Utah’s Hogle Zoo euthanizes Walter the African warthog

African warthog’s Walter, left, and his brother Swifty, are pictured at Utah’s Hogle Zoo. Walter was euthanized Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019, after a bladder stone became lodged in his urethra. | Utah’s Hogle Zoo

SALT LAKE CITY — Walter, an African warthog at Utah’s Hogle Zoo, was euthanized Tuesday after a bladder stone became lodged in his urethra.

According to zoo officials, the 14-month-old warthog was not eating well and was having trouble urinating late last month. Veterinarians performed an exam and found Walter had stones in his bladder and urethra. They were able to surgically remove the bladder stones but couldn’t remove the stone in the urethra.

Veterinarians stabilized the hog and inserted a catheter, which allowed his distended bladder to start to recover. Subsequent procedures to remove the urethral stone, including endoscopy, were not successful.

According to caretakers, Walter was eating on his own and doing well for several days, but he stopped eating Monday. He was immobilized so staff could do blood work and administer fluids, pain medications and antibiotics.

On Tuesday Walter’s abdomen was swollen due to urine leaking from the area surrounding the stone. Because of the trauma to the urethra and the inability to repair it, he was euthanized.

According to veterinarians, a pig’s urinary system has an S-shaped curve, which made the stone difficult to find, even in the post-mortem.

”It’s not clear how or why Walter developed stones, though diet could be a factor,” Dr. Nancy Carpenter, director of animal health at the zoo, said in a statement. “In pet pigs, urinary stones are a frequent finding. Although this has not been reported in this species, it has been reported in Visayan Warty pigs.”

Walter and his brother, Swifty, came from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in June. Officials said Swifty’s diet will be changed to a pellet specially designed for urinary health in pig-type species in the hopes of preventing a similar problem. The zoo said it is working to acquire another warthog soon.

Veterinarians said the life expectancy for a warthog is roughly 15 years in the wild but up to 20 years in human care.

Utah’s Hogle Zoo

Walter, an African warthog at Utah’s Hogle Zoo, was euthanized Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019, after a bladder stone became lodged in his urethra.

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