potbellied pig with bowel issue

Question
Hello there!


I have a questiong regarding my little piggie, Milkshakes.  I have a 7 year old pot bellied pig.  She is an indoor pig-goes outside for her business but lately, she has been having accidents in the house forcing us to isolate her in the kitchen.  At night she stays in the kitchen anyways but now she stays all day and all night.  Poops justs falls out of her butt.  We are mopping up everyday and night.  She doesn't seem to be in pain, no lose of appetite.  She continues to move her bowels and passes her water outside too.  Her vet gave her antibotics and probiotics but it didn't seem to help.  Does she need to be on it longer?  My husband is to the point where he wants to place her and I don't want that.-The smell is truly getting there.  Anything I can try at home or purchase?

Thankyou

Answer
I am not a veterinarian and can not make a medical diagnosis or provide treatment or medication over the internet. I can make some guesses based on the information in your email.

Chronic diarrhea can have any number of causes, and sometimes it's more than one cause.

Contaminated food or water will cause diarrhea. Did this start when she got a new bag of food? Test the food by putting 1/4 - 1/2 cup in a microwave proof bowl and add water to cover. Cook for a minute or so, remove it and stir. The pellets should absorb the water and swell up, turning into goo as you stir. Sniff the goo. Take a good, deep whiff. It should have a "grain" or "earthy" smell. It should not smell sour or sharp or spoiled or "bad". When in doubt, note the production numbers and toss the bag. Get a new bag, from a different production lot, or different store, or different brand. Cleaning fluid residue is the usual culprit in contaminated water, but unpleasant bugs can live in nicks and chips in water bowls.

Most pigs love dairy, but not all pigs tolerate it well. Probiotics are important, but if piggy is eating a lot of yogurt, that could be part of the problem. Replacing dairy products with soy based products might help.

Antibiotics do not work instantly. In order to be effective, they must be given consistently over days, in the appropriate amount. I assume that your vet actually weighed your pig, so the dose is correct for her actual weight. Most antibiotic need to be taken for 10 days to 2 weeks to work.

It may seem counter intuitive, but intestinal blockages often cause diarrhea. That's because the only thing that can escape the body around the blockage is liquid. So that's all that comes out. X-rays are usually necessary to identify a blockage, so if your vet has not done that it is the next step.

There are pet pig vets who will consult with other veterinarians over the phone. There's a list of vets that see pot-bellied pigs at www.farec.org  and if you contact farec they can put you in touch with a vet who will work with your vet.