[little blue]

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Okay, so he doesn't look like this now....but the tiny white and black piggy is Murphy my kune kune boar I keep talking about!

He should have been on his Honeymoon this weekend, with the two ginger ladies you can see in the picture (now alot bigger and hairier!)
but we have had a very poorly boy this week.
I realised on Tuesday that he had not been up to eat his supper, the girls were making enough noise to cover this up at first.
He was fast asleep in the corner where he makes his little nest, and I really struggled to wake him. He had a little wander round then went back to sleep.
This went on the following day  - we made him get up and walk round, he was off his food but would drink, then went off drinking for himself.
So we've spent days and nights (yes, nights) bottle-feeding him with milk, water, sugared water and scouring powder stuff (like lucazade!) alternating the contents. The vet said they could give him antibiotics, but he showed no signs of any infection so we were doing the right thing but might still lose him.

You'll be pleased to know that yesterday he started to eat a little, and has done his 'business' outside which looks perfectly pig-like (!) Today he is alot stronger, and turned up his nose at his vegetables, which is just like his normal teenaged self!

So fingers crossed he is on the mend and we might get piglets next year after all...

Its still a mystery what caused it - theres a chance he has mananged to eat some of the goats' mineral lick that had falllen to the floor, but we just don't know
                                                                                           

[dysie39]

I had one of mine very similar last week Black Betty wasnt up with the others and eating for two days just as I was pondering getting the vet or even taking her home to keep an eye on her she picked up and is now back in the swing of things,
I s'pose pigs have off days as well, after her adventure round the estate she could have eaten something that upset her I s'pose,
but shes fine now fingers crossed

[JulieS]

I do hope Murphy gets better soon 

[Rosemary]

Fingers crossed for poor Murphy.

[little blue]

Well folks, after a week the Murphy pig is back on his feet!
He is finally eating his own food (still eating around the veggies, naughty boy) and though still very sleepy he comes when I call (always say hello as I get home from work) and is drinking properly.

We really thought we were going to lose him, I just didnt want to say it out loud... the hours we spent bottle-feeding/drinking, turning him over, getting him to his feet, trying to rouse him must have helped as well as the magic powder from vets...

Just hope he gets his strength back for those raring-to-go-girls!!

[JulieS]

That's fantastic news little blue 

 

[Hilarysmum]

 ;DWonderful

[Roxy]

Poor Murphy - so pleased he is feeling well again.  And well done to you, for looking after him so well while he was ill.  He is a lovely boy ....I fell in love with him, and your two lovely girls when I visited.  Can I come and visit again when the piglets arrive, please?

[little blue]

Roxy, you're top of the list to have a couple of piglets!! I'm sure Steve Rick can be persuaded...  (Im so sorry, I have no idea who 'Steve' is, apologise to your o/h! A cider induced blonde moment perhaps?!)

You're very welcome to visit anytime, and we want the piglets to experience lots of people so they are well socialised.

Murphy had a wander this this morning with his head in a bucket, and a harness but we let him go back to his pen as he was very worried by a step! We'll keep walking him abit further, then hopefully hormones and calling girls should encourage him in the right direction!

(I know you're meant to take hers to him but our set-up is abit hard for that and he can stay as long as he needs to...)

[Roxy]

ooh, come on Murphy, take that step ....you will enjoy it when you get there I am sure!!!   

[little blue]

Might take him the more scenic route to avoid the step... but  more opportunies to lose him, and scare the rabbits...
The poor girls are drowning in mud up there, think they could do with the 'company' to take their minds off it

(wanted to bump up the thread so you can see my correction and apology Roxy!)

[doganjo]

Steve is Sandy's OH As to losing Murphy - what about a 'flexi'

[Roxy]

I was just wondering who Steve was .....thought he was some fella you had tucked away among the livestock

Don't mention mud ......we have plenty here believe me!!

[little blue]

huh, no such luck....And if I had, think how muddy he'd be too!
Have bought myself and J wellies for Christmas (with steel toe caps) think I might to have open them early at this rate, and buy overalls.

The pig is pretty much back to normal *touch wood* we had some 'love' tonight (me scratching and him chuckling away) and hes eaten plenty.   Yay!

[Roxy]

Yes, wellies are a must.  I am going to buy myself some overalls because I am fed up with mud splattered trousers every day.

If Murphy is enjoying his food again, he must be feeling better!!!