Why does my guinea pig bite so much?

Question

Everytime I take my guinea pig out of her cage and lay with her she starts biting me, and hard! I heard that guinea pigs rarely bite so what do you think this could mean? I always end up putting her back in her cage early because I can't sit down and watch tv without her biting me and my clothing. Also, sometimes her eyes get a milky substance coming out of them that will go away in like 30 seconds. Any idea what this is? Thank you!

Answer 1

Read http://www.cavyspirit.com/biting.htm

and

http://www.guinealynx.info/eyes.html#dis...

Answer 2

Your guinea pig is probably just getting hungry or being friendly, not knowing it's hurting you. Try having some veggies with you during lap time and whenever she goes to bite you, feed her a veggie. It might keep her happy.

And with the eyes, it's not a weird discharge or an eye infecton. Guinea pigs secrete a milky white supstance that they use to groom themselves. It's just like a shampoo for them. When they don't have human to wash them, that's what keeps them clean so don't worry about it. Your guinea pig is normal, even if it's a biter.

Answer 3

Ditto to what Susan said. It could be cleaning fluid, but most likely your pig might be sick. She could be biting you because she does not feel well. You may want to find a cavysavy vet in your area and bring her in for a check up.

http://www.guinealynx.info/vet.html

Answer 4

She wants to eat something.  Have some lettuce or tomato with you when you hold her.

You can also correct her if she bites.  I would tap the tip of mine's nose and say "No" in a stern voice, and then put her back in her cage.  She liked to be out, so it was punishment.  I'd bring her out after five minutes and try again.  She figured out after a while that the biting should stop.

If there is eye discharge, she may have an infection or allergy.  That might be why she's biting too. (Doesn't feel well.)  Ask a vet if there is any concern.

Answer 5

Guinnea pigs seem to have a keen sense of smell and if you have even a hint of food smell on you, then it will bite, not to be mean, but to litterally "take a bite" of the good stuff.

Secondly, you have set a precidence now for what will happen.  It may think it's either a game, or a way to get back in the cage (for who knows what reason!)

Get a pair of garden gloves and a package of carrots, apples, etc. - something you don't normally give it, and as soon as you take it out give it a treat!  As soon as it bites, put it back and don't give anymore of THOSE goodies.  Those are TRUE treats!  Try again later or the next day.  Once it has the notion that it will not get "tapped", WILL get a treat, and won't be put back, you will slowly begin to win.

Once it is hand trained, don't let too much time get buy.  My granddaughter has a guinnea pig and she began playing less and less with hers and now all the handtraining is gone.

Answer 6

like everyones else has sed, ur guinea may b humgry...so have food with u wen u hold her. and when she bited u tap her noe and tell her no in a im the boss kind of a way...the milky substance is either a cleaning fluid...or the lights to bright 4 her. one of my guineas had a milky discharge around her eyes cause it was too brite, so i went in a dark closet and held her 4 20 min. after i did tht it was all done with.

Answer 7

Your guinea pig is NOT hungry which everyone else seems to think, she has not been hand reared from birth thats all, you need to get her out more so she can learn to trust you and not be frightened

Answer 8

Usually guinea pigs bite when your fingers are too close to or under it's mouth. They also bite when you try to pet either under it's chin or cheeks when they don't have much trust in you or are not comfortable around you. (basically around her face) She might also be nervous too.

Answer 9

Sorry to say, but it would be much better for her to be at the wild. If she bites is because she's not happy where she lives. I know this is not your fault, but all of us should stop having pets, except dogs, that are the only animals really domesticated. Treat her with all your love and tender because she didn't choose to be there.

Thank you.

Answer 10

she doesn't like being out of her cage. and she might have an eye infection.

Answer 11

Guinea pigs are not known for biting, which is why they make such great pets.

If your piggie is biting, it could be that she smells food on your hands. Guinea pigs, especially young ones, like to nibble on just about anything. They "feel" with their mouths, they way a human baby does---they are always putting things in their mouths! My piggies love to nibble my shirt buttons. :P

Try having some parsley with you when you're watching TV. When your piggie starts nibbling, substitute the parsley.

I feel obligated to mention, however, that piggies will also bite if they are in pain. If the biting occurs in response to being petted, you may want to have her treated for mites. Mites can cause petting to be very painful.

The milky substance in the eyes is cleaning fluid. The eyes secrete the fluid and the piggie uses the forearms to wipe the liquid across the facial area to cleanse the fur. Its kind of like soap for them. Its not an infection or anything to be worried about. I think its great you're being observant and noticed it! You'll make a wonderful piggie owner!

Answer 12

maybe shes hungry....or just likes your fingers

Answer 13

get hay and strat  crawling on four legs and jump arooounf or go get he teeth shaved

i had a gunie pig and such

Answer 14

Charlie, that is an ignorant comment.  Guinea pigs are domesticated and you can't put a domestic guinea pig in the wild.  I have never heard of a guinea pig biting.  Maybe you aren't spending enough time with him.  You need to be with him every single day.  Sometimes a guinea pig will chew on your fingers if it is hungry or if it smells food on your hands so wash your hands before holding it.  Also, put wood sticks in the cage so that she can have something to chew on.  They need something to chew on because their teeth are always growing.