I have my new pig! (plus health questions)

[Jojoba]

My pig is running around on my bed as I write this, trying to find a way out of the pillow confines :p.

He's absolutely lovely, so friendly and well handled. Ive even caught my decidedly un-animaly boyfriend just nuzzling him and cuddling him!

One thing I wanted to ask is, is it normal that he never shuts up? (We're back on the guinea pig now, not boyfriend!)
The whole time he's out he weeps and chirrups and squeaks and general makes constant noise. He especially does this whilst being stroked. I just want to check that those ar happy noises and not hurty noises? He doesnt seem unhappy - yesterday I had him sat half on my knee and half on boyfriend's knee whilst we were watching TV, and he stretched, did a few HUGE yawns, then lay on his side and snoozed!

My other health question is that he has a scab on his left hindquarter. He doesnt seem to mind it being touched and it is healing. I imagine it's from fighting with the other boar he was with, but how do I tell if it's from mites or some other problem?

He is otherwise in good health - shiny, bright eyed and a good weight . Will weigh him properly tomorrow.

I will add pics later


x

 

[Jojoba]

PS Boyfriend is now sat on the end of the bed stroking his feet p. This is the person who said 'ew' three days ago when I said I was getting a pig.

x

 

[Sarah from Chucklebunnies]

Talking to you is a good sign, very nice to hear! They have a number of noises which can be used in alternate meanings. An unhappy pig goes off like a high pitched foghorn and is unmistakable, happy noises can be purring, weebling, vaguely complaining as though they were telling a tale and so on. Listen and learn!

I'm really glad your piggie is friendly and tame, I liked the 'exploring' part of your post. But they are incontinent and have a bladder time of about twenty minutes when small. They learn to hold it in later. They also poo anywhere they please, even when they've learnt to only widdle in the cage/on the towelling/fleece/hay/vetbed/shavings etc etc. And they are coprophagists, so don't be surprised when your new piggie thoughtfully eats a munchy poo.

As for mites, others will have better advice than I. Generally you'd see hair loss, itching a lot, sore patches perhaps, from what I've read on this forum before. If the scab is all there is and there are no other problems, then it is probably just a scab.

Sarah x

 

[mstori]

congratulations!

my 2 babies talk constantly, my older ones not so much.. here are a few links you may find useful, i know i did when i first got mine (my bf found them, and like yours wasnt interested til they arrived! lol)

http://www.guinealynx.info/behavior.html#chirping

http://www.aracnet.com/~seagull/Guineas/behavior.html

http://jackiesguineapiggies.com/siteindex.html not sure exactly what page the sounds are on this site, but there are some because I’ve got links like this in my history… http://jackiesguineapiggies.com/guineapigsounds/Squeekies_purrs.wav

My piggies also make the high pitched sound when i go to the fridge, cos they associate this with veggie time! the babies are still indoors at the mo..

It doesnt take long to know what sounds mean what and when you do, you find yourself wheeking back rolleyes

hope the piggie has settled in well and cant wait to see pics! x

 

[alcesterpigs]

"PS Boyfriend is now sat on the end of the bed stroking his feet"

I thought this thread was about guinea pig behaviour.

 

[MemberX]

LOL Al! |)

 

[Jojoba]

Lol, |), maybe should have said boyfriend is now sat on bed stroking GUINEA PIG'S feet :p.

Piggie has actually already wee'd on my bed earlier. Never mind, eh.

I will get some piccies .

x

 

[Wiebke]

Seems like piggie has already made new conquest!

That he is so vocal is a good sign - frightened piggies are usually silent or squealy piggies. Young pigs can be real chatterboxes, especially if they are excited!

It doesn't sound like mites - you get a lot of itching first, than a bare area with greyish, small flakes. When you stroke that area and your piggie starts squirming, you can be fairly sure it's mites.

Have lots of fun!

 

[Jojoba]

x

 

[Laura-CCC4]

He is gorgeous, congrats on your new piggie! As other have said, very normal for some pigs to be very vocal. I also have one who never shuts up (Frankie) - although, naturally, when Sophie visited he was quiet as a mouse! He is always muttering, squeaking and rumbling, whatever he is doing.