HunterRose13
Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2019
- Posts
- 88
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2019
- Messages
- 88
My daughter found a piggie that was in desperate need of a good home. While I was planning to start looking for piggies after an extensive remodeling project was finished that time line has been moved up to today.
Background on the piggie, boar, approximately 1.5 years old. He was acquired to pair with another boar and the bonding did not go well. He has passed through two or three other parties (current party joked about roasting him or feeding him to a dog....poor taste even in jest and I will leave further thoughts unspoken) and now he will be coming to our home. He has not had regular access to hay, quality pellets, or veggies, cage is much too small, not much interaction, no other piggie with him. My daughter was doing a bit of triage this weekend and making sure he had fresh water and hay until he gets to the house. She reported that he is shy, but would allow her to pick him up, had some lap time, could not have floor time because of other animals in the house.
To do list, in approximate order of action. Please provide thoughts and input on any or all:
Deep clean his current cage. It is too small, but being I had virtually no notice it will have to do until I can build a C&C this weekend. I hope to complete it Saturday, but it may be early next week before I am done.
Today-
Bathe him. My daughter said he is in need of a good bath.
Nail trim. It was hard to see in pictures my daughter sent, but nails do not appear to be too overgrown.
Overall visual inspection of health. I will need to find a good cavy vet ASAP. Hopefully he doesn't have any major problems at the moment. I'll start weighing him after we get the basics addressed.
He is our first boar. I know they need cleaning of grease gland and possibly anal sack. I will need to do some more reading on the quick.
Tomorrow-
Transition to quality pellets (probably Oxbow) from what he is on now. We will have to get pellets tomorrow and I will follow the instructions of the bag about mixing new with current pellets to transition him.
Good Vitamin C source. Probably oxbow supplement.
Slow introduction to veggies. He probably has not had much if any veggies. Any quick advise for how slowly veggies should be introduced? I was considering a pinch of red leaf lettuce for a couple days and slowly increase the amount while monitoring his out put to make sure it didn't upset his system.
Within the week-
New 2x3 (if I can find a sufficient table or stand quickly) I will go 2x4)C&C home for him. I will need to find some wood pellets and buy fleece. After extensive reading in the fleece forum it would appear that fleece over wood pellets is effective and would be a much better option than other bedding. Sweeping poop a few times a day and washing fleece every third day or so seems to one of the more cost effective options.
I need to put together a GP first aid kit again. Critical care, syringes, topical antibiotics.....I am sure there is more, but I need to get the basics.
By months end-
Build kitchen for new C&C home. This should help with cleaning a bit.
After the above is complete-
After this new guy is on track we can move forward with a pairing. My main concern is to get this boar good and healthy after all he has been through.
Thanks in advance for advise, suggestions, critiques, ect...
Background on the piggie, boar, approximately 1.5 years old. He was acquired to pair with another boar and the bonding did not go well. He has passed through two or three other parties (current party joked about roasting him or feeding him to a dog....poor taste even in jest and I will leave further thoughts unspoken) and now he will be coming to our home. He has not had regular access to hay, quality pellets, or veggies, cage is much too small, not much interaction, no other piggie with him. My daughter was doing a bit of triage this weekend and making sure he had fresh water and hay until he gets to the house. She reported that he is shy, but would allow her to pick him up, had some lap time, could not have floor time because of other animals in the house.
To do list, in approximate order of action. Please provide thoughts and input on any or all:
Deep clean his current cage. It is too small, but being I had virtually no notice it will have to do until I can build a C&C this weekend. I hope to complete it Saturday, but it may be early next week before I am done.
Today-
Bathe him. My daughter said he is in need of a good bath.
Nail trim. It was hard to see in pictures my daughter sent, but nails do not appear to be too overgrown.
Overall visual inspection of health. I will need to find a good cavy vet ASAP. Hopefully he doesn't have any major problems at the moment. I'll start weighing him after we get the basics addressed.
He is our first boar. I know they need cleaning of grease gland and possibly anal sack. I will need to do some more reading on the quick.
Tomorrow-
Transition to quality pellets (probably Oxbow) from what he is on now. We will have to get pellets tomorrow and I will follow the instructions of the bag about mixing new with current pellets to transition him.
Good Vitamin C source. Probably oxbow supplement.
Slow introduction to veggies. He probably has not had much if any veggies. Any quick advise for how slowly veggies should be introduced? I was considering a pinch of red leaf lettuce for a couple days and slowly increase the amount while monitoring his out put to make sure it didn't upset his system.
Within the week-
New 2x3 (if I can find a sufficient table or stand quickly) I will go 2x4)C&C home for him. I will need to find some wood pellets and buy fleece. After extensive reading in the fleece forum it would appear that fleece over wood pellets is effective and would be a much better option than other bedding. Sweeping poop a few times a day and washing fleece every third day or so seems to one of the more cost effective options.
I need to put together a GP first aid kit again. Critical care, syringes, topical antibiotics.....I am sure there is more, but I need to get the basics.
By months end-
Build kitchen for new C&C home. This should help with cleaning a bit.
After the above is complete-
After this new guy is on track we can move forward with a pairing. My main concern is to get this boar good and healthy after all he has been through.
Thanks in advance for advise, suggestions, critiques, ect...