Coronet Grooming

[Piggywiggy1975]

Hi

Have just adopted a young coronet neutered boar and have never had a long haired piggie before and I'm worried that his hair is already feeling a bit matted in two days :-( - how often should I be brushing/bathing him? He seems especially matted where his mite meds were put on his rump - if I cut this out will it lose effectiveness?

Also they are all settling in really well already coming forward in the hutch to take food and charging round the run on the grass, except the little Peruvian baby sow who just squeals and runs away from everything :-( - she just hides in the run or the hutch and won't take any food :-( I'm worried she's not eaten much - should I just weigh her to monitor?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Nicola x

 

[Caviesgalore (EPGPR)]

My goodness it sounds like you're going to have your hands full! Firstly your new young coronet. Are you sure the mite treatment was put on his rump, I'm just wondering whether it's actually his scent gland that is making his rear end sticky? With long haired piggies I tend to lift up the top section of the hair and then trim (really quite short) the hair underneath, pop the top longer layers back down and he will still look like a long haired pig. I find that by keeping the hair cut like this it's far easier to keep grease glands clean and the coat doesn't get wet from wee. To get them used to being brushed I would start with a very soft baby brush and just spend a few minutes when you have them out for cuddles giving them a gentle brush. As the coat grows you may need to invest in a slightly more robust brush, I find a small dog slicker brush works well for the pigs, just make sure the bristles have a 'bobble', for want of a better description, on the end of them so they aren't too sharp. If you need to clean his grease gland try popping a little bit of washing up liquid on the area, leave it for about 5 mins and then the grease should come off easily, you might need to pull it off with your nails, and don't panic if a little hair comes away too - make sure you rinse the washing up liquid out thoroughly. I generally apply mite spot on treatment to the back on the neck, between the shoulder blades, that way the pig can't get to it too easily. Your little peru sow is probably just feeling a little nervous and overwhelmed - give her time. Just sit and talk to her, offer favourite foods and if you are going to try to give her a cuddle try popping a cuddle sack or something similar into the cage so she has somewhere safe to hide, it also makes it easier for you to scoop the whole thing up without stressing her too much. Some pigs take longer than others to settle, just give her time.

 

[Rodentopia]

I agree mite treatments not normally put on the rump but on the back of the neck, sounds like it might be the grease gland. Mine get sticky around there and I clean them periodically. I do the same with all my long haired boys hair, I under cut the bottom layer and leave the top long so they look like a long haired piggy just don't get matted up the same. I brush them every time they come out, I started out with a baby brush and moved on to a comb and a mini slicker which cuts through a long coat perfectly.

Its early days yet just allow the little sow to settle. Some piggies take longer then others and need time. Food is your friend sit and talk to her quietly and offer her tasty treats and she will soon start to come around, no piggy can refuse parsley