Boarworld
Junior Guinea Pig
Hi!
I have three female young piggies. Two are sheba mini yaks and are nearly 8 months old. One is a rex, and she is 6 months old. They’ve all been with me since they were babies, 4/6 weeks old.
The rex isn't a problem in terms of grooming, she’s thick but quite short haired, keeps herself very clean and will let me give her a nail trim and health check on my lap.
The shebas are both incredibly long and wild haired, prone to matting around the bottom, and need regular grooming. I have one who I can hold to trim nails, trim hair and every so often I use my quiet clippers to give her bottom area a good trim and make sure there are no mats. She’s not much of a fan, but she tolerates it ok.
These two are quite skittish still, but will be handled a little and we just keep going with gentle bonding and trust building. They’re still very young and they’re way less scared than they used to be. They’ll climb on laps for food when we sit down in their run and relax there. All three will be hand fed in their cage. They live indoors with us so they have tons of love and interaction.
The other sheba is our Queen of the pigs, very dominant over the other two (who don’t challenge her). She’s a very grumpy girl with a big old attitude! She categorically will not be handled. I cannot pick her up, it’s an enormous challenge to even herd her into the carrier. The minute I try to do either she hides and chatters her teeth at me loudly, she almost growls. She rumbles, and she’s even gone to give me the odd warning nip - a go away and get your stupid human hands away from me message. Received loud and clear!
Whilst I don’t mind her being her own piggy and being touched on her terms if we were just trying to cuddle her (fair enough!) she does need grooming. These piggies aren’t called ‘the bad hair day’ breed for nothing! I can see her nails need cutting and have failed in the attempt again this evening after doing the other two successfully.
I managed to get her into the carrier and quickly whiz off the area around her bottom with my clippers the other day but she was so angry and frightened. She sprayed wee at me and she did the guinea pig escape leaping to try to get out of the top of the carrier. I’d placed it in the run so she was safe, but still I absolutely hated seeing her so upset.
She desperately needs a trim around her bum, her side ‘carpets’ and fringe, a good nail trim and she needs an overall health check/tooth check. I’ve got no reason to think she has any health problems at all, but still. The hair and nails are my primary concern at the moment.
I’m willing to pay for her to go to the vet for this all of course but even getting her into the carrier (and then taking her in the car!) is going to absolutely petrify/infuriate her and I can’t guarantee she won’t try to take a chunk out of the vet!
Is there any way that I can start to make her chill out and be less terrified/aggressive? She doesn’t freeze in fear she’s more of an attack animal. She might always be a pig that’s not a lover of cuddles and if that’s the case then as long as she’s happy and healthy then that’s fine. But I can’t not care for her properly.
Any ideas?
I have three female young piggies. Two are sheba mini yaks and are nearly 8 months old. One is a rex, and she is 6 months old. They’ve all been with me since they were babies, 4/6 weeks old.
The rex isn't a problem in terms of grooming, she’s thick but quite short haired, keeps herself very clean and will let me give her a nail trim and health check on my lap.
The shebas are both incredibly long and wild haired, prone to matting around the bottom, and need regular grooming. I have one who I can hold to trim nails, trim hair and every so often I use my quiet clippers to give her bottom area a good trim and make sure there are no mats. She’s not much of a fan, but she tolerates it ok.
These two are quite skittish still, but will be handled a little and we just keep going with gentle bonding and trust building. They’re still very young and they’re way less scared than they used to be. They’ll climb on laps for food when we sit down in their run and relax there. All three will be hand fed in their cage. They live indoors with us so they have tons of love and interaction.
The other sheba is our Queen of the pigs, very dominant over the other two (who don’t challenge her). She’s a very grumpy girl with a big old attitude! She categorically will not be handled. I cannot pick her up, it’s an enormous challenge to even herd her into the carrier. The minute I try to do either she hides and chatters her teeth at me loudly, she almost growls. She rumbles, and she’s even gone to give me the odd warning nip - a go away and get your stupid human hands away from me message. Received loud and clear!
Whilst I don’t mind her being her own piggy and being touched on her terms if we were just trying to cuddle her (fair enough!) she does need grooming. These piggies aren’t called ‘the bad hair day’ breed for nothing! I can see her nails need cutting and have failed in the attempt again this evening after doing the other two successfully.
I managed to get her into the carrier and quickly whiz off the area around her bottom with my clippers the other day but she was so angry and frightened. She sprayed wee at me and she did the guinea pig escape leaping to try to get out of the top of the carrier. I’d placed it in the run so she was safe, but still I absolutely hated seeing her so upset.
She desperately needs a trim around her bum, her side ‘carpets’ and fringe, a good nail trim and she needs an overall health check/tooth check. I’ve got no reason to think she has any health problems at all, but still. The hair and nails are my primary concern at the moment.
I’m willing to pay for her to go to the vet for this all of course but even getting her into the carrier (and then taking her in the car!) is going to absolutely petrify/infuriate her and I can’t guarantee she won’t try to take a chunk out of the vet!
Is there any way that I can start to make her chill out and be less terrified/aggressive? She doesn’t freeze in fear she’s more of an attack animal. She might always be a pig that’s not a lover of cuddles and if that’s the case then as long as she’s happy and healthy then that’s fine. But I can’t not care for her properly.
Any ideas?
It is tricky though because those teeth are sharp. Some piggy dramatics can be discounted though and worked through with kindness. If you decide to do something, such as shooing her into a tunnel, don't hesitate too long as this gives her more time to wind herself up with teeth chattering and dramatics. It's judging how much leeway you have between piggy dramatics and genuine trauma.
