Keeping a bald piggy warm?

[3littlepigs]

Hello. One of my ladies, who was 5 yesterday, is getting very bald due to a hormone problem. She's had many courses of hormone injection but they've stopped working. Now that it's cold I'm worried about keeping her warm. She's an indoor piggy but we can't keep the heating on 24 x 7! I've got some snugglesafe heatpads but they don't stay warm for very long. I've looked into electric heat pads but have been advised that they're for outdoor use only as they don't have thermostats. I've tried making her a jacket out of the sleeve of an old, angora jumper which she loves it but it keeps coming off. Any ideas gratefully received.

 

[sophiew (EAGPR)]

Yes you can get fleecey cuddle tunnels on ebay, or like little covered cat bed that would keep her warm.

Snugglepads are supposed to stay warm for a long time, I thought?

Sophie
x

 

[rw3399]

When my sow was in her old age and lost the fur down her left side, I got her a vetbed and this kept her very warm. She also had poor circulation and it helped keep her feet warm too. A temporary option could be to use a hot water bottle and wrap it in towels so it isn't to hot for her. My sow used to love being on one after having a bath and would lie right out on it and go to sleep. Hope this helps

 

[Laura-CCC4]

Whereabouts is the hairloss? Does she have any other symptoms?

I ask because I too have a nearly-bald pig; she was treated for an ovarian cyst, which got rid of the cyst, but the hair loss got much worse. She is bald all over her back and sides. She was diagnosed with hyperthyroid a couple of months back after a blood test.

I am in the same situation, indoor pigs who need additional warmth when the heating is off. I was up at 5am with both my vulnerable pigs; I had Tuppy under some Vetbed for a while, and Lottie in a cuddlecup with Vetbed over the top. It works really well. I am about to order some sturdy fleecy cubes from Thistle Cavies - I have one Superpet cosy cube which is years old and has totally lost its shape, bur the pigs love it. Fleecy cubes are so very snug, it would be perfect for the pigs to keep warm.

Rolled up vetbed also works well, if you can roll it into a tube/cylinder - almost like a snug fleecy tunnel they can lay in. Blanket mountains too - find some fleecy or cotton blankets and just pile them up. A pig inside a big blanket mountain is almost as snug as a pig inside a cosy cube!

 

[3littlepigs]

Wow, thank you for so many replies so quickly. Cozy fleece sacks/tunnels look good. I've had a quick surf and the best ones I can find are from marleysmadhouse.co.uk. Can't see any on Thistle Cavies. The roll of vetbed is a good idea - I've already got some so I'll see what I can do.

Apparently you're meant to extend the snugglesafe's warmth by putting it on polystyrene/tin foil but my pigs eat it - especially the tin foil! I find that if you put too many layers over it the warmth doesn't get through.

CCC4 - as with your piggy, mine is bald over her back, sides and tummy - she only has trousers and a hoodie shrug - nothing around the middle. Other symptoms are that she's very amorous - frequently rumble-strutting up to the others. She used to mount them but I thinks she's a bit worn out with that! Could they treat the hyperthyroid **** - did it make any difference?

Thank you!
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