Specialist Advice For Finny

[Midge&Panda]

Finny is a boar about 3yrs , weighing in at 1440g and diabetic. The vet is almost positive anyway- cataracts, drinking a lot and a sugar level off the chart. He went in for a fatty lump removal last Friday (29/05). The operation went well but by the evening he was back in hospital with 'crackly' breathing. He was sent home the following day with antibiotics and cisapride. When he went in his weight was in the low 1600g. So he has lost a fair bit of weight. He is still eating very well, poo's are large nothing that would make me think something was wrong with his teeth. He was given a clean bill of health at his post -op, we mentioned the weight loss and his lethargy and the vet said to monitor him and that it could be that the GA has just affected him a little bit more because of his diabetes. Has anybody experience of a diabetic piggy having surgery, if so any advice would be good. Many thanks.

 

[pig in the city]

I don't have any experience of a diabetic piggy having surgery, but l do know that any stress can put up blood sugars even further ( due to stress hormones being released), that would explain the lethargy and weight loss. Are they not treating his diabetes? My vet uses insulin. I hope he gets better soon x

 

[Wiebke]

@Pebble @helen105281 @Elwickcavies

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

I think this is due to him being a larger than average piggy, as the heavier piggies do struggle more under GA. I think the diabetes is unlikely to be the main cause. I look after a diabetic piggy, as part of my pet care business, and she has undergone surgery with no issues whatsoever. I know piggies come in many shapes and sizes, but at 1.6 kg, this is definitely a larger than average guinea pig.

 

[helen105281]

I don't have any experience of diabetes in pigs but I have heard of pigs having crackly breathing after a GA, and some vets give a diuretic after the op as standard. Is his breathing improved now?

 

[Pebble]

I think this is due to him being a larger than average piggy, as the heavier piggies do struggle more under GA. I think the diabetes is unlikely to be the main cause. I look after a diabetic piggy, as part of my pet care business, and she has undergone surgery with no issues whatsoever. I know piggies come in many shapes and sizes, but at 1.6 kg, this is definitely a larger than average guinea pig.

I don't have any experience of diabetes in pigs but I have heard of pigs having crackly breathing after a GA, and some vets give a diuretic after the op as standard. Is his breathing improved now?

^^^^
Both of these...

1.6kg is a seriously large (or overweight) pig. unless he is a Cuy.cross (but they're not here in the UK atm)


Suggest you consider badgering the vet for
Antibiotics and bisolven for the crackly breathing.......
Plus syringe feed supportive care and
be prepared to also ask for gut motility meds if he doesn;t poo proper!

x

 

[Midge&Panda]

Thank you for the replies, He is now off the antibiotics but is still having his cisapride as well as having critical care which he will eat off the plate. He has always been a greedy pig and would happily steal the other pigs food. Its now that he's content to eat then rest rather than eat then search out more food. He is just more quiet than normal.