really should. Then agian, I wasnt sure if this was a good idea or not. At this point, Im looking for any solution.

[BABY'S MOM]

I would certainly try the vinegar. It wouldn't hurt him.

Did his previous family give him up, because of his biting? You said in your post that you adopted him 3 weeks ago.

If the vinegar doesn't work, then next thing I would try, is blow in his face. It again wouldn't hurt him.

It really does make life easier for them, and for us - if they learn to co-operate. If he gets sick, and you have to hand feed him, that will be hard to do when you're trying to not get biten. So, it is in his best interest to learn to be a good boy.

HINT - I've also noticed that when Brown Sugar doesn't like something, he will start grinding his teeth, on my lap. If I'm patting him when he doesn't like it, grinding his teeth is a way of warnng me. "If you dont' quit that, I'm filing up my razor sharp teeth now!"

So good luck with Oscar's training, I know down deep inside, that he's a sweetheart, waiting to show you love! Keep us updated on his progress!

[AmysAnimals]

Ill try the vinegar, hopefully that will make some difference in his behavior. He came from a rescue but before that, he had a history of bad owners. He had come to the rescue after being surrendered by a woman who didnt take proper care of him. She got him and his brother (also at the rescue) from a breeder who kept all of the piggies in little Rubbermaid bins.

As far as teeth grinding, Oscar does this pretty often. If I let some one else hold him, he grinds his teeth. Usually when I hold him he doesnt grind at all. Does this mean he dislikes everyone else? I really hope that isnt the case. Oscars had many unusual behavioral issues. For instance, when we first got him he only would let men hold him. My boyfriend and father could hold him without any problem but my mother, my sister and I couldnt hold him. He would squirm all over the place and refuse to settle down. Now that that habit has been broken, for the most part, he has picked up biting to be his favorite hobby. He also likes to chase after my dog. Shes so afraid of the "attack pig" now that she wont even come near me when I have him. I mean grant it, my dog is quite the big baby, but I was shocked to see her running from this little 2 pound piggy. Its hard because I had a hamster before that never once bit anyone. Even when he was in his last days of life and on antibiotics he never tried to bite me. Ive read in many places that hamsters usually are the biters. So its hard to go from a little guy who was suppose to bite people and never did and transition to something that isnt suppose to bite people but always does.

Im going to try some vinegar tomorrow. If that fails Ill try a quick puff of air and if all else fails, I guess Ill just let out my own yelp of distress and maybe he'll understand that it hurts to be bitten.

[Foggycreek]

What website said they bite from fear or dominance?

In my experience, most biters bite because of mites. Mites are painful, and being touched is painful and most pigs react by biting you when you touch them. Has he been treated for mites yet?

Teeth grinding is a sign of pain.

[BABY'S MOM]

It is a very good idea to have little Oscar checked out by a vet, just in case it is mites. If that's the cause, then it's not poor little Oscar's fault for biting. However, it is stated on the GuieaLynx information page, that guinea pigs will nip/bite if not properly handled.

From listening to Amys describe Oscar's difficult past, I think he may have picked up a few bad habits, from not having the proper care.

Amys - Is Oscar scratching alot? Guinea Pigs do scratch themselves when they have mites.

I've had Brown Sugar in to see the vet for a full thorough check up. The vet gave him a clean bill of health. He's eating, drinking, eating his hay, peeing, and pooping normally. He loves to popcorn!

I'm sure in some piggies, that teeth grinding is a serious sign of pain, and is something to always keep in mind. But keep in mind that every piggy is different.

It is always great to hear different points of view on this forum. We're all cavy slaves, trying to figure out how to make our bosses happy.

[BABY'S MOM]

Okay, so I went back and re-read you first post Amys, and you said that you already have taken Oscar to the vet on Friday. So if he's not scratching, he probably doesn't have mites. Did the vet give Oscar a clean bill of health?

I also read that Oscar only bites you if you carry him from point A to point B. Well, I've read somewhere that Guinea Pigs are very nervous about being carried like that. I will try, and find out where I read it so I can post it to you. But, I want to make sure I've got the right website.

But when you stop, and think about it. From what you've told me, Oscar's had a rough start, which likely taught him to be very cautious, and nervous. Guinea Pigs are naturally nervous anyway, but the poor boy's got it twice as bad.

You've had him for 3 wonderful weeks, before that he's had almost a year of not being cared for properly. You've got your work cut out for you Amys.

But I stand behind my original opinions. Try the vinegar, then if that doesn't work - then blow on his face. Then a loud "yelp" might help teach him. Also, until he learns to trust again, have you thought about not carrying him at all. Until he learns how to trust people. He might have even been dropped before you saved him. You never know what really happens to them in their past.

Anyway forget my above post, I had to go back and re-read your first post. Good luck with the vinegar, let me know how it works.

[BABY'S MOM]

So I checked out that website that I told you about. The one that had alot of information on biting piggies on it. Aparently, piggy's biting could be for many reasons:
fear
traumatizing events, (dropping piggy)
teen age attitude
and the list goes on and on......

They also give some ideas on how to encourage piggy not to bite. So I will post this link, and hope it works. It's actually the GuineaLynx website. They give alot of information here. So hope this gives you a few ideas.

http://www.guinealynx.info/links.html#biting