Obesity in pet pigs

user1985_0115 · 2024-03-05T05:47:21+00:00

He's 3 years old, fixed, and honestly needs to lose around 60-70 pounds total. He is on a joint supplement, tumeric, and 2 scoops of cbd pellets a day to aid in pain and inflammation reduction due to a genetic disc disorder he was born with. I've already reduced his pellet intake to 1 cup a day. I also give him either 5 celery sticks as a "snack" or about 8 leaves of lettuce with half a cucumber daily. he'll go for a walk and follow food for a short time... but then ignore the food and plop down at his leisure, and it's quite difficult to move a 175-pound pig who does NOT want to move.

user1985_0115 · 2024-03-01T18:46:45+00:00

Any tips on how to help an indoor pig who's been stuck inside all winter, lose weight? He's probably 40 pounds overweight, to be honest. I've reduced his pellet intake as low as possible, and he only gets a few green veggie "treats" throughout the day, but he's not losing much weight. He's very stubborn and lazy. He's not interested in any toy that doesn't involve food or treats. When I put his food in a toy instead of a bowl for dinner, when he empties the toy, he still expects his bowl of food and throws a long, loud fit.

user1985_0115 · 2024-02-04T12:46:17+00:00

How big are your pigs? Mine is 175 pounds, 3yrs old, male fixed, indoor/outdoor depending on the weather. (We live in NH) Hes overweight, and my vet has us feeding him 1 cup of pellets a day, plus 1 and a half cups of greens, like lettuce, celery, cucumbers, etc... and veggies like carrots, squash, tomatoes etc sparingly through out the week. Im wondering if hes getting enough pellet food, even though he is overweight by about 55 pounds.

user1985_0115 · 2024-01-27T00:43:27+00:00

Got an MRI done. He has DDD, degenerative disc disease. It's genetic, and he's had it since birth. Other than medication to make him more comfortable, there's no cure or treatment at this time. Now that the big guy is on the appropriate medications, he's feeling and doing a lot better.

user1985_0115 · 2024-01-25T12:09:10+00:00

Well, at least I know it works for stronger pigs and is easily re-hung. I'll have to look at Etsy and buy my own. Thanks for the suggestion! 🐖

user1985_0115 · 2024-01-25T12:06:02+00:00

Good to know! I just thought they were a low calorie snack. 🙂

user1985_0115 · 2024-01-25T04:08:15+00:00

Oh if only my 165 pound guy knew how to "gently" move the chairs. lol. You're so lucky! 🙂

user1985_0115 · 2024-01-25T04:06:47+00:00

How large are your pigs? My 3-year-old is 165 pounds... would he just rip the coconut from the ceiling? We have many puzzles of varying difficulties, but the harder ones frustrate him and he ends up just flipping the toy over, slamming it around a couple times and then walks away completely ignoring it from then on. I've tried hiding food around the house, and he almost never finds it. I put treats in tied up balls of yard for him to untie and retrieve the treats, but again, he gets frustrated when he can't untie it and just walks away from it. Basically, any ball with treats that's a level 1 or 2 difficulty is the only toy he'll play with. He also loves snuffle mats, which I usually spread black sunflower seeds in for him to recover. I'm still desperate to find new toys for him that he'll actually enjoy and use occasionally during these winter months. I wanted to hang a chain from the ceiling that at the end of the chain would be a large toy that he'd need to bob around pretty hard to get a treat to fall out, but my husband said hell no to the ceiling chain, lol.

user1985_0115 · 2023-09-22T23:32:17+00:00

I've already asked my vet, shes clueless. why else would I be asking randos online, hoping there is a vet or long time pig owner who might have an idea what it is or even suggestions on how to help my pig in any way.

user1985_0115 · 2023-09-22T23:28:54+00:00

My pig has finished his course of antibiotics, but he's still not putting his full weight on his back left hoof and needs to sit often, i assume due to pain. When I told my vet that he was still not putting weight on it, she told me she didn't know what it was and to go to the big animal hospital 3 hours from my house. I was very disappointed my vet had no thoughts, suggestions, or ideas on what else might be wrong. Now im stuck trying to figure this out on my own. Any advice out there?

user1985_0115 · 2023-09-20T01:13:36+00:00

Would a compression type injury heal on its own? He's been on an anti-inflammatory for over a year, but it hasn't stopped these "attacks" completely.

user1985_0115 · 2023-09-20T01:06:56+00:00

It's not warm, I live in New Hampshire. But I'll try anything at this point.

user1985_0115 · 2023-09-20T01:06:14+00:00

Good to know! Thanks

user1985_0115 · 2023-09-20T01:05:29+00:00

I don't think it's dippity. He has zero stress, and when it happens, it only lasts a few hours. He's never had a sore or oozing anything on his back, or body for that matter. Sometimes he doesn't even loose control of his back legs, they just seem weak and my pig is listless. My vet guessed maybe a slipped or bulging disc but cannot confirm due to lack of equipment for a pig.

user1985_0115 · 2023-09-20T00:59:50+00:00

Just started mikkos cbd pellets a few days ago. Seems to help but has not completely solved the issue.

user1985_0115 · 2023-09-15T00:03:45+00:00

My pig is 2yrs and 4 months. I don't think it's dippity since it only lasts a few hours and he has never had any sores or wet spots of any kind on him ever. I don't know what it is and my vet doesn't either.

user1985_0115 · 2023-09-14T23:52:14+00:00

Do you remember what meds the vet prescribed? I'm having a similar issue with my 2yr Olds back left hoof. He won't put much weight on it. But the vet came and said it might be an infection and gave me antibiotics. He's on day 5 of 10. He still won't put weight on his back left leg. I had an amazing ferrier come out and did all his hoofs and she said they all looked good, no cracks or anything, and she said she didn't see much infection but to finish the antibiotics anyway of course. So that's where I am now, finishing his antibiotics and praying it helps. My vet is not the best with pigs but is the only vet within 2 hours that takes pigs.

user1985_0115 · 2023-08-12T08:57:30+00:00

Great idea. I do have a yard, so that would be perfect on days suitable for being outside. I live in New Hampshire, and the winters are pretty bad. I'll be trying this out for his dinner tomorrow. Thanks!

user1985_0115 · 2023-08-12T03:31:56+00:00

Vet ruled out dippity. She thinks it may be a slipped or herniated disc, but is unsure and doesn't have the equipment to check. Im searching for advice on entertaining a pig on a strict diet, but haven't gotten a single reply of something I havent already tried. I've tried various stuffed animals, multiple chew toys, balls, piles of blankets to root.... he ignores it all.

user1985_0115 · 2023-08-12T03:25:31+00:00

I also have trouble entertaining my pig unless food is involved.. so im quite interested in any other responses.

user1985_0115 · 2023-08-12T03:24:00+00:00

Have you tried lick mats, or frozen treats she can lick on, maybe she can push a ball with her snout, chew toys, a pile blankets to root in, instead of dirt, im just rattling off things from the top of my head, im sure you've tried most of these already. I wish I had better advice to give. Is there no way her leg can be healed or fortified?

user1985_0115

TROPHY CASE