Hi, I'm new to the forum and just seeking some advice.
I'm rescuing a pig tomorrow who's not in great shape. He's being kept alone in a small plastic box (I'm told he is kept out most of the time, not sure how true this is), not sure whether he's being given hay, kept on sawdust and they got him 'as a baby' in october, so around 9 months - 1 year old I think (although he doesn't look much bigger than my girls). I've seen him briefly and he's got a fairly bad skin condition: hair loss, crustiness, some sores/bleeding which I presume are from him itching, across the majority of his back/body (none on face), suspecting fungal infection. I will take him to the vet as soon as I get him (don't think he is receiving any treatment at the moment).
I currently have 2 females, about 3-4 months old. My girls also have a mild skin condition (one or two small crusty lesions/hair loss) and are being treated for both mites and ringworm (ivermectin and antifungal shampoo).
Obviously my first priority is getting him appropriate treatment for his skin and on a good diet. With regards to feed, I believe he is coming to me with the food he is currently on. Should I leave him on this and just provide hay for a few days until he is settled? I'm aware new food is best to introduce slowly, so should I not give him any veg initially?
Ideally I would like to introduce him to my sows, once his skin is better. From what I have read, it is best to house them next to each other for a few weeks and then carefully monitor introductions, but I don't want either of them to make each others skin worse, so should the cages be kept far apart for now? Obviously he will also need to be castrated if they are to live together. Am I right in thinking this should be left until his skin problem is sorted?
Sorry for all the questions, but I have never introduced guineas before and also haven't had any with bad skin conditions. To make matters more complicated I'm in slovakia, so not able to get as wide a variety of treatments as back home (UK). I just couldn't leave him in those conditions, so any advice would be much appreciated.
I'm rescuing a pig tomorrow who's not in great shape. He's being kept alone in a small plastic box (I'm told he is kept out most of the time, not sure how true this is), not sure whether he's being given hay, kept on sawdust and they got him 'as a baby' in october, so around 9 months - 1 year old I think (although he doesn't look much bigger than my girls). I've seen him briefly and he's got a fairly bad skin condition: hair loss, crustiness, some sores/bleeding which I presume are from him itching, across the majority of his back/body (none on face), suspecting fungal infection. I will take him to the vet as soon as I get him (don't think he is receiving any treatment at the moment).
I currently have 2 females, about 3-4 months old. My girls also have a mild skin condition (one or two small crusty lesions/hair loss) and are being treated for both mites and ringworm (ivermectin and antifungal shampoo).
Obviously my first priority is getting him appropriate treatment for his skin and on a good diet. With regards to feed, I believe he is coming to me with the food he is currently on. Should I leave him on this and just provide hay for a few days until he is settled? I'm aware new food is best to introduce slowly, so should I not give him any veg initially?
Ideally I would like to introduce him to my sows, once his skin is better. From what I have read, it is best to house them next to each other for a few weeks and then carefully monitor introductions, but I don't want either of them to make each others skin worse, so should the cages be kept far apart for now? Obviously he will also need to be castrated if they are to live together. Am I right in thinking this should be left until his skin problem is sorted?
Sorry for all the questions, but I have never introduced guineas before and also haven't had any with bad skin conditions. To make matters more complicated I'm in slovakia, so not able to get as wide a variety of treatments as back home (UK). I just couldn't leave him in those conditions, so any advice would be much appreciated.
