[Gpdd] HEALTH I need some advice

[Penny Charlesworth]

Trying to catch up on some Digest posts whilst cooking the dinner, I have just read the one about Josephine Piggy, who is 6 years old.

I'm sure that there have been lots of replies to this but thought I would add mine even though I'm a bit late.

I have found that some elderly piggies do sit around in one spot whereas others still run around. A bit like people really. Some do tend to lose weight as they age and become quite bony, even though they are eating well.

My Diamond was sitting around a lot and my Rodentologists found that she had arthritis, for which I am giving her Potter's Tabritis tablets ( unlikely to be available outside the UK ). After the first dose ( half a tablet, dissolved in a little water ), she returned to her usual activities and now runs laps around her pen. Maybe Josephine's joints are a bit stiff with age? It comes to us all. She may need some painkiller, just as we would.

With elderly ones that don't move much, I always give them some VetBed to sit on so that they don't become wet underneath or get urine scald. It is warm and cosy too.

Some elderly piggies develop a runny eye. The water forms crystals under the eye and this may be what is happening to Josephine. Some cocoa butter applied to the crusty places will dissolve the crystals, which can cause the skin underneath to burn and become uncomfortable. I have some from Gorgeous Guineas but the regular kind from the pharmacy will do the job. Don't get it in the eye.

As long as an elderly piggy is still enjoying their food and cuddles, I believe that there is enough quality of life for them to be happy. 

Hope that this is of some help,

Penny and the Piggyfriends.