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Holly has lost weight since her spay op

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Right, I've syringed loads of Critical Care, as her weight was so low (:(), which she was really keen on and took totally voluntarily. I have also syringed more fluids (although plenty obviously went in with the CC), and also some Daktarin. Hopefully I managed to flush her out a bit after the CC before the Daktarin, but no doubt her mouth was still full of it!

Fingers crossed...
 
Just to update, Holly seems fairly perky this morning and has eaten up a pile of veg. She has lost yet more weight though. :( I have syringed more water in and Daktarin (although I do wonder how much of it remains in the mouth, as she was nibbling hay straight afterwards). I will syringe some more Critical Care too.
 
Just another thought - has she been wormed? Forgive me if you have mentioned this already!

It would be "unusual" for a pig to be eating a lot, especially lots of Critical Care, and still lose weight. My only experiences of such cases were treated by worming with both Panacur and Ivomec.
I believe Tuppy had a systemic fungal infection, one of her (multiple) symptoms were that she used to take over 130ml of CC a day and still did not gain or maintain her weight. I started her on an intensive course of Panacur but I was too late, she fell ill with pneumonia just a few days into the course, so it did not have the time to take much effect.
 
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Hmm... thanks for this - has given me a lot to think about. She has been wormed recently, the sense of having Ivomec at the end of April/beginning of May, but not Panacur. I didn't realise Panacur was anti-fungal as well as anti-parasite.

I wouldn't say she is eating absolutely loads, but she is eating plenty of veg, plus the Critical Care, and picking/nibbling at hay too. She's probably not touched the dried food for a couple of days, but I can't be sure. So, I guess she's eating a reasonable amount.

Do you think the Panacur is worth a try? I've checked the cupboard and I don't have any (must have thrown it away for being old, and it was 10% anyway, which I guess is too strong). What strength do I need and how long a course etc?

Thanks loads. x
 
Have just been thinking some more... Right, I noticed that Holly was being a bit picky with her food about 48 hours before she was spayed. That's one of the reasons why it was all done so quickly, because her main symptom was being incredibly hormonally aggressive, but the other was that it (or indeed 'something') was affecting her appetite. I took her to the vets the next day and the operation was carried out the morning after.

Anyway, the fact that this all started just before the spay makes me think that it isn't necessarily connected to the operation itself. Therefore possibly there is something in this fungal theory, which would only have been made worse by surgery.
 
I think it is fair to think along those lines, yep. Panacur is the 2.5% suspension. Mine is a sheep worming suspension but I believe that advertised for cattle is also okay.

I have forgotten the dosage schedule in terms of treating a systemic fungal with an intensive course of Panacur but you/I can give Vedra a quick call if you did want to know. It was Vedra that told me how intensive courses of Panacur/Valbazen can be very effective in cases of systemic fungal infections.
 
Sorry, I missed your reply last night, Laura (didn't show up in my new posts).

Thanks so much for the info. I'll be eternally grateful (and will owe you one big time!) if you wouldn't mind finding out the information from Vedra for me! I will order the Panacur over the weekend.
 
Latest is that Holly has put on a bit of weight, but it's such a battle to maintain it. I have ordered the Panacur, so hopefully it will be here in a few days.
 
I'll give Vedra a call in the morning and get the dosage for you. I'll ask if there's anything else she advises, give her a rundown on Holly's symptoms and see if she thinks the same.
 
Hi,

On a previous thread I was told it was 0.4ml of Pancur every 3 months along with the Ivermec. I have the 2.5% sheep & cattle suspension. I hope that Holly puts on weight & keeps eating well.:)
 
You are more than welcome Sarah, I can only hope that it helps. Caring for a poorly pig isn't at all easy on their devoted "nurses"!

Jo, you are right that the dose for worming is 0.4ml once every three months. I'm not sure if a one-off dose will be enough for Holly though; if a systemic fungal infection is the problem, a course of Panacur can be effective, and it's the dosing schedule when given daily for a period that we are seeking.
Itrafungfol would typically be the drug of choice for a systemic fungal infection, but since Holly has not been wormed with Panacur yet, it is probably worth trying at least one dose of this, even if not a course of it, to see if it has any effect on Holly's ability to gain/maintain weight. A one-off dose of Panacur worked well for a few of mine who had "unexplained" weight loss, while an intensive course was advised for a pig who had a suspected systemic fungal infection.
 
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" if a systemic fungal infection is the problem, a course of Panacur can be effective"

Have I misunderstood, I did not think Panacur was effective against a systemic fungal infection?
 
Vedra's advice back in December. I explained I suspected systemic fungal, she suggested I try an intensive course of wormer (Valbazen / Panacur) as it can be effective in some cases.
 
How interesting, still if it works, it works, if it doesn't then no harm done.
 
The Panacur finally arrived today, so I've just weighed them all and given them all a dose. Fingers crossed I'll see a difference in Holly.
 
Right, I have news... I feel like I'm one step closer to understanding what is going on with Holly, although it isn't great at the moment.

I gave all 3 pigs a one-off dose of Panacur. In my infinite wisdom (inbreeding) I decided to give her a day off the Daktarin oral gel, as I didn't want to mix the drugs up too much. Plus I had no idea if it was helping.

Anyway, her weight plummeted over the next 24 hours (even with some supplementary Critical Care), so I can only conclude that the problem is within her mouth and that she is eating less, even though she appears to be eating some of everything. She is therefore back on the Daktarin.

What has been confusing is that I obviously can't monitor her hay and dried food intake with the other two in the cage. I have seen her eating both, and she tucks into veggies. But I think the reality is that she is nibbling at hay rather than tucking in like she used to. My OH was watching her last night and said that she took a long time to finish a strand of hay, and then after it had all gone into her mouth she seemed to be chewing for a very long time. He had another look at her eating this morning and thought she looked like she was eating more normally.

I'm obviously also concerned in case it is her teeth. :( I currently don't have a vet I can trust (I've tried out so many! :(), so I'm terrified at the prospect of dental issues. There is no way she is going under an anaesthetic in this vulnerable state, but I really can't see that I could get to Vedra.
 
Here is a photo I've just taken of Holly rooting through and eating hay:
Hollyeating.jpg

I haven't weighed her yet today, but yesterday she reached an all time low of 820 g. :( She doesn't look too bad in the piccy though.
 
Sorry to bump, but is anyone able to help at all, in the sense of saying whether this sounds like dental issues or not? As I'm typing that I'm thinking that sounds a bit daft, but I don't really know what to think at the moment. :(
 
It is hard to say Sarah because dental and oral trouble present such similar symptoms. An oral fungal infection has the potential to bring about the difficulties in gaining/maintaining weight and often the an oral infection and dental problem will be interrelated - one could easily lead to the other. In either dental or oral problems, Daktarin Oral Gel is very useful since it soothes the mouth so effectively, as well as dealing with any oral fungal infection. If the problem is dental and the teeth are rubbing on the cheeks or tongue, the gel soothes the sore patches.

Is Broxbourne in Hertfordshire any nearer to you than the CCT? It's around an hour and a half south of Vedra so hopefully it is much closer to you. There is a very good vet there, Amir, who Vedra mentions a lot.
 
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Thanks v much, Laura. I really want to get her checked out by someone, but I really need it to be a bit closer I think. :(

I'd better do a bit of digging around to see what I can find out... I've never had a dental problem in my pigs past or present, so this is all new and scary!
 
all our best for Holly xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>
Trouble is if it is toofies it can be an ongoing thing.........i'm only saying this from my experience.
Yes i agree you need to see somebody you trust and they're very very knowledgable about piggies and toofies!
I have heard others saying that Vedra can at times have piggies stay over if it's an issue for you to travel both ways in a day........perhaps you could ask her advice and if she knows of another rodentologist or piggie savvy vet in your area?
Come on somebody can we help with a vet.........i'm not use sorry bout that.
Healing wheeeeeeeeeeks and loads of gentle kisses and loves xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Keep up the good work with the Daktarin etc.......i do hope this sorts out real soon for you, i know the worries you're going thru HUGS xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
Thanks Glynis. x

Ok, latest news is that the vet where I got Holly spayed does apparently do some dental work without anaesthetic. He does conscious x-rays too, so it's definitely the best local vets I've found so far. I've got her booked in for Monday to see what he says about her mouth/teeth/weight/health in general. I'm going to be so nervous.
 
Best of luck, I hope he finds something out and gets to the bottom of Holly's problems!
 
Just a quickie, as I'm not feeling v well today, but thought I'd better update on Holly.

Basically, the vet wasn't able to do anything in the mouth without anaesthetic in the end (aaargh, there just isn't anyone round these parts that will, I don't think). Anyway, she was on pretty good form yesterday morning anyway, so she coped OK.

The vet took x rays and obviously had a good look, and could find nothing wrong with the teeth at all. I am as sure as I can be that the Daktarin has helped with a sore mouth, and I'll continue using it until the course is over - here's hoping she will continue to gain weight.
 
At least you can take some comfort from the fact that dental issues have apparently been ruled out. Sounds like he did a fairly thorough job.

What dose and frequency are you giving the Daktarin at?
 
Yes, to be honest I'm really relieved that her teeth are OK! I think her mouth has benefited from having a clean out too, as the vet removed a load of food from it.

With the Daktarin, I messed up by stopping it too soon (I didn't realise it was helping), so I restarted it at 3 x a day for a week, and am now on twice, with the aim of moving to once a day next week. I've been giving 0.3 ml, as I found 0.5 ml to be too much, in the sense that it was just being swallowed (she likes the taste). I try to move the syringe around her mouth (although she keeps moving her head! :))), to try to coat it all as best I can.
 
Well i'd take that as a positive sign, no toofies problems PHEW!
Continue on with the daktarin it does sound like it's helping her :)
And just keep offering her lots of her hay, pellets (even mush some up to get more in if you think necessary) and some veg but no fruits cause of the acidity :{

COME ON HOLLY xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>
 
Thanks Glynis. :)

I was disappointed when I weighed her last night before her Critical Care, as she was back to 860 g. :( I'm really starting to think I need to prepare myself for her loss, and that she is just losing condition. :(

Will continue the course of Daktarin and carry on supplementing a bit of Critical Care daily - will try to keep her weight up to 900 g (much as I'd like her heavier, I don't think it's going to happen).
 
Oh come on Holly! Do wish her the best! Is she eating her veggies?
 
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