Drinking.

Question
Hi, Helen:

My mini pig drinks an awful lot.  Naturally, he is very frequently urinating as well.  His blood work was negative (I was worried he had diabetes or something.)  Anyway, is this normal?  He is neutered, 5 months old, and has constant access to water.  I had 2 other PBs in the past from babyhood to old age, and neither of these boys drank as much.  Your opinion?  Thank you, Doug

Answer
Each pig has his or her own personality traits and quirks. If your pig has been tested and everything is negative, then it's possible he's just the kind of pig that enjoys drinking water.

Sometimes, pigs that were deprived of water in the past will drink excessively for months, or years, after. Consuming a lot of salt will also make a pig thirsty. This could be from snurdling around in dirt near a drive or walk way that is salted in snowy weather.

The food he's eating could also be a little on the salty side. You might want to try a different feed and see if it has any impact on his drinking. Also, popcorn is a great treat for pigs, but a lot of salty popcorn makes a pig very thirsty.

As long as your pig is healthy, this is really not a bad thing. Pigs that won't drink enough water can develop urinary problems.