errenscrawls
New Born Pup
Hi again, my pigs have been doing (I assume) okay, very active, the "fighting" i've mentioned in previous posts has died down into a comfortable(?) alpha/underpig dynamic.
In terms of bonding I think I've been making a lot of headway with Becky, my 'alpha', he's been wheeking a lot, super jumpy and curious, and loved following/smelling my hand. I could lead him around the cage and even stroke him about halfway down his back/on the cheeks without him running off.
Now he's joining his cagemate, Hermie, in running away when I approach or put my hand out. He's wheeking less. I can touch him a little and get a few sniffs/nibbles but he's mostly hiding from me and bolting. I would have posted this in the behavior forum but I also noticed a weird patch on his face.
I apologize for the really bad picture, he was too nervous for the camera to focus and that was the best I could do. It's that yellow-brown spot above the nose. It COULD be some bedding? or poo? But he doesn't seem to want me touching it and when I pet his face to try and take a look, he bolts.
I haven't spotted any similar patches anywhere else on the body, or on his cagemate, and honestly wouldn't have worried about it but he's acting strange and I'm not sure what's up. I know I need to be finding a vet for them in my area at some point (i'm afraid to try trimming their nails myself) but I'd appreciate any clues about this patch, I just want to make sure it's not the sign of some horrible emergency condition.
In terms of bonding I think I've been making a lot of headway with Becky, my 'alpha', he's been wheeking a lot, super jumpy and curious, and loved following/smelling my hand. I could lead him around the cage and even stroke him about halfway down his back/on the cheeks without him running off.
Now he's joining his cagemate, Hermie, in running away when I approach or put my hand out. He's wheeking less. I can touch him a little and get a few sniffs/nibbles but he's mostly hiding from me and bolting. I would have posted this in the behavior forum but I also noticed a weird patch on his face.
I apologize for the really bad picture, he was too nervous for the camera to focus and that was the best I could do. It's that yellow-brown spot above the nose. It COULD be some bedding? or poo? But he doesn't seem to want me touching it and when I pet his face to try and take a look, he bolts.
I haven't spotted any similar patches anywhere else on the body, or on his cagemate, and honestly wouldn't have worried about it but he's acting strange and I'm not sure what's up. I know I need to be finding a vet for them in my area at some point (i'm afraid to try trimming their nails myself) but I'd appreciate any clues about this patch, I just want to make sure it's not the sign of some horrible emergency condition.