Senior Pig - Hay Advice

[Sophia Watson]

Hi Everyone!

My little senior fellow has become extremely picky with hay. He fractured his jaw last August and we have been having dentals ever since. He has his teeth trimmed every 2 weeks due to overgrowing/maloccusion but he is a very happy little guy and apart from that is very normal!

He won't eat his hay, I've tried a range of them - Meadow, Timothy, Oaten. Unless I sprinkle Lucerne in with the hay, that's the only time I see him foraging in there. He's still eating his grass and anything else I give him. I need to get some weight back on him, any advise please? He's always been a small pig and currently sits on 750. He was around the 850-900 in his prime days. Currently 7 years old and I've had him since he was 6months.

Thanks!

 

[wiggypig]

Mushy pellets won't keep his teeth worn down, but they could put weight back on him. Pellets + boiled water, cooled and served in a tiny jar lid as a plate or off a spoon held by you... or from a syringe if you look into assisted feeding first (unless you're already familiar). I use Oxbow Orchard grass among other types and it's rather fine/soft. I tried growing wheatgrass for my piggie with dental issues. We dont have a lawn. Growing wheatgrass was tricky as it is quite prone to mould. But wheatgrass is soft too. Hard red wheat berries that can be sprouted are something you can look for if you want to grow some. It's full of nutrients and full of the silica needed to help wear down teeth. Lack of hay intake is of course a concern for gut motility as well since piggies are grazers that need to eat around the clock. My little guy with dental issues needed round the clock feedings of recovery food/mushy pellets along with some finely grated veg. He did eventually regain his ability to ear independently and gain all his weight back and then some, although his teeth did start to get a bit long again. He also had an issue with his jaw (abscess that we think was dental related). He ate more hay while on pain meds.

 

[Bill & Ted]

You could try him with some porridge oats dry or soaked in warm water, oats have plenty of calories. Grated sweet potato is another popular veggie that most piggies like. I have problems with my Ted, he’s dental and does not eat enough hay either. I give him a bit of fresh grass daily, the silica in the grass is suppose to wear teeth down too