Care for older piggy

[Gianetta]

My piggie Elsie (the smooth haired one in my avatar) is now six and a half years old and I wondered if anyone has any tips for caring for the elderly piggy? She seems well in herself, is active and enjoys her food as much as ever, but she has lost quite a bit of weight. When I pick her up she feels like a little bag of bones, but she is certainly still enjoying life. Any ideas on what to feed to try and encourage her to put some weight back on?

 

[alcesterpigs]

That is a typical description of an older pig.
I give them plenty of whatever is their favourite food, keep them warm and, if they have previously been a shed pig, bring them indoors, with their companion.
They have a very low chance of gaining weight, the weight loss does seem to be age related.
Most pigs of that age seem to appreciate being held and being given the opportunity to watch the television!
If they are in discomfort from stiff joints I give them Calpol, sometimes they appreciate a warm bath.
The most important thing that you can give them is your time and attention.

Elderly pig is a relative term, a friend has a pig who is 12 years old.

 

[Wiebke]

Older piggies tend to lose "condition" and won't put up weight lost that way.

Basically, keep her where it is warm and cosy and she can enjoy life around her. If necessary, get a painkiller for arthritic pain.

Alcesterpigs has said it all. One of my childhood piggies lived to the grand old age of nearly ten years old and enjoyed nothing more than his time on the grass in summer!

 

[Laura-CCC4]

Hi Gianetta,

AP and Wiebke have pretty much covered it. There was another thread fairly recently about older piggies, might be worth looking through?
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=43329

I hope your sow is around for a while longer yet, it's great she's still happy and eating.

 

[Gianetta]

That is a typical description of an older pig.
I give them plenty of whatever is their favourite food, keep them warm and, if they have previously been a shed pig, bring them indoors, with their companion.
They have a very low chance of gaining weight, the weight loss does seem to be age related.
Most pigs of that age seem to appreciate being held and being given the opportunity to watch the television!
If they are in discomfort from stiff joints I give them Calpol, sometimes they appreciate a warm bath.
The most important thing that you can give them is your time and attention.

Elderly pig is a relative term, a friend has a pig who is 12 years old.

12 Years Old - WOW! I didn't know they could live so long!

 

[lovelygirl]

I had two older boars from the age of 7 till 9 years old and the only thing we had a real issue with was they seemed much more susceptible to fungal infections, but they were kept outside so obviously more damper than inside?