Geezer is having the worst year (I just need to vent, sorry)

[LunaticPoodle]

Hi everyone, I can't believe the bad luck with this piggy! We've been battling bladder stones and sludge since february almost non-stop, at least it appears that last friday he peed out the last sliver that was causing him bloody pee (x-ray shows no more stones or sludge). So a huge thank you for all your suggestions, this week he hasn't been crying while going potty for the first time in months!
Since the beginning of the year he's had FIVE hay pokes, two of which required veterinary assistance- that last one was in the evening and I had to get my courage up, manage to find that pesky hay and extract it with tweezers. It was huge and hidden under his eyelid. I could swear I have a lot more white hair now
The cherry on top of this poopy cake is, two days later I found ringworm on his belly (and it's now everywhere ). He's under treatment with Malaseb baths +Itrafungol, so is everyone else, and I feel like a monster because his skin is soooo dry and he looks so uncomfortable (he's one of those slightly hairier skinny pigs).

What can I do to help with the dryness?

I am waiting for F10 from the UK but obviously it's going to take a while, I'm using a pet-safe (allegedly) chlorine solution for now to clean everything, including the floors and furniture... So far the others don't seem to have any signs of fungal infection, I hope they don't catch it, especially cos everyone has had their bath already a couple of months ago, and you know how they are with baths... Definitely not their favourite thing.
So yeah, I'm basically just venting, it breaks my heart to see my little guy like this.

 

[Free Ranger]

What an awful year you have all had
I can't offer any advice about the ringworm or dry skin sadly but it sounds like you're doing everything right with the itrafungol etc. I hope things pick up for your furry (and not so furry) family!

My old boy George has recently seemed to 'forget' to drink just like an old person. My vet is very keen on "keeping everything flushing through!" to avoid stones so it concerned me. George (nearly 6) did have a huge rounded stone form this summer, but luckily(?!) in his penis so the vet could squeeze it out (ouch!) We think it was triggered by the heatwaves we've had this year. My pigs get pellets in the evening which is mainly when I see them on the bottles. Recently I've been sitting with George as he eats them and offering a small syringe of water (1ml, so it just dribbles out) Whether it's been because he's forgetting to drink in the day now (we have 6 bottles in there!) or he just likes the time together or he's used to syringes being a positive experience (he gets twice daily metacam for arthritis) he has been happy chugging at this as he munches... and there's a bottle right next to his bowl! It turns out that some nights he's happy to use the bottle but some nights he'd rather go for the syringe and he takes plenty - maybe 5, 10 or even 12 ml - keeping everything flushing through. My two girls keep coming to sniff the syringe in case it's anything tasty but they never have more than a lick - they think he's nuts! I wonder if your boy will enjoy a syringe the same as old George... might be worth a shot? Even if it's only a couple times a week it might be useful? But don't force it if he says 'no' - they can inhale water they aren't expecting and that's a URI in the making...

Oh these pigs!

 

[Merab]

So sorry you’re having such a difficult time.
Holding you in my heart

 

[LunaticPoodle]

Thank you all, and ouch, poor George! Glad the big stone got out though. Geezer is generally ok with the syringe, so I'll give it a try. He still gets glucosamine daily (I tried to stop it a couple of times once it seemed he wasn't crying anymore while going potty, and 3 days later there was bloody urine again), and he's been using the bottle a bit more.
To avoid inhalation, I had to learn how to syringe feed as slowly as possible this summer when we found an injured baby squirrel during the biggest holiday in the country and no vet or wildlife rehabilitator was available. (More white hair on my head, but the little guy survived and is under expert care to go back to the forest. )
Off to do another round of piggy laundry

 

[Free Ranger]

George has glucosamine in the form of one-a-day oxbow joint support lozenges (purple and white pack, about £10) which he regards as a treat! There is 90mg glucosamine per lozenge. We had a tiny 1ml syringe left over from antibiotics so that's the one I use for the water. Like I say, he sits there chowing his pellets and then turns to reach for the syringe when he wants a slurp. He lives like a king, that pig! Good luck with your boy x

 

[LunaticPoodle]

Thanks and give my love to King George!