How can I encourage them to eat more?

[squeakysmallpaws]

Hi,

My two boars were neutered last week. They came through the operation well. They were injected with baytril and I was given a small course to bring home, along with some metacam.

I stopped the baytril as I heard it reduces appetite and they weren't eating much. The vet said this was ok to do.

So far, touch wood, all has been ok. Manny had removed his own stitches but Floyd had his taken out this evening. All is well with their little boys bits, although I will be continuing to check for the foreseeable.

So a recap. Last weds was the op. A course of baytril which I stopped on Saturday (I didn't give it twice a day only once), one dose of metacam last Thursday.

The big concern is that they have both lost 100grams since last Wednesday. However, they are still eating for themselves. They are grazing on hay frequently. They have had some veggies. They are still pooping and weeing.

It's never been my boys way to eat alot of pellets (they're on a mixture of burgess excel and guinea pig meusli), they will pick at it but they've never been one to finish the bowl. They LOVE their veggies though and are great eaters that way.

At the moment it's light snacking.....they'll come over to the bowl, sniff, maybe nibble some but then leave it and walk away.

They've had some parsley tonight but left the red peppers, which they usually love. It's not normal for them. Bizarrelly though, they still squeak when a clang the bowls, they will come on over but then they seem to lose interest.

I don't want to start syringe feeding as they are eating for themselves just not enough and syringe feeding really stresses them out.

Is there anything else I can do? I heard that pro-biotics can stimulate their appetite? I would need to syringe this, which is fine if it's likely to work?

How else can I get their appetite back? Any suggestions? I am giving them a huge variety to choose from and all their favourite foods; peppers, romaine lettuce, cucumber, broccoli, parsley - none of it seems to be really working and they've always been big eaters, even from the first day I brought them home!

Floyd was on septrim for cystitus and didn't go off his food then.

I need them to stop losing and start gaining weight! Help please!

Love K xx

 

[Glynis]

They may need to have some probiotics to stablise their little tummies.
Perhaps you could try soften their pellets and then maybe offering some dried oats as a treat?
Do something different with their food, say cut it up in long strips

 

[Abi_nurse]

The probiotics may help, do you still have the bio lapis we gave you? I would try syringing half a sachet each and see if it makes a difference. It took my latest boar a week or so to get back to himself after his castration. Hes now currently popcorning infront of me and scoffing his veg. Be patient, they will get back to normal soon, an before you know it have some wifies. Its not uncommon for weight loss to occur post op so dont worry too much so long as they dont continue to lose.

x.

 

[squeakysmallpaws]

With the pro-biotics and syringing it, am I better mixing it with water, or with pellets?

I also thought about sprinkling it on their hay but they seem to have an uncanny way of noticing something isn't quite right and then they won't touch it. Clever piggies! lol.

What do you mean oats? Is there something you can recommend and I can order it in?
Thanks! xxxxxxxxxx

 

[pig in the city]

I recommend giving them grass and dandelions (washed) if you can, they rarely fail to tempt them to eat. I agree with Abi nurse, no need to panic at this stage, they will soon start to eat normally again, they have had a trauma, just watch their weights carefully. I hope they pick. up soon

 

[Abi_nurse]

Much better to syringe the probiotic in water, its meant to dissolve in water so will go down much better this way. They will get very little into them if you sprinkle it on hay I'm afraid, but go idea in principle. Hope theyre ok.

x.

 

[Niki]

When i had a boar neutered a few years ago, he too lost weight but he did start to regain it approx 3 weeks post-op.