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Calling On Anyone Who Has Dealt With Piggy With Weak/paralysed Legs

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furryfriends (TEAS)

furryfriends (TEAS)

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I am posting this here, rather than on the sanctuary board as I am not sure many people read my posts on there.

I currently have a temporary resident who has been ill for a long time before coming to me. He had a dental at a vets in Leeds but made no progress whatsoever and just became weaker and weaker. He arrived at the sanctuary last Thursday night and was seen by the sanctuary vet, Simon Maddock, on Friday morning when his teeth were filed and he immediately began to show improvement in his ability to eat. However, his legs, particularly the back ones, are so weak that he can't walk. They aren't paralysed and they aren't out behind him, but he is unable to co-ordinate any moment forward. He also has bladder issues, whereby the urine just leaks out of him and smells very bad. He also has trouble pooing and I am having to remove the poos from his bum regularly.

However, he is making good progress with regard to eating and is even managing to eat some stalky hay but his inability to move is a huge worry. I am syringe feeding him regularly throughout the day and have got almost 100g onto him since he arrived, as although he can eat small amounts for himself he isn't enough to sustain him.

He is currently on Zithromax, panacur, gut stimulants, additional vitamin C and we have recently started him on a calcium supplement (liquid osteocare).

I really want this little guy to get better, but am also very aware that I may just be delaying the inevitable.

Does anyone have any other thoughts on what we could be trying? This is by far one of the most difficult cases I have dealt with at the sanctuary, and it is so sad to see him making progress in one area, but still not able to walk.
 
You've already mentioned the Vit C and Calcium which would have been my thoughts. He has probably been malnourished long enough to have metabolised a great deal of muscle and this will have a huge effect on his movement etc. I also know that in people who have lain still for a long period whilst ill they get atrophy and break down of muscle tissue as well. This can sometimes make them ill due to the breakdown products causing problems in the kidneys etc as well as weakness and inability to move. It's more common in patients who've been in ITU or unconscious for a long time. In these cases it's all about nutrition, physio and working with what they have left.... This would mean a slow, steady attempt at recovery for this piggy which would likely not be a full recovery either.

I don't know if that helps Debbie, a lot of my experience of health related matters is based on human medicine, not animal but a lot of it has similarities.
 
MerryPip said:
You've already mentioned the Vit C and Calcium which would have been my thoughts. He has probably been malnourished long enough to have metabolised a great deal of muscle and this will have a huge effect on his movement etc. I also know that in people who have lain still for a long period whilst ill they get atrophy and break down of muscle tissue as well. This can sometimes make them ill due to the breakdown products causing problems in the kidneys etc as well as weakness and inability to move. It's more common in patients who've been in ITU or unconscious for a long time. In these cases it's all about nutrition, physio and working with what they have left.... This would mean a slow, steady attempt at recovery for this piggy which would likely not be a full recovery either.

I don't know if that helps Debbie, a lot of my experience of health related matters is based on human medicine, not animal but a lot of it has similarities.
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Thank you, that makes a lot of sense. When my daughter was very poorly in the summer and was in intensive care, she was unable to even put weight on her legs, let alone walk when they first got her out of bed. She was very unsteady for a while.

I think we need to give the little man extra time, and we can manage his dental issues during this time too. Every morning I wake up hoping for a miracle, and that he will be moving around.
 
furryfriends Excellent Adventure Sanctuary said:
Thank you, that makes a lot of sense. When my daughter was very poorly in the summer and was in intensive care, she was unable to even put weight on her legs, let alone walk when they first got her out of bed. She was very unsteady for a while.

I think we need to give the little man extra time, and we can manage his dental issues during this time too. Every morning I wake up hoping for a miracle, and that he will be moving around.
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I think time, good dental treatment and good food will certainly help you tell whether there is any chance of improvement. It takes bodies a long time to recover from serious malnutrition or illness as both of these use a huge portion of the bodies reserves to fight. Hopefully once he's getting enough nutrition into him to start laying down new muscle etc he will be a bit more perky!
 
I had a stroke piggy a little different but he lost use of his back legs, vet recommended along side other treatment warm baths to get circulation back into his legs. To try and get him using them.
 
Poor boy, I don't have much experience in this unfortunately but I know some people who have used swimming therapy. However, I think that may have been more for a pig that has pain in their back legs so don't know if it is appropriate in this case.
 
He does seem to have better movement in his body after a warm bath. I have been supporting him in warm water so he can move his legs around, and also to keep him clean as he is constantly wet underneath and smells strongly of urine. You can see the little guy on the sanctuary Facebook page. There are a couple of videos of him and also one of my little grandson dancing for him! lol

https://www.facebook.com/teasnorthampton?fref=ts
 
Hi Debbie, as you are aware we have had fun with Star over the last couple of years, including a recent visit to Simon. (We are back on the 27th Jan for a follow up following the urethal stone.)

The initial loss of legs that Star had seems to be related to potential inflammation in the neck area. This was sorted by an injection of metacam directly to the inflammation. Other possible causes were stroke or a neurological issue. Following the injection we carried out a daily regime of warm water baths which helped prevent urine scalds as well as helping movement in the legs.

Recently when we took Star to see Simon she was diagnosed with arthritis and a daily dose of 0.1ml of metacam has worked wonders. I am concerned that Simon has not been able to diagnose anything. I would suggest the continuing of the warm baths and moving the legs in the water, forcing the muscles to work. I know it may seem cruel but manipulating the muscles may help them gain some strength. You have to use them or lose them.
 
Only other things I can add to the above
a) Vit B12 injections - from your description it sounds like neurological issues with the legs/bladder control which could indicate B12 deficiency.....metatone tonic could also be used but kick-starting with an injection might see some quicker results. It won;t do any harm so nothing to lose and I think this is well worth a shot.
b) glucosamine/Cystaid or whatever its most recent format is....agan won;t do any harm so nothing to lose.

HTH
x
 
Firstly i would consider Vitamin C deficiancy, and as you know it can be easily corrected with supplementation and critical care has plenty in. Arthritis is another idea, which has been covered. Also blood clots, spinal arthritis and spinal injuries, hypothermia, electrolyte imbalance in the blood, seizures etc. But as said if Simon can't find anything I'm not sure what to suggest except further diagnostics?

Not a great load of help here sorry, just offered a load of possibilities.

x.
 
Sadly, despite trying everything possible, little Chutney began to decline even more from Wednesday evening. The weakness became much more apparent on the left side of his body, whilst overall he made no improvement. He was unable to empty his bladder properly and urine leaked out constantly.

Throughout the whole time Chutney was with me, I have kept the owners fully aware of what has been happening, and this morning we made the decision to help him over the Rainbow Bridge.

Sleep well gorgeous boy! I am so sad that we weren't able to make you better. There will be a new bright star shining in the sky tonight!
 
I am very sorry that Chutney was too unwell to make it despite your best efforts! I am sure that he is being much missed by you and his owners! :(
 
I literally devoted most of my time to Chutney as I wanted to give him the very best possible chance, but sadly it wasn't to be. This is the very hard part of what I do, and right now I am not sure I can keep putting myself through it. Give me a few days and I am sure I will be ok, and will be able to focus on all the piggies we have saved, but at the moment I am physically and emotionally exhausted.
 
I am so sorry Debbie. You really are a hero. You did so much for little chutney. It is heartbreaking he did not make it but you gave him every chance.
 
So sorry, you do a brilliant job and he got the best chance because of you. Sadly he was just too poorly
 
So sorry to hear this Debbie, we know you do the utmost for all the piggies in your care and at least Chutney was surrounded in love and the very best in care.

Sleep well little one. x
 
It was definitely the right decision to let him go. The ethos of the sanctuary is 'to extend good quality life, but never to prolong death' and to have carried on would certainly have been doing just that. It doesn't make it any easier though!
 
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