Pig Health Records and Care Log: What Owners Should Track

Start with identification details and baseline information. Record your pig’s name, age or estimated age, sex, spay or neuter status, color markings, microchip or official ID if applicable, and where your pig came from. Merck specifically notes that records from a previous home, including treatment and vaccination history, are very helpful.

Then track day-to-day health markers. The most useful items are body weight, body condition, appetite, water intake, stool quality, urination, activity level, skin condition, scratching, hoof length, mobility, and behavior. VCA recommends regular weighing, and pigs that can calmly walk onto a scale make monitoring much easier. A monthly weight entry is a practical minimum for healthy adult pet pigs, while piglets, seniors, or pigs with active medical concerns may need more frequent checks based on your vet’s advice.

Your preventive care section should include vaccine dates, product names if available, lot numbers when your clinic provides them, and the due date for the next booster. Merck’s potbellied pig vaccination guidance lists erysipelas and tetanus among common vaccine combinations, with boosters often given every 6 to 12 months depending on the pig’s situation and your vet’s protocol. VCA also notes that many pig-savvy veterinarians vaccinate at minimum against erysipelas, leptospirosis, and tetanus.

Also log fecal checks, deworming or other parasite treatment, mange treatment, hoof trims, tusk trims when needed, dental notes, and any bloodwork. Merck recommends setting up a program for vaccination, hoof maintenance, parasite control, and dental care during early veterinary visits. Having dates and responses in one place helps your vet decide what is due now versus what can wait.

Write down any change you would want to describe later: not finishing meals, drinking more or less than usual, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, coughing, sneezing, limping, reluctance to stand, skin redness, hair loss, intense itching, or sudden behavior changes. Include the date, time, what you saw, and whether it happened once or repeatedly.

This kind of detail matters because pigs can hide illness. Merck notes that some swine health problems can reduce feed efficiency and weight gain before obvious illness appears. In a pet pig, that means a careful log may reveal a pattern before the problem looks dramatic. If your pig stops eating, struggles to breathe, cannot rise, has severe diarrhea, or seems painful, see your vet immediately.

If your pig may travel, show, or move across state lines, keep a separate section for identification numbers, certificates, test results, and movement dates. USDA APHIS states that interstate movement of swine generally requires official identification and a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection or other approved document, with exact requirements varying by state and situation.

In emergencies, a current record can also speed up care. Bring your pig’s recent weights, medication list, vaccine history, parasite control dates, and any photos or videos of abnormal behavior. That information helps your vet assess trends, avoid duplicated treatments, and choose the most appropriate next step.

Many pet parents do best with a one-page monthly log plus a separate medical history page. On the monthly page, list weight, appetite, stool, activity, skin, hooves, and any unusual signs. On the medical history page, list every exam, vaccine, fecal test, treatment, sedation event, and procedure with the date and clinic name.

If you want to make your log more useful, add photos. A monthly side-view photo, hoof photo, and skin photo can help you compare body condition, hoof overgrowth, and coat quality over time. That visual record is especially helpful for pigs with obesity risk, chronic skin issues, or mobility changes.