I think my piggy is sick, help please!

[Sookeh]

We lost our piggie Scruffles a few weeks ago and right before he died he was making these sort of cough sneezing noises. Well my surviving pig is making those noises tonight and seems to be a bit under the weather.
I've just moved him into a bigger cage but I cleaned it thoroughly.

I have no money to take him to the vet, I do have some anti biotics that were prescribed for Scruffles though. Would giving them to him if he's not ill hurt him? Sorry if that's a stupid question I'm just terrified of losing him, anyone whose read my last posts will know the nightmare I've had with two sick pigs since we got them really :(

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Oh Sookeh .
Yes I remember about your pigs.

Trouble with antibiotics is-
you don't know if your pig has got the same as your pig that died- so antibiotics might not be what will help
you need probiotics with them. IIRC you can get them online, but they'd take a couple of days to deliver.

You need enough for a complete course.

Keep him warm, draught free. Well ventilated but lots of dry, dust free hay.
Some people put Vicks Menthol Rub on their GPs nostrils. Not something I'd fancy doing, but in the past I've dissolved some in boiling water and put it outside the cage to act as a decongestant. (Only for a little while, you don't want the vapour making the cage damp)

What about PDSA in your area? Could you take him there?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Do you give your pigs Vit C ?

It might help (works for humans) and it can't harm. There's posts last year about the doseages,

(Put DoesItWearingWellies into advanced search for last Oct/Nov/Dec and see if it comes up. Might be early this year but it's on there.

I don't give it because my hogs don't drink water, but I've got some Vit C tablets and a syringe (no needles) to force it down their necks if need be.

[Sookeh]

PDSA might see him tomorrow, I'll call them.

Yes it's pro biotics I have, my mistake. Pretty sure I have enough for a full course.

He's just come out and had something to eat so that's a good sign.

It's been draughty here today as I'm having building work done, I should have moved him into a warmer room .

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Insulate him, don't put him from cold to hot. They don't like draughts and can't cope with temperature changes.

My boys have been evacuated to my garage as their Pighouse is un-inhabitable..
My DH wanted to bring them in, but the dining room is too warm from the kitchen heat (we haven't got heating on). And I think knowing them they'd cope better with more space than their inside cage would offer .

I've given them half a bag of hay (4kg bag) and 2/3 of straw (again 4kg bag) to literally fill their rabbit run.They've got loads of cardboard as it's a concrete floor.

I've put their haybeds in and a duvet on top/sides of the run.

It's a constant temperature, not too warm but they've got insulated areas.

GPs can cope with cooler temperatures (I think IIRC 12 c) . We're 13C at night .


Tempt your pig with Vit C rich food- peppers, brochilli, parsley.
Hope he gets on ok at the vets. (They are a worry aren't they, piggles)

[Sookeh]

Thanks 70, you're always so helpful

I'll go get him some pepper.

[TheBonkeyMollocks]

Hope he's ok Sookeh !

Nothing to add but his has he been since he's been alone? Has this come on quickly ?

[TheBonkeyMollocks]

*how

[KRITIQ]

Just wanted to say thinking about you and wee pig and hope things turn for the better.

[Sookeh]

Piggy seems a little better this morning. I kept him warm and plenty of hay etc. He's eating which is good.

It's stressful having piggies!

[TheBonkeyMollocks]

Your not wrong there!

Im sat here watching my two as I have had to have a cage rearrangement . I was worried they would.miss each other. So far they are more interested in the naice hay they have to snuffle through .... I've been sat here a hour

Good to here your pig is looking better! :)

[Sookeh]

I slept next to his cage last night.

Cue a lot of these looks from DH...

[TheBonkeyMollocks]

Awww !

Mine have started calling for each other .... :(

[Sookeh]

I know, Tyrion is just sad I think and has been since we lost Scruffles.

I really think it's time I got him a friend, as soon as I know he's not ill that is.

How on earth should I go about introducing him to another boar? Do they need to be the same ages? It'd be a nightmare if they didn't get on.

I've seen someone selling a boar online and he is stunning! Very young though and looks about half the size of Tyrion.

[TheBonkeyMollocks]

Find a rescue or a breeder and get them.to match them.

Otherwise you could end up like me with two separate cages and pigs that fight to blood if put together.
There is less chance if that if you have seen proper help and advice. Plus they should take a pig back and replace if you feel.like its not working.
Its bloody stressful!

[TheBonkeyMollocks]

Have a look round theguineapigforum.com loads of advice about boar dating and behavior!

[TheBonkeyMollocks]

They also have a list of rescues so there may be one close to you :)

[TheBonkeyMollocks]

Age wise of pigs no idea.
BigPig was 4 months when he was matched to LittlePig who was 5weeks. Fine to start but then LittlePig got a dose of hormones.

I know that adult boars are more accepting of babies and there is just one pig going through the arsey stage rather than two lots of hormones raging.

Fwiw my two dealt very well being side by side and once they sussed out that they were still.close this.morning they have settled better than I hoped. BigPig looks down on LittlePig . They will come out later for play.

Tonight will be interesting when they aren't sleeping next to each other.


Do you have the space for another cage.next door?

If so maybe you could get two girls and eventually have him.neutered so he could join them? Or just jeep him.next door?

[Sookeh]

I would love to get two girls but I wouldn't put him through the operation so think that idea is a no go. I really couldn't afford another big cage either. I have a lovely local pet shop that sometimes stocks little baby boars they get straight from a breeder so maybe I could have a look there?

Tyrion doesn't seem hugely social and was always the more skittish of the two and doesn't like being handled as much, though he likes being sung to.

It is stressful! I never signed up for all this

[TheBonkeyMollocks]

Try but beware of what they tell you. Ultimately they want to sell you things so be sure they have given you the right advice and make no.impulses!

There are some fab petshops out there but sadly lots are not so great. The pet shop that sold me BigPig told me he would very fine alone and to take his hidey away to make him.more confident door I listened to my gut and thought what a load.if bollocks !

A rescue really would be your best bet! Plus there would be ongoing advice if you do take one.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Sookeh - re the neutering /matching.
If I was in a situation of matching my hogs, I think GP1 would cope with a boar piglet, he's quite alpha.(And I don't think he'd cope alone .He frets for little brother if they're apart)

GP2 would be bamboozled and over ruled when a new pig was a teen. He lives in his brothers underskirts.
I think with him I'd have him neutered and get him a female.

The risk of them with an anaesthetic is there, but if you get a vet who is small animal (especially GP ) savvy, it's as safe as any other risk.

[TheBonkeyMollocks]

If dh would letme have.more.pigs then I would have my two neutered!
I would also put in alot of research of Vets before I did!

But I wont do it as they are because dh would murder me and then cook the pigs if I got anymore!

[guineapiglet]

Hi - hope Tyrion is feeling better, it sounds like he might be sad and lonely and therefore a bit prone to 'viruses'? I always used to cosset girls Florence Nightingale style if they were ill, the full works, wrapped them in warm fleece, gave them vitamins and fluids and prepared all their favourite foods, I would bring them in ( in a lined laundry basket!) and have them with me to keep an eye on them - as long as he is eating and drinking he should keep perky.
It might be worth giving him some company, but this really has to be done over a period of time, a new one might find it too stressful, and so it might help to have two of everything whilst they get used to each other - try Freecycle, our local one is giving away cages and runs at the moment. It is rotten for the one left alone, if he is quite sociable, an older boy might help, but again it will take time and may not necessarily work out immediately. Hope he is doing OK.

[Sookeh]

I've gotten in touch with a lovely breeder through a friend who has just had six baby piggies born I have to wait 4 weeks but in two weeks he should know which ones are boys and I can pick my new addition out.

They are so tiny and adorable!

Tyrion seems much better, just a bit sad. He's getting lots of hugs from me though.