[Gpdd] CARE: grooming & worming

[Anneli Cochrane]

Joanie, I have outdoor dog-proof cages that my dad built for me that I put
my pigs in and let them graze. I live in the country and we do not treat or
do anything else to our lawn other than mow it, so I know it is safe from
bad chemicals for pigs. I have had pigs live until old age grazing outside
for part of the day their whole lives (if it's above 60 degrees) except for
the winter months. So unless you live in an area where their might be some
sort of chemicals on the lawn (maybe your town sprays for mosquitos or you
live close to a factory? I would consider those things too), I wouldn't
worry too much. As far as the mite issue, I have used Ivermectin on my pigs
before, but I haven't been doing it on a regular basis. Don't be afraid to
do it, the recipe is actually quite simple. Since there has been a lot of
discussion recently about worming you have a lot of advice to go by.

Tonight I picked up my sheltie Flower and felt a lump under her butt. I had
given her a bath less than a month ago and she was all smooth and clean
then. The lump I felt was actually a horrible matt, and she had several. I
normally trim my long haired pigs around the butt to keep them cleaner, and
I did this in this last month, however that didn't seem to matter. Today I
had to trim her almost down to the skin around her butt and hind legs to get
rid of the matting, I felt like a HORRIBLE mom. I also rinsed her hind end
off in the sink and the water was brown, I had no idea she was that dirty
because the top of her was clean and smooth. Does anyone have any tricks or
tips as to how to keep long haired pigs cleaner? Her and her daughter Clover
have very soft silky fur that seems to pick up everything compared to the
other pigs. I know they do the wrapping of the fur with the show pigs but I
don't want to do that. I jokingly told Flower that she would have to be
shaved :)

Anneli