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Emergency vet trip :(

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PottyForPiggies

PottyForPiggies

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Please wish me luck piggie peeps, off to the emergency vets with Casper as it looks like he may have had a stroke. He can't balance and he's struggling to eat - chewing but not able to swallow. Wish us both luck xxxxx
 
Good luck, I hope everything is alright, and it turns out not to be as bad as you think xx>>>xx>>>
 
Casper has definitely had a stroke. He can't balance, has no depth perception (kept trying to throw himself off the vet table), has been drooling and throwing up a little, and is tipping to one side. The vet checked his ears and it is definitely not an ear infection.
He's currently curled up in the pet carrier where he'll be spending the night. He was given an injection of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, as he's also still getting over a URI. Thankfully his chest sounded clear and at least that is improving. It's very much touch and go overnight to see if he improves from this.
I can't feed or water him tonight as he doesn't seem to be able to swallow at the moment (tried him with some cucumber before the trip and he is desperate to eat but could only chew at it and not actually eat, plus it looked like he was throwing up a little bit and drooling everywhere.) Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to get something into him.

Please send healing wheeks for my little sweetheart, I am heartbroken that this has happened and would give anything to keep him with us. x
 
So sorry to hear this, and will definitely send my healing thoughts to the little chap.
 
Healing Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeks are on their way from us and the girls, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxXXXXXX

Hope he makes it through the night, the morning is always a better time to look at things, and make plans for "what next". If in the morning he could take some food and get started eating again, then TIME might be of help in this case, it can take a while after a stroke, but you could be surprised what functions he could regain with time, if only he can get started eating again. We'll be thinking about you and Casper through the nightXX
 
Well he hasn't moved since he went into the carrier, but he is still breathing and I can see his little heart beating. There's a little bit of hooty breathing coming through too so although it's not pleasant, at least I know he is still with us. I will definitely be making Excel nugget soup for tomorrow in the hope that he is able to swallow.
I am staying awake for as long as I can to keep an eye on him. He is going to get one last cuddle before sleep time though x
 
He is such a sweetheart. I know ideally I shouldn't disturb him and just leave him to rest, but he is currently nuzzled into my arm and shuffling a little bit - which is more than before. He still can't move properly and I definitely know that it is his right side that has gone first.
Does anyone have a recommendation as to when I should start trying to feed/hydrate him again? He doesn't appear to be drooling anymore, which is a good sign that hopefully he can start trying soon :)
 
I"m so sorry. :( Poor little guy. I hope things will look brighter in the morning for him.
 
If he will take a little water and crushed up pellets in water mix now i'd start straight away, this will help keep his gut moving. Just tiny bits at a time tho.
Whee are so sorry to read about little Casper, whee will have all paws and fingers crossed and huge hugs for you too.....please give him some little kisses from the girls and I

HEALING LOVES AND WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKS FOR YOU CASPER XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
His gut is moving OK, there are lots of little piggie poops in both the carrier and on me! He is desperate to eat (as demonstrated by him nibbling affectionately on my fingers) but his right side means he just cannot swallow or chew properly. Just tried him with 1.5ml of water, just to see how he did and he wants to but is only managing about half. The rest is just trickling out that right side.

He doesn't like the syringe as for the past 3 days it's meant that he's getting icky medicine! Hopefully he will change his mind soon :)

However I think it's time to let him rest for the night. I will check on him in the morning and hope that he has perked up some more. I'm not expecting miracles but any improvement is worth the out-of-hours, weekend AND bank holiday charge at the vets - £123 for the treatment and consultation. I am not giving up on my gorgeous piggie.
 
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Dip the end of the syringe into some cranberry juice or stick it into an apple so it has a yummy taste on it :)
Keep offering little bits at a time..... even try making the mushed pellets more watery so he at least gets the taste..... just trying to think of things for you XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
Thank you lovely, he is desperate to chow down but just cannot grasp how to swallow or chew properly on his right! I had tried him with some cucumber earlier to test how he was, and I'd completely forgotten that what was left was on the kitchen side - when I got him out of the carrier, he went straight for it and tried his hardest! Couldn't quite work it out but it is definitely promising :)
 
I think that might work, once I took the tougher edge off he seemed to manage a little of the fleshy part. Took him quite a while of chewing but it did go down.
But the big stress from handling and the vets trip made him actually a bit worse, he had no idea what was going on the little angel. He needs his rest I think before I pester him some more. Early morning for me x
 
Oh yes it does stress them out!
Maybe he could sleep beside you in the carrier? and you could check on him and see if he'd like a little water or some more cucumber thru the night :)
Whee'll be thinking of you love XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
He is on the floor next to my bed (I'm quite a sprawling sleeper so I'd be worried about knocking him on the floor!) and he will definitely be my first port of call. I love my little white piggie xxxxx
 
He is still very fragile and is not himself at all, but Casper has made it through the night. Time will tell how he is really doing, but fingers crossed.
 
hopefully the fact that he is still here is a good sign. he is a little fighter. hope he continues with his fight for you poor little love
 
Morning.

If his swallow reflex is improving then try a little syringe food/fluid. Only 0.05 ml at a time to reduce the risk of him choking, stroke his body continuously once the food/fluid is in to stimulate him to eat. It will take a while to get anything down him but it's worth it.

If you can I would get some sub cut fluids (fluid injected under the skin to rehydrate) at the vets to see him through the reduced in-take he's been through. It may buy him some time for some recovery.

Wishing you all the luck in the world

Suzy x
 
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