Yesterday I took advantage of the warmer weather (2-5 C) to "scoop the poop"; I stripped Daisy's pen completely so that I could disinfect it. Then I did a big cleanout of Willy's adjacent pan ... which involved relocating his dry nesting hay - he was not impressed, as he spends great care arranging mouthfuls of hay to suit his taste. He kept trying to "rescue" mouthfuls of hay, and finally stood his ground over a pig-sized patch of his previous nest, until he finally gave up and let me clean out under it. The warm weather had thawed the prev frozen bedding in his feeding and elimination spots, so it was good to get it all out.
I relocated his bedding to the two "bays" of his pen, over a fresh layer of shavings, and added new hay to munch and arrange. "Clean sheets", as I say to them ...
By the evening, he had settled into his new sleeping spot and seemed to have forgiven me - esp after a good long ear/neck rub. He is becoming a cuddly boy.
He is also walking better - not sure if it's the (relatively) warmer weather, the better diet, the glucosamine/chondroitin supplements, the increased water intake and cranberry capsules (2x/day), or all of the above. In any event, he seems less stiff, less hunch-y, and more free-moving overall.
I am glad, as I had been worried about his longer-term prospects if he was in chronic discomfort. I can't personally justify prolonging the life of an animal that is in chronic pain, as I believe they live in the present and can't fathom the prospects of an "eventual improvement". So, we'll see how he fares when the weather gets colder again (as I assume it will), and consider an NSAID if necessary. I think I will relocated the heat lamp closer to his bed area to keep him more comfy; am aware of the safety risks ... but they are caged lamps, and I never hang them lower than 4-5 feet off the ground. I will look into radiant heaters for next year ... Maybe they sell them in bulk ...?
My pigs - past & present
