Excretion habits

[DarwinTesla]

I had our girl (3yrs) on my lap last night. She was sat quite comfortably for a while but she started making soft squeaking noises. She then turned on her side and started to excrete but it was only half way 'out'. I could tell she was uncomfortable so I stroked her head and made soothing noises and she eventually let 4 go in quick succession but again at the end seemed to get a little 'stuck'. I helped her along with a basil stem and she seemed fine after that. I'm just not sure if she was just not comfortable with doing it on my lap (and so holding it in) or if there's an issue with impaction or something.

 

[Wiebke]

Is her diet mainly hay?

 

[DarwinTesla]

I'm not sure really, but certainly mostly dryish food. Most days she has her dry food, fresh grass from the garden, dried dandelion, cucumber, fresh herbs (basil etc) and a bowl of hay. After Tesla died she stopped eating her pellets as much as usual so we've been trying to give her as many options as possible to make sure she eats. Which she does seem to, but she does tend to pick and things and get bored more quickly than she used to.

 

[piggie-power]

Can't offer any advice on this but just wanted to say i hope its nothing serious x

 

[Wiebke]

Hay should make up to 80% of the daily food intake; that is ideal to keep the guts going and the back teeth ground down.

Has she got a companion or is she on her own? Bereaved piggies are much more often picky eaters; that will change as soon have company again. They will also move around more.

Please weigh her weekly to monitor her food intake. If you could find a rescue to take her piggy dating, that would be the best medicine ever!

 

[AndreaJane]

I agree with Wiebke, piggy dating to find a new friend will do wonders for her appetite.

 

[DarwinTesla]

Hay should make up to 80% of the daily food intake; that is ideal to keep the guts going and the back teeth ground down.

That makes sense. Should I reduce the cucumber/grass/herbs to encourage her to rely on her hay & pellets?

Has she got a companion or is she on her own? Bereaved piggies are much more often picky eaters; that will change as soon have company again. They will also move around more.

Please weigh her weekly to monitor her food intake. If you could find a rescue to take her piggy dating, that would be the best medicine ever!

Unfortunately she's still on her own. We've been trying to get her a sow cagemate ever since Tesla died but there have been none available at the rescue. I do look everyday though, so (fingers crossed) hopefully something will turn up soon.