If their behavior escalates or becomes too aggressive, however, its time to separate them. This will help to reduce aggression and fighting. This will help to reduce aggression and fighting. Biting or nibbling is a means of communicating for guinea pigs. In fact, in the wild, guinea pigs live in social groups consisting of a dominant male, several females, and their offspring. If you have more than one guinea pig, it's important to make sure they have enough space. Do Guinea Pigs Bite? Why Your Guinea Pig Is Biting 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. Lets explore the reasons behind it so that you can prevent it from getting out of hand! You can do this by introducing fun toys like tunnels, balls, ladders or hideaways into their cages. There are some simple things you can do to discourage your guinea pig from biting. If your guinea pigs cage is not large enough, has few toys, or lacks hiding spots, he may become bored and turn to chew on his cage as a way to pass the time. Separate the two for the night or even up to a couple of days. #2. Rumblestrutting is also normal behaviour. If youre still afraid that they fight, especially when youre not around, you can separate the cage with cardboard or any other materials. Read More: 4 Reasons Why Is My Guinea Pig Jumping And Twitching | Learn How To Cure Them. Reasons Why Guinea Pigs Bite #1. The good news is that guinea pigs are quite vocal, so its easy to tell when theyre fighting. The guinea pigs age may be a factor and if they have lived alone or with other guinea pigs before. They may also stop eating and drinking normally. Probably the main reason guinea pigs pee on people has to do with whether or not they can hold it, but perhaps some of the same reasons guinea pigs spray each other also might hold true with peeing on people. This behavior isn't unexpected from any hungry animal, but there are ways to help decrease the likelihood of it occurring. Causes, Symptoms & Treatment. Can Damaged Kidneys Be Healed And Reversed? READ MORE: Do Guinea Pigs Make Good Pets? It is also seen that people hold the guinea pigs in their arms or cuddle with them by taking them under their feet and sometimes show affection by hugging them. If they are especially hungry or are fighting over a favorite food item, they may nip at you or another guinea pig. Here are some answers to possible questions you might have. Guinea pigs can be wonderful, loving companions if they are given the right environment to flourish. You can check out my ultimate. Make sure the guinea pig cages have enough food, enough toys, and enough toys. Principal's Message; About BAMS Course; Future After BAMS Course And while there can be a dark side to these furry little creatures, there might be things that they hate you arent aware of! The most common reason is that they are bored and looking for something to do. In some cases, guinea pigs may just not be compatible with each other and can start to fight or bite. Don't make things that could stress them out Step #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. 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. That being said, the likelihood that they start fighting with the purpose of eating each other is pretty low. You can rely on him to find the facts. 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. How to Decipher Guinea Pig Sounds and Body Language - The Spruce Pets Wouldnt it be nice if we could greet our guinea pigs with those words each morning? Their behavior, including biting each others bums, helps to determine their social rankings within the pair or group. Handle your cavy in a quiet area without unusually loud sounds. Make sure that your guinea pig doesn't appear to be in pain if it's trying to bite. Why do guinea pigs bite each others bums? However, the most common reason for a guinea pig to bite is when they need to pee. Your guinea pig may have gotten confused and thought your fingers were actually its chew stick or snack. 3. Breeding your own guinea pigs may sound like a lot of fun, but there are many risks involved with the birthing process and too many guinea pigs are simply a lot of work. Sometimes, guinea pigs may bite each other out of boredom. Why Do Guinea Pigs Bite Each Other Bums| Is It Concerning? - Rodent Facts If another guinea pig is bullying it, you may need to permanently separate them. Also, it should be large enough for the pigs to retreat to if they get frightened during introductions. easy canvas painting with black background. It is somewhat difficult to distinguish between play biting and actual fighting in guinea pigs. The majority of fights between guinea pigs tend to be caused by food. If theres hair in one of their mouths, the next movement will be a bite. We may ignore the body language signals of guinea pigs, and they will react with anger. Knowing why a guinea pig may bite and how to avoid or stop it is very beneficial. Guinea pigs do not simply bite each others ears out of hostility. Care. Some guinea pigs may be able to return to living together based on the severity of the injury. This can be problematic, especially for kids that don't understand why their beloved pet would bite them. One of the main reasons guinea pigs eat each other is because they are overcrowded. If you intervene, it may be time to decide if it is time to separate them temporarily or permanently. You can try to look for any visible injuries, but its best to invite a qualified veterinarian to diagnose any underlying problems. This is normal for hungry animals, but it may be prevented. To eat the poopor not eat the poophmmm Yes! why do guinea pigs bite each others bums. | Listen What Experts Say, Why My Female Guinea Pig Mounting Another Female? Short answer: Biting and nibbling are simply their means of communication. Your guinea pig is a kind of rodent, and like all rodents, it learns more about its . If your guinea pigs are fighting, the best thing you can do is to neuter or spay them. Biting an opponents bum would be a particularly effective way to injure them and potentially gain an advantage in a fight. Benefits of adopting a guinea pig companion include: As social creatures ourselves, we often feel better or thrive from living together with other people. Materials can be purchased online and bedding can be found in large quantities at the pet store. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. [Greeting Your Pet]. When playing becomes harmful to either guinea pig, it may result in injuries, sickness, or death. While no one is sure why guinea pigs bite or any pets do the things they do, there are some good ideas backed up by strong evidence that we can discuss. They don't bite often and they don't bite without a reason, but it is important to know that these fluffy creatures can bite. You may hear them squealing or make sudden aggressive moves when they feel threatened. Avoid handling your guinea pig more than necessary if you fear it is ill or in discomfort. If you notice any of these behaviors, its important to separate them immediately. Most of the time, if the guinea pigs were purchased and raised together at the same time, there is less of a chance for the two to get into a biting match. Guinea pigs are one of the most popular small pets due to their sweet, gentle nature. Why do guinea pigs bite each others bums - Baltimore Friends Records It is their way of exclaiming that you need to let them go. Whining is very common among pairs or groups of guinea pigs. The ideal cage size for two guinea pigs ranges from 7.5 square feet to 10.5 square feet the larger the guinea pig cages, the better. Escalated fights will involve the competing guinea pigs mounting each other and lunging or bitting. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Guinea pigs, of course, can bite. Make use of a clean bandage or cloth to put pressure on the bite or scrape to stop the blood from coming out. You can solve this by including a wide variety of toys so that they never run out of physically stimulating objects. Why Guinea Pigs Bite and How to Stop It - The Spruce Pets They may be acting out due to discomfort or lacking nutrients in their diet. 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. If your guinea pig is not getting enough hay, pellets, or vegetables in his diet, he may start eating his cage in an attempt to get the nutrients he needs. Several behavioral facts that you can see if guinea pigs are about to fight are: Lunging and shoving each other with their noses. 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. However, spaying and neutering tend to be quite invasive, and some people may prefer to keep their pets intact. You might have observed that guinea pigs suck other guinea pig ears and they go along with each other. Separation may need to happen, and introductions can be repeated another day. Another reason includes they got along so well with each other and they want to enjoy the company and want to eat the same food. Guinea pigs with a history of fighting may be risky to house with other guinea pigs. If your guinea pig bites you or its cage, it may be attempting to wear down its teeth. Placing two dominant guinea pigs in one cage will always end up in fights. However, guinea pigs have been known to nibble or bite on occasion. Biting results primarily from fear, but there are several other biological and environmental reasons for such behavior. Apply a sterile dressing to the wound and pat it dry. If you suspect your guinea pig is sick or in pain, don't handle it more than necessary and bring them into the vet. Knowing the differences can help you learn about your guinea pigs personalities and if their behavior is normal. The tissue may be bruised if you scrape. It may carry on for long if one of the piggies refuses to back down. But if the biting is accompanied by aggressiveness and involves injuring each other, your piggies may be fighting. Providing additional hideouts such as hay cubes and tunnels can also help to give them more areas to explore. What Are Their Health Benefits? If you realize that your guinea pigs biting behavior is no longer due to dominance or socializing, they may be incompatible. Watch for safe and friendly behavior as well. Learn how to create a happy, healthy home for your pet. Why are my guinea pigs biting each others butt? How To Get A Puppy To Nap During The Day? They fight to keep the herd together. Sometimes, dominance can appear aggressive and include behaviors such as biting, scratching, squealing, or worse. Whether it be a signal to announce that one guinea pig is hogging up all the food or wont share the hiding house, biting is a form of communication. It is important that they be housed in an area that is large enough for them to roam about, as well as stocked with a variety of food and water. Guinea pigs sniff one anothers bottoms to gather information about each other. An animal lover at heart, he shares his home with a dog and four rescue cats and has a passion for writing about animals big and small. It will continue until the less dominant one succumbs, or gives up and allows the other to dominate. Do Guinea Pigs Bite? - Guinea Pigs Hub Guinea pigs may bite at each others bums for many reasons, but it does not mean it is a bad thing. Adult guinea pigs tend to assert dominance and younger ones tend to be more submissive. Finally, male guinea pigs can become aggressive and bite each other when its time for mating. Witnessing your guinea pigs biting each other may be concerning, but being able to tell if it is normal behavior or not can be imperative. Senior guinea pigs with high social status may bite the ears of lower-ranking pigs. How are you today? How do guinea pigs behave around new cage mates? Blood can be drawn at this point and as the owner, it is up to you to separate the battling pigs. By taking these precautions and following the tips outlined above, you should be able to help your guinea pigs live happily. They may start biting their cage mates or even the pet owner if he or she gets in their way.. Guinea pigs may bite gently when playing around in their cages. Manage Settings An easy fix: throw in some more food whether it be pellets, vegetables, or more hay. Do Guinea Pigs Bite? Everything to Know About Guinea Pig & Human If you have two guinea pigs that consistently fight and bite each other, it might be best to keep them in separate cages. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. When guinea pigs are playing, they will chase each other around the cage, play with toys, whistle, purr, and even eat together. Understand a guinea pig's reasons for biting. The guinea pig is more likely to try to understand why his companion has died, by doing so they might nibble on the body. So among all guinea pigs also have a way of expressing their love to their fellow beings. My parents have a cockatiel who is 36 years old this year. For such little animals, guinea pigs can have a nasty bite. In a situation where there is a noticeable injury, it is good to visit the vet. Feeling Stressed Various things may stress out a guinea pig. The noise could be due to several reasons such as traffic, loud TV, thunderstorms and the like. Adrienne Kruzer is a veterinary technician with more than 15 years of experience providing healthcare to domestic and exotic animals. Meet Lisa G, the founder and author of RodentsFact.com. Guinea pigs do not interact with each other so well. A Comprehensive Guide. Bonding can take a few hours to a few weeks. 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. They may squeal, sniff or bite each others bums, or walk nose-bum throughout their enclosure. Why Is My Guinea Pig Shivering When Held? Here in this article, we will try to find out the reasons why do guinea pigs smell each others bums? Finally, if youre able, consider adding another guinea pig to the mix. Do Guinea Pigs Bite | Kaytee They do so to enjoy the company of other guinea pigs. To make dominance over fellow guinea pigs, one of the methods they use is nose nudging. It's the biggest motivation to help us to make the site better. So why do guinea pigs bite each other? Her passion for these often-overlooked animals shines through in her in-depth articles and engaging writing style. Now that you understand the basics of sniffing and what it entails, lets look at what we can do to help guinea pigs become tolerant companions. Generally, the submissive submits, and the dominant takes offense. Do not rush introductions. But if the biting is accompanied by aggressiveness and involves injuring each other, your piggies may be fighting. Its best to introduce them on a neutral ground. So, you can place them in separate cages and bring them out for introduction. If your guinea pig has never bitten before and suddenly nipped at you, this is a good indication that it may be sick. Do Guinea Pigs Bite: Stress pic.twitter.com/7IHMCk51Z1. Why Do Guinea Pigs Lick You or Other Guinea Pigs? Read his latest ARTICLES. Continue reading to learn how to differentiate between biting each others bums for playful reasons or something else. In the absence of their owners, they feel so depressed and lonely. It is often seen that guinea pigs smell each others bums and try to get close to other guinea pigs. Generally, guinea pigs are fighting for dominance or territory. It is also essential to note that some guinea pigs may carry a type of Streptococcus bacterium in their mouths called Streptococcus mutans. Discomfort #6. Its also advisable to make sure there are hideouts within the cage. As mentioned earlier, guinea pig dominance behavior can last a couple of weeks. When ill, your guinea pig may hurt. Age has also been noted to help minimize the amount of biting. #1 I recently had to have one of the guinea pig's teeth filed down at the vet's. Although she has recovered and seems to be eating O.K.