Two elderly pigs - wee & feet!

[Sue and Smartie]

Fifi is now 6 and Pippa 7. They have slowed down a lot although they do still run about & get excited when there's food about. Both are maintaining their weight well.
Fifi has long hair and gets mucky round her back end. I give her a bed bath often (soft cloth and warm water only), and keep the hair there trimmed back, but yesterday she was absolutely soaked in wee so I dunked her back end in the bowl of warm water as I didn't think a bed bath would cut it. She sleeps a lot, and keeps on pooing & weeing while asleep, so is often lying in it no matter how much hay she has for bedding (they get a lot of hay). I am looking out for urine scald whenever I check her over and so far no sign of it. She's always been a dirty pig but it's much worse these days.
Pippa also sleeps much of the time and I noticed her back feet were a little red so I'm instigating a feet-washing routine for her. Again I think I will try with just warm water at first. Her feet aren't swollen at all but the skin is rough in places. I had a look at the pododermatits section on Guinea Lynx and see I could soak in Epsom Salts but I don't think we're at that stage yet. But I will get some Epsom Salts just in case.
I've never got pigs to this age before, it's new territory for me, and I would be grateful for any advice on foot care/keeping a mucky pig clean. I am aiming for the lowest impact ideas you can come up with as I do not want to stress them excessively.
Many thanks.

 

[Truffolo]

I would worry that the extra urination might be assign of a UTI. It wouldn't do any harm to take Pippa for a vet check to see that her bladder is OK and free of stones

 

[Wiebke]

Fifi is now 6 and Pippa 7. They have slowed down a lot although they do still run about & get excited when there's food about. Both are maintaining their weight well.
Fifi has long hair and gets mucky round her back end. I give her a bed bath often (soft cloth and warm water only), and keep the hair there trimmed back, but yesterday she was absolutely soaked in wee so I dunked her back end in the bowl of warm water as I didn't think a bed bath would cut it. She sleeps a lot, and keeps on pooing & weeing while asleep, so is often lying in it no matter how much hay she has for bedding (they get a lot of hay). I am looking out for urine scald whenever I check her over and so far no sign of it. She's always been a dirty pig but it's much worse these days.
Pippa also sleeps much of the time and I noticed her back feet were a little red so I'm instigating a feet-washing routine for her. Again I think I will try with just warm water at first. Her feet aren't swollen at all but the skin is rough in places. I had a look at the pododermatits section on Guinea Lynx and see I could soak in Epsom Salts but I don't think we're at that stage yet. But I will get some Epsom Salts just in case.
I've never got pigs to this age before, it's new territory for me, and I would be grateful for any advice on foot care/keeping a mucky pig clean. I am aiming for the lowest impact ideas you can come up with as I do not want to stress them excessively.
Many thanks.

Hi

Please be aware that over-treating feet out of fear of bumblefoot can soften the thick skin the soles, which are part of the immune system, and allow germs a way in - the opposite of what you want to achieve.

Regular change of highly absorbent vetbed patches (cut to size so you can rotate them easily in and out 2-3 times a day) in the sleeping areas can really help minimise the risk of urine scald and then bumblefoot. Gentle wiping with plain water can help. Mildly antibiotic leucillin cream (available online) can help with incipient infections as long as you apply sparingly and only if really needed.

You may find further practical tips for looking after piggies that are less mobile, including cleaning themselves (saliva is actually mildly antibiotic) and sitting more in their own faeces in this guide here helpful. The tips also apply to older piggies: Looking After Guinea Pigs With Limited or No Mobility

I hope that this helps you?

 

[Sue and Smartie]

I will have a look tomorrow for Vetbed, I am going to the pet shop so hopefully they may have it there.
Fifi has many preferred sleeping places and all of them involve making a nest of hay so she might not like the Vetbed but I can try it.
My husband said could I put E45 on Pippa's feet and I said no, so I am vindicated on that at least!
The guide is very useful, thank you.

That's a good point about bladder stones/UTI. I will get that checked.