Need Help Bad/Any Advise?

[GizmoGP]

Need Help Bad/Any Advise?

Hello, I am new here and new to guinea pigs I got my piggy from a friend of mine after spending every minute of the day searching and reading on guinea pigs and anticipating the birth of my new "baby" He is now about 3 months old and has become a real terror at times. My friend held him constantly since birth. I only hold him a few times a day for about 30 mins at a time, but talk to him constantly (he's in the same room with me all day long he sits right beside me.....I work from home) He doesn't seem to like to be picked up no matter how easily I do it. I try not to lift him up but rather scoop him so he doesn't feel like he's going to fall or be dropped. He doesn't seem to want to be bothered. When I do pick him up all he wants to do is bite......CONSTANTLY. I have no clue as to what to do for this but it's getting to the point where it's really starting to hurt. I do all the things I have read about (making sure I have no food on my hands and they are washed ect ect) When he's not biting me he will lay real still and leave me lots of really nice surprises on my lap (sometimes 2 different kinds of surprises....both pee and beans lol) So, now I get paranoid if he's being too still or too quiet because I wonder what he's up to. lol He pees EVERYWHERE in his cage. He goes in his log cabin (where he's supposed to go to sleep) and pees in there, he pees at the edge of the stairs, in every single corner of the cage, where ever he feels like peeing he does it. I always scoop it out and clean it with some stuff that's supposed to make them NOT return to the same spot again.....it doesn't work. Not for him. Usually after I clean it out I will stick some wet bedding (not a whole lot just a small chunk) in 1 corner (always the same corner) and when I put him back in I put him back there where that spot is and some of that soiled bedding thinking maybe he would get the hint if I did it long enough.......NOPE he refuses to do it in one spot. He likes making messes all day long for me to clean up instead. lol Maybe he's starting to go through some Guinea Pig teenage adolescence thing or something. Who knows, but I know I need some advise and some help on what to do with my problems. I know from raising many animals it's just a lot of consistency but I do want to hold my pig without having chunks taken out of me all the time. He doesn't have mites either (I read somewhere.....I think on this board that pigs that have mites will bite when handled) A lady at the pet stores advise to me was "put him in time out" ok lady.....sure what ever. lol I don't see how that's supposed to work for any animal. It sure doesn't work for kids at least not any I know. Anyway, I would appreciate any help or advise I can get. Thanks.

Bridge =)

 

[Mish o Toma]

Re: Need Help Bad/Any Advise?

First, and foremost, how do you know your piggie doesn't have mites? If the pet store told you he didn't, I suggest you think twice about their advice. Take him to the vet right now. Those people at the pet store have no idea what they are talking about (as you say from their telling you to put your piggie in time out. hmph!) While you're at the vet, I would have "him" sexed, check for a URI and also get his teeth checked (this could be part of his problem)

As well, not many Guinea Pigs like to be picked up. He should calm down once in your lap. Does he start biting awhile after you pick him up? Or just start biting you right away? because if he starts it awhile afterwards, I'd say it's his way of saying "Put me back in my cage" or "I gotta go pee!" Try feeding treats while he's in your lap. Maybe you should check out the <a href="https://www.cavyspirit.com/biting.htm " target="_new">Cavy Spirit</a>page. It has useful information.

Guinea Pigs pee and poop everywhere. It's a fact of life. I can't tell you what else to do. Some piggies will never be trained...

You also only talk about one Guinea Pig. So, may I make a recommendation? Get another one. Those furry things are the most social of creatures, and this time, get one from a rescue. The pet store is one of the worst places ever to get a piggie. Maybe you should read up on some links at <a href="https://www.guineapigcages.com" target="_new">Cavy Cages</a> and at <a href="https://www.guinealynx.info." target="_new">Guinea Lynx</a>

 

[GizmoGP]

Re: Need Help Bad/Any Advise?/Mish o Toma

Thanks for your post but you must have misread it. I mentioned I got him from a friend who had held him constantly since birth. He's been to the vet, sexed and checked out. My vet (who I have gone to for yrs with all my rodents and my 2 dogs) said at his age he wouldn't have a problem with his teeth and didn't see anything wrong. He's a pretty good dr. and is always very concerned about my animals and even checks up on them (My female dog has real bad allergies) My piggie is just a baby.
The pet store I went to was to check them out and see if they took kittens because my sister has some to get rid of pretty soon. Their policy seems so strict and picky but to look at their place, their animals and to smell it you would never know it. Their rabbits had droppings stuck to them, all their piggies were in cedar and stunk, and the lady that worked there put a rat on me (she's the one who gave the time out "advise") and I couldn't stand him. He smelled so bad it grossed me out. She thought I was afraid of him but I am not afraid of rodents at all. I just couldn't get past his smell....poor thing. Not to mention his cage was so small and there were about 6 rats in there. The dogs were curly white haired puppies (but not poodles) and their hair was yellowish, and dirty looking. The lizards cages were nasty. It was just gross and I thought to myself how dare you talk about your picky policies with me this place is pathetic. Needless to say we weren't there long.
Anyway, (sorry to get off track there) normally like I mentioned I scoop my piggie up so both of my hands are securly around him. He doesn't seem to like just sitting on my lap. He's real wiggly on my lap so normally I have him against my chest with his rear supported and petting his back. I tried to give him treats and his chew sticks but he only wants to bite and searches for my fingers and pushes the other stuff away. He normally starts biting me right away just as soon as he's out of his cage.
I don't think my piggie will ever be trained. I haven't been successful at training my rabbits at all in the past.
I thought about getting another piggie but my husband wouldn't go for it. He says we have more than we need and nothing else is coming into this house. lol
Thanks again for your post. I better go. Over look any mistakes. LOL My eyes have really gotten blurry so I guess that's my cue to go to bed. lol


Bridge =)



<<First, and foremost, how do you know your piggie doesn't have mites? If the pet store told you he didn't, I suggest you think twice about their advice. Take him to the vet right now. Those people at the pet store have no idea what they are talking about (as you say from their telling you to put your piggie in time out. hmph!) While you're at the vet, I would have "him" sexed, check for a URI and also get his teeth checked (this could be part of his problem)

As well, not many Guinea Pigs like to be picked up. He should calm down once in your lap. Does he start biting awhile after you pick him up? Or just start biting you right away? because if he starts it awhile afterwards, I'd say it's his way of saying "Put me back in my cage" or "I gotta go pee!" Try feeding treats while he's in your lap. Maybe you should check out the Cavy Spiritpage. It has useful information.

Guinea Pigs pee and poop everywhere. It's a fact of life. I can't tell you what else to do. Some piggies will never be trained...

You also only talk about one Guinea Pig. So, may I make a recommendation? Get another one. Those furry things are the most social of creatures, and this time, get one from a rescue. The pet store is one of the worst places ever to get a piggie. Maybe you should read up on some links at Cavy Cages and at Guinea Lynx >>

 

[Briana D]

Re: Need Help Bad/Any Advise?/Mish o Toma

I agree with everything that Mish o Toma has said. Definitely get your pig treated for mites. He'll need 3 shots of Ivermectin 7-10 days apart. Check www.guinealynx.com for more information.

Simply having your pig looked at will not tell you if he has mites. Skin scrapings aren't even that accurate so I wouldn't put your pig through that pain when they are most inconclusive. Treat for mites and if your pig is still the way you describe hopefully you'll find the reasoning behind it.

 

[lchap87]

Re: Need Help Bad/Any Advise?/Mish o Toma

im no expert but my first pig sounds just like what your pig does. I also had him checked out and was told hes teeth were fine and he didnt have mites. I never could get him to sit with me EVER. I have a friend who is really good with pigs and he wouldnt even sit with her. Oh well. Hope he will sit with you soon.

~Laura

 

[GizmoGP]

Re: Need Help Bad/Any Advise?

Hello, thanks for the reply. So, your suggestion to me is even though my vet says he doesn't have mites to go out and buy medicine for mites and put it on him anyway?

Bridge <img src=(broken link removed) ALT=" >D">

 

[GizmoGP]

Re: Need Help Bad/Any Advise?/Laura

Hey, thanks for the post He was actually calmer when I first got him and the whole trip home than he is now. Who knows if he will ever be really tame or not. Maybe that long trip home affected him. lol Although it took him a couple weeks after being home until he started acting like this.

Bridge :evil:

 

[michaelince]

Re: Need Help Bad/Any Advise?/Laura

First off it <em>could</em> be mites - From what I understand mites can effectively lay dormant and then break out - that could explain why there was no problem for the first couple of weeks and why your friend and the vet didn't notice anything to indicate mites.

My boys only chew on me if they want to pee (they poop anywhere but get twitchy when they want to pee so I put them back in their cages) or if they're bored. Do you feed him while he's on your lap? That would keep his teeth occupied. If you use an old towel on your lap the poops and pee won't be a problem.
It could be that as handling him has become so unpleasant for you that he's sensing your feelings and reacting to them...

I hope you get him settled soon.

P.S. I've not managed to toilet train my boys yet (they're 3).

Have alook at this link on biting www.cavyspirit.com/biting.htm

 

[Briana D]

Re: Need Help Bad/Any Advise?

How did you vet determine that your pig didn't have mites?