Why does my guinea pig bite on his cage?
Question
Why does my male guinea pig bite on his cage all the time?
Answer
Guinea pigs have front teeth that grow throughout their lives. Part of their normal behavior is sharpening these teeth by biting on wood or other hard surfaces. Denying your guinea pig this behavior will cause overgrowth of his front teeth, which is very unhealthy.
You can channel your guinea pig’s biting behavior by giving him a hard object, such as a block of wood or carrots. Check with your veterinarian for other ideas for appropriate chew toys or food items.
For more information about caring for your guinea pig, see the Pet Care Library article Guinea Pig Care.
This question was answered by Dr. Merry Crimi, hospital director of Gladstone Veterinary Clinic in Portland, Oregon.
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