Feeding nuggets to pigs with bladder problems

[squeak12712]

I know that nuggets/pellets are generally thought of as better food for pigs than crunch or muesli but one of our pigs has long term bladder problems and I'm a bit worried about feeding him nuggets as they all appear to be alfalfa based ( I did read that pets @ home nuggets don't contain alfalfa but they do have a higher calcium content).
Would it be better to go back to feeding him crunch, continue feeding the nuggets or just avoid these foods completely?

Any advice from anyone who has experienced this would be much appreciated.

 

[Wiebke]

I have drastically reduced the amount of pellets I feed. I would not switch to muesli, as the intake there can be very variable and even less controllable due to selective feeding.

 

[Jerrybelly]

Oxbow Cavy Cuisine are timothy-based nuggets, but are quite pricey.

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

I only feed dry food to my pigs once or twice a week. Also I have one boar who had a bladder stone op in January so since then him and his companion are on a strict hay, veg and grass diet and he is doing very well. He is the first piggy i have had with a stone for about 8 years and interestingly he developed the stone after I switched to Harringtons for the first time. Obviously this could be pure coincidence but it is not a brand I will be using again.

 

[Julesie]

I have a guinea pig with the same problems. He has a special hay he eats and isn't allowed any of the burgess pellets in the bigger size but the little tiny ones don't seem to upset his tummy. (they are the blackcurrent and oregano ones) but any others upset his tummy. I only give him them once a day.

He also has a strict vegetable diet.

 

[boozyfruits]

Our Harry has had bladder stones, and our vet recommended Oxbow Cavy Cuisine as they are timothy hay based and are low in calcium. She knows her stuff as she is a piggie specialist and keeps pigs herself.
i would recommend getting a small bag first as they are quite different to other nuggets, and are very expensive at £15+ for a standard bag
Bx

 

[Bekki]

I will be moving to oxbow once my supply has ran out, my boys are 3-3.5 I'd rather give less nuggets and feed the something more age appropriate :-)

 

[TAN]

On the advice of my vet (who has 7 pigs of her own - including 2 bladder ladies) last night I ordered x 2 bags of vetcare plus multi-modal food for guinea pigs with bladder problems / urinary tract problems from vetuk - it was about £5 per bag and £1.90 postage - its low in calories and has cranberry extract and other things in it - I think they also do one for piggies who are prone to URIs as well - this is because Bumble has a kidney stone and Bea has a thickening of the bladder lining.