What is wrong with my Guinea Pig?

Question
Hello,

I got my guinea pig about 5 weeks ago, she is 14 weeks old. Lately she has been very moody. Sometimes she'll go from purring and popcorning to screaming and running away.

She has been biting a lot. Sometimes if I go to pet her she will charge at my finger. Other times she will bite my finger so hard that it will bleed a little.

She has no loss of appetite and seems to be a very healthy piggie, she just seems very moody lately. The biting is really worrying me.

I cannot buy her a friend because I sadly do not have enough space or money. I have a dog that she chases around and plays with.

Thank you,

Ally

Answer
It may be that your pig is biting out of fear. Playing with the dog may not be as much fun for her as you think. She is probably chasing the dog because she's scared and trying to make him stay away from her.  Remember that guinea pigs are prey animals and dogs are predators. The natural instinct for a prey animal is to either run for her life or try to chase away the thing she thinks is going to eat her.

Charging at your finger and biting makes me think that's exactly what she's doing. She's trying to defend herself. It will take some patience to earn her trust again but you can do it. I would recommend that you use a towel or something to put over her to pick her up so she doesn't bite you. Keep her wrapped in the towel when you hold her, then gently stroke her head and talk quietly to her. Make sure the dog isn't in the room when you're doing this. She needs to feel safe.

I don't know if you have one of those clear plastic balls that people put hamsters in to "exercise" but if you do use it on her throw it away. Those things are not enjoyable to a tiny animal. They don't run to get their workout, then run because they're terrified of the gigantic world around them and they're trying to get away from it. Guinea pigs are not anatomically built to run on wheels or those balls. People who get a kick out of watching the dog or the cat chase the poor animal inside of it are not thinking about the little creature they've trapped in that ball like bait.

Be patient with her and give her time. She needs to know that she's safe in your arms and that nothing is going to hurt her when she's outside of her cage.