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Here we go again! (beware - poop based thread)

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devonbelle

devonbelle

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Haven't been on here for some time for all sorts of reasons but I'm back with an urgent request for help and/or advice.

Brief background - Ben was neutered by the vet, went on to develop abscess, treated with Baytril and since then has been unable to tolerate more than small amounts of fresh veg/grass or he develops diarrhea (excuse spelling).
Have kept this under control with controlled amounts of veg or withdrawal of veg completely, lots of hay/dry food and very occasional courses of Septrin with Bio-Lapis. Situation then seems to resolve ... till the next time.

Back in February/March Ben went on his holidays where his lovely foster mum sadly gave him nugget food where he had settled on muesli. Result - poop problems. This has now been going on for 5 months. We have tried regular diet, fresh hay (of all varieties), pro biotic and now Septrin. NOTHING is working. Ben hasn't eaten fresh veg since February (Betty doesn't have much either because she won't eat without Ben(!) and his poop is like mush (sorry! :-( ). Thankfully his weight hasn't changed since this time last year and he is eating well and is alert. But this is no fun for him, espcially living in a mucky cage (cleaned out daily), walking and lying in it (not much fun for Betty either).

So please, if you have ANY ideas, however bizarre, especially if they've worked for you, I'd be most grateful for your advice. Really feel like I'm letting him down now and I need to get it sorted!

Thank you.
 
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Oh dear, this doesn't sound like much fun - have you tried eliminating ALL veg and limiting him to hay and water only? Other than that, I have no suggestions I'm afraid. Hopefully, someone will be able to help
 
Yes, tried that. Poor old Ben has had no veg since March and wheeks dreadfully when I'm cutting stuff up in the kitchen :-(
Thanks anyway x
 
Have you tried grass? As in fresh grass? Maybe that could help him, as it's a sort of half-way house between greens and hay?

I always thought the bulk of the pig's fibre came from their hay, so for his poo to be mushy must mean he still needs more fibre in there.

As long as he is happy, a healthy weight and is eating, then can you go through several foods and maybe eliminate them as you go, perhaps he has developed an allergy?
 
All he has now is dry food, hay and water. He IS keeping his weight up but its pretty miserable for him :-(
 
One of my sows had on/off mushy poops for around 8wks - mind you she did only weigh 200g when we got her.

We did the whole removal of veg - with a nugget and hay only diet - then the re-introduction of veg one by one, with each new veg being introduced every 3 days to ensure there were no adverse effects - she would be be fine for up to a week and then we would get mushy poops again.

I assume you've tried just giving a single veg and doing this for several days before adding another veg type, giving the two veg types for a few days then adding another and so on?

If it's veg related, you'll be able to pin-point the veg type that's causing the problem.... It's all i can advise at the moment as this is what we did - we went through the daily veg with a fine tooth comb.

Are you giving him any pro-biotics when he gets the mushy poops - one that was recommended to us was fibreplex - it's very good in 'firming' up soft poops.
 
I'm sure you have tried already - removing the nuggets too so it's ONLY hay and water? Nothing else at all?
 
It sounds like the post-neutering/surgery complications have really affected his gut - he may even have developed gut adhesions and they may be contributing to the problem and his sensitivity to veggies may, I'm afraid be permanent. No veggies is not a problem - I have two piggies who can;t have veg and actually after rigorous diet control, we now know there are certain things they can have on the odd occasion without too much problem but these are mainly grass, mini corn and the odd bit of carrot. Also parsley, dandelions, corn husk and cucumber.

So welcome to the guinea gut diet!

a) Hay, pellets and water only for 2 weeks - together with a gut stimulant twice daily (my vet prescirbes cisapride and zan-tac in this situation - PM me for more details) to help get back the rhthymic movement (perstalsis). The gut stimulant has been the missing ingredient and should help clear this current "static" problem of 5 months.

b) The following week: Introduce fresh grass and see what happens - keep up the gut stimulants for another 7 days

c) introduce/add dried herbage (eg dried dandelion, plantain etc). - reduce gut stimulant doses by 50% and give for 7 days

d) Introduce/add mini corn and susbeqeuntly carrot slices - 7 days - if appropriate (poos normal) stop gut stimulants otherwise keep going at doses in (c) above

e) Introduce cucumber and subsequently lettuce - 7 days - if appropriate (poos normal) stop gut stimulants otherwise reduce gut stimulant doses by a further 50% (ie now 1/4 of original dose)

f) introduce broccoli and subsequently spinach - 7 days - if appropriate (poos normal) stop gut stimulants otherwise keep going at doses in (e) above

By now, you will know if he can;t have any veggies or if he can only have certain types.
Stop the gut stimulants and if the poo problems starts again, restart from (a).

Hope this helps

x
 
tabelmabel said:
I'm sure you have tried already - removing the nuggets too so it's ONLY hay and water? Nothing else at all?
Click to expand...

the only problem with that would be the maintaining of weight, I'm sure the more experienced would be able to answer fully but i doubt a pig would be able to maintain their weight on hay and water alone, he would need some supplemented food besides either in the form of critical care or mushed pellets - if he's not getting any fresh veg daily i wouldn't remove the only little bit of food helping him to maintain his current body weight...
 
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It has taken me 6mths to right Onyx's gut...... with the most amazing help from Pebble x>>x>>

So her advice is absolutely spot on...... give it a go :)

HEALING WHEEEEEEEEEEEKS AND LOVES FROM US ALL TO BEN XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
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