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Any Suggestions ?

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asdash

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I am taking Jasper to the vets this evening but just wondered if anyone had any advice of anything I should be making sure they check or I should ask.

He has lost weight over the last couple of months, some of this was explainable, as they were getting a bit too chunky so I cut down the amount of nuggets and brought them indoors and built an indoor run so they were getting more exercise, there has been an odd week where he has lost a little more than I would like, so I have weighed him a couple of days later and he has put it back on, so not a steady drop, more an up and down line with a general downwards trend, but was always above his weight when he first arrived.

I took him back to Claire at the Potteries a couple of weeks ago to have his teeth checked (had dental issues in the past) but they were fine.

Since then he has lost more weight and is now (this morning) just under the weight he was when we got him.

He is eating although doesn't seem to be as much as normal, pooing ok, doesn't seem to have any issues with weeing, no blood or squeaking. Is moving about the cage and run but does seem a little quieter.

Every since we have had him he does occasionally make the quaking type noise they can sometimes do but it is the same amount as normal.

He came into rescue with pneumonia and has always had a head tilt ever since.

I have been trying to get his weight up, he has been enjoying redigrass, they also have had apple and I tried soaking a few nuggets yesterday but he didn't seem impressed.

Do you think I need to start giving critical care - possibly in a bowl as he is eating or any other suggestions before I go to the vets this evening

Thanks
Andrea
 
Tried ringing Claire but she must have been out.

Have been to the vets, he feels we should treat it as an URTI and has given him Baytril 0.4ml twice daily for 2 weeks, if he is just the same in a couple of days he will also try an anti-inflammatory. If he gets worse then I should take him to the exotics vet (we have 2 nearby and he gave me numbers)

Andrea
 
Hope the Baytril does the trick - do you have a probiotic to give as well to balance the gut flora as it is one antibiotic that can really upset their tum :(
Please don't hesitate to take Jasper to an exotic vet if you don't see an improvement especially if he's had pneumonia previously.
Just discovered my older girl has pneumonia/pleurisy and trachitis within a minute of being examined by an exotic vet, was originally diagnosed with a URTI so Baytril was ineffective and I just wasted a week 8...We're praying she'll pull through on the correct medications now...so far so good :)
Usually, improvement would be seen after 5 days so keep an eye on him, I'd hate anyone to go through what we did last night.
Healing vibes to Jasper, keep us posted and hugs to you too x>>
 
They are treating it as chest - the vet did discuss antibiotics and guts but he said he had never had any problems with Baytril, however I have some of the probiotics from pets at home which I put on tonight's veggies - is it worth getting one of the others or should I just see how it goes.

He has just pulled all the romaine lettuce from tonight's veg and munched it and is not sitting in the hay tray munching !

I plan to weigh him daily for the next few days and see how that goes before supplementing.

He was 910g when we got him and is 870g today - at his heaviest he was 1160g but at that point I reduced the nuggets a little as they were both a little too round !

Thanks again
Andrea
 
Any probiotic is ok, I use Fibreplex as the piggies like it and it's a nice thick paste.
Weighing him is important as you can monitor him, all piggies lose weight if they're not well and a few grammes is normal - a drastic loss in a short period would need addressing.
I would keep a close eye on Jaspers poops (they tell us a great story ;)) as he's on quite a high dose of Baytril, I've had piggies suffer terrible side effects and others who have had none :{
Hay is important so entice him with a nice brand, Timothy Alfalfa is great but only in moderation, Readigrass is also nice for them...so important to keep his gut moving if he's not eating as much or as readily as normal. Such complex little creatures and loss of appetite can snowball into other problems.
Hope he has a very speedy recovery x>>
 
He has gained 40g today and is sleeping in the hay tray at the moment ! - I will carry on giving extra redigrass but hopefully a little brighter today

Andrea
 
Gained another 25g today and looks so much brighter in himself

Andrea
 
Well Jasper is doing well, he is still on Baytil as the vet said to give him a 2 week course, his weight has stayed around the 940g mark - he may lose 15g one day but usually puts it back on the next, I am going to keep on with daily weighing while he is on Baytril. But he does seem much brighter in himself.

However I have noticed both boys seem to be getting a bit fussy with food, most mornings they have some nuggets left, before there was never any left - they have Science Selective. They also seem a bit picky with veg, the things which they left until last before are just not getting touched now, so I am trying to make sure they get favourites. They have good hay from dust free hay but even that is going down slower at the moment, I am giving them extra redigrass every day though. Is it worth trying a differant nugget ? I know they have happily eaten excell before.

Is this just something that happens with antibiotics ? (I am giving probiotics too) - do I need to give them anything extra other than redigrass - I know some people give baby food and/or Critical care but not sure if it is appropriate in this case.

Thanks

Andrea
 
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