Potbellied pigs & trimming hooves NEED ADVICE :)

[19hhbelgian]

I was wondering if anybody with a potbellied pig can give me some of their techniques on trimming hooves. Maddie HATES having her feet trimmed, and it's always just terrible pig screaming and just

How do the rest of you do it? I feel terrible every time, even though I'm not hurting her. Both Maddie and I thank you very much!!

 

[sandy sea]

My two original pot bellied pigs have never had their hoofs trimmed. They are two years old. Their hoofs stay nice due to free ranging, walking on the sidewalks and driveway. When we adopted our third pig which was also two, we had to have it hoofs trimmed. She was living in a barn on dirt and hay. I paid $100 dollars to have someone do it. She now free ranges with the others and her hoofs are staying nice. Adopted pig number 4, two months ago, she is one year older than my other three pigs and really needs her hoofs trimmed. I am waiting to have someone do her hoofs next month. Hopefully her hoofs will stay nice than. Does your pig walk around on the driveway or sidewalks?

 

[Skyesrocket]

Ideally when they are still babies it's a good idea to get them used to you handling their feet while they are relaxing for belly rubs. Too bad we don't live in an ideal world!

Sometimes you can get them on a soft surface like carpeting in the house, or grass outside. Give her a bowl of her favorite treats...something that takes a while for her to chew. Then, while she is standing there take your clippers and trim while her foot is on the ground. You might only get one hoof done a day.
Louie, my big pig won't do that. With him I give him a can or two of beer and give it time to let it relax him. Then, with two other people I get him into a small pen and get him into a corner while the other two people hold him in the corner and I trim while he grumbles and complains.

You can also try flipping her. Get her in a corner with another person. The (big) person can flip her onto her back and hold her while you trim. There are videos online on how to flip a pig.
Some of the pig rescue groups use a combination of benadryl and beer to relax the pig before trimming. It is supposed to be safe and effective. I tried to find the dosage, but haven't been able to. I'll post it if I do find it again. I remember reading that when you use it you can relax the pig with a good belly rub and then just trim.
Good Luck!