Guinea pigs are a good pet to have around. They are low-tempered and very playful. These creatures are not aggressive and will rarely bite. If this is your first time owning a guinea pig, or you’ve been bitten, you may wonder if guinea pigs bite.
Do guinea pigs bite? Yes, guinea pigs do bite, but it’s usually something that’s causing it. There are several reasons why they may bite you. It can be from holding them too tight and making them feel uncomfortable, feel threatened, or they are in pain. It’s important to know the reason behind their biting because it’s unusual for them to bite.
Is My Guinea Pig Biting Me?
Most of the time, guinea pigs will have no reason to bite you. If they touch you with their mouth, you may think they are biting you, but they are not.
When this happens, it’s often called ‘mouthing’. They are simply just using their mouth to feel you and curious about your smell.
Mouthing also happens when you are feeding them by hand. As they try to grab the food off your fingers, they may use their teeth as well. Usually, once they feel your fingers or hand, they will gently open their mouth.
If your guinea pig was biting you, they will probably bite hard on your finger along with aggressive behavior.
Therefore, your guinea pigs are not biting you, and you have nothing to worry about.
Why Is My Guinea Pig Biting Me?
If your guinea pig is biting you, there will be several reasons what may cause this.
Guinea pigs are generally docile creatures. They are friendly and easy-going, but each has its own personality. Therefore, some are more aggressive than others.
The best way to know whether the guinea pigs are aggressive or not is to ask the person you bought them from. Usually, when the mother is aggressive, the baby guinea pigs will be as well. Again, the aggressive behavior will differ from one guinea pig to another.
Fear is usually the main cause of their biting. When guinea pigs become scared or feel threatened, they will bite in response, whether it’s an animal or a person.
Do Guinea Pig Bites Hurt?
Guinea bites do hurt depending on how hard they bite you. Most of the time, you’ll find them just nibbling at you. It may cause some scratches on the skin, but it won’t break the skin.
If they feel threatened or uncomfortable, they will bite on you very hard. This will cause a break in the skin and will be very painful. Usually, they will bite quickly and let go.
Therefore, it’s recommended to make sure they are comfortable first before handling them.
Is My Guinea Pig Afraid?
Guinea pigs are at the bottom of the food chain, which means they have a lot of predators.
For guinea pigs, fear is a strong factor and this is one of the reasons they bite.
There are different things that may make your guinea pigs scared. The most common one is the other pets in your home. Cats and dogs will make them feel uncomfortable. While these pets won’t eat your cavies, they see them as a threat.
If you’ve just handled your other pets, make sure to wash your hand and other parts of the body that came in touch with them. Guinea pigs have a good sense of smell, and they will become anxious when you pick them up or even come close to them.
Smelling the other pets will make them feel threatened, and they will bite you to defend themselves.
Is My Guinea Pig In Pain?
A Guinea pig that is in pain will be aggravated and will bite you. This is their way of letting you know they hurt and want you to release them.
When handling your guinea pig, be sure to hold them gently. It’s best to hold them with both of your hands, so you won’t squeeze them too tightly.
If the guinea pig has an illness, it may bite you due to the pain. Guinea pigs are great at hiding their illness. This is an instinct they used to avoid getting eaten. Predators will prey on animals that are weak for any easy meal.
Therefore, after holding your guinea pig as gently as possible, and they still try to bite you, it’s best to take them to the veterinary.
How To Prevent Your Guinea Pigs From Biting
The best way to prevent your guinea from biting is to make sure they are in good health and feel safe.
Guinea pigs that are healthy will not likely bite. They are happy and nothing is bothering them.
On the other hand, if the cavies are not healthy, they may bite as a way of communicating with you. They are trying to tell you they are in pain and don’t want to be bothered.
Guinea pigs that feel safe will not bite you. The only time they will bite is if they feel threatened. This means keeping their environment stress-free.
If you have other pets such as cats and dogs, keep them away from the guinea pigs. They see your other pets as a predator and will feel threatened if they get too close.
Also, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling your other pets. Guinea pigs will be able to smell the scent on your hand when you try to handle them. They will act aggressively and will try to bite you thinking your other pet is around.
Conclusion
Guinea pigs are friendly creatures and will rarely resort to biting. If they do bite, it’s usually a reason for it. It’s usually because they are uncomfortable, feel threatened, or injured. For the most part, as long as they are happy, and you make them feel safe, they will never bite you.
