Message techniques for pig arthiritis?

Question
We have a 16 year old pot bellied pig.  He has bad arthritis of the front legs and has some good days but mainly bad days.  Do you know of any special message techniques or anything for us to try to help his pain some.  We give him liquid glucosamine and aspirin.

Answer
Arthritis is a common problem in pigs.

Weight is a factor. If your pig is on the heavy side, now is the time to put him on a diet. Arthritic pigs tend to be less active, and less active pigs need less food than active ones.

Long or misshapen hooves also contribute to arthritis problems. Bad feet force the ankles into awkward positions and strain the knees.

Arthritic pigs need lots of soft bedding and warmth. Give him extra straw or an additional blanket or two. Some pigs enjoy the special padded dog beds made for old or arthritic dogs. Of course you don't want him to get overheated, but in cold climates a little extra warmth won't hurt. A heat lamp or pad works well (unless your pig is a blanket ripper - NEVER give a heating pad or blanket to a pig who likes to rip up blankets because they could rip up the heated pad and injure themself).

Arthritic pigs should avoid stairs, even if they've always used stairs. A ramp with a non-skid surface and low slope works best. If only a very steep ramp is possible, stick with the stairs and make sure they are covered with a non-slip surface (make sure it's non-slip even when wet). If your pig likes to sleep on a couch or chair, you might want to provide him with a single step to help him climb in and out.

There's dozens of home remedies for arthritis. For every remedy, you'll find a dozen pig owners who swear it works on their pig, and another dozen who say it did nothing. Most take a few days or weeks to show improvement.

Heartland products makes arthritis/vitamin supplements specifically for pet pigs ( www.healthypigs.com ). Some people report success using equine arthritis/vitamin supplements made for horses ( www.jeffers.com or www.valleyvetsupply.com ). Other remedies that you can find at your drugstore include cod liver oil caps (give with food because they can cause tummy upset), sea cucumber and any number of glucosamine and glucosamine/chondroitin supplements.

Some vets are trying alternative and holistic approaches to pet care, including acupuncture and massage. For humans, a massage/yoga therapy program often relives arthritis. We can massage the piggies, but pigs just aren't into yoga :) Ask your vet for a referrals to vets who do acupuncture, or look for one in your local yellow pages, or try Goggling "veterinarians" & "acupuncture" & your zip code. Check your local library or Amazon for books describing how to use massage for arthritis relief for humans, dogs or horses. These same techniques should work on your pig.

Rimadyl is a prescription NSAID drug that works wonders for most pigs with arthritis. This drug can cause tummy upset so needs to be given with food and something like Pepcid AC. Steroids might provide relief. Your vet can prescribe Rimadyl or steroids.