Older boar

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Jems

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Hi, I have a bonded pair of boars, one is much older and has recently shown signs of old age (sleeping more, not moving as much etc), the younger one is jumping him a lot more with lots is squeaking from older pig, he struggles to get away, should I separate them?
 
Hello I wouldn’t rush to separate them just yet …
A few things you could do to help your older pig
Is he on a joint supplement ? Johnson’s 4joints ( dog one) is really good and my older boar Geoff ( he’s 6) has been on it for over a year and it’s helped his mobility and his slight arthritis - it could be worth getting him checked for arthritis as he might be in pain when the other pig jumps him
Geoff also sleeps a lot and moves slower - he has a younger friend who is 3 and I put a few extra enrichment toys for them both to use - always 2 of everything
I use vet bed and fleece and pee pads
I’m sure more experienced people will be along to offer special advice
Good luck 🥰
 
Thank you, where do you get the 4joints treatment?
 
I agree - I would not rush to separate them at this point.
Remember separating them from their friend causes stress so it may be very upsetting to them both to split them up and cause more harm than good.

How old are they?
Has the older one been seen by a vet?
Do you weigh them both weekly as part of routine care?
Is the older one maintaining his weight each week?

If tbe older one is not moving as much then he may need painkillers, he may also not be eating as much hay so may need some support feeding or other interventions.
 
So I’m not sure how old my older pig is as he was a rescue, but he’s still quite alert and eating well, lost a little bit of weight but nothing major, he’s just moving round less and a bit wobbly sometimes/stiff, thinking it’s a bit of arthritis. I will see how they go.
 
Jems said:
So I’m not sure how old my older pig is as he was a rescue, but he’s still quite alert and eating well, lost a little bit of weight but nothing major, he’s just moving round less and a bit wobbly sometimes/stiff, thinking it’s a bit of arthritis. I will see how they go.
Click to expand...

If you think he has arthritis then do see a vet - he will likely need daily pain meds. A glucosamine supplement can also be helpful. By the time they show signs of it (given they can hide pain), they can already be quite uncomfortable.
Additional bedding changes etc to avoid urine scald would also be advisable as movement slows down

Definitely keep a close eye on any weight loss. While older piggies can lose mass due to aging, it can also be a sign of pain.

His squeaking when the younger one is being rambunctious might just be submission squealing.

Caring for Older Piggies and Facing the End - A practical and supportive information collection
 
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