Could a pot belly pig starve itself because of depression?

[drdoolittle]

I recently got three PBPs. One is a 6-wk. old male, the second is a 6-mos. old female and the third a 7 1/2 mos. old female. The two females were formerly housepets of two separate owners that got to be too much for them.

I brought the first home last Friday, and she was skittish, but eating well and seemed happy enough. The next day I brought the second female home, and everything was fine except for a minor skirmish between the two girls.

Both were eating fine and getting on o.k., it was obvious that the second female was top "dog". The second female has since seemed to have gotten a little depressed, and isn't eating well. The night before last, she didn't eat, but ate fine yesterday morning. Last night she did eat some, but this morning she didn't seem too interested, and didn't eat tonight until I caught her and fed her a little by hand.

I'm worried that she is depressed at being second in command, and was wondering if she could actually starve herself to death? She gets along with the little male, even sleeping next to him when he's loose in the big pen with them, and laying up against him through the fencing on his separate pen. Should I be worried too much, or will she eventually accept her new home and place in it and start to eat again?

 

[elevan]

They are very intelligent. She could starve / grieve herself to death over the loss of her previous owner. They can become very attached to their owners in a short bit of time.

The other possibility that the alpha pig isn't letting her eat.

 

[drdoolittle]

I don't think she was that attached to her previous owner. They had spent a lot of time with her when she was small, but once winter came, the owner said they didn't do much with her as she was outside. The owner said they couldn't even get close to her by this spring.

The alpha female isn't keeping her from eating-----I put their feed dishes far apart from each other, and I'm out there with them the whole time they are eating and make sure that doesn't happen.

The younger female is still unsure of even me, so I give her plenty of space at feeding time. I just feel so bad for her, and am wondering if I should tell her former owner of what's going on and ask if they want to buy her back. I would be sick if she really did starve herself to death.

 

[elevan]

Is it hot where you are? Heat can make any animal feel off and go off food...

She also may be sick...

 

[drdoolittle]

No, it's actually been pretty cool. I don't think she's sick, I'm pretty positive she's depressed. She did eat this morning, but she takes her time, and the other pig finished first and tried to take her food. I had to give the other pig a little more so she could finish------maybe the food dish is too deep for her? She was wagging her tail while she was eating, and does that other times during the day------just not when I try to approach her. She reminds me of a dog that has been abused and just doesn't trust people (but I'm positive her former owner didn't abuse her in any way).

 

[elevan]

If she's really taking her time eating, you might try checking in her mouth to see if she has an infected or loose tooth.

I'm not discounting that she COULD be depressed...I'm just saying you need to rule everything else out first.

 

[drdoolittle]

I'm happy to report that feeding time tonight went well! The 2 females got done eating about the same time, and the younger one was acting a little better today. She didn't seem as depressed, and even attempted to get in their little wading pool-----I haven't seen any of them do this yet. Maybe she just needs time to adjust to being around other pigs---she had been the only pig at her old home for quite some time. I think she just doesn't have as much self-confidence as the alpha female.

 

[elevan]