So Pepsi pig must have really taken a chunk out of Millie's ear

[obsessedwithanimals]

A few weeks ago I popped the pigs in the carrier with lots of hay and veggies while I cleaned out the hutch. I put them back but then noticed some red spots on the table where I'd put the carrier. At first I thought it must be some splatters of red pepper juice as that's what they'd had to eat but I checked my hands for un noticed cuts anyway. I decided to see if I could spot any signs of wounds on the pigs so I had a look at them. I couldn't pick them up but tried to spot something whilst they were running around in the hutch. The only thing I could notice was a small scab/scratch type thing on Millie's ear. The ear also looked a bit 'nibbled'. The graze/scab/scratch type thing looked small and clean etc. so I just left it and Millie continued eating, drinking, running etc as normal.

I thought she must have either been scratched or bitten by Pepsi which is hard to believe because although they have scuffles they usually get on alright. I did however hear them doing a bit of chasing in the carrier so maybe that's when it happened? Also the confined space may have cause it?

My main thought was that she'd scratched it on the rough/chipped side of the litter tray so I replaced it the next day.

However yesterday I wanted to put them in the carrier but in the end I didn't because I found dark blood spots (dark blood is old right) up the side of the carrier and I didn't feel like putting them in there in case it happened again.

So I can't believe it but Pepsi really must have taken a chunck out of Millie's ear?


Can this happen? Especially in a female pair where they usually get on alright? Sorry for the long winded post but I'm unsure what to think of this as a fairly new piggy owner?

 

[bubble&squeak4ever]

Aww poor Millie pig! Being in such a small confined space for a while probably made them argue. Do you have a run or an area you can let them run in for the future when you clean the hutch out? Does the bite look as though its healing now?

 

[Sarah from Chucklebunnies]

They can bite each other's ears, sometimes it is a 'learn your place and that's below me' type of nip. Just check that it is clean, wash with salt water very gently if needed, and try not to confine them too much again as that always increases hierarchy arguments.

I have a resident ear biter, little Mina, who bites ears as a given. She is a runt, was bullied when small and is simply insecure. She has never bitten the ears of the head piggy, but the others have all come under attack. She means no harm by it, it is her own insecurity showing. All I can do is make sure the ears that have been bitten are clean and try to settle my little Mina girl as much as possible. She is a lovely girl, addicted to serious up against the face 'love in' cuddles and but she is a stress head and feels insecure, also prone to stress related scurfy skin on her lower back. I knew the most recent piggy addition Lily would have an ear nipped, I knew it would happen, it was simply a matter of when. Mina never bites during the day either, it's always at night.

Anyway, I am trying to say that there are all sorts of reasons for an ear bite, they are not a sign of anything really awful and they can be easily lived with by the bitten piggy. So no need to panic, you may have a resident ear biter like me in which case Millie's ears are going to look tattier over the years or it may be just a one off thing, time will tell. I hope for Millie's sake it is a one off!

 

[Sarah from Chucklebunnies]

I decided I ought to point out that little Mina was never bullied by my piggies once she joined my herd - she had her own veggies in her own space they couldn't get into and in fact they argued over who would get to mother her. But she is still insecure and I put that down to her first few months.