guinea pig bit the other

[caseybishop]

hi! i have 3 piggies, 2 are housed together and have been since january. they get along pretty good, they pick on eachother but that’s normal and when they nip eachother it is just playful and nothing comes from it. today i noticed one of them but the other in the part between the nose and mouth and drew blood. it isn’t that severe and has already dried but what might have led her to bite my other?

 

[piggieminder]

bump

 

[Swissgreys]

It sounds like the bond between them is breaking down.
Once a bite that draws blood has happened it is usually an indication that they have fallen out, and should no longer live together.
You say they pick on each other - this is not normal at all, so they really should be separated to protect both of them.

You may find our bonding guide useful to work out what is normal and what is not.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/bonds-in-trouble.152930/

 

[Piggies&buns]

It does depend on what you mean by picking on each other. Yes, dominance is normal but if wound causing bites have occurred then it does lead to wondering whether what you have been seeing is more than normal dominance and in fact is a bond which hasn’t been working. Nipping is a gesture of power in sows and not necessarily ‘playful‘

 

[caseybishop]

hi all! they have been fine since, i’ve done a lot of research about it and it says ozzie ( the biter) might have been in an off mood, or bored. maybe syd irritated her as she is the more playful one! thank you for your feedback

 

[Piggies&buns]

A bite enough to cause a wound is not because of being bored. Sows do nip as a gesture of power towards the underpig but they dont break the skin.
Its good they've been fine since, but do keep an eye on them.