As many of you know, my 5 year old aby Crunchie has chronic bladder issues, recently resulting in dental problems. She is now on an array of supplements for her bladder and a strict diet of IC veggies, timothy hay and filtered water- no pellets.
Floor time for my non bladder piggies would usually involve lovely meadow hays, grass, fancy forages etc, and i have felt that crunchie has been missing out. She still enjoys her run around, but no amount of soft beds and cardboard boxes can make up for the lack of edibles!
I've been sourcing some different hays for her (has to be timothy), and doing more research. Today i had everything i needed, so set to it!
I opened the lid of a large shoe box, and lay it on its side. I cut two holes in the back for extra little doorways- to keep it interesting! I then filled it with a stalky, thick first cut timothy hay, a higher seed head quantity second cut timothy hay, a soft green third cut timothy and a small handful of green oats. The green oats are safe for bladder piggies in small amounts, preferably given as a treat.
Crunchie, including her PIC fudge, both enjoyed rummaging for the green oats through all the different textures and thickness of hays, finding all the different seed heads and tastes.
They thoroughly enjoyed it, and I'm happy knowing she did without having to worry about the consequences to her health!
Floor time for my non bladder piggies would usually involve lovely meadow hays, grass, fancy forages etc, and i have felt that crunchie has been missing out. She still enjoys her run around, but no amount of soft beds and cardboard boxes can make up for the lack of edibles!
I've been sourcing some different hays for her (has to be timothy), and doing more research. Today i had everything i needed, so set to it!
I opened the lid of a large shoe box, and lay it on its side. I cut two holes in the back for extra little doorways- to keep it interesting! I then filled it with a stalky, thick first cut timothy hay, a higher seed head quantity second cut timothy hay, a soft green third cut timothy and a small handful of green oats. The green oats are safe for bladder piggies in small amounts, preferably given as a treat.
Crunchie, including her PIC fudge, both enjoyed rummaging for the green oats through all the different textures and thickness of hays, finding all the different seed heads and tastes.
They thoroughly enjoyed it, and I'm happy knowing she did without having to worry about the consequences to her health!
