Just adopted Abyssinian tongiht,I am worried about his condition...

[mistyhall]

ok I just adopted an Abyssinian.. he was brought to me at 11:30 at night by the previous owner who claims she needs him to have a new home cause she is pregnant, blah blah blah..

I noticed right off that he woudl jerk occassionally, and before we made it home he nipped at me 3 times and I knwo how to hold a guinea..

During a quick bath I noticed he woud jerk (his head moves hard and fast to the side whenever I would touch his foot... he also had lil patches of missing hair on his face one of which seemed scabby.. I have bactined the area and put antibiotic ointment on what I suspect are "boo boos".

Since he is new to me, I am wondering is the kerking he is doigna sign of pain.. or it is a nervous tendacy with this breed.

I am gonna try to get him into a vet tomorrow... I just wanted to see if anyone had any thoguths about this.

I woudl like to make him a permanent member of our home but am now fearful about his overall well being and if he will be agressive with my other babies :( due to possible mishandling.

[suzilovespiggie]

Poor little guy, he sounds like he is terrified! Thank you for taking him.
I see you have a vet visit planned. That is good. It sounds to me like he is in pain. On his feet on his body. He may have mites too. The vet needs to check him form head to toe.


What he needs is love, love and more love. To be well and lots of good food. and more love. Once he realizes he no longer has to live in fear of pain he should come around. It is going to take time and patience. When he is better put a cage of his next to the cage of your others. With time and care you can try to introduce your other pigs to him. With a cage in between they can smell each other, talk to each other see how each is going to react to the other. Indroduce slowly. Only time is going to tell how things will go.
The main thing is to get him well and learn that the world is not all pain. Keep him away from your other pigs now in case he does have mites or is sick. Quarintine is for 3 weeks.

Keep us posted on his care and how he does.

[C_Elise]

It sounds to me like your pig is just very frightened and is trying to "escape" from your grasp. Guinea Pigs are food in the wild, so he's in unfamiliar surroundings and it sounds like he's just flailing, jerking and squirming to get away from you. And a pig biting you doesnt have anything to do with whether youre experienced or not, he's just scared trying to protect himself. He doesnt know any better.

but good luck to you! When I used to give my girl a bath she'd flail and jerk unexpectedly because she really haaated baths and tried her hardest to escape my grip. But I hope its nothing to serious! I would certainly bring her to the vet though, to check out those missing hair patches, and so your vet can get to know you & the pig for future visits :)

[Wildcavy]

thank you for taking him in, the poor sweetie. I'm glad she gave him to you, whatever her excuse. He'll know love for the first time!

[pinky]

I wonder if he has mites, too. The sensitivity to being touched and missing fur with scabs could be a result of scratching. I think I'd treat him for mites and make sure he's quarantined from any others.