Outside in the cold too long?

Question
QUESTION: I have a 6 and a half month old mini potbellied pig, he is potty trained to go outside, and usually when he goes out he decides to stay out a lot longer and eat grass, which is fine. But it is getting cold out now and its going to be winter soon and I'm worried that he is staying out too long in the cold, at night I have to go out side and sometimes physically bring him in so he doesn't freeze (and when he comes in his nose and feet are bright red). Sometimes he will come to the door by himself but he is doing that less and less, is it okay for him to stay out as long as he is fine with it? I feel like I am probably worrying about nothing and he will come in if he is too cold but I would like to make sure.
Thanks ahead of time,
Sarah

ANSWER: Tiny piglets need a lot of warmth, but youngsters and adults can tolerate, and seem to enjoy, cooler temperatures. Young pigs like yours have a lot of energy to burn, it's better that he stays busy outside, where he can root and snurdle. Young pigs confined indoors can be quite destructive.

As long as he can come in when he's ready, he'll be fine. He might enjoy a shelter outdoors. A dry, windproof dog house stuffed with straw works well.

Some pigs enjoy being outdoors, others prefer to be indoor couch potatoes, and they can change their minds over time.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks, I'll be sure to let him stay out as long as he wants to now, I'm sure he will be less distructive in the house now. I was also wondering if it is normal for pot bellies to throw up when they aren't sick? every couple weeks he scares me because he will throw up maybe once or twice in a day, but will eat and drink and go to the bathroom normally, he acts like he has a bit of an upset tummy and wants to cuddle a lot but that about all he does different, and I don't know if I should bring him to the vet for this (the first few times he threw up it seemed like it was just grass and dirt and smelled horribly, but the last time he did it seemed like it was all just his food)

Answer
No, it isn't normal for pigs to vomit. I am not a veterinarian and I can not make a medical diagnosis over the internet. This could be caused by a number of things.

Piggy may be eating too fast, or his food may be "off". Mistakes do happen, and sometimes animal feed is not always stored properly. If his pellets look off color, or don't smell right, or are "dusty", then toss the bag and get a fresh one.

You said "I'm sure he'll be less destructive in the house now.", so it's possible that piggy was eating something he should not have eaten, like carpet fibers, dry wall, bits of tile, soap, ant bait, etc. With inquisitive pigs, sometimes it's necessary to pig-proof the house by actually getting down on hands and knees and crawling around, looking for things that might attract a pig, or that a pig might try to eat, down at his level.

Other possibilities are more serious, like ulcers or intestinal blockage. If a thorough pig-proofing and new food don't solve the problem, then piggy may need to see a vet.