URI vs. Depression (How to Help Newly Single Pig)
This morning, we had to put down my sweet five-year-old pig due to a rapidly escalating URI which led to seizures. He'd been a bit lethargic for the past three days, but I presumed it was the heat and a bit of dehydration. Last night, he took a turn for the worse with labored breathing (no noises, though) and ocular discharge. While examining him, I noted that his top right tooth appeared to be cracked down the middle, but it didn't seem to be bothering him. I brought him to the vet at the crack of dawn today, and they found that there was actually a great deal of pus around the tooth and thought that the URI developed from the abscess. They thought his prognosis was decent enough (at the very least, the vet told me that she didn't think he was on death's door). Unfortunately, he began to seize and we made the heartbreaking decision to euthanize him. This leaves me with his brother, Albert, who is also five-years-old. They lived together in a 2x5 C&C cage (which I sterilized with bleach this morning upon veterinary recommendation). The vet is concerned about the remaining piggy as the deceased pig apparently had pretty advanced respiratory issues. Albert seems to be physically healthy-- he's eating and pooping as normal. But at the same time, I'm paranoid that I won't be able to differentiate between post-loss depression and URI symptoms. He has a well visit set for Friday, but I know all too well how quickly piggies can decompensate, so I'm just super worried (and yes, a lot of it is probably related to the fact that his death is so fresh in my mind, and that we lost my first pig to a URI following dental surgery four years ago this month). I would love to hear about differentiating between illness and depression, as well as keeping remaining piggies engaged and active without a buddy. Considering Albert's age, and that I'm going to head to college within a year, a new buddy doesn't seem logical. Thanks-- I hope this is coherent but I'm happy to clarify anything.
Thank you, Lynx and GrannyJu1. I appreciate the resources, Lynx.
GrannyJu1, that's a great point, thanks. He is very healthy at the moment, and, barring any unexpected bumps, I hope and expect to have him for a good while longer. Depending on where I'm accepted/enroll, he will either be coming with me or living with my pig-loving younger brother and parents.
GrannyJu1, that's a great point, thanks. He is very healthy at the moment, and, barring any unexpected bumps, I hope and expect to have him for a good while longer. Depending on where I'm accepted/enroll, he will either be coming with me or living with my pig-loving younger brother and parents.