Hay Replacement

[Julia Rafferty]

My friend has two skinny pigs and is allergic to hay. Is there any replacement that she could use?

 

[Gia]

There is no replacement to hay. Hay is 80% of their diet. What's her reaction to it?

 

[Eriathwen]

I wish! I have to wear gloves, long sleeved shirts and a face mask when handling the pigs hay, and I can't use Timothy as I have a stronger reaction to it than meadow and orchard grass. I have antihistamines from the doctor I have to take daily too.

 

[Julia Rafferty]

There is no replacement to hay. Hay is 80% of their diet. What's her reaction to it?

She breaks out when touched by hay or close to hay. Her throat also tightens causing a lot of coughing.

 

[Mother Hubbard]

That doesn't sound good. I couldn't think of a way round it to be honest.

 

[VickiA]

Hay is an absolute must for piggies. There is no substitute. Some types of hay are dust extracted and provoke less of a reaction. But apart from taking antihistamines, wearing gloves and long sleeves when handling the hay I can’t see any way round it. Sorry.

 

[Flamestriker]

Vitamunch blocks? They are brick shaped 1 kg blocks of compressed hay. I use them for my herd of 8 in addition to usual hay.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Sadly not, being skinny pigs they'll need even more hay than hairy pigs as their metabolism is twice as fast.

I've heard that air purifiers really help, and as others have said wearing gloves and taking antihistamines can help but you can't have piggies without hay unfortunately as it's almost their whole diet