Vet or Quarantine?

[ashiee]

So today I got my second pig. I have to admit that I got her from Petsmart. I know pet stores are not and have never been a great place for these animals and are overall not really great places to support BUT I've been feeling so bad that my pig is and has been alone for a very long time now. I planned to adopt from a shelter about a year and a half ago but my pig is a girl and the only ones I saw were males (which I could have neutered, but I just really prefer two females) or females which were over an hour away and already bonded to another. I only have room for two so I decided that getting a bonded pair wasn't the best option. I checked and checked all the time but nothing really popped up close enough to me. So I did give in and go to PetSmart, don't crucify me, please.

Anyways my new girl, Bean, is a baby and she is long haired. Since I got her from PetSmart I know that it is especially important to quarantine her just in case she is sick (or like actually a boy?) because I don't want anything passed on to Laci. Plus I want her to acclimate to the new environment before they become cage mates as well. But I'm mostly wondering if and when I take bean to the vet for a check-up and she gets cleared and is in good health, would it be okay to un-quarantine her and begin introducing the two (granted Bean is comfortable with me first), even if it hasn't been two weeks which is usually the length of time I've seen most to keep them separate for illness sake? I've only ever had one piggie at a time and I don't want to do something wrong and have them both sick or unfriendly to each other. Any other advice with introducing them and such is much appreciated!

 

[Hetja]

I actually never do quarantine when I adopt a new piggy. There aren’t so many contagious diseases and mice or fungus are mostly a reaction when they are stressed out.
I would possibly do a vet check to sex the piggies if you’re not able to sex it properly yourself.
Girl bondings are usually pretty easy. I normally just put them together during floor time and put them into the cleans and rearranged cage after some hours.

 

[Claire W]

Please don’t feel bad for getting Bean from Petsmart as they need homes too.

If you are unsure of the sex, I would have her double checked at a vets just to make sure or your could start a sexing thread on here and post a sharp photo of her bits and one of our experiences members may be able to help.

We have an excellent set of bonding guides in the behaviour section (sorry I can’t post a link as I’m on my phone). But generally you place both piggies in neutral territory with a big pile of hay and watch them. Please read the guides as you don’t want to mix up normal dominant behaviour with bullying as things can get pretty heated. Please remember that females mate with each other as part of the bonding process. Some people get confused by this.

Good luck and let us know how you get on but girls are generally easier to bond than boys

 

[piggieminder]

Behaviour, Bonding & Bereavement Guides

Hello and welcome to the Forum.

Please don't feel bad about ging to Petsmart. I've had to go the shop route myself several times when suitable piggys have not been available in rescues.

I have any new piggies vet checked and do a two week quarantine for my own peace of mind. I have shortened quarantine/not done it a few times when I have had a depressed, not eating, lonely piggy.