Paper bedding for older piggies

[Spaniel]

I’ve had to use mostly paper bedding in the cage tonight because of problems washing the fabric items.

The pigs are 4 and 5. It’s not really a problem for Lola but Perry has arthritis (mild but still, I worry about him having to walk on disposable bedding)

The cage is 6x2 c&c. The right end 2x2 is always newspaper, paper bedding and hay so that’s the same.

The other 4x2 is now newspaper, the last clean incontinence bed pad and paper bedding. I’ve put the carrier in one corner with hay in, hay under a box in the other corner and then the last clean bobble shower mat in Perry’s main sleeping place.

Does this sound ok? Not really any choice but feeling guilty about it

 

[Suki&Indie]

Don’t feel guilty if it’s your only choice! I’d advise looking into areas you can make some differences for Perry’s arthritis. You could try a low dose of daily metacam to relieve the pain or a glucosamine supplement which sometimes helps. I’d definitely chat to your vet about it!
For one of my older sows I also found putting a snugglesafe heat pad in the cage seemed to really help her.

 

[Spaniel]

Don’t feel guilty if it’s your only choice! I’d advise looking into areas you can make some differences for Perry’s arthritis. You could try a low dose of daily metacam to relieve the pain or a glucosamine supplement which sometimes helps. I’d definitely chat to your vet about it!
For one of my older sows I also found putting a snugglesafe heat pad in the cage seemed to really help her.

Thank you. He hasn’t needed to go on metacam full time yet but the vet said he can as soon as we think he needs to, so we’ll keep a close eye on him, especially with the loose bedding.

The snugglesafe is a good idea. I could put that in one area and see if he’s gravitating to that. I’ve turned the heating up a bit higher (day and night) so hopefully he’s keeping warm enough

 

[Spaniel]

I just wanted to bump this up to ask if anyone else has an opinion on this.

So about a month after I posted this, Perry did have an arthritis and bladder flare up and now I’m worried that walking on disposable bedding might have been too much for him. Is this likely? It’s soft paper but obviously it isn’t a stable level surface.

Am I over worrying?