Fed up, reaussurance please

[Sharon.Mackay]

Hi everyone. I have 3 piggies living together. Jem (1 year old) and Dexter and Spike (around 6-8 months) Dexter and Jem are doing fine but Spike seems to hate me! Jem is very sociable and Dexter is making progress every day.
He enjoyed a cuddle from my friend last week but wont let me near him, he needs to go to the vet tonight for his teeth and i know he will become even more withdrawn after that. He wont come for treats and if i pick him up he scratches and wriggles. Even if i wrap him he manages to wriggle out. I feel as though he is getting worse, or maybe i am worrying about it more. I have had him since a baby and he was handled a lot, i just don't understand. I feel like the worse guinea pig mummy to him

 

[Toffeewoffee]

I have 3 piggies together, Lilly a neutered boar, 3.5 years old, Minnie (lillys daughter) just over 3 years old, and Toffee, just over a year old.

Minnie was born in our household and has always been with us, but 3 years on she is still a very shy piggy, she runs when you put your hand in the cage and hates haing cuddles she is always trying to get back in the cage, the other 2 love cuddles and fusses.

I think some pigs just dont like contact, they see us as feeders and thats it. It just takes alot of time and patience and taking things at their pace.

xx

 

[Wiebke]

Don't be discouraged; some piggies are just like that! As much as I love my surprise baby Tegan, she doesn't like being picked up and cuddled much, but she loves coming up to me for a treat. Medical treatment makes it worse. Thankfully, piggies will generally relax again once their treatment is over and you go back to "normal".

 

[Sharon.Mackay]

Thanks guys, i know I'm being paranoid but sometimes you just need to hear it from someone else! I have 5 piggies and 4 of them are happy to be handled. So i can get my cuddles from them and be patient with Spikey! I suppose I just assumed that because he isn't getting lots of affection from me, that he must be unhappy. But he's vocal and lively, eats well and has a glossy coat. My friend held him no problem, but then she hasn't been poking around his mouth and subjecting him to vet trips and other unpleasantness! I think i have underestimated his memory, and association with me and nastiness. Poor little love.
Thank you for your words of encouragement xx>>>

 

[gizzy]

Don't be discouraged; some piggies are just like that! As much as I love my surprise baby Tegan, she doesn't like being picked up and cuddled much, but she loves coming up to me for a treat. Medical treatment makes it worse. Thankfully, piggies will generally relax again once their treatment is over and you go back to "normal".

That is so true some piggies are just like that , Spike sounds a lot like a few of my Boar's and Sows ! they are all different.

You could try "re conditioning" Spike by putting him on your lap in a snuggle pouch and just sit there and relax , for 20-30 mins a day or more .

This may help, as whilst he feels that he is in an environment that is dark, safe and under his control , But at the same time he is still able to feel your presence, and get used to you , and in time hopefully he will accept you.

This has worked for stressed out pigs that l have had