Help!

[Bettie.fever]

Help required!
Hi there, I have lots of questions!
I had a piggy a few years ago from when it was a baby and tragically he died.

Yesterday I rescued a male piggy from a home who had him for a month housed with another bore and all they did was fight and keep to there separate houses.

He has a large split in his ear and I can feel large bumps/scabs on his skin is this ok? Do I need to take him to a vet?

How can I make his new life with me more comfortable? He seems to hide all day and like to be in/under everything and just sit in the dark all day.

I'd like to expand his diet he seems to only eat fresh grass and carrots. - I don't know what he used to be fed but he hasn't touched other veggies I put in his cage or the dry food.

He also makes no sounds! This worries me' that he is not happy.

Thanks so much for your help!
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[CandyFloss]

Hi,

If I were you I would take him to the vet to get all the issues (ear,bumps,scabs etc) checked out.

Since you just got him yesterday he could just be hiding and being quiet from being scared - once he gets used to you he should come out his shell. Give him time and keep trying other veggies and lots of nice smelling hay.

I'm sure once he settles in and gets his ailments all under control he will be happier. If he was able to get on with another piggy one day maybe a friend would be good for him - but I would get him well and settled in first.

PS Welcome to the forum

 

[mikulinek]

Hi

Post above is spot on. If you have an doubts or concerns, you should got to the vet. I'm a big believer in going to the vet initially just to have a check-up, get to know your vet etc.

As for settling in, most piggies take a while (around a week or so) to settle into a new environment. Then they can take anything from a few weeks to several months to begin to trust their owner and be comfortable being picked up etc. (it depends as much on the piggy's personality as anything else).

top of that, you have done something wonderful and rescued a piggy but that means he is a little traumatised from his experience of sharing a cage with a boar he didn't like. This might mean he needs a little longer to settle in.

The bumps and scabs could be the result of fighting or they could be mites (and scratches...) so I would definitley have a cavy savvy vet have a look at them if you have one nearby

Best of luck and welcome to the GPF - hope to see some pics of your piggy soon

 

[Bettie.fever]

I was instructed by the owner not house him with anyone but i know they are much happier with there own kind. He seems to enjoy sitting on my stomic wrapped in something and I had no dramas clipping his over grown nails today I hope this means he's warming up to me.

Any suggestions as to the best way of getting him used to being handled ( I don't think he has been for over a month or so)

Thanks so much for the replies

Also I'm noticing him scratching himself from time to time (about 6-8 times a day) could this be mite related?

 

[Wiebke]

Franky, I would have your boy checked out by a vet; he looks like he's having issues that need to be treated (inlcuding mites).

When he is better in himself, you could try introducing him to a baby boy, but you may face the same problem once the baby boar reaches the stroppy teenage months. Two boars need lots of space - ideally 5x2 ft.

The other possibility would be to have him neutered so he can live with a girl or two after a wait of 4-6 weeks after the operation. That way, the dominance issue won't come into play anymore and he will be a very happy boar indeed! It pays to find a good and experienced vet for the op, as that can contribute enormously to a smooth op and recovery.

Best of luck! I am looking forward to pics of your boy. It seems taht you are taking very good care of him!