Update!
Yoo hoo everyone!
Guess what…I’m still here!
Yes, well thank you Willow.
I thought I ought to post an update for anyone in the future who reads this and has a piggie with a similar condition.
It’s Good news and bad news everyone!
The two doses of prednisolone steroid per day worked well for about two weeks, but then Willow started getting problems with one of his hind legs which became very weak. So I stopped the steroids for a couple of weeks in July and then re-started them at once daily once he got use of his leg back. In late August unfortunately Willow's leg gradually became weaker again and he then contracted "something" (probably as a result of the imunsupression caused by the steroids). First sign of it was sudden overnight complete gut stasis (the day after I broke my wrist!). I fully expected my vet to recommend PTS in view of his leukaemia but they felt it was an infection that he could fight.
We treated very agressively because in view of his leukameia we had nothing to lose. He was on max doses of baytril AND septrin twice daily (we have antibiotic-resistant bugs in our household so couldn;t throw all our eggs in one basket) But, we dosed three hours apart to spread the antibacterial activity over the full 24 hours as it was clear that whilst baytril was working, it only lasted for 6 hours.
He was also on metoclopromide and zantac (double dose) twice a day to try and keep his guts moving. He developed a terrible temperature (so was given 5-6ml fluids every hour as well as critical care every 3 hours) but developed temporary paralysis of his hind legs for a couple of days (but calcium added to the critical care seemed to sort this).
For the remaining two weeks his gut see-sawed between diarrhoea and very dry crumbly painful poos to the extent that he was also receiving subq fluids on a daily basis from the vet for four days and diarolyte every hour from me..and olive oil was also added to his critical care when the poos were very dry and painful to pass (plus he got metacam for the pain) ...and shepherds purse was given to him when he had diarrhoea. He also had full Xrays to rule out stones and gut obstruction.
Three times during those three weeks I fully expected him to go the The Bridge whilst I was grabbing three hours sleep between feeds , but bless him, each time he rallied. Three times he was taken to the vet and I fully expected them to agree with PTS...but they said he was too perky!
His poos have never been the same since (they're thinner, lighter and drier), but he has recovered back to his normal self and even went back up to1.2kg.
I'm so proud of my little man - he really has a will to live and is still bright and perky and apart from those three weeks in August/Sept you would never even think he was ill (see above photo!)
I'm also really aware of just how different the outcome could have been in August were it not for the strong rapport I have built up over 3 years with my vets (and my accumulated piggie pharmacy) that meant I could consult the vets over the phone as the situation changed and medicate accordingly…and also agressively...( it's rather difficult to drive with a plaster cast on your arm -let alone syringe feed!)
The sad news however is that last weekend, after a month of good health, he lost 100g in two days and peed blood for the first time. His urine is now very watery (and the dip stick shows lot of blood and protein even though it;s not visible to the naked eye) So from the vets visit yesterday it does look like his kidneys are disintegrating and now finally starting to malfunction (we assume because the leukamia has now infiltrated them or it could be a result of the calcium he was given - see warning below or a combination of both). I shall be monitoring him vigilantly now for signs of end stage renal failure so he can be PTS before this kicks in. I've drawn the line at any further bloods/xrays/GA etc because i feel it is just going to confirm what we already think.
I don;t regret any of the last few months...the vets bills, the treatments, the sleepless nights..and the stress of it all....because Willow at all times showed me by his determination that he wants the chance to live. He has never once refused to swallow whatever was put into his mouth..
Fingers and paws crossed…I am hoping he still has a good few months of dandelion nomming left, because already he has defied all the odds.
Finally - Thank you so much to Suzy and Flintstones for all your support and encouragement over the last few months (and sharing this roller coaster ride with us both!)
x
PS: WARNING re hind limb paralysis: please be advised - if your pig has hind limb paralysis please be VERY careful about the amount of calcium/osteocare given (as recommended by Peter Gurney). It is a double edged sword and might completely shock the gut balance..I'm pretty sure that the last few days when Willows poos were so very dehydrated were a direct result of the calcium ions shocking his gut and may also have escalated his kidney failure.
fingers crossed for any other treatment that may work x
