Do I Need To Prepare Myself For The Worst?

[Liane]

I am waiting for test results for Elphie, who has been losing weight and has tear-shaped poops (some with 'tails').

There are no other signs of illness; teeth are fine, blood glucose fine, organs feel normal etc. So I'm probably right in thinking there's something in her digestive tract causing the problem.

All the bacteria and parasites I've been reading about so far have been very doom and gloom - no treatment, likely to have already infected my other pigs and so on.

Should I be preparing myself for the worst?

 

[Wiebke]

Poos with tails simply mean that she is eating not as much as normal; that can have many reasons (one of them is pain). Has she had a scan or x-ray?

When there are no other obvious reasons, then your vet has to turn detective. The cause doesn't necessarily have to lie in the gut. Reading up on specialist literature can be sometimes a bit counterproductive when it sends you into a frenzy of apprehehension.

Waiting for a diagnosis is always a very anxious time; it all depends on what your vet can find and how treatable it is.

In that respect, being braced for the worst is a realistic attitude - very bad news won't hit you quite as badly in case you have to make difficult decisions on the spot, and anything else is good news compared! But then, I am rather a glass half empty person and like to be braced...

 

[Liane]

Thank you I suspect I will be worrying until all the results are back. She hasn't had an x-Ray or scan yet, but presumably that will be next if the urine&faeces results come back clear, probably blood tests too.

I was surprised by how lovely and thorough the vet was. She even suggested the glucose test, which I hadn't thought of myself. She took me seriously as well - the only other vets to be so nice are Simon&Kim! So a positive to come from the appointment was finding another vet we can see

 

[Wiebke]

She sounds very thorough, so whatever it is, you are likely to get an answer if an answer can be got!

A good vet doesn't necessarily need to be an exotics specialist, but one that is careful, methodical and considerate - and willing to get advice from a specialist when needed.

I must admit that I count myself lucky to have the Maddocks within my reach. Several of my piggies wouldn't have lived for as long without them.

 

[Liane]

They are fantastic, I only wish they were a little closer to me!

 

[Liane]

Update: just got all the results back - nothing of any significance in the urine or faeces. There was some bacteria in the urine, but from what I understood it wasn't anything of concern that would make her ill - she double checked that she wasn't exhibiting certain symptoms, which she wasn't. I was so sure they'd find something, so now I'm baffled about what it could be. I want to be relieved that it wasn't any of the nasties I'd read about, but I'm just even more worried now!

No change in weight, still 750g. Next step is bloods.

 

[sport_billy]

Awww poor piggy, it is so frustrating when you dont' know what is going on. Bloods a good way to go, then a scan I would suggest to cover all bases. Xray picked up problems in our girls jaws that were causing massive issues.

Sounds like your vet is good, where are they?

 

[Liane]

Awww poor piggy, it is so frustrating when you dont' know what is going on. Bloods a good way to go, then a scan I would suggest to cover all bases. Xray picked up problems in our girls jaws that were causing massive issues.

Sounds like your vet is good, where are they?

This particular vet is at Companion Care in MK. I was very reluctant to go there as I've previously had bad experience with them & piggies, but the vet I saw was fantastic. Her name is Claire.