How To Fatten Mini-pig

[sallypig]

Hi, My lovely 7 year old girl had a huge tumour removed from her uterus one week ago. She bled a lot prior to the operation and she was incredibly flat for a few days afterwards, there is no doubt she is pretty anemic. For a couple of days post op she barely ate at all (just recovery + from a syringe and a little grass) and it has taken about a week to regain her appetite completely but happily she now seems back to her normal self.

She has gone from being a 1200g pig prior to surgery (I weighed her because unsurprisingly she looked fat) to a 680g pig one week on. Now I think up to 400g was the tumour which leaves at least 120g actual body weight lost in a week. I have been giving her curly kale for iron, also, peppers, carrots tomatoes, cucumber and grass. She is eating hay and readigrass but only started on pellets today a little. Anything else I should be doing to help turn around the weight loss?

 

[Lady Kelly]

I would carry on with a normal diet and supplement with recovery food if you think she is not eating enough. If she is eating happily now it shouldn't take her long to regain weight

 

[sallypig]

I'm sure you're right it's just a bit frightening, she's half the pig she was a week ago.

 

[VickiA]

I've moved your thread to the health and illness section to get the views of our H &I advisors on weight gain post surgery. Sounds good that she's eating again. You could try some warm pellet mash to boost her intake.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, My lovely 7 year old girl had a huge tumour removed from her uterus one week ago. She bled a lot prior to the operation and she was incredibly flat for a few days afterwards, there is no doubt she is pretty anemic. For a couple of days post op she barely ate at all (just recovery + from a syringe and a little grass) and it has taken about a week to regain her appetite completely but happily she now seems back to her normal self.

She has gone from being a 1200g pig prior to surgery (I weighed her because unsurprisingly she looked fat) to a 680g pig one week on. Now I think up to 400g was the tumour which leaves at least 120g actual body weight lost in a week. I have been giving her curly kale for iron, also, peppers, carrots tomatoes, cucumber and grass. She is eating hay and readigrass but only started on pellets today a little. Anything else I should be doing to help turn around the weight loss?

it is very difficult to put any weight back on older piggies that have lost it, as they are at an age when they slowly lose their extra weight anyway. Fresh herbs like a sprig of coriander/cilantro daily or parsley, dill, basil or mint 2-3 times weekly can provide a wide range of minerals and vitamins C. Sweet corn is like carrot another energy dense veg, but please make sure that you do not overdo the veg and that hay is still the biggest source of food.
Unlimited pellets are usually a good source of extra calories; you can try whether she likes them better mushed up with previously boiled water and still hand warm from a spoon or syringe.
Don't give too much tomato - that could cause cheilitis.

 

[sallypig]

Thanks all, Mini-pig's weight seems to have stabilized and she is now eating her hay and pellets like usual.