Baby Amelia has Diarrhea

[PingandChipy]

I'm concerned. My baby pig, Amelia, who has brain damage had diarrhea today. She is only a week and a half old. I had to do a lot of clean up and was quite shocked by the amount of it. I think it might be because she was eating too much red lettuce yesterday. I've taken away any fresh veggies for awhile. Is there anything else I should do?

Otherwise, she has been walking a bit better and not falling down as much. She seems to be compensating with her brain damage. I feel so sorry for her but she has gained weight and seems determined to live. I hope she'll be ok now with this diarrhea...

 

[Cgilchrist]

Is she drinking? I would make sure you syringe some fluids to keep her hydrated i know that in my piggie first aid kit there is Dioralyte which is advised for rehydratiing piggies but she is so little I'm not sure.definately lay off the veg for a bit see if it settles. Not much more I can say at the moment as don't have much experience with this i'm afraid :red

 

[Cgilchrist]

you have to be carful with syringing as she is so little too.

 

[lovelygirl]

Don't syringe feed/water a baby it is far too easy for the liquid to end up in the lungs! Maybe try letting her lap some off a teaspoon. If she needs fluid you will need to go to the vet for a sub cut injection of fluid

 

[Cgilchrist]

Just noticed you are in Canada, Dioralyte is a human medicine used for rehdrating us when we are ill not sure whether you have it but i'm sure you have something similar.

 

[Cgilchrist]

Don't syringe feed/water a baby it is far too easy for the liquid to end up in the lungs! Maybe try letting her lap some off a teaspoon. If she needs fluid you will need to go to the vet for a sub cut injection of fluid

Sorry not had experience with babies but just know fluids are really important couldn't think of another method to get them in! :red

 

[Laura-CCC4]

Hopefully it is just the red lettuce that has upset her tum. Is the diarrhoea runny/watery?

Good step withdrawing all fruit and veg, keep her off them at least until her faeces are back to a normal consistency. Rehydration is essential, I think Pedialyte is a solution available in the US, maybe Canada too? If she won't willingly lap some rehydration solution up then she will need subcutaneous injections of fluid as Eleanor mentioned, although much much smaller amounts than an adult as she is so young.

Only other thing I would recommend is to use a probiotic, if you've not got one for animals then any acidophilus tablets/capsules should do. Is Bene-Bac for mammals available in Canada? I use this here (a friend in the US sent some over), brilliant stuff as you only need a small dab of the gel in the mouth one or twice daily.