A Kunekune carer needs a pig vet, plus people who know this pig
A carer for a Kunekune pig needs your mobile number, a backup contact who knows the pigs and can authorise action, and a vet experienced with pigs, with daytime and out-of-hours numbers confirmed. Kunekune pigs are smaller and far more docile than commercial breeds, but they are still pigs, and not every practice will attend one. Give the carer the practice name, how the out-of-hours duty system works, and the address if this Kunekune would need to be taken in.
The Kunekune profile that makes a vet call useful
Give the carer a written profile of this Kunekune pig: age, sex, whether it has the breed's characteristic wattles, its companions, and its normal temperament. Kunekunes are famously friendly grazing pigs, often following people for attention, so a carer should be told that a Kunekune who stops coming to the fence, loses interest in people, or stays in the shelter is showing a meaningful change, not having an off day.
Record feed and grazing honestly. A Kunekune thrives largely on grass with a measured amount of pig feed, and this breed gains weight readily, so note the exact ration, the paddock rotation, and any fruit or extras you do or do not allow. Note also the health points you already monitor with your vet, such as skin that gets dry or sunburned on pale areas, feet on wet ground, or breathing in hot weather, so the carer reports against your baseline.
Kunekune signs that mean call the vet rather than watch and wait
Tell the carer which Kunekune changes trigger a vet call the same day. A pig that stops eating, cannot rise comfortably, is limping badly, is straining, appears bloated, or is breathing with obvious effort needs prompt veterinary contact. In hot weather, a Kunekune that is panting, disoriented, or reluctant to move to shade or its wallow is urgent, because pigs cannot cool themselves by sweating and a heavy, fat-covered pig overheats faster than its calm manner suggests.
Handling, shelter, and supply contacts around the vet
List who can help the carer move or contain a Kunekune. A friendly pig who feels unwell may plant its feet and refuse to walk, and shifting even a smaller pig safely can take two people with boards and patience. Name the neighbour or stockperson who will come, and note where boards, hurdles, and the crate or trailer are kept, plus who can tow if the pig must travel to the practice.
A paddock-side list, checked before you leave
Keep the Kunekune's emergency list on paper in the shelter or feed store and on the carer's phone, leading with the vet's out-of-hours number, your number, and the backup contact. Follow with this pig's profile, grazing and feed routine, urgent signs, and the daily checks: fresh water, shelter bedding dry, fence line intact, appetite and sociability normal, and shade or wallow available in heat.
Walk the paddock with the carer before the cover starts, and let them feed this Kunekune, check the water, and practise moving the pig with a board while everything is calm. That familiarity is what the carer will rely on if the pig is ever unwell. Recording the same details in KinsLe's Pet Passport keeps this Kunekune's identity, vet contacts, and care notes together in a portable packet, ready for a carer, a new keeper, or a vet visit.