Paper bedding

[Engel]

Hi all. My senior pig Apollo aka Po has developed sore feet and I'm wondering if it's from the wood shavings as I've had elderly animals develop this before despite being fine being on it most their life. Po lives outside with the other pigs in a shed and given the current weather and temperatures I don't want to be using fleece liners yet. I'm keeping his hutch clean and dry so despite the fact he's not as mobile as he once was, I doubt it's down to urine/fecal matter irritating his pads.

I've kept a variety of animals over the years and typically during their senior era I've opted for paper bedding as it's softer, however I've only ever used it on smaller rodents (hamsters, rats, gerbils). Is it worth trying with piggies? Or will it become damp too quick. I used puppy pads underneath for added absorption anyway.

 

[piggieminder]

I used to use the soft paper bedding in the hay trays when Back2Nature got very expensive. It did get wet quickly, I didn't use it for long due to this and went over to using shavings. My oldies get red feet on fleece so I use vetbed i their main sitting spots but not so good for you in an outside setting. Maybe one of the hemp type beddings would be more absorbent, they are certainly softer than shavings.

Bedding For Guinea Pigs - Overview

There is a particular one I am thinking of but can't remember the name, I think @eileen uses it.

 

[Truffolo]

The hemp bedding I have used is Aubiose. There is a nice, but expensive one called Aubizoo as well.

 

[Truffolo]

Nature's Own wood shavings ard nice and soft and not expensive

 

[piggieminder]

Aubiose is the one I was thinking of!

 

[eileen]

Yes,its aubiose that i use.sometime snowflake soft chip,or preimium shavings.
Fitch white paper bedding is good,but expensive.