Teething in 5 month old gloucester red spot

Question
I own a Leicester red spot show pig. I have reared her from the age of 8 weeks old.  I think she is teething as she squeals a lot when chewing and sometimes when not.  She is predominately a house and garden pig and lives with myself, my husband and our 8 year old cat.
We have bought her a teething ring but how else can I help her - is bonjela suitable to use?  I am also a mother of three although they are all grown up now and young adults and wondered whether I can help her in similar ways as those used when my children were teething.  She has complete trust in me and I can do most things for her. I would also appreciate your advice on any publications I can buy to ensure I am doing everything right for this beautiful companion.  Thank you

Answer
Pigs have several sets of teeth so she may well be teething. Another possibility is that she has something stuck in her mouth or teeth. Pig mouths don't open very wide, so use your finger to feel around inside her mouth, and dig out anything that might be stuck.

If you can feel where the teeth are erupting, you can try to use an oral pain relieving gel - but piggy may not like it. Another option is baby aspirin, but that comes with a risk of heartburn and stomach ulcers. The usual dose for baby aspirin is 325 mg per 75 lb of pig.

I highly recommend the book Pot-Bellied Pig Behavior and Training by Priscilla Valentine. Pris really understands how pigs think and why they do the things they do. Another excellent resource is the Yahoo group PigInfoAndChat.