newbie with newbie problems

OliverBean · #1 06-29-06, 12:20 am

Hi there! As you can see, I am new to this forum and I have a few questions about my guinea pig Oliver. Okay, first question I have is, what is the correct way to pick up a guinea pig? I was taught one hand under the belly and one hand supporting the back, but when I do it this way Ollie kicks quite a bit and it seems awkward. What is most comfortable for him?

Okay, the next question. I've had Ollie about a month now and he is really starting to 'come out of his shell' so to speak. He is getting alot more comfortable around me and he has started nipping quite a bit. Not just love nips, well, it starts off as love nips and then turns into harder bites. I always wash my hands before I handle him so I am pretty sure I dont smell like food to him. It is mostly when I am holding him, if there is skin anywhere near his face he nibbles on it. I am only concerned because my little brother was holding him today and Ollie nipped him kind of hard on the hand. Is this normal, are we doing something wrong to provoke this?

Thank you sooo much!!!

**PiggieMom** · #2 06-29-06, 12:26 am

Pigs just don't like to be in the air. Mine kick too. As long as you are supporting them so they don't hurt their back, get them out of the air as soon as possible to cause less stress. I usually stoop down so that my chest is close to their cage, scoop them up and bring them straight to my chest.

As far as biting goes, it could be a number of things. This page has a lot of good information. http://www.cavyspirit.com/biting.htm

**Dr Doughnut** · #3 06-29-06, 12:29 am

You really should have 2. Im suprised in all these topics no one posted about that

**PiggieMom** · #4 06-29-06, 12:33 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Doughnut

You really should have 2. Im suprised in all these topics no one posted about that

In the link I provided it mentions that as a potential source of the problem.

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #5 06-29-06, 12:47 am

Where did you get him? He's probably biting due to mites. He's uncomfortable.

**Ruby77** · #6 06-29-06, 05:53 am

What age is he as babies at some stage tend to bite, it only seems to be a stage they go through though. Say NO firmly when he does it and keep your hands away from his mouth,

!
Check on his coat, if he has wee tiny black bits on his hair he could have motes!

**HowietheGreat** · #7 06-29-06, 06:37 am

Maisey grew out of it. Check the site Piggiemom sent you and let us know how things are going. Are you going to get him a buddy? I absolutely love his name by the way. It sounds like a character from a childrens book.

**C&K** · #8 06-29-06, 08:05 am

Quote:

You really should have 2. Im suprised in all these topics no one posted about that

*sigh* In all these topics? there was only one response on this thread before yours!

It is posted all over this forum that two are better then one. I know you posted a similar comment a few weeks back about being "surprised that no one had mentioned it yet to someone" when indeed, if you read all the posts, it had been mentioned several times!

If you want to make a point about two guinea pigs being better then one (which is true) then by all means, post it and why, or a link to why, but why is there the need to bash all the other members in doing so?

I personally would not want to read every post, with people getting bashed up for not mentioning something. You have a a point, make it, but try and tone down the attitude a little. It isn't helpful! Honestly you have not been around long enough to make such judgements on this forum. I have yet to see a lone guinea pig owner get very far without being told they need a companion for their friend! It IS plastered everywhere, thank you very much!

**C&K** · #9 06-29-06, 08:09 am

Quote:

Okay, the next question. I've had Ollie about a month now and he is really starting to 'come out of his shell' so to speak. He is getting alot more comfortable around me and he has started nipping quite a bit. Not just love nips, well, it starts off as love nips and then turns into harder bites. I always wash my hands before I handle him so I am pretty sure I dont smell like food to him. It is mostly when I am holding him, if there is skin anywhere near his face he nibbles on it. I am only concerned because my little brother was holding him today and Ollie nipped him kind of hard on the hand. Is this normal, are we doing something wrong to provoke this?

Some pigs will nip if they want to go back in their cage, they don't want to make a mess on you! I would think he is trying to tell you something, it is just a matter of what?

For your brother, I would designate a lap pillow or cuddle cup to put him in, then teach your brother just to give back scratches and stay away from the face.

**Percy's Mom** · #10 06-29-06, 08:54 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruby77

Check on his coat, if he has wee tiny black bits on his hair he could have motes!

Actually, mites are microscopic and not likely to be seen at all.

To answer your original question about picking up your pig, I usually scoop mine up with one hand under his tummy and one under his butt and bring him to my chest, then move the tummy hand to his back. Percy seems most comfortable this way. My girls are still getting used to me, so they squirm no matter what.

Definitely check that link on biting for a few different ideas. It could be that Oliver is just exploring and testing things with his mouth. He could be nibbling because you have something on your hands or has to go to the bathroom and wants to be put back down.

As far as having one pig or multiple, at least two would be best. Cavies are herd animals and really do better with others of their own kind. If you need help finding guinea pigs in your area to adopt, please let us know where you live (city, state, country), and I'm sure some of the other forum members will make suggestions or help you in your search.

**Ruby77** · #11 06-29-06, 05:55 pm

I know that mites can't be seen but the wee tiny black bits on the hair usually mean that there are mites there as that is their pooh!
How would you look for mites?

**SugarSpice** · #12 06-29-06, 06:05 pm

welcome to the site . We want pigtures !

**SugarSpice** · #13 06-29-06, 06:13 pm

Im sure that mites are microscopic(sp?). Chances are that there poo is not bigger than they are . My pigs nip when ever I have them out and they want to go potty .There are many things that can be causing the nipping , Im sure with some research you may find out whats the cause and find a solution .

**CavySpirit** · #14 06-29-06, 06:22 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruby77

I know that mites can't be seen but the wee tiny black bits on the hair usually mean that there are mites there as that is their pooh!

Huh? If you don't KNOW something as fact, please do not post supposition or guesses on this forum.

**PiggieMom** · #15 06-29-06, 08:59 pm

You check for mites by the symptoms they cause: excessive itching, sensitivity to touch, shedding, and eventually sores,scabs and hairloss.

**C&K** · #16 06-29-06, 11:18 pm

Quote:

I know that mites can't be seen but the wee tiny black bits on the hair usually mean that there are mites there as that is their pooh!
How would you look for mites?

I think you are confused with fleas. That is how I was told to check for fleas by my vet 20 years ago. He called flea dirt "pepper".

I am sure the waste product from a microscopic creature would be microscopic itself.

As for how to test for them, you could do a painful skin scrapping and then look with a microscope at the skin you scrapped off. However it is painful and results in a lot of false negatives, as mites on the pig, may not end up in the sample!

The way most people diagnose is as PiggieMom says, by symptoms!

**Ruby77** · #17 06-30-06, 06:56 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by CavySpirit

Huh? If you don't KNOW something as fact, please do

Thank you PiggieMom for this useful post, says:
HowietheGreat (06-29-06)

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