I don't need to quarantine my piggie, he/she seems to be in good health. FALSE
Any new pig coming into your house needs quarantined. Most illnesses take 3 weeks to incubate and if you do not quarantine, you run a high risk of letting your current pigs catch an illness or mites. You
definately need to quarantine if you "purchased" your new pig(s) from a petstore for 3 weeks. You
definately need to quarantine your new pig(s) if they came from a shelter for 3 weeks and even if your pig comes from a reputable rescue, we highly advise doing at least a 1-2 week quarantine.
I can just put my new piggie in with my old piggie FALSE
You must never just put a new pig into your existing pigs cage. You need to introduce on a neutral ground or in a thoroughly cleaned cage. The reason the cage needs thorougly cleaned is to eliminate all markings, scents, etc. of the pig(s) that live there to decrease the chances your pigs will fight. If you don't follow this procedure, your pigs will have a harder time establishing dominance and may not get along. You can use straight vinegar, a vinegar/water solution or a mild bleach/water solution to wipe down the coroplast, hidey houses, hay racks, toys, water bottles, food dishes, etc. and make sure you have changed the bedding.
Further info on introductions can be found at
www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm.