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Dexter's "Bloat"

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Laura-CCC4

Laura-CCC4

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On weighing the pigs late last night I discovered Dexter's weight had shot up to 1500g (normally low 1400s). The right side of his abdomen was severely distended, left side was tight and springy. Soft lumps could be felt in various places around his abdomen. Very painful tummy all over.

Short history - Dexter is one of my 'chronic bloat' pigs, he tends not to develop acute bloat (i.e. hunched position, inappetance etc.) but when he does suffer his abdomen swells and hardens. He continues eating, moving and defecating but his tummy can become somewhat "balloon like" - it feels like if you stick a needle into his abdomen, he'll deflate. It is painful for him, he detests being lifted when in this state. He develops this condition when he eats cabbage, kale, broccoli, sprouts, dried peas and, somewhat oddly, dried herbs. Naturally, I don't give him any of those foods any more.

However, I can pinpoint what set him off - for the other groups of guineas floor time I spread some dried clover and plantain on the floor for them to graze on. There was some left over when I let Dexter and his girls out, forgetting about the dried herbs spread all over the floor - which Dexter must have helped himself to. And so we ended up in such a position last night whereby he was suffering the effects of his naughty treat.

I dosed him with one tablet (10mg) Buscopan and ensured he was pooping, and 45 minutes later started massaging his abdomen. I syringed him some cool fennel tea (remembered your tip Wiebke!) which he took around 4ml of, refused to take any more. In fact, he grabbed the syringe and threw it on the floor when he got fed up!

I spent a good 45 -50 minutes massaging him. During that time he released a significant number of poops, very little gas came out but many, many very soft faeces. His abdomen slowly softened and the soft lumps that could be felt, could also be felt moving along the system.

He does not get impaction - in the sense that we all know of, anyway. His sac is always clear, never a problem there, he normally poops well. His digestion seems very sluggish when he eats the particular foods mentioned and it's clear from last night that when he develops 'bloat', it is actually a backlog of faeces that needs clearing.

So...now I know exactly what happens with him. I phoned Vedra for advice and she suspects, even though he is young for such problems (he's not quite 3 ) he's lacking an enzyme that breaks down cellulose, hence his reactions to cabbage, kale, broccoli etc.

Her advice was to try supplementing with Vega Digestive Enzymes - a natural supplement which helps break food down more effectively - and if he develops the condition to that degree again, we can try a one-off dose of liquid paraffin. Has anyone tried either product (Vega or liquid paraffin), and can you give more advice re doses?

He is almost back to normal this morning, still a few lumps can be felt in his abdomen and there is some tension there so I gave him one dose of Buscopan. He's not stopped eating and moving around through the whole ordeal - I think that's the only thing that stopped me rushing down to the CCT at gone midnight!
 
Oh Laura, what a worrying night for you, and poor Dexter. I don't have any experience of either of those treatments I'm afraid, but I hope the supplement works and makes him less prone to this sort of thing. Wouldn't fancy the chances of getting liquid parrafin down him! :))

(is it just me or have the smileys all moved around?)

I do hope he's back to normal today, naughty boy for worrying you so much!

Sophie
x
 
Poor Dexter! What a night for you! But at least now you know what is going on and can hopefully treat it better!

PS: the smileys have been moving around... mallethead
 
Poor Dexter! It does sound feasible that he has an allergy or something similar - so despite being young he has this issue.

I'm pleased you're so on the ball with things like this.

Never tried either of those things but they sound very interesting and may be worth getting in case of a next time.

And as for the smileys they are driving me bonkers as I can't find anything!
 
I have treated pigs with Vega Digestive enzyme capsules. All I can say is that they did not do any harm, whether they helped is open to debate. The dose was half the contents of a capsule twice a day.
I bought them off the internet.
I have only used liquid paraffin to treat pigs that have been poisoned. It does have an effect but not as dramatic as you would imagine.
 
Glad Dexter is alright, poor lil piggie! I wish I knew how to feel when things aren't right in a piggies abdomen! I'm so worried I'll press too hard in their tummies and hurt them or do damage!

Sorry I can't help you with the dosages and treatment but let us know how he gets on. I'd be curious to find out!
 
Hi Laura,

I'm glad you started this thread as it sounds exactly what my Oyster suffers from.

I am thinking of ordering the Vega tablets to see if they help if you have been recommended them (takes couple of days to arrive though) and if you like, I could always send you a few for free to try? They would be handy for me anyway as there are certain things me & hubby have trouble eating and it sounds like they would help! lol. If you do, then you can pm me your address as ordering in a minute. It's no problem.

Also, where do you get Buscopan from? Is this something I can give a regular 'bloater' frequently? I try and avoid giving her all those gaseous veg now after reading about them being a big cause.
 
Thank you for all the support. Luckily I don't let emotion get to me before practicalities, I learnt that a few years ago. I was very worried about just how distended that one side of his tummy was though, it was very noticeable.

Tani, that is very kind of you. My mum couldn't find any Vega in town so I have an aternative (off to compare the two products next!) but a few of the proper Vega capsules to try would be very helpful, if you don't mind. Will PM you in a tick. :)

Buscopan can be bought over the counter in pharmacies, or off the internet. It is sold for humans with IBS, it's an antispasmodic so relaxes the spasms in the gut (hence the ease with which Dexter was pooping last night while being massaged!) and eases the associated pain. I can send you a few Buscopan tablets if you like in lieu of payment for the Vega capsules. I would not be without Buscopan, I know how important it is that something that effective is given sooner rather than later when Dexter starts to develop symtpoms! I have tried Infacol in the past with limited effect, likewise with Gripe Water.

Buscopan, however, is very effective. It should not be given frequently to prevent bloat developing, but it can be given as a one-off dose (repeated once again if necessary) when the need arises. Since I cut out all cabbage (including leafy green marketed as "spring greens" or "fresh greens" ), kale, broccoli and sprouts it is rare he develops any significant bloating. He is never fed a muesli mix - the flaked peas are another trigger - and I avoid dried herbs. Apart from when I feed all the other some and forget to clear them up. mallethead

AP - thank you for your advice, much appreciated. I've ordered some liquid paraffin to have to hand, just another thing to pop in the first aid box aka mini health clinic. :))
 
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Ah, ok. I thought I recognised the name as I'm sure I have taken them myself for IBS in the past! (turns out it's just a dairy intollerance so rarely suffer anymore!).
How do you give the tablets though?

I will try and pick some up, but yes, if you have a couple for me to try on her in the meantime, that would be great! :)

Many thanks and let me know if anything really works! I would love to see my piggy in less discomfort :(
 
ccc4 do you touch-type?
Crush a Buscopan tablet to powder, mix with water, about 1ml, and syringe feed.
It takes effect in about 30 minutes or so.
 
Glad that dexter is okay this morning, I have used parrafin on a rabbit, did not do a great deal of good as it was nothing to do with her guts and more a failing heart! I could tell you the dose for a horse though lol!
 
As above re Buscopan administration. Dexter actually likes the taste! Eleanor, thanks for your reply...I think the dose for a horse may be a bit much despite Dexter's naturally large size. :))

AP, I do touch type although I usually only use three fingers and don't keep my hands on the keyboard. I don't often need to look at the keys.
 
Poor Dexter.

I thought in guinea pigs the cellulose was digested by gut bacteria, not by enzymes produces by the pig itself. Maybe he needs his gut seeding with some more bacteria?

It seems pretty odd that a human supplement (the vega) contains cellulase. We don't digest cellulose!
 
I suppose I could double my typing speed if I were to use two fingers instead of one.
 
I am considering trying him on a probiotic as his poops are still a bit soft after last night, but your thoughts are interesting, thanks Alex. Will think on that for a bit and decide the best plan of action. Both the enzyme capsules and the probiotic would be given on a preventative basis so each will need a fair bit of time to be tried out.
 
Laura i'm so sorry to hear about Dexter :...:...:...
But whee very very pleased to here he's ok and will be back to his pigself again soon

from the girls and I xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
 
Thanks Meg and Glynis.

He's doing ok now, I am going to overhaul the diet quite a bit again as I've identified a few things still in there that might be causing a problem. He's always had a small degree of tightness that could be attributed to some foods they still get fed regularly. I also invested in a massage pad, expensive but worth it as it'll be much more effective than relying solely on manual massage! My brain hurts from all the planning of the diet though.
 
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Glad he's doing so well.

Diet planning for me = headache ;) Good luck and that massage pad sounds a great idea, let me know how you get on with it hopefully you won't have to use it anytime soon.
 
It's a second hand one from eBay - Niagara Cyclo Massage Pad. £105, not cheap but drastically cheaper than many other places! Without the assurance of a couple of rodentologists I wouldn't have invested in it, but given Dexter's condition I've bought it in good faith that it will be worthwhile.
 
About 15 years ago I bought a massage pad designed for use on a car seat to reduce backache, the cost was about £20 new.
I used it not for that purpose but to "treat" pigs with bloat. It didn't do any harm...but it didn't do any good, so I stopped using it. I treat a bloated pig by drugs, exercise and by massaging it's abdomen.
 
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