Emergency care of poorly piggys

[Mizzpigz]

Both my boys are fine in health at the moment but it seems piggys can go down hill fast so I asked my vet for some critical care sachets and some syringes just in case I ever need to use them. Can I ask if you notice a piggy is not eating and drinking and generally not looking well would you first try to entice fresh grass, favourite veggies, hay n water (whilst waiting for the appt with the emergency vet) and then would I start to use something like critical care to keep him well? Also if one of them had bloat would I still use critical care or just give water as I thought that pumping more food into hem might make the ump toms worst. Just like to be prepared should something happen really

 

[shiny]

I find this useful http://www.guinealynx.info/emergency.html you might like to have a read through

Be aware that there are 2 types of bloat so force-feeding is not always what is needed. That's why it's an emergency vet thing.

 

[Mizzpigz]

As ok thank you shiny. I have read quite a lot about stomach problems but I don't know there were 2 types of bloat. Thank you I will have a good read x

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

Being prepared and having syringe food in ready is for the best. if ever your piggies fall ill and need to see an emergency vet what usually happens is you ring up and then take them straight down without having to wait for an appointment. i am assuming you mean when it is out of hours and your usual vet is shut, if so and you are not sure if you need to see a vet or not still ring and explain the situation, they are usually very good at giving advice.

as most practices now use other vets for their out of hours it is worth finding out where they are located in advance, so as not to have to worry about how to get there in addition to coping with the panic of an emergency situation.

if ever you suspect your piggies have bloat and have stopped eating they will need to see a vet asap as they will require motility drugs and possibly sub cut fluids as well as syringe feeding. but hopefully this will never happen it is great that you are thinking ahead tho x

 

[Mizzpigz]

Hi pound,

Yes I meant if they got ill out of hours as it seems lie, piggys can get poorly quite quickly and I wou,d want to do the best I could do being a new piggy owner. I'm lucky that our vets is piggy cavvy which helps as I would like to use the same vet for my cat and chickens, rather than use a new one really.

Fingers crossed it never happens to my 2 but I would like to feel prepared really.