Sabrina Clayton
Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2013
- Posts
- 132
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2013
- Messages
- 132
Hi all,
About a week and a half ago, my husband and I had to make the difficult decision to say goodbye to one of our two pigs, Max, who had been battling severe respiratory issues since just before Thanksgiving 2019. We've talked for awhile about "getting out of the piggy business" mostly due to the extreme stress I've experienced with ill pigs over the last few years.
Unfortunately, because they should be kept in pairs, this likely means having to rehome a solo pig. But this is what I wanted to get some advice/opinions on - our remaining pig, Salem, will be 5 years old in late November. He's a healthy pig and has never had to be treated for any illnesses, but really that's no indication of how much longer he will be on this earth. We love him dearly and want to keep him, but I'm worried about his happiness as a solo pig. So far I haven't noticed a change in his activity level, he is maintaining a healthy weight, and still wheeks for dinner and shows interest in what's happening beyond his cage. But can he be happy potentially spending another few years without another of his species to talk to and be with? If all things continue to seem normal, how can we tell whether he's truly fulfilled and happy or not?
About a week and a half ago, my husband and I had to make the difficult decision to say goodbye to one of our two pigs, Max, who had been battling severe respiratory issues since just before Thanksgiving 2019. We've talked for awhile about "getting out of the piggy business" mostly due to the extreme stress I've experienced with ill pigs over the last few years.
Unfortunately, because they should be kept in pairs, this likely means having to rehome a solo pig. But this is what I wanted to get some advice/opinions on - our remaining pig, Salem, will be 5 years old in late November. He's a healthy pig and has never had to be treated for any illnesses, but really that's no indication of how much longer he will be on this earth. We love him dearly and want to keep him, but I'm worried about his happiness as a solo pig. So far I haven't noticed a change in his activity level, he is maintaining a healthy weight, and still wheeks for dinner and shows interest in what's happening beyond his cage. But can he be happy potentially spending another few years without another of his species to talk to and be with? If all things continue to seem normal, how can we tell whether he's truly fulfilled and happy or not?