new guinea pig owner having issues with biting

[Whimsy]

Hi, I am new to this forum and also relatively new to guinea pigs in general. I have one GP, Melvin, who is about 7 months now. I have had him since he was 6 weeks old I think.
He has always nipped a bit, but it seems to be getting worse and worse. He has bit me a few times and I mean hard and drawing blood.
Sometimes I can pet him lots and he is happy and purring, but suddenly he kind of snaps and bites me. It's frustrating, because I love him and I would like to spend more time petting him and snuggling with him.
I have read that it could be a mite problem, but he doesn't seem itchy (more than normal) and his hair looks fine. I'm not sure what to do and it's hard to not get a little "scared" of picking him up or petting him, since it hurts a lot to get bit by a guinea pig.

[justagrrl]

My pigs nip at me if they're done cuddling or want down. Not all of them, and not all the time. Perhaps try giving him fresh veggies when you are holding him so he feels happy to see you. It might be hormones kicking in, he's perhaps lonely and ticked off. Perhaps he needs a friend?

[Whimsy]

I'm trying the veggie trick at the moment, so we will see how that goes. If it's because of hormones, how long long will that last?

[piggylove]

Piggies come with all types of different personality and some are just a bit nippier than others. My first guinea pig would NEVER nip and he would beg to be held. Now I have my lovely Gilbert who will let me pet him for a bit, but he lets me know when he's all done with a nip. He's still content to sit on my lap, he's just done with my touching!

It never hurts to have a vet check just to make sure they are feeling okay and healthy.

[newpig]

I'd recommend getting him checked over by a vet for skin conditions such as mites, lice or fungal. If that gets the all clear then it could be a case of him getting used to cuddles and you learning his signals for when he's had enough. Some pigs (not often) are nippy. 3piggles can tell you her experience of a nippy pig and how she coped with him.

I think confidence can be an issue as well - if he's nervous and you're anxious about holding him he may be picking up on that and nipping to get away because he doesn't feel safe. Try holding him in a cuddle cup, might help get round that issue.

[Whimsy]

When he was very young he would sit with me wrapped in a towel and he would fall asleep, but now he only stays for a minute or less and he jumps down (onto a pillow on the couch). I can pet him there and he will lean on my arm, but suddenly he will turn around and snap at me. He is biting the hardest when I try to pick him up, so I know I have to work on that. I'll try to be patient and hopefully he will get better and so will I.

[jolovespiggies]

I am so sorrry love, I hpehe comes around.

It amazed me in the guinea pig care books I have read when they say that piggies never bite, Oh yes they do. Please keep us updated love.

Hugs
JO xx

[3piggles]

My Zippy was a biter. I think there were several reasons. Pigs all show when they want to stop a snuggle session or have a treat, have to pee or don't like where we're petting them. They also, especially when young or not too well socialized, not too aware of how hard a bite is too hard.

It took a while, but I when Zippy bit me, instead of doing whatever he wanted, blew a short puff of breath in his face. I picked him up facing me, said a strong NO, blew in his face and give him a snuggle in a way he couldn't bite me again. He eventually out grew it. If you love him, be patient, be persistent, and let him gently know that is not acceptable behavior.

Good luck!

[dd]

maybe you could wear strong gloves i wear them when i try to pick them up.
Good luck

[3piggles]

Gloves will help with the bites, but not with the biting. I have little Zippy Nippy scars where gloves wouldn't have helped!!! Finding out why they bite and countering the biting is better, long term. If the vet says there are no physical problems, then it's behavioral and needs to be countered. It's often a young pig issue, too, and they outgrow it. I think treating the behavior just helps them get over it a bit faster.

[Whimsy]

Yesterday was a pretty good (almost bite free) day. I am trying to use a towel when I pick him up now + I give him a treat when I'm holding him. I will keep working on it and hopefully he will out grow the biting issues. I will take him to a vet if it continues, but hopefully it won't come to that.

[colonthree]

My Aika used to be a biter. Treats are effective in letting them know that cuddle time is happy time!

[jolovespiggies]

My little ones tend to nibble rather than bite and it is lovely. However I have been seriously bitten by a piggy and it damn well hurt!!!

Good luck love.

Hugs

JO xx

[3piggles]

Just remember that your fingers smell like the treats, so you might get nipped for being tasty! There really isn't one good way to solve the problem. All pigs come with emotional baggage. Figure out what triggers the biting, and try to counter it. It may seem like a lot of work, but it builds a stronger bond between you and your piggie. Since my Zippy was a communicator, I think he often bit me because I wasn't listening! Get to know them. Build a relationship. If nothing else, you both get a lot of quality time together!

[doodles]

I agree with everyone here, don't give up, keep holding him & give him cuddles. I have 4 pigs that like bite, for different reasons. One male does it when he doesn't want to be petted somewhere (doesn't like under the chin) or is just tired of it, two females bite because they are not happy with where they are being petted or they are tired of it. All three are very forward in letting my daughter and I know what they want--little buggers. Our response it to their biting is to just keep holding them, unless we suspect they have to potty. My other male is a very nervous, high-strong fellow and has only bit seriously a few times when he was not getting his way (he gets nervous and wants down quickly) and I just kept picking him up different times to hold him and cuddle him and eventually he quit.

I agree with Jo, it's a myth that GPs don't bite--they do, they are very sweet little creatures, but that doesn't mean they don't get occasional cases of the sass. My experience with it is that usually they are trying to boss, but we also find that sometimes they need to go back to their cages or pen to go potty.

A very good way to a piggy's heart is through their tummy and having treats handy while cuddling is a very good way to win them over. Don't give up whatever you do, & don't let it hurt your feelings--hang in there the trust will build in time and the teenage hormones will settle down eventually and you'll have a devoted little buddy. I have also seen piggies perk up so much in their moods and mindset when they have a piggy friend to buddy up with & I have found that it actually enhances the relationship with us when they are given piggy friends to spend life with.

[Whimsy]

I will definitely not give up on him. Maybe he knows that I wrote about him here, because he seems to be a little better now. I usually use a towel to pick him up and give him treats, but yesterday it worked without towel and without biting, so there's hope. He is just not that snuggly right now and wants down right away, but he likes to sit next to me or lean on my arm and as long as he is happy and not biting, I am happy :-)

I am considering getting him a friend as well, but I think I need to wait until he has matured a bit. I have another thread on that issue.

Thanks for the help.

[3piggles]

Not all pigs are snuggly. Some just like to have company, but not be bothered a lot. I had shoulder-sitting pigs, they weren't interested in snuggling, but always wanted to sit on my shoulder. It's best to determine what he is like, and work with that, rather than try to make into something he's not.

Really glad he seems to be settling down!