I shall write here about how I look after my piggies on a typical day / week / month. I'm sure we all have our little routines but a lot of the checks and tasks will be common amongst all piggy owners. The links on this page lead to the relevant sections on the website so you can read more in depth information on each subject.

The first thing I do in the morning when I hear lots of little wheeks from the piggies wanting their 'fresh' breakfast is go to the fridge to see what vegetables I have and decide what to give them. For an 'example' breakfast I will scrub a big carrot with a vegetable brush and then sometimes slice it up into chunks or sometimes leave it whole, chop up some celery [so it doesn't have any stringy bits), select some greens and maybe a couple of baby sweetcorn. I pop these in a strainer and rinse under the tap. I go into the piggy's room to a chorus of Wheeks and give them their veggies.

Whilst they are all gathered around eating I cast an examining eye over them just to make sure they all look ok

- I look at the following:

1. At each of their eyes to make sure there is nothing wrong with them, or stuck in them.
2. Check they are all eating and that they are showing no problems eating.
3. Check they are all moving around ok - did they all look excited for breakfast etc.
4. Check they are not looking fluffed up or depressed - you soon get to know your piggies and sense when something is not quite 'normal'.
5. I have a quick scan around the pen checking the droppings, making sure they all look normal sized and colour [a nice dark browny/black] and are not soft or unformed in any way. Check for signs of blood on bedding or in urine etc.
6. If I see any problems I take the piggy out and have closer look and visit a vet if necessary.

Everyone needs food, comfort and warmth !

After this I empty out their double cosy [ie shaking out the poops] and check if they have wee'd in it overnight - if they have I pop it in the washer for the 30min quick wash [making sure it's completely dry before putting it back in the pen] and give the piggies their other cosies to snuggle in for the day [cosy's aren't a necessity, don't worry if you don't have one - they are just a little 'extra' !]. I then take out their Snugglesafe heatpad [again, a luxury!] and pop it in the microwave for 5 minutes to heat it up. Whilst that is heating I empty and refill their water bottle and bowl [which normally has a soggy cardboard loo-roll tube in it deposited by Splat overnight - she does love soggy paper that one !] and pop them back in the pen. I then give them each a tickle or an ear-rub and give them a nice big fresh handful of hay. I normally shake the hay before I put it in the pen to get rid of any excess dust / grass seeds etc. Next is a nice handful of Readigrass and a top up of the dry food bowl if needed. By now the heatpad will be ready so I wrap it in a fresh towel and pop it back in the carrier in the piggy pen ready for them to snuggle on during the day - Splat normally follows my hand as I put it in and jumps straight on it while Billy finishes hoovering up breakfast !

If I have time before I go to work, after they are breakfasted, I will get them out for a cuddle.

I am fortunate in that I have time to go home at lunchtime so I get to see my piggies !! They all get tickles and cuddles and normally a treat too - this could be some salad from my lunch [it's impossible to prepare salad for yourself and the pigs not to know and wheek the house down !] or some nice fresh dandelions or grass picked on my way in.

We love to eat and be cuddled !

When I get home from work I pick some fresh grass to give them as I come in the door to reward them for their happy wheeking !

After checking they are all it's time for their evening run - I open their pen door (after making sure all the electric cables are covered - they always are at my house) and out they all come, popcorning (leaping in the air) and wheeking and running under the settee & coffee table [or getting under my feet and tripping me up]. I normally like to get little bits of celery or cucumber and sit on the floor so my piggies can come over to me and get little treats to eat. I sometimes put out tunnels and things for them to play with. I clean the pen twice a week whilst they are out on one of their runs so it fits nicely into the routine .

For more pics of them having fun visit the Entertainment Page !

After probably a few hours or if I have to do something else (I don't leave them out on their own for safety and not chewing wallpaper [you know who you are Splat!] reasons) I need to get them all back in their pen. I don't like to chase them in so I either wait for them to go in on their own or if they are being cheeky and not going in I go and rustle the hay bag (or any old carrier bag) and they all go charging back expecting hay. I do give them some for being good and going back !!

If the weather is nice, they may get to go outside and run around in their outdoor exercise run.

For more pics of them enjoying the great outdoors why not visit the Outside Pigs Page !

Later in the evening is when they get most of their lap time, I invariably have one of them on my lap for a cuddle throughout the evening. It is lovely at the end of the day to have a happy purring relaxed piggy stretched out nearly flat in your lap with their little back legs sticking out. A happy, secure piggy. They also get cucumber treats in the evening !

On a weekly basis I check their toenails and clip them if they are getting long and have a good rummage in their coats to make sure all is looking well. I also check to see if they have any sores or scabs around the edges of their mouths and that their teeth aren't getting too long. Billy gets his manhood checked for bits of hay being stuck [which are very carefully extracted] and a look to see if his grease gland needs cleaning.

When I had long-haired piggies [Moppie and Tiger] I used to trim the hair around their bottoms about once a month to keep them clean and tidy.

I shampoo Billy about once every 3 - 4 months as he does have quite an active grease-gland and tends to need a good lather every once in a while - he also has 'undercarriage' rinses as and when he needs them as he can be a messy boy sometimes !

Next >>

Housing

Bedding and Housekeeping

My Piggy House

Feeding

Edible Wild Plants

Poisonous Plants

Cosy Cavies

Entertaining

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Page Last Updated: 03/02/06