Encouraging a post-op pig to drink/eat

[GuineaDobbin]

Hi folks,

One of our sows, Zazzle, went in for a hysterectomy a week ago. She seemed to be recovering well initially but in the last few days she's stopped eating pellets and hay or drinking water of her own accord. She had been taking veg sometimes, but has stopped eating that reliably too.

I started syringing her last night, pellet mash and water. But she still hasn't produced any poos of merit. She had a vet op this morning and has had a gut stimulating injection and emeprid to go on with and an increase in painkillers.

I've still not seen her partake anything other than a half-arsed veg nibble 12 hours on.

Does anyone have a suggestion on how to encourage her to eat for herself?

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear this.

Have you been weighing her each morning?
Make sure you are weighing her each morning so you can monitor that she is getting enough food so that her weight stays stable each day.

Poops are 1-2 days behind food intake so you need to get a sufficient amount of syringe feed into her and then you should start to see poops produced a couple of days later, it’ll still take a while before things go back to normal and only if she is taking sufficient feed.

I hope she is ok

Tips For Post-operative Care
Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

 

[Wiebke]

I fully agree with @Piggies&buns .

Please take the time read our links. They contain all the practical how-to tips and advice.

Post-op recovery can be very tricky because you cannot make piggies that are feeling very unwell eat and drink on their own. You have to support feed until they are feeling well enough to have an appetite again, which can sometimes take a long time. Your feeding care is as crucial as any medical care.

I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed for your little one.

 

[GuineaDobbin]

Thanks folks, I have read the links before and have now revisited them! Even though most of it is in my head from long practice, re-reading them is quite calming.

She did what I can only describe as a wet fart this morning, not diarrhoea, but the first thing that has come out of her in a few days. She has now produced the tiniest little wet poo, which I think is our first sign of things working through.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks folks, I have read the links before and have now revisited them! Even though most of it is in my head from long practice, re-reading them is quite calming.

She did what I can only describe as a wet fart this morning, not diarrhoea, but the first thing that has come out of her in a few days. She has now produced the tiniest little wet poo, which I think is our first sign of things working through.

It means that the inner conveying belt is working again and that you are past the stage when nothing did come in. The poos are going to firm up and getting gradually bigger over the coming days, reflecting your feeding regime with the usual time lapse.

But seeing the first sign that things have started to work again deserves a little celebratory treat for yourself, don't you think?

 

[GuineaDobbin]

No further signs of poo today, but this morning's poo has vanished.

She's not looking too happy at the moment, but she has just had her abdominal massage. I am psyching myself up for emeprid and syringe feeding.

My wife is concerned that the loxicom (she is now up to 0.8ml) is suppressing her appetite. Is this likely?

 

[sport_billy]

Sorry to hear this. I doubt the painkiller is suppressing appetite, her system needs to start kicking in again once she is getting some food input to poo out.
Have you got any oxbox orchard grass? We always found this tempted piggies after operations.
The emeprid will hopefully start doing a job getting stuff going once she is eating more.
Sending love to your little girl

 

[Piggies&buns]

Loxicom doesn’t suppress appetite.
(Being in pain does suppress appetite though, so they need a good dose of painkiller to make sure pain isn’t stopping them from eating).

Keep going with weight checks every morning so you can monitor that her food intake is enough to keep her weight stable.
And plenty of syringe feeding - at least 60ml per day ideally.

I hope she is ok

 

[GuineaDobbin]

Hi folks, she was very rough this morning, so took her to the vets. As I was picking her up to go she produced a revolting, mostly white, goop from her back end. It looked like a mucus plug.

She seemed to cheer up a bit after this, got her to the vets for some fluids. Now at home again she looks mopey. I've changed from pellet mash combo to emeraid in hopes it will give her some more energy. I will add fibreplex in her next feed.

 

[weepweeps]

Sending Zazzle healing vibes. I hope she perks up soon

 

[GuineaDobbin]

Sadly Zazzle has just died. Thank you all for your support and best wishes.

 

[weepweeps]

Oh no I’m so sorry. Sleep tight Zazzle.

 

[piggieminder]

I'm sorry to hear your sad news.
Sending you good wishes at such a difficult time.

 

[GuineaDobbin]

We had the post-mortem today.

I'll keep things general but put enough detail in for anyone who wants to know.

The operation site was healing well. The only possible cause the vet could find was that there were two small perforations in her bowel between her stomach and the cecum. He couldn't be sure whether these happened before death or as a result of cold storage.

He noted that she was otherwise in good condition; though she only had one kidney, which while interesting, was unrelated.

I wish she hadn't perked up briefly that morning, she could have been put to sleep and had a much easier passing.

She was such a lively pig, we were lucky to have had her.


In her favourite hidey, the cuddle cup.



Always excited at even the most optimistic chance of veggies. She was still doing this four or five days before the end. The Loon.



Wedged into a tunnel between her 'sister' and adoptive mum when they were bonded.