[Gpdd] Health: Aggressive behaviour and Sally

[Cazza177]

Dear Martha

I can remember when one of my two pigs needed treatment at Cambrdige Cavy
Trust and I asked that even though only one needed treatment, could they
both be kept together and Vedra said she would want to do that anyway, as
separating them for a while (it was two weeks as it turned out) can mean
they fight when they are put back together again.

I am wondering if this is what you are having to deal with now with Sally.

I can recall reading somewhere that Peter Gurney said to be ready with a
blanket when pigs are having trouble, and if they start to fight, throw the
blanket over them.  They are so mystified by that, that they stop fighting
and start wondering what on earth's gone on!  You could give that a try.

Another thing that might be worth a go is to take a clean cloth and stroke
Sally with it and then wipe the cloth around the area all the other pigs
live in.  Go from wiping Sally to the living area over and again, so that
you are putting Sally's 'scent' in the area where she usually lives in with
the other pigs.  It may even be worth wiping the cloth on Sally and then the
other pigs in turn as well.  When she then goes back to their living area,
she'll smell her scent everywhere and that may make her less territorial and
aggressive with her other buddies.  Just an idea, but it might work.

Carole

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From: "Martha Coburn" <marthac at cogeco.ca>
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 15:11:47 -0400
To: "GPDD" <gpdd at gpdd.org>
Subject: [Gpdd] Health: Aggressive behaviour

Hi All

 

I'd really appreciate some insight into my current situation. Sally has been
sick and the vet said to keep her separate so that her input and outputs
could be monitored. I've done this but I have also put Sally back with the
other 3 piggies for visits. This seemed to go well but in the last 2 weeks
Sally has been attacking the others quite vehemently. The time frame seems
to vary on how long it will take before she goes after the others. A couple
of examples: One time she was with them for 3 hours and everyone was happy
and for no apparent reason she then went after Poppy. Another time she was
only in for 20 minutes and she attacked Miss Otis. This last one has me very
perplexed as Sally took Miss Otis under her wing when she first came here
after being rescued from being abused by another piggie (who pulled out all
her hair). I'd really appreciate some suggestions. I'm set up for them all
to live together which they have done for over a year. I really want to get
Sally back with the herd as I'm not set up for long term separation. Please
help!  

 

All the best,

Martha