Pot bellied pig's friend died - how to handle

Recercar

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Came back from vacation after a family friend was house sitting to one dead pot bellied pig. We think the most likely cause is contaminated water, but that's now a separate issue.

We had two pot bellies who were getting along swimmingly, about a year old each. Looks like one died within the last two days at most, and the other ripped through the pen in grief. No signs of fighting between the two, just a completely different pig--barely responsive, twitches when touched even though he was the friendliest little guy before we left two weeks ago.

He seems OK health-wise, all water has been replaced, and he's eating. But he's clearly not ok mentally, and we're not sure what to do. Would getting him a new friend right away help? Wait a bit? Socialise with him even though he completely disregards our presence and just walks around shivering? First time owning pigs and regretting ever going on vacation...
 

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I'm so sorry about your pigs. I wonder if this pig also has some issues from whatever killed the other one? I've separated pigs before and they never took it that badly. @Ferguson K breeds pot bellies, perhaps she will be more help than me.
 

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Greetings and welcome to BYH. So sorry your return from vacation wasn't a happy one. Just curious, but why didn't the "family friend" who was pig sitting call you and let you know something was going astray? Anyway, hope the remaining pig recovers and gets back to being the friendly pet you had when you left.
 

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Why we weren't told is the question of the day. He thought "they were tired." As I said, that's a whole separate issue.

I will mention that the dead girlfriend laid there the entire time she was dead. We got back right around the time I made the post, so we're waiting for the morning light to do a solid examination. The little buddy seems to be eating and drinking clean water now, so we figured it's not the time to freak out yet, but tomorrow we'll see.
 

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Sorry these circumstances brought you to the forum, but welcome nonetheless :frow

I don't know anything about pigs but wanted to say I'm sorry for your loss :hugs
 

Ferguson K

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Potbellies are very hardy creatures, but lack of proper food and water can cause them to go south in a hurry.

You say contaminated water, was it stagnant or full of fecal matter? Pigs carry a lot of parasites without showing many signs. When you do look her over, check her intestines and stomach for signs of worms.

Is it possible his behavior is because of the water situation or did something get after the pigs? Could they have been chased by something to cause him to break out?

Are they fixed? Could she have died from pregnancy complications ?
 

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Potbellies are very hardy creatures, but lack of proper food and water can cause them to go south in a hurry.

You say contaminated water, was it stagnant or full of fecal matter? Pigs carry a lot of parasites without showing many signs. When you do look her over, check her intestines and stomach for signs of worms.

Is it possible his behavior is because of the water situation or did something get after the pigs? Could they have been chased by something to cause him to break out?

Are they fixed? Could she have died from pregnancy complications ?

The whole feeding and water situation went awry. We filled all the water bowls and a kiddie pool with clean water before we left with instructions to clean and refill them, but that never happened. In two weeks there was mostly fecal matter in the kiddie pool and no water bowls. It also surfaced that they got 2-3 days worth of food at once, and not fed again until 3 days later.

It is possible that he has whatever she had, and is on his way out, hence the behaviour. Is it completely abnormal for him to behave essentially like a zombie pig, or could it be mental coping and the awful food schedule? It's possible that we lost both pigs to this vacation, but just don't know it yet. I still want to try to nurse him back.

Definitely couldn't have been pregnancy. It's possible that a sick animal got into the pen and they ate it, but there's no evidence of it. It's possible that something large got in and scared them, but there are no fighting signs on either pig. She died with foam coming out of her mouth and snout, no blood. Their little house has been ravaged by something small, so it seems like he did it rather than another animal.
 

frustratedearthmother

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I hate to even bring this up but - could it be possible in her dying throes that she inflicted the damage to the pen/house?
 

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Aside from the fact you need new friends... I would be so angry

Pigs froth sometimes if they get really really worked up about something. Can you bring your pig to a vet to have them checked out? I am so sorry... This is really sad.

@frustratedearthmother is right, that could have happened.
 

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I am sorry about your pig. :hugs How frustrating that a house sitter has such little regards for you and your animals, I would be furious....but that doesn't solve the problem. I would try and get him to a vet for a checkup. Hope he makes it through this.
 

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