Nerves After Escaping

[HannahPiggie]

This morning my 16 week old piggie Martin escaped from my hands as I was going to put him back in his cage after laptime. He is usually very settled on my lap and just lets me pick him up and put him back with no problems. But this time he wriggled free and dropped quite far onto the carpet and then ran around the lounge and behind his cage. I blocked it off with a small animal carrier at one end and eventually he ran into that which I then picked up and help up to his cage which he then ran back into. I have left him for an hour to calm down (and myself to calm down as it was all a bit scary!) and then lifted up his house a bit to check that he wasn't injured. He looked terrified and shot out of his house trying to get away from me. I am hoping this means he isn't injured? But I am very worried that this will undo all the bonding we have done over the 2 months I have had him. And I have to clean his cage, so need to get him out so I can clean. I have no idea how I will do this now Don't want to traumatise him more, but also want him to have a clean cage and want to maintain the good relationship we have developed. Any thoughts?

 

[the boys]

I doubt it will do anything to the bond you have.
I have dropped both my boys (not on purpose)
They wriggled and I couldn't keep my grip.

They have also escaped my indoor pen god knows how many times.
just leave him to calm down then try him with a bit of his favourite veg he will soon take it.
So the trust will still be there.
I've still got the bond with my boys

 

[katew]

Poor you - it is scary when that happens. We had something similar with one of ours a few days ago - he wriggled so hard that he fell out of our hands quite far onto grass. We were worried that he had hurt himself. We left him alone until he was ready to come out of his house then watched from a distance to make sure he was moving normally. He was fine and it didn't affect the bonding at all.

I would recommend leaving him to be quiet for a bit longer to get over the shock - if you delay cleaning his cage for a bit it won't hurt. When he is ready he will come out of his house and you can check him over then - maybe push a few treats through the bars ?

Good luck.

 

[HannahPiggie]

Thank you both lots. I am scared for him because it has been one thing after another since I got both my boys. First they fought and had to be separated and now this. Martin's brother already hates to be handled and I don't try now unless I have to clean the cage out. So I really value my cuddles with Martin. And obviously I just want him to be happy and healthy

 

[katew]

You sound so caring that I am sure he will be happy and healthy.

I'm sorry you have had a rough start with your pigs. It sounds a bit drastic but had you thought about having them neutered ?- then you could put girls with them and it would probably improve behaviour all round. However, that would mean more piggies and you would need to be confident in your vet.

 

[HannahPiggie]

Awww thank you katew. Yes, I thought about that and would love to do it, but unfortunately I live in a rented flat and it was a battle to get my landlord to allow me to have piggies at all, and in the end he gave permission but said it could strictly only be for two. Sad for Martin and Saga. But recently they both climb up the bars by each other and sniff and talk to each other. So I wonder when they are over their hormones whether I might be able to reintroduce. Thanks for the advice on this situation though - I will leave Martin until tomorrow. I've put some veggies in his bowl and some ReadiGrass right by the entrance to his house. And while out of the room I heard him drink from his bottle. So hopefully by tomorrow I can try to do the clean and see how he reacts

 

[Wiebke]

Your boy will come round in a day or two! Most of us have been there, too! It can give you a very bad fright!

If you need to clean him our today; but him in a padded cardboard box with some nice hay and a hidey and he should feel safe.

It doesn't sound like he's damaged himself; just keep an eye out in the next coupld of couple of days.

 

[VickiA]

Aw bless you it's happened to most of us at sometime, too. I think we take longer to recover than the piggies do! Hope things are very soon back to normal. I bet once the veggies appear you will be very soon forgiven!