KuneKune Temperatures
A simple skill every pig owner should have: taking a temperature. Here's how to do it, what the readings mean, and why you should always keep two thermometers on hand.
The table below can help when assessing the health of your pig. Knowing how and when to take a pig’s temperature is essential to good animal husbandry and caretaking. “When” is simple: any time you think your pig is sick or seems “off”. “How” is easy too. Taking the temperature is done through the anus. On a boy, it’s the only hole. On a girl, it’s the upper most hole. If you have a less than willing participant, which is rare, you can usually distract a KuneKune with some food or belly scratches and then do what needs to be done. A little lubrication helps too.
You don’t need to spend a ton of money on a thermometer. You just need to find a digital thermometer that can take a temperature quickly. We buy ours from the local dollar store for around $4. You can find them online at Premier 1 Supplies for $5-6. https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/digital-thermometer
My biggest recommendation is make sure you have two. This allows you to verify the accuracy of a temperature reading. More importantly, this ensures you always have one on standby just in case (e.g. battery dies).
Temperature Chart
| Fahrenheit | Celsius | Clinical State |
|---|---|---|
| 99.5 or lower | 37.5 or lower | Approaching Death |
| 100 - 101 | 37.7 - 38.3 | Toxic or Hypothermic |
| 101.5 - 102.5 | 38.61 - 39.16 | Normal |
| 102.5+ | 39.16+ | Fevered |
| 109 | 42.77 | Approaching Death |