Best Food For Keeping An Old Boars Weight Up?

[amyhr95]

Hi all,

I have an old boar named Squeak who is exactly 7 years and four months old (basically ancient) and unfortunately has arthritis in his back legs which restricts his movement. He is able to get over to the food bowl and water bottle and is generally a happy chappy however I have noticed that his weight is slowly decreasing. I weighed him one week and he was roughly 1.100kg and a couple if weeks later he was down to 1000kg. I want to make sure he keeps his weight at this level and to make sure he is getting all the right nutirents. So I ask, what fresh fruit and veg is best? And what dry food would be most beneficial?

 

[DM030819]

Are you weighing him at the same time each time? They can drop in weight if you don't weigh at the same times.

Is he getting any pain relief or other medication for his arthritis?

I'm not sure what other foods to give him, I tend to just give them more of their usual if they've lost a bit of weight.

Or, you can supplement him with Critical Care. It's a food for handfeeding ill piggies, so it has all of the right nutrients in for them, and usually piggies love it.

 

[amyhr95]

Are you weighing him at the same time each time? They can drop in weight if you don't weigh at the same times.

Is he getting any pain relief or other medication for his arthritis?

I'm not sure what other foods to give him, I tend to just give them more of their usual if they've lost a bit of weight.

Or, you can supplement him with Critical Care. It's a food for handfeeding ill piggies, so it has all of the right nutrients in for them, and usually piggies love it.

Thanks for the reply! I weighed him both times in the evening (around 8 or 9) and yes he is currently on metacam (painkillers) and he gets 0.4ml once a day. Ill increase the amount of food that he currently gets then, which is usually spring greens and carrots. Thanks for the help

 

[DM030819]

Good luck! Hopefully someone else will post with what they've tried.

I did have an arthritic pig who did lose weight over time (quite a long period of time), despite eating like a...well... a pig. On x-rays and exams by the vet it was decided that it was down to a loss of muscle mass in his back half. He did feel thinner at the back end. I gave him Critical Care and extra veg, hay and pellets.

 

[amyhr95]

Good luck! Hopefully someone else will post with what they've tried.

I did have an arthritic pig who did lose weight over time (quite a long period of time), despite eating like a...well... a pig. On x-rays and exams by the vet it was decided that it was down to a loss of muscle mass in his back half. He did feel thinner at the back end. I gave him Critical Care and extra veg, hay and pellets.

I think that is what has happened as he is very bony around his hips! Ill keep an extra eye on him - thanks!