Bony older pig

[Puddles1999]

Penelope is around 5-6 years old. This year I’ve noticed her spine and hip bones becoming more prominent and boney.

She has always been a small pig who weighed in the 800’sg when she was young. She’s went through some tougher times with being sick but has been in the 600g range for a while.

She weighed 627g today and I just don’t know if there’s any way to help her gain some weight? I know pigs get skinnier and boney as they age but she’s just so tiny and always has been 626 just seems so small. I haven’t noticed a downward trend of weight loss with her either.

 

[Piggies&buns]

It can be rather hard to put weight on elderly pigs and you may find that it isn’t possible, but what you can do is give a spoonful of plain oats as a calorie boost.
The fact she is stable is what matters though.

One of my boars is not far off turning 7 years old. In his prime he weighed 1550g in his prime but now weighs around 1050g (1100g at most) and he is also bony. He isn’t currently losing, he’s just old so isn’t going to gain anymore.

 

[Freela]

I have found that most of my elder pigs feels bonier and lose some weight/body condition after age 5 or so. They start to lose some of the muscle mass on the top of their bodies and it makes their bones feel more prominent. If there's not consistent loss I honestly think it's age-related and normal, but I would make sure to weigh weakly and see a vet if there is ongoing decline in the numbers.

Some pigs really like oats, which are high in calories, but when I had a hyperthyroid pig who really needed high calories, she was not having them at all! LOL!

 

[Eriathwen]

I offer my oldies some oat hay, it's higher in calories, and some rolled oats for the same reason. I also rotate in rye hay as its a little higher in protein to help maintain muscle mass, just don't over do extra protein foods as too much protein can strain the kidneys which may already be slowing down due to age.
It's also worth a wellness check to see if arthritis has started to kick in and caused a gradual, harder to notice, slowing down of movement. With muscles they're very much use it or lose it, and it may be that some maintenance pain relief will help build up muscle mass again through increased activity.

On top of that, it never hurts to add some critical care in a bowl for them, as a little calorie boost. I find a lot of mine very much enjoy a nice warm bowl of critical care with some oats or wheat bran mixed in.

 

[Puddles1999]

It can be rather hard to put weight on elderly pigs and you may find that it isn’t possible, but what you can do is give a spoonful of plain oats as a calorie boost.
The fact she is stable is what matters though.

One of my boars is not far off turning 7 years old. In his prime he weighed 1550g in his prime but now weighs around 1050g (1100g at most) and he is also bony. He isn’t currently losing, he’s just old so isn’t going to gain anymore.

I still have a bag of her papaya critical care still opened from when she got sick a few weeks ago. I’ve never given her oats before. Would a bowl of a critical care a day or something help or may be equivalent to the oats? It’s crazy how their size can differ so much from pig to pig.

Awe, 7 years is a wonderful age for a piggie. Penelope is the oldest piggie I’ve had.

 

[Puddles1999]

I offer my oldies some oat hay, it's higher in calories, and some rolled oats for the same reason. I also rotate in rye hay as its a little higher in protein to help maintain muscle mass, just don't over do extra protein foods as too much protein can strain the kidneys which may already be slowing down due to age.
It's also worth a wellness check to see if arthritis has started to kick in and caused a gradual, harder to notice, down of movement. With muscles they're very much use it or lose it, and it may be that some maintenance pain relief will help build up muscle mass again through increased activity.

On top of that, it never hurts to add some critical care in a bowl for them, as a little calorie boost. I find a lot of mine very much enjoy a nice warm bowl of critical care with some oats or wheat bran mixed in.

I will look into getting her some oat hay. I’ve never heard of rye hay though. How often do you offer oat hay? She gets a mix of orchard and 2nd cut timothy hay.
She’s been checked for arthritis but the vet said she hasn’t noticed anything. She actually has a vet appointment in an hour so I can ask the vet about it too.
I get her out for floor time pretty often too. Do you think that’s something that might help her/muscle mass?

 

[Puddles1999]

I have found that most of my elder pigs feels bonier and lose some weight/body condition after age 5 or so. They start to lose some of the muscle mass on the top of their bodies and it makes their bones feel more prominent. If there's not consistent loss I honestly think it's age-related and normal, but I would make sure to weigh weakly and see a vet if there is ongoing decline in the numbers.

Some pigs really like oats, which are high in calories, but when I had a hyperthyroid pig who really needed high calories, she was not having them at all! LOL!

Someone mentioned oat hay so I’m gonna pick up a small bag today to see if she likes it.

Her spine and her hip bones have definitely became more prominent. She’s just always been SO small but now she’s tiny. I’ve been weighing her everyday at the same time just to make sure she’s not been losing any weight.
She has a vet appointment in an hour so I can ask the vet to see what she says as well.

I’ve never given oats before but she does still have a bag of her papaya critical care from when she was sick. I might start giving her a bowl on a somewhat regular basis but she does seem to eat a lot of hay lol.

 

[Betsy]

Try mixing oats in with the critical with maybe a bit of grated apple/sweet potato/carrot. The One and Only Thea is 8 next month and has hardly any muscle over her bum at all. Her weight is stable so I don't think she has arthritis. When the vet saw her a few weeks ago I was told that she was in great condition considering her age.

 

[Eriathwen]

I will look into getting her some oat hay. I’ve never heard of rye hay though. How often do you offer oat hay? She gets a mix of orchard and 2nd cut timothy hay.
She’s been checked for arthritis but the vet said she hasn’t noticed anything. She actually has a vet appointment in an hour so I can ask the vet about it too.
I get her out for floor time pretty often too. Do you think that’s something that might help her/muscle mass?

Yes, allowing them to continue normal exercise will help stop them getting creaky and sore I usually give oat hay twice a week in larger amounts or a small amount daily, depending on how much they enjoy eating it.