Hello everyone.
I'm hoping those of you with experience might be willing to offer opinions on a pig I acquired a few days ago.
I have a 5yr/old Juliana that has been kept with my tiny herd of goats all her life. We have recently decided to "get out of the goat business" and rehome our last remaining goats but I was not willing to do so until we found a permanent friend for Piggy. I had been researching mini pig rescue groups, but as there are none in my immediate area (and none of the others around the state could offer local contacts) I resorted to just keeping an eye out for someone looking to rehome.
I answered a "free pig" ad. Owner seemed kind and genuine, and I honestly believe the state of this pig was just a result of lack of knowledge.
I was told the pig was a 2-3yr old mini female. (Gender being one of my only requirements as I do not wish to make more pigs.) It had been kept alone in a 15x15 pen all of its life. When we arrived to see the pig, the owners had already secured it in a large dog kennel, the bottom of which had cracked and broken under the weight and its leg had been injured.
Having only had a female pig myself, and this pig being quite overweight and seen only from above in a dog kennel, I did not question them as to gender. Honestly, he was breaking my heart between the obesity, overgrown hooves, and what I suspect is mange or lice... I probably would have still taken him (at least temporarily) even if I'd realized at the time. Got him home and he's clearly a boar, a real sweetheart though, which makes this even worse.
The injury was to his left rear leg. No open wound, and I cannot find a clear break, but its hard to tell with all the fat. He will pull it away when I feel it while he's laying down. I was hoping this is something that would improve on its own, but I have serious concerns about his weight complicating that. I brought him home on Saturday and as of Wednesday he will get up and move about, but less now than several days past. He may have just been more active inspite of pain for the first few days being in a new place with much more room than he's ever known and a female close by to boot. He attempts to hold up the leg in general (or at least take weight off of it), but will put some pressure on it.
As to suspected parasites, I gave him an ivermectin injection upon arrival and isolated him. In spite of his injury, however, he broke out and attempted to breed my Juliana. I separated them and resecured him, and gave my pig an oral dose of ivermectin.
Any thoughts are most welcome.
I'm hoping those of you with experience might be willing to offer opinions on a pig I acquired a few days ago.
I have a 5yr/old Juliana that has been kept with my tiny herd of goats all her life. We have recently decided to "get out of the goat business" and rehome our last remaining goats but I was not willing to do so until we found a permanent friend for Piggy. I had been researching mini pig rescue groups, but as there are none in my immediate area (and none of the others around the state could offer local contacts) I resorted to just keeping an eye out for someone looking to rehome.
I answered a "free pig" ad. Owner seemed kind and genuine, and I honestly believe the state of this pig was just a result of lack of knowledge.
I was told the pig was a 2-3yr old mini female. (Gender being one of my only requirements as I do not wish to make more pigs.) It had been kept alone in a 15x15 pen all of its life. When we arrived to see the pig, the owners had already secured it in a large dog kennel, the bottom of which had cracked and broken under the weight and its leg had been injured.
Having only had a female pig myself, and this pig being quite overweight and seen only from above in a dog kennel, I did not question them as to gender. Honestly, he was breaking my heart between the obesity, overgrown hooves, and what I suspect is mange or lice... I probably would have still taken him (at least temporarily) even if I'd realized at the time. Got him home and he's clearly a boar, a real sweetheart though, which makes this even worse.
The injury was to his left rear leg. No open wound, and I cannot find a clear break, but its hard to tell with all the fat. He will pull it away when I feel it while he's laying down. I was hoping this is something that would improve on its own, but I have serious concerns about his weight complicating that. I brought him home on Saturday and as of Wednesday he will get up and move about, but less now than several days past. He may have just been more active inspite of pain for the first few days being in a new place with much more room than he's ever known and a female close by to boot. He attempts to hold up the leg in general (or at least take weight off of it), but will put some pressure on it.
As to suspected parasites, I gave him an ivermectin injection upon arrival and isolated him. In spite of his injury, however, he broke out and attempted to breed my Juliana. I separated them and resecured him, and gave my pig an oral dose of ivermectin.
Any thoughts are most welcome.
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