[Gpdd] HEALTH: "Goofy" Little Pig

[Penny Charlesworth]

Pat,

Your Primrose sounds just like my Goldie from years back, the only 
difference being that Goldie had a definite head tilt. I knew the lady that 
bred Goldie and she said that she was born that way. She suspected that this 
was due to oxygen deprivation at the moment of birth. She knew that I would 
care for Goldie, a lovely Alpaca, who lived here for many years.

Goldie always circled to the left so if she wanted to go right she just did 
a big circle until she got there. She grew to be a big piggy with an 
enormous appetite and happily mixed with her pen mates.

I also had Topaz, a lovely Peruvian, who was born with both a head tilt and 
micropthalmia. She circled too but not as noticeably as Goldie and who lived 
with her litter sister, Ash, who was OK.  Currently I have dear little Otto, 
who has a mild head tilt but still circles to some degree.

None of these three particularly enjoyed being picked up. I believe that the 
brain injury that they sustained at birth caused disorientation when they 
were moved. Otto is fine once I have hold of him but he much prefers staying 
on the floor with his friend.

My Dorian, who you know about, and who I call my ADHD piggy runs in circles, 
usually doing circuits of his pen but when he is eagerly awaiting his lemon 
balm and parsley in the morning, he sometimes spins or does little circles 
running around one leg of the plastic stool that is his favourite hidey. The 
Rodentologists can find no reason for this. He is just made that way.

The other possibility is that your Primrose has an ear infection, which can 
cause circling. Have your vet check her out. It may be that the circling 
could be cured with antibiotics as she does not have the tilt.

My Rodentologists have a piggy who circles. They believe that this is a 
legacy of an untreated ear infection but he came to them too late for 
treatment.

Finally, thank you for taking in this little piggy, who now has a safe and 
loving home. Welcome Primrose!

Penny and the Piggyfriends.