Tove Is Nearly One And Is Still Untame.

Status
Not open for further replies.

Tinka

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jan 24, 2015
Messages
156
Reaction score
184
Points
305
Location
USA
So I have had my piggie Tove since last April. When I adopted her, she was very young and still had growing to do. She was shy, but enjoyed being pet and would eat from my hand after a few days. Then, I noticed bald patches on her face. I took her to the vet and it was determined she had ringworm. I was given a topical medication that needed to be brushed onto her face four times a day. This traumatized Tove. I had to wrap her in a towel to get her to be still so I could put this on her face, and sometimes she would freak out and it would drip into her eye, causing pain. And then I would have to flush it out with water! This carried on for three weeks until she was all better. That entire time she was also quarantined.

Since then, Tove hates people. She tries to bite and goes into her house and hides when anyone approaches. Clipping her nails is always a chore, since she thrashes and screams like I'm torturing her. When people come over, I always have to warn them not to pet Tove because if she feels cornered she becomes aggressive. Part of me is discouraged that I have this pig that I barely get to see, because if I'm in the room she disappears in her hiding spots. However, she provides my other sow Tuulikki with companionship, so I don't want to separate them. Has anyone else ever had any luck taming a difficult pig? I've tried easing her into it, like starting with stroking, moving to picking her up and putting her down then immediately giving her a treat. But it never works. She just freezes and then won't eat for hours. :no:
 
So I have had my piggie Tove since last April. When I adopted her, she was very young and still had growing to do. She was shy, but enjoyed being pet and would eat from my hand after a few days. Then, I noticed bald patches on her face. I took her to the vet and it was determined she had ringworm. I was given a topical medication that needed to be brushed onto her face four times a day. This traumatized Tove. I had to wrap her in a towel to get her to be still so I could put this on her face, and sometimes she would freak out and it would drip into her eye, causing pain. And then I would have to flush it out with water! This carried on for three weeks until she was all better. That entire time she was also quarantined.

Since then, Tove hates people. She tries to bite and goes into her house and hides when anyone approaches. Clipping her nails is always a chore, since she thrashes and screams like I'm torturing her. When people come over, I always have to warn them not to pet Tove because if she feels cornered she becomes aggressive. Part of me is discouraged that I have this pig that I barely get to see, because if I'm in the room she disappears in her hiding spots. However, she provides my other sow Tuulikki with companionship, so I don't want to separate them. Has anyone else ever had any luck taming a difficult pig? I've tried easing her into it, like starting with stroking, moving to picking her up and putting her down then immediately giving her a treat. But it never works. She just freezes and then won't eat for hours. :no:


I am very sorry; it has been a traumatic experience, but hopefully with patience, persistence and little veg or herb treats on your lap you can bring her round again.

You may try out the tips in this these threads here:
How To Understand Guinea Pig Instincts And Speak Piggy Body Language
How To Pick Up Your Guinea Pig
Biting
 
I am very sorry; it has been a traumatic experience, but hopefully with patience, persistence and little veg or herb treats on your lap you can bring her round again.

You may try out the tips in this these threads here:
How To Understand Guinea Pig Instincts And Speak Piggy Body Language
How To Pick Up Your Guinea Pig
Biting

Thank you! These links have been much better advice than what some people have told me. A friend said to take her house out of the cage and force her to be out in the open with people and I thought that would be so mean, and make the problem a lot worse!
 
Good luck!

Wiebke's advice on behaviour and biting seems to have been really successful with a number of 'difficult' piggies so hopefully your girl can learn to become more confident with you despite what has happened in the past. It's so hard when you can't explain to them that sometimes nasty things happen for their own good....
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top