Hiccups?

[elh20]

My male GP is almost 3 years old and has always been in good health. Recently he has started to make a noise which seems to be the cross between a squeek and a hiccup. he kind of hunches when he does it, but he is fine being handled, doesn't seem in any pain and is not off his food. can anyone shed any light on what this may be? Thanks.

 

[Laura-CCC4]

Hi elh, is he eating when he makes this sound/movement? I'd be inclined to think "heaving hiccups", which if I am understanding Peter Gurney's definition of it (and applying this definition to my own pigs correctly), is a heaving movement followed by a cough. I'll see if I can find some videos of it, if not I'll have to do my own...easier said than done!

 

[fred]

cystitis??

 

[threelittlepiggies]

Hi elh, is he eating when he makes this sound/movement? I'd be inclined to think "heaving hiccups", which if I am understanding Peter Gurney's definition of it (and applying this definition to my own pigs correctly), is a heaving movement followed by a cough. I'll see if I can find some videos of it, if not I'll have to do my own...easier said than done!

One of ours had this once (I say once, we observed her the once) and were very alarmed. Thing is, she wasn't hunched - she was very spread out and lurching whilst making silent yawns. She didn't cough, merely stopped doing it whilst my daughter looked on in horror and I frantically scoured the internet. I quickly found Peter Gurney's page on it, though Goodness only knows what I put in the search bar for what she was doing! So doesn't fit what the elh20's pig is doing...

I don't think you see them often enough to say it's a regular, worrying development?

 

[Laura-CCC4]

elh says he hunches "when he does it", hence the first thought of heaving hiccups.

 

[elh20]

He's still doing it and now he appears to be off his food. He's eaten lots of hay, but not really many veggies or pellets and he's sat in his bed most of the time. He was fine in the garden on saturday, but didn't run around so much yesterday (its raining today so they'll stay indoors) I don't know if i'm worrying over nothing, but I know GPs can go downhill rapidly when ill...might take him to the vets tomorrow to make sure.....?

 

[Wiebke]

http://www.oginet.com/pgurney/heavinghiccups.htm

Is that it? He could have something stuck in his throat or lungs and not be able to get it out properly. The distress and the enormous effort of his body could be enough to exhaust him and get him off food.

 

[Laura-CCC4]

I would get him checked at the vet elh, if you have a good vet; it's worth it even just to put your mind at rest. In the meantime, offer him his favourites (try parsley and dill as well, both go down well with many pigs) and make sure he keeps eating his hay.

Key points I'd ask the vet to look at are the teeth (molars in particular, no anaesthetic needed) and the mouth itself, but do make sure the vet does a full examination as there are a number of reasons for a loss of appetite and multiple potential causes of the behaviour you've described in this thread.

When does he do this heaving/coughing/hiccup movement and sound - is it when he's eating?

 

[elh20]

Thanks for the link-it certainly seems like heaving hiccups! I was quite worried last night as he didn't get excited at the rustling sound of getting his greens like he normally does, he sat on my knee and nibbled a bit at some broccoli then started making that sound again. he buried his head in the blanket and looked all sorry for himself. I tried syringe feeding him some cranberry juice in case it was cystitis, but he doesn't seem to be weeing much either and there is no sign of blood in it......
so, I took him to the vets this morning and she had a good look at him, she couldn't find anything wrong. she had a good look at his teeth and said everything there was fine, had a good feel around and weighed him and said that was normal, but gave me some antibiotics (baytrill) and pain killers incase it was a bladder problem and said to try him with that, which i have. he's just sat in the corner now, but he hasn't laid down and got stretched out like he normally does. I'm a bit flummoxed as to what it is, and slightly worried as I go on holiday on sunday for 10 days and my friend is looking after him.
does anyone know how to upload videos onto here? Or could someone pm me with their mobile number so I can send the video to get opinions? I showed it to the vet and she said it wasn't a noise she was familiar with from G.Ps. many thanks for all your help.

 

[devonbelle]

I have pm'd you.