Lazy/depressed pig?

[Bettyb26]

Hi guys,
I was just wondering if it’s possible for some piggies to be genuinely lazy/chilled out or if there are reasons for them to be depressed other than loneliness and sickness? My 2 year old Eddie was on his own next to his brother for about a year until May this year when we noticed he seemed particularly depressed so we got baby Hank to bond with him. They seem to be getting along well and I don’t know if it’s just because the baby is so energetic in comparison but Eddie still seems kind of sad and lethargic. He has recently been poorly but is better now so I don’t know if he’s just still not feeling 100%, but he seems to spend nearly all his time sitting in his hide (which is also making him very stinky) and when the two of them have floor time, Hank literally runs laps around our living room and popcorns constantly but Eddie just sits still in the corner. I don’t think they are an amazing match personality wise (they aren’t aggressive towards each other but I think Eddie only just tolerates him and there isn’t a lot of snuggling or anything) so I don’t know if maybe he doesn’t like Hank’s presence? I thought the company would be enough to make him feel better but maybe not. Would it be worth taking him back to the vet in case there is something underlying? He had what we thought was conjunctivitis but turned out to be a small cyst/stye in his eye and also a bit of a respiratory infection but he seems well now apart from his behaviour. Thank you

 

[Siikibam]

I would have him vet checked again just to be sure there is nothing wrong. I would consider switching to weighing him once daily (in the morning) to keep an eye on his weight as well. Sitting in his hide all day doesn’t sound great, or the change in behaviour.

With regards to his bond with his new friend, it sounds fine. Not cuddling is not a sign they don’t like each other or are just tolerating each other. My two boys never slept in the same hide or cuddled next to each other (until Fudge taught Toffee to sleep in the hay tray). But I know they had a really strong bond.

I hope your boy will be okay.

 

[Bettyb26]

I would have him vet checked again just to be sure there is nothing wrong. I would consider switching to weighing him once daily (in the morning) to keep an eye on his weight as well. Sitting in his hide all day doesn’t sound great, or the change in behaviour.

With regards to his bond with his new friend, it sounds fine. Not cuddling is not a sign they don’t like each other or are just tolerating each other. My two boys never slept in the same hide or cuddled next to each other (until Fudge taught Toffee to sleep in the hay tray). But I know they had a really strong bond.

I hope your boy will be okay.

Thank you I will try and get him to the vet tomorrow for sure

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

Please also consider a potential heat stroke/exhaustion in this current, suddenly much warmer weather. Here is all the relevant information in just one link: Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike

Is your piggy interested in food and cool water or not and can you hear the gut glugging away or not? Is your piggy pancaked on the belly? Have you taken hot weather precautions?
Please be aware that the hotter weather can also bring underlying health issues to the fore because the immune system is overloaded.

 

[piggl]

Not cuddling and not wanting to run all over the place isn’t abnormal.

I have a 4 and a half year old boar who I put with a baby due to signs of loneliness and weight loss. At first he hardly wanted anything to do with him, and it is somewhat the same now. They get on, and my older boy will protect him, but he prefers to have his own space.
The baby is way more rowdy and “popcorny” than my older boy, and that’s to be expected.

Sitting in one place all the time and getting smelly is not particularly normal, so it is great you are getting him in for a vet check.

Let us know how you get on x