Avoid handling your guinea pig more than necessary if you fear it is ill or in discomfort. What to do if your guinea pigs are biting each other? Yes they can. Keeping up with their necessities will also reduce the competition over food, water, or hay. Why do guinea pigs bite humans? Understand a guinea pig's reasons for biting. So, you shouldnt have to worry about that too much. If they are especially hungry or are fighting over a favorite food item, they may nip at you or another guinea pig. Learn how to create a happy, healthy home for your pet. Meet Lisa G, the founder and author of RodentsFact.com. Some guinea pigs might take well to being sniffed; others might see it as intrusive and fight back. This could help reduce aggression between the two by giving them a companion and reducing the feeling of competition or territorialism. In fact, guinea pigs often consume the feces: While there is nothing wrong with a guinea pig eating its own or another guinea pigs poop, it is important to make sure that your guinea pig is getting a proper diet. Read More: 4 Reasons Why Is My Guinea Pig Jumping And Twitching | Learn How To Cure Them. This is why its important to provide them with plenty of toys and activities to keep them occupied, as well as a healthy diet. ). What Are the Symptoms? Take your cavy to the vet ASAP when you notice any injuries. 1. I know that this might be a hard thing to read about, but its important to be aware of the dark side of these cute little creatures. If you want them to run around, you can build vertical structures and build tunnels where they can chase each other. This will help them separate and stop fighting. Recently, I watched. ). Staying dominant over others has always been the favorite virtue of human beings. Read our, What to Know Before Getting a Pet Guinea Pig, The 8 Essential Guinea Pig Supplies of 2023, Reasons Why Dogs Get Aggressive and How to Stop It, The 7 Best Halloween Costumes for Guinea Pigs of 2023, They make many different noises or vocalizations to communicate with each other. These can help to reduce aggression and make sure your guinea pigs are happy. Guinea pigs are one of the most popular small pets due to their sweet, gentle nature. And while there can be a dark side to these furry little creatures, there might be things that they hate you arent aware of! This knowledge is helpful not only to prevent unwanted injuries but also to help improve the relationship you or your child has with your pet. These are some of the best parts of owning guinea pigs. [Greeting Your Pet], How to Get Rid of Guinea Pig Mites Naturally. Provide food so pigs can experience eating together. Comprehend The Exact Reason, Silkie Guinea Pig: History & Facts | RodentsFact, Can Hamsters Eat Guinea Pig Food? Materials can be purchased online and bedding can be found in large quantities at the pet store. However, this behavior may become more dangerous and even mean that the guinea pigs should be temporarily or permanently separated. #guineapig #pets #cavie #AnimalRights #veterinary #dermatology pic.twitter.com/X2CwEP2DPW. That is the short answer. But ultimately, the best way to prevent your guinea pigs from eating each other altogether is to provide them with a large enough cage, plenty of toys and hiding spots, and a healthy diet. 3. There are some simple things you can do to discourage your guinea pig from biting. Its best to keep an eye on your cavies if they are living together and intervene as soon as possible if they start to fight. We are a group of animal lovers. This makes it more prone to bite. Enjoy the sights of funny-looking bottom sniffing and other entertaining behaviors. Let your cavy explore its habitat Step #4. Find him on FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND Linkedin ), Nose lifting (pigs raise noses in the air to see who is highest and therefore more dominant. This can occur between the young and old, male and female, and piggies with varying degrees of temperament. If thats the case, place same-gender piggies in one cage at least 2 to 3 male cavies or 2 to 3 female guinea pigs in one cage. Uncomfortable handling #2. Dominance can occur between guinea pigs of either gender, which includes mounting and biting each other. If this applies to you, continue to read about if this new cage mate behavior is normal. The mother and newborn guinea pigs are shown. Therefore, it is important to watch your guinea pigs carefully and intervene if you notice any signs of aggression or fighting. If you notice your guinea pigs biting each other, there are a few things you can do to help resolve the situation. Some of the reasons your guinea pigs could be hostile towards each other include. If one cavy headbutts or thumps the other. Well, youre in the right place, because I have to! Separation may need to happen, and introductions can be repeated another day. A good portion of people all know the popular childrens book, No Fighting, No Biting. Home >> Pets >> Why Do Guinea Pigs Smell Each Others Bums? As An amazon associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. Second, provide plenty of enrichment activities for each guinea pig in its own space, so they are both getting attention and stimulation. [3] Failed to subscribe, please contact admin. The Humane Society recommends the following cage sizes for certain numbers of guinea pigs: Lydia King is a huge animal lover and has always been fascinated with learning about the animal kingdom. They usually merely give each other warning nips. In a situation where you cant find a decent-sized cage, building one yourself is a fairly easy task. Several signals may occur between guinea pigs who feel threatened by the other pigs presence. When guinea pigs are overcrowded, they become stressed, and this can lead to them attacking and eating each other. Learn more about us. 3. If you have two cavies that are constantly fighting, its best to look for a better pairing in order to keep them both safe and happy. In captivity, however, guinea pigs can be provided with a steady diet of hay, pellets, and vegetables, so there is no need for them to resort to extreme measures like cannibalism. When most people think of guinea pigs, they think of cute, cuddly little creatures that make great pets. Do Guinea Pigs Bite Draw Blood?3. As long as nothing wrong results from guinea pigs butt-sniffing (such as a fight), you can say with certainty that this is a perfectly normal, safe, and healthy activity. While this behavior may seem shocking to us, it is simply a matter of survival for these small animals. They may bite each other's hair or ears as they play. Guinea pigs feel better being out in the fresh air and playing with their owners. Guinea pigs can also be aggressive if they are in pain. Its best to pair a dominant piggy with submissive guinea pigs. In these circumstances, the younger and feistier guinea pig will sometimes attempt to challenge their dominance. Just remember to wear thick gloves or have some form of protection for your hands. By understanding their behavior, providing enough space and resources, as well as pairing them with compatible partners, you can make sure your cavies are healthy and happy! It's best to keep intact male guinea pigs separate to avoid wounds from fighting. If the pet is backing away from you, squealing or . You can solve this by including a wide variety of toys so that they never run out of physically stimulating objects. Dont give up! I hope this clarifies any lingering questions you may have about why do guinea pigs bite each other bums. It is their way of exclaiming that you need to let them go. Knowing the norms and abnormalities of guinea pig behavior can be essential to determine if and when to intervene. If your guinea pig is nipping at the others bum, it is telling the other guinea pig they are in charge. In that case, be sure to consult your vet. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. You must pay attention to the personality of each pig if you plan to keep more than one together and provide a safe, comfortable, and low-stress environment in which companionship can flourish. Do guinea pigs recognize their owners smell? It is also essential to note that some guinea pigs may carry a type of Streptococcus bacterium in their mouths called Streptococcus mutans. The majority of fights between guinea pigs tend to be caused by food. Why Do Guinea Pigs Whine at Another Guinea Pig. Because these are the signs that indicate that they have started liking the company of other fellows. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Sharing is caring. Short answer: Biting and nibbling are simply their means of communication. Your email address will not be published. Calico Guinea Pigs: 5 Things You Must Know! You can categorize a guinea pigs personality into either submissive or dominant. You can create the hideouts with cardboard or boxes available at home or purchase some from the store. Have you ever wondered why certain animals, including guinea pigs, sniff the bottoms of their peers who are just getting to know them? Get rid of the smell if you want your cavy to stop biting you. Consult with a veterinarian if you are concerned that they may be sick. While 2 males may seem like theyll get into fights for dominance, as long as it doesnt turn into a full-on brawl, everything should calm down. Exploration Image Credit: The Escape of Malee, Shutterstock. Can Damaged Kidneys Be Healed And Reversed? Pain can cause biting. Dogs are the most loyal animals among others but here we are concerned with guinea pigs. Reasons Why Guinea Pigs Bite #1. Your guinea pig might be biting you due to the smell of food in your hands. Guinea pigs may cause a deadly illness if they bite near to an artery in rare situations. You might consider separating them if they are biting aggressively, chasing each other, or engaging in full-blown physical battles. Fur-biting may indicate guinea pig dominance conflicts. However, you also need to know whether they are giving you a nibble or an actual bite. Guinea pigs are social creatures that do best when living in pairs or small groups. This reaction is natural and is an attempt to protect itself or stop whatever is scaring it from happening. Generally, guinea pigs are fighting for dominance or territory. Leftover food could develop bacteria which isnt good for your cavys digestive health. Guinea pigs will be in the most common position for fighting when they initially meet another guinea pig. However, seeing the other guinea pig may trigger them to begin fighting again. If you have two guinea pigs that consistently fight and bite each other, it might be best to keep them in separate cages. Biting may also be caused by pain. If fighting between the two becomes too serious or violent, they could hurt each other, so separating them until they can learn to coexist peacefully may be necessary. A pee pad is a type of absorbent paper pad that is used to absorb liquid. A guinea pigs bite is not powerful enough to break the skin and draw blood, but it may display symptoms of aggressiveness in self-defense when it feels threatened and afraid. Instinctively, a guinea pig would prefer to have a friend rather than be left in a cage all alone. Ideally, this is a place neither pig has experienced before, where they wont be distracted by familiarity and wont venture into unfamiliar territory. Wouldnt it be nice if we could greet our guinea pigs with those words each morning? Guinea pigs tend to develop a strong relationship with its owner and persons. Guinea pigs are fairly gentle creatures and biting is not a serious issue to consider when getting a guinea pig. Can Baking Soda Kill A Hamster? Its important to make sure the enclosure is large enough for two or more cavies so that they can spread out and enjoy their own space. Socializing guinea pigs is important as they are animals that tend to live in pairs or groups. Here are some reasons your guinea pig might bite. Its also normal for a guinea pig to nudge you with their nose when theyre trying to show you some affection and interaction. However, this behavior will eventually stop when they become aware of and comfortable with the new arrangement. But not all biting and chewing are bad. Generally, the submissive submits, and the dominant takes offense. READ MORE: Do Guinea Pigs Make Good Pets? I'm also a guinea pig owner myself, and I love learning and writing about these adorable creatures. She enjoys writing about anything animal related from scientific information about rare species to animal references in pop culture. Their natural instincts will kick in to protect their territory and lives at whatever cost. With over 3 years of experience studying and observing various species of rodents. To make dominance over fellow guinea pigs, one of the methods they use is nose nudging. Discomfort #6. [Is It Safe For Them? But lets take a closer look at some common causes that can lead your guinea pig to bite another guinea pig. But if these bites are aggressive and accompanied by chasing and full-blown physical fights, then something is wrong, and you should separate them temporarily or permanently. An easy fix: throw in some more food whether it be pellets, vegetables, or more hay. Bring them back together slowly and if the fighting continues then something more permanent will need to occur. One of the main reasons guinea pigs eat each other is because they are overcrowded. As mentioned earlier, guinea pigs need their space from time to time. A companion allows them to express themselves more naturally than they would with a human. Reasons Why Guinea Pigs Bite Each Other: Solutions, Do Komodo Dragons Have Teeth? However, the most common reason for a guinea pig to bite is when they need to pee. These behaviors range from: In this video, for example, the owner has a small cage and two guinea pigs: The majority of these causes can be prevented simply if there is enough space guaranteed for each guinea pig to have their me time and individual access to basic necessities. With the proper precautions in place, your guinea pig family will be able to snuggle up and share lots of love for many years to come. The reason for getting so close to each other is they smell the food and their tastes. Here are some answers to possible questions you might have. If their behavior escalates or becomes too aggressive, however, its time to separate them. Every individual has a different way of expressing his/her love for pets and animals. The occasional nip or two on the ears will be the most intense that it gets. Finally, if your guinea pigs dont have enough space to play and move around freely, they may become frustrated and resort to biting each other. Good luck! If you have two or three guinea pigs in the cage, make sure each piggy has a water bowl, her own toys, a place to sleep. Why do guinea pigs bite their feet? A guinea pig may feel stressed for a variety of reasons. You might be hurting the guinea pig or there might be a deeper physiological issue. However, it is important to keep an eye on them and intervene if you notice any signs of aggression. If you notice your guinea pigs engaging in aggressive behavior, its important to consult a vet. Once youre certain that your cavies are fighting and not playing, you need to break up the fight to prevent serious injuries. Whether you're a curious reader or a dedicated rodent enthusiast, I guarantee my blog will be a valuable and reliable source of information for you. Finally, if youre able, consider adding another guinea pig to the mix. It allows them to identify members of their own species, determine compatibility, and determine whether the other guinea pig is dominant or submissive. Lets explore the reasons behind it so that you can prevent it from getting out of hand! Can Guinea Pigs Eat Strawberries, Tops, and Leaves? If youre still afraid that they fight, especially when youre not around, you can separate the cage with cardboard or any other materials. If your guinea pig feels scared, is startled, or is being bullied by other guinea pigs, it may react by biting you or another guinea pig. Many guinea pigs like to be held, but some don't and might bite if they are stressed out! So But keep in mind that this can also be a sign of pigs resisting mating, which leads back to your role of conscious observer to make sure curious exploration doesnt get out of hand. why do guinea pigs bite each others bums. You need to do your due diligence when pairing them together. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. They enjoy playing and grooming with them. This hands-off approach to parenting carries over into the realm of nutrition, as guinea pigs might eat their own babies if they are desperate for food or if they think the baby is in danger. But if the biting is accompanied by aggressiveness and involves injuring each other, your piggies may be fighting. Walking from nose to bum among guinea pigs is very common. It may be safest to separate them permanently. If you placed two males and one female in one cage, this would most likely end up in a fight as the male cavies fight over the female. This is normal behaviour for piggies.Walking nose to bum is common. To make dominance over fellow guinea pigs, one of the methods they use is nose nudging. Find more about him HERE. If you have a bite that is near an artery, you should consult a veterinarian.