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Bloat Possibly?

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rufcjoe87

rufcjoe87

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As some of you know my piggy Arthur has been ill. See Strange Breathing/gagging Thing?

He is breathign ok now but i wonder if he has bloat. He stays in his bed all day. Only comes out to eat when we get him out, and he does etc then but not much. He's not touching his pellets but is nibbling his green veg and some hay

He seems to be walking a little funny on his back legs (this could be me being paranoid) He is a big piggy so he has a big tummy. It doesn't sound noticeable hollow when i flick it

Ive had to clean his bum for impaction for the last few days and he has done some poos today but they are very tiny. His appetite is nowhere near what it should be and he never coes out

Is it him just getting over infection/meds and he needs time or is it the dreaded bloat and something a little more serious?

We've been feeding him lots of green veg as it all he seems to eat but ive read that can cause it, posting here as conflicting articles all over internet and you guys tend to know your stuff!

Lethargic
Low appetite
Lack of movement
Small poos
Slight impaction

bloat or recovery? Help!
 
It's really difficult to say, I would see what your vet thinks. It is possible that he is gassy from the greens, you could give him some Gripe water in the meantime and try to encourage him to move about. It could also be the effect of all the medication he has had and they have maybe slowed his gut transit down a bit. Is he on any pain relief?
 
Its a strange one. In some positions he loks bloated ins ome he doesnt. He is pooing but some times he is needing help for it to actually come out. When Mr gf picked him up he squeaked (hes norm very quiet) it wasn't a pain squeak but a 'chatter' squeak - but he never makes any noise so was he in pin? We may have just accidentally held him awkqardly? he nibbled bits and took a few syringes. When we put him back he leapt straight up to his next level and munched some grass n lookked right as reign, then went back to bed

On one hand he is eating, a bit, he is pooing, a bit
on the other hes not really moving, has to be encouraged to eat and hes very lethargic and in his bed

Could be gassy from the greens but how do we tell/remedy it? Is gripe water safe to give him and how much do we give him? We're debating whetehr to go vets tomorrow or monday. It's a mystery... :/. The positive part of me thinks perhaps as you say the meds have slowed him down a bit and hes getting back to speed, in which case we want to give him a few days, but then don't want to leave it too long if not! Also he's not moving about much so as you say maybe we should get him moving...

Hes not on any paind meds at the moment...
 
I would go tomorrow just in case. Gripe water will help disperse any gas bubbles and the dose is 3ml every few hours. I use the Woodwards one and it is usually in the baby aisle in the supermarket.

If his tummy is a bit unsettled then it may have been uncomfortable when you picked him up.
 
I think we will go tomorrow. I'll also get some gripe water. Hoping its a smiple case of him being unsettled and his guts returning to normal. Really appreciate your help and advice at this hour too. Its so strange one min he seems really bad one min he seems ok. Will get him checked out n try gripe water. Thanks again
 
Just to say (as a slave to a piggy prone to bloat ) I agree with Helen's advice and would give gripe water and take to the vets tomorrow. My piggies enjoy the taste of gripe water so it's not difficult to get them to take it. If it is bloat then it can be a good idea to cut out greens/fruit and veg until,guts are back to normal. Hope your little man feels better soon,
 
Ok bit of an update

It's not bloat! Which is good news - But he's no better (tho no worse)

He actually takes his syringe really well, he does eat some veg, but won't touch his pellets (hence us syringeing him) he won't drink on his own either, still spenss most of time in bed and tends to squeak when we pick him up AFTER feeding but not before

Vet has put him on painkillers (meloxodyl) for 3 days - says if no improvement after 3 days will do a full xray to see whats going on. He had his first dose this morning.

To say this is a mystery is an understatement! Poor Arthur bless him, baffling us all!
 
Poor boy, I hope your vet is able to get to the bottom of it. Is he chewing ok when he eats his veg? am just wondering if he could have developed some dental issues due to his ongoing health issues. Do his incisors look straight or slanted?
 
I know, bless him. Yes the vet checked his teeth when he looked down his throat and said they are ok, he is chewing fine his mouth going like they normally do! It is a strange one. Be interesting to see if the painkillers have any effect. I am relieved it's not bloat and he is breathing ok but would be nice to work out what it is so he can get better. I suspect he will end up getting xrayed bless him!
 
Could it be that he is slightly gassy? the vet has ruled out full bloat but I would be interested to see if there is gas showing when he has the xray.
 
Is it possible for a pig to have gas but not bloat? I just assumed any gas causes bloat and was bad news?

If it perhaps is gas, is there a way to tell. Re gripe water, reluctant to give it to him if not bloated but if i give it to him and he doesn't have gas i assume it won't hurt him?

Hopefully something (that is easily solved) will show up on there!
 
Yes definitely, my Millie gets gassy sometimes and I have seen it on her xray but she doesn't get the hollow sound when we tap her tummy. I would try the Gripe water, it won't cause any harm and may help. At least you would have ruled it out if there is no improvement.
 
@helen105281 sorry to bother you again just curious, when your Millie gets gassy are the symptoms similar to Arthur - a bit lethargic, reluctant to eat but not stopping all together, smaller poos etc?
I'm convinved it's something like that. My other half is reluctant to try gripe water at same time as pain killers as, if he improves, we won't know why, but i want to try it because it's double the chance of him improving if you get me? Was just curious the symptoms of gas rather than bloat?
 
Yes that does sound it, I can't normally tempt her with much though she will nibble at the odd strand of hay and she mopes. Her poos are smaller.

I can see what your OH means, has there been any improvement on the pain killers?

Does his tummy sound hollow when you tap it?
 
Yeh that sounds like Arthur. He'll nibble bits if we put it in front of him but not much and he is very mopey bless him

Not really - never sure how quick they should work but he doesn't seem to be any different and today is day 2 on them

I think so, on one side, which made me think bloat, may be being paranoid. I listen to his guts and they are gurgling but ive no idea what I'm listening for!
 
Is it on the left side? that is where the caecum is and where Mille can sometimes sound hollow. Her issues in the past have been linked to ovarian cysts which would not be the case here ;) but the symptoms for gas do sound similar. I would try the Gripe water and then at least you can tell the vet what you have tried. I think gurgling is ok, it is when there are no gut sounds at all that it is a worry.
 
it seems to me he looks a little bigger on his left side as u look at him face on. He's got a bit of a belly bless him but that always seems to look a tad bigger recently, hence my bloat fears. I think I will try and persuade my OH and try gripe water now, then if/when he goes back to the vet at least he kows. I've got a feeling (unless huge improvement in next day or so) an xray will be the way to go. But i remember you saying gas shows up on an xray so that might prove the issue either way

Thanks again :)
 
absolutely, as you can tell i'm a little paranoid but, you know when your piggy is just not right! thanks again
 
I know exactly, with Millie it's the little signs that alert me that something is not right.
 
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