Jethro was one of the 159 pigs surrendered to OMI when we moved to Tennessee and took over the herd in 2021.
Pigs are prey animals, which means they are very good at hiding sickness. In Jethro’s case, he had a urinary blockage, and he showed no signs of illness until it was too late. What we have learned over the years is that if male pigs show any sign of lethargy, we immediately start watching closely for a good stream of urine. Their anatomy makes them very prone to urinary obstruction, and the window to fix it is VERY small. We caught Jethro’s urinary problem and got him immediately to the hospital, but the stone was very large and lodged in his urethra, making repair very painful with a low chance of long-term success. We chose to let him pass peacefully instead of putting him through so much stress. In cases with shy animals who are scared of strangers, we have to consider their tolerance for intervention when we make medical decisions for them. In Jethro’s case, that was definitely a factor in considering his quality of life when he needed extensive medical care.
Jethro was a much beloved and honored member of the MedBarn Neighborhood, where he slept with his favorite guys, Louie and Wilburt.