Oh, what a day! I am into my second gin and tonic and it may not be my last.
As I mentioned in my previous post, I have a paranoid pig on my hands. Doink, for some unknown reason, has developed a crazy fear of going over the threshold between his shed and the ground. Over the past few days, he would stand inside and SCREAM AND SCREAM, but when I produced a treat, he did this weird leap and flew (like a pig) out of the shed like he was on fire.
Until tonight.
It was at this point I knew we had a real problem.
He would not come out for dinner. Or water. Or his favorite treat. He stood at the opening to the shed and looked at me. He didn’t scream. He just wouldn’t come out. He seemed confused, and kinda sad.
I’m uncomfortable. Really uncomfortable.
He’s been maneuvering that step without a blink for two years. Over the past three or four days, it has become his own personal hell.
I DON’T KNOW WHY. I SIMPLY CAN’T DO THIS!
I’ve looked at his feet. I don’t see any obvious injuries. He DID come out earlier today for treats and I saw him happily walking around and munching grass out in the barnyard.
Um, I don’t know what the problem is. But it’s scaring me.
I’ve looked at the threshold. There’s no blood stains from an injury. I know when the shed door is closed, there’s a small gap between the door and the floor. But since there’s no evidence of injury on the foot or the wood, I can’t imagine he somehow got his foot stuck.
I can’t figure this out. He does a lot of sniffing at the threshold, but I have no idea why a smell would make him unable to come out. He can’t see that well. I sat in the doorway and looked at the outside world from his viewpoint. Nothing has changed. I’ve not moved anything. A friend came over today and we got some video of this strange behavior. I’m going to look at it later and see if I’m missing something.
I’m stumped. And Doink is unhappy. I’ve had better days. If anyone has any ideas, I’d love to hear them.
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I love the opening line and it made me laugh until I read on… Sorry Doinkie Pie is not feeling joyful. It sure does sound like something happened at the threshold. You mentioned his eye sight isn’t good could it be a depth perception issue and he doesn’t like the step now? Maybe try a ramp for him?
Hopefully whatever it is will move on quickly and he can get back to his snacky treats…and peace of mind returns to you. It’s so hard when things are “off” with our animals. Curious as to what you see after watching the video
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Could it be arthritis in the joints? Maybe the step jars him too much. A ramp may help.
That is the first thing I was thinking. That perhaps arthritis had set or that he has a joint injury that is not being notices and only hurts him really bad when he has a larger step down. Poor Doink.
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I was wondering arthritis too. How old is Doink? I know we had our old collie dog that used to climb all over the kids wooden playset and deck. She finally quit because it was too hard on her knees. I see several have suggested a ramp. I was pondering the same. Thanks for sharing with us at The HomeAcre Hop!
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Husband says he thinks it could be a snake ? ! Is there room for a snake to get in or under the stoop ? Perhaps a mouse or rat ? IDK I feel for the little guy Doink . Perhaps making a small ramp would wook .Best of luck ! And this little piggy went wee weee wee all the way home !
I was going to mention trying a ramp too, if that’s possible. Hope your pig is better soon!
To everyone… I am going to install a ramp tomorrow! Got my fingers crossed.
We don’t have snakes this time of year, he’s just a youngster so I don’t think arthritis could sneak up on him in a week, and we do have mice (no rats) but I’ve never seen them in the shed. There’s rabbits everywhere, but again, he’s been here a while and they’ve been here forever – nothing to make him go nuts practically overnight. And why the heck would a rabbit scare a pig? What a puzzle!
I wonder if it’s an eye issue? Maybe his depth perception is off for some reason and it looks to steep??? Poor baby! 🙁
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I don’t have any good new suggestions, just sympathy for Doink……… and you! I think the ramp might be a good idea. Good luck!
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Perhaps he has a little Jack Russel terrier blood coursing thru his veins. Has he been chewing the little pull tabs off the back of your shoes? Chasing birds around the barnyard? Laying around the kitchen staring at the fridge? Digging holes in the couch? I hope Doink gets over his ism soon.
Rocky! Don’t ya love animals with -isms? Keeps me on my toes 🙂
I would suggest a ramp. He must have hurt himself going in and out.
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Sounds like he had a ‘fright’ and now is backing off.
Hopefully the ramp will help.
I would put a call to Cindy Smith, I know she can help you guys work it out.
Best of luck!!!
Monica
Already called Cindy – we’re working on it!
Are there any birds that are swooping down on him, in attack? He obviously, sees well enough that he can see that you have a treat for him, and you did say that he made a leap out the door for it, so the idea that he has arthritis, doesn’t jibe. Does he have any other animals living in the pen with him that are bully’s? lol…I would try the ramp, too.
If he has gotten older and a wee bit heavier that step down may hurt his back.
Much like short legged dogs with long backs ~ a stair step can be a bugger.
Lets ask him shall we .
I had a pig who looked exactly like him, I miss her (Hamlet) a lot. She too had very bad eye site and would get easily spooked about things. Before you go to the trouble and expense of building a ramp, you should try covering the floor of the doorway with something. Something there has spooked him. I would maybe try a covering of straw to make the doorway look different so that he will not associate it with whatever has scared him. If it works then I would keep the straw there until he is completely confident again and let the straw slowly go away on its own.
Could it be the raccoon coming around that got Ethel?
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Maybe a depth perception problem/ I’d try more light, and a ramp. Could you have a vet check his eyes?
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I was thinking ramp too. That’s a head-scratcher for sure! Keep us posted!
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