Ill Boar - Struggling To Diagnose :(

[Alex27290]

I'm really panicking about one of my pigs... we have two boars, one (Turk) who is 5 years old and the other (Tyree) who is 3 and half years old.

We have a C+C cage and our 'top deck' up the ramp is a hay box. Usually, Turk is quite dominant over this and would spend a lot of time up here. But in the last 3 weeks or so, he hasn't gone up at all. To fix this, we brought hay downstairs for him but he didn't really touch it or the vegetables... but ate loads and loads of dry pellets and drank a lot of water. He then started facing the wall of the cage and had a tiny bit of diarrhoea for a couple of days, which soon cleared up.

This week, he is very unresponsive (usually when we touch them, they go for a run around the cage until we pick them up to stroke them but he doesnt even look up or flinch at all). He hasn't moved from his hay bed downstairs since we put him in yesterday afternoon after cleaning out their cage and hasn't touched his vegetables for breakfast this morning. I weighed him today and he is 700g....I have to admit I haven't weighed them in a while, but a year ago he was 950g.

I fear that there isn't anything technically wrong with him, he's just getting old. But I didn't know if anyone would recognise these symptoms and be able to help? There is a matter of urgency as we get married on Saturday and go on honeymoon on Monday for 11 nights and the boys (pigs!) are with a friend who is house sitting for us, so we want them both to be as good as they can be for that.

Any help appreciated... thank you in advance x

 

[Pebble]

He needs to see a vet preferably today given how unresponsive he is. Facing the wall, diarrhoea, drinking lots of water, unresponsive, weight loss, not eating veggies or hay means there is something going on but what it is can only be diagnosed by a cavy-savvy vet.
Not only that but whatever the underlying problem is (and it may not be related to his age and may be treatable) , if he is not eating his normal diet then he could be developing gut and possibly dental issues. He may also need pain relief (likely) and possibly supportive care in the form of regular syringe feeding until the underlying cause is diagnosed and treated.

Can you get in to see John Chtty at Anton vets in Andover? He is the most cavy savvy vet in your area. Depending upon what they say, you may also want to think about boarding him there if he is ill unless your friend is experienced in providing supportive syringe feeding care?.
http://antonvets.co.uk/

Sorry to hear this is happening so close to your wedding day - hopefully Turk can get a diagnosis/treatment and you can enjoy your special day and honeymoon without any further worries.
x

 

[Alex27290]

Thank you so much, that's brilliant. Following your advice, I rung the vets for their opinion and they said the same and he's got an appointment later this afternoon so fingers crossed he'll come through this and be back to his normal self... so sad to see my boy like this

 

[sport_billy]

Well done for getting the Apt, make sure he gets his teeth checked over well. Lots of healing vibes to Turk x

 

[Claire W]

I am glad you have managed to get him an appointment.

I am pretty confident that this is not age related. Sending healing vibes fora Turk xx

 

[jenniferanneharris]

if you are going to Anton vets...they are great! Especially John.. i travel an hour by car to get to see John...he is very good. Hope your boy is feeling better soon x

 

[Alex27290]

Owhh, it's not good news.. I'm a state There was no obvious cause as to what is wrong with Turk - his heart and breathing are fine. His stomach and abdomen are apparently really empty, but the vet said it wasn't bloat. They suspect anorexia because he's lost so much weight over the past week and has slowly gone off all of his food, and the reason he is just sat unresponsive is because he has no energy to move. He doesn't have a vitamin c deficiency so his skin is all okay. The vet said they could prescribe pain relief but didn't think he was in any pain, and could prescribe antibiotics but doesn't think there are any bugs, so didn't reckon it would help either.

Instead she has given us a pack of the 'recovery' liquid feed which we need to administer with a syringe tonight and tomorrow. She said if this doesn't have any impact then it would be kinder to bring him in on Friday to be put to sleep The wedding has now gone right to the back of my mind... I just want my little boy to be better. Fingers crossed for the next 48 hours.

 

[biscandmatt]

it does sound like he is very ill. they go downhill so quickly. even problems resulting from old age have to have a cause. it's just difficult if you don't know exactly what it is. are your vets exotics/guinea savvy? if not, i would go to one and see what they say.

i would be tempted to ask for pain relief as if he is shutting down, then it may help him to feel more comfortable if he was to pass before your next appointment.

were his teeth checked? has he had teeth problems before? sending him vibes x

eta: i would also give extra vitamin c as it helps in poorly piggies. even if they appear to have enough, their body may not beable to use it as effectively as normal. and extra energy will be being used in other areas as the body fights whatever is wrong. x

 

[Alex27290]

Yeahh, his teeth were checked and no problems there. I don't think my local vets are guinea pig specialists, but neither me or my OH drive so we have no way of getting him to a more savvy one She said that the reason for his unresponsiveness and sitting in his bed still all day is because he isnt eating, but we dont know why he has gone off his food suddenly. Last week, he went through a phase of binging on dry food and drinking loads of water and this week he is only eating hay sporadically and the seed sticks if he has the energy. But none of it is staying in him due to the diarrhoea which he is having on and off (when there's enough food in him to pass).

We will try the syringe feeding over the next 48 hours and see how he gets on. I really hope he comes back around x

 

[biscandmatt]

Yeahh, his teeth were checked and no problems there. I don't think my local vets are guinea pig specialists, but neither me or my OH drive so we have no way of getting him to a more savvy one She said that the reason for his unresponsiveness and sitting in his bed still all day is because he isnt eating, but we dont know why he has gone off his food suddenly. Last week, he went through a phase of binging on dry food and drinking loads of water and this week he is only eating hay sporadically and the seed sticks if he has the energy. But none of it is staying in him due to the diarrhoea which he is having on and off (when there's enough food in him to pass).

We will try the syringe feeding over the next 48 hours and see how he gets on. I really hope he comes back around x

is there someone who could give you a lift, or can you get a taxi. i understand it's difficult. we have to get a taxi aswell as we don't drive either. but i really don't think he has a good chance without going to a proper vet sadly.

going off one particular food type (usually hay) can mean a dental problem. did they look properly right at the back of his mouth aswell? sounds like he is filling up on water and can manage dry food. is it true diarrhoea or loose poo?

because it has been so long since he became ill, i really think his only chance will be to go to a proper exotics/guinea savvy vet to be admitted. i would arrange to take him asap. i would not wait.

poor little guy. awful to see them so poorly x

eta: the vets may beable to set up a payment plan for you aswell. if they agree that he is too weak, then i would trust them rather than a non-exotics vets, and then decide what to do. x

 

[Alex27290]

is there someone who could give you a lift, or can you get a taxi. i understand it's difficult. we have to get a taxi aswell as we don't drive either. but i really don't think he has a good chance without going to a proper vet sadly.

going off one particular food type (usually hay) can mean a dental problem. did they look properly right at the back of his mouth aswell? sounds like he is filling up on water and can manage dry food. is it true diarrhoea or loose poo?

because it has been so long since he became ill, i really think his only chance will be to go to a proper exotics/guinea savvy vet to be admitted. i would arrange to take him asap. i would not wait.

poor little guy. awful to see them so poorly x

eta: the vets may beable to set up a payment plan for you aswell. if they agree that he is too weak, then i would trust them rather than a non-exotics vets, and then decide what to do. x

Yeah, she did a full check of him and there was nothing wrong with his mouth. I've rung Anton vets but because it is classed as a second opinion, it would be £88 just for the advice, which we just cannot afford with the wedding.. every penny we had has already been spent on that. His illness has just come on so quickly and he's deteriorated so rapidly... just so sad to see him like this.

 

[biscandmatt]

definitely ask about the payment plan. at least then it would only be a little each month instead of all at once. surely worth it when this is about his life?

i'm going to leave this thread now as i am getting too upset. it's a bit too raw for me having not long lost my maisie. brings back memories. all the best for your little one. x

 

[helen105281]

I agree on getting a second opinion if you can and also that he needs pain relief. If he is shutting down he will be in pain and this could explain why he doesn't want to eat. Also if he has diarrhea he needs plenty of fluids, I would usually give Dioralyte.

Is there no family member who could help you with transport and vet costs?

 

[Pebble]

It's a shame you couldn't get to Anton vets today and that, because you saw your other vets instead with Turk, any further consultation with Anton now carries the issue of the "premium" second consult fee. Had you told us about the transport issue this morning - I would have driven down to you and taken him to Antons today myself- but now we are talking hindsight.

I'm afraid I don;t have much faith in your vet's examination/diagnosis earlier today....at the very least an Xray should have been done to check for kidney stones and other underlying matters. And with no pain relief being supplied It's clear the vet you saw today either knows very little about piggie health or you have not given them all the salient details.

In all honesty, given Turk;s clear suffering, and his lack of prescribed pain relief, coupled with your situation ref going away/lack of transport to Andover, /financial implications - it seems to me that the best thing for this poor little Turk piggie is PTS.

This is the first time EVER..... in 6 years on this forum as a Health and illness Adviser.... that I have felt it necessary to suggest PTS as a best option because of the owner's situation.

I am very upset.

x

 

[GPTV]

Is there really no transport to take turk to the andover vets? a train, bus, friend or family member etc?
it does sound like its getting to the necessity realms, please if you really cant get him there he needs pain relief Immediately, as the others have said it is probably pain related why he is not eating. Even if its just asking your usual vet for metacam or similar as pain relief.
i would also try the added vitamin C & diarolyte to re-hydrate him in the meantime too.

Imagine if you have an abcess brewing in your mouth & it is too uncomfortable/agony to eat, you therefore lose weight & feel really miserable. this could be part of the problem here. I'm very surprised & disappointed in your vets for not prescribing painkillers or antibiotics as the first port of call. to try & establish a treatment to cover the basic first steps of curing Turk.

Would your pigsitter be prepared to take on Turks syringe feeding or healthcare needs while you are away?

Most vets are very understanding that money can be tight but are usually able to come to some agreement with a payment plan to help. Could you get an early wedding present from someone as a gift of sorting Turks veterinary care out?
I'm afraid it really does sound like a life or death situation for poor little turk. Time is of the essence & it is rapidly running out for a positive outcome.

If Turk should pass away now it could also have a detrimental effect on Tyree too whilst you are away, he may get depressed & lonely with no companion, which may cause him health problems too, this would also be a bit awkward for your pigsitter.

You obviously care for your little man or he wouldn't have made it to a healthy 5yrs old & you wouldn't be posting your concerns on here.
please, please get a second opinion from a cavy savvy vet ASAP.

Hope your wedding goes well & major healing vibes for a positve outcome for little Turk. xx

 

[Claire W]

I am so sorry that you are going through this especially so close to the wedding.

If you seriously can not get him to a piggy savvy vet, please ask your vet to prescribe pain relief and antibiotics at the very least. The pain relief will then at least help Turk feel more comfortable.

xx