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Impaction?

  • Thread starter Thread starter FriendlyFox
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FriendlyFox

One of my boars has very loose poo at the moment...it's not really watery, just very soft and unformed. It's been like this for a while now and he doesn't actually seem ill with it. He's eating and drinking normally, quite slim but he has always been small. I've put him on hay and pellets only since Saturday and haven't seen an improvement yet.
Anyone got any suggestions? Could it be impaction? And if it is, what should I do? Oh he's 2 and a half yrs old.
 
My first thought would be to stop the green veg/fruit to see if there is any change. As you have already done this I think you should take him to the vet for a check up. The only other thing which it might be is impaction. Hope this link helps

http://www.oginet.com/pgurney/analimpact.htm
 
You could try cleaning his anal sac..this may seem daunting but is actually quite easy. It is helpful if you have someone to hold the pig facing you whilst supporting his bottom.

I use warm olive oil and cotton buds. Gently smear the olive oil around and just inside the sac and do this whilst gently squeezing the poo out. Once it starts, it comes out quite easily. Offer the poo to him to eat as it contains essential B vitamins.

You could try something called fibreplex which is a pre biotic and pro biotic or bio lapis which is a pro biotic and is mixed with water and syringed via mouth throughout the day. You should be able to purchase these from your vet surgery. Either of these will help restore the hind gut function. Keep him off veg as suggested until he is back to normal.

If still worried or he is no better in a couple of days, best to visit your vet.
 
I had a go at this but didn't see any debris or mass inside, just squidgy stuff. Can't feel anything hard either. I didn't poke in very far, would it be obvious if he had impaction?
 
Not sure - never had a piggie with this problem. I'm sure someone else can help.
 
I would say yes. I had a boar who was impacted & there was always a lump to be helped out :)
 
doesnt sound like he is impacted, it would be pretty obvious and very smelly!

Bio lapis or fibreplex should do the trick but he does need help soon to get his hind gut function back to normal. Like I said, vets is best if you are worried.
 
OK thanks, think that might be the next plan. Will let you know what happens!
 
I would say you would definitely know if it was impaction. All the boars we have dealt with that have had this problem have a very pronounced "bulge" in their nether regions, even when they were cleaned out twice daily.

Good luck with your little guy.
 
My Boo died from impaction :(

He had a bad case of it! He was very lethargic and didnt eat or drink. I had to clear his gland more or less constantly until he died :(
 
Its alright :(

Just glad i have the expierence now to guide other people. If anyone ever needs advice on it, please just drop me PM and ill guide ou through it!
 
Tom_cat said:
My Boo died from impaction :(

He had a bad case of it! He was very lethargic and didnt eat or drink. I had to clear his gland more or less constantly until he died :(
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Impaction itself is not lethal,it only becomes life threatening if the boar is not cleaned out and the anus gets blocked completely.

I would think your boar died from some other problem,.
 
I have had a few elderly boars with impaction. It is a smelly and not very pleasant job, but you just know that you have to do it to help the boar not be uncomfortable.

I would suggest, as has been said above, to withdraw some greens for a short while. Try him on carrots and corn on the cob (and it leaves around it) instead and see if this helps. He might just have a tummy upset. Have a gentle feel of his tummy to see if he hurts him.

Keep us posted.
 
He's been off veg now since the weekend, been on hay and dry food only and droppings haven't firmed up at all, but he seems normal in himself, not in any pain...noticed today his coat looks sort of greasy..don't know if that's related or not?
Not sure if it's impaction as I couldn't find a mass or anything when I looked at his sack - do you have to look far in?
I gave him some fibreplex today, but think I may have to go to the vet tomorrow or monday...just would rather be able to sort it myself!
 
When helping boars with impaction, all I do is place his back to my chest and gently squeeze his bottom using a piece of toilet paper. What is lodged there should come out quite easily. Occasionally I use a cottonwool bud, but don't go far in.

Does he have any firm poos at all?
 
I've been to the vets today and she agreed he doesn't have impaction so that's good, she confirmed that he should be on hay and water only for a few days and to give Fibreplex (lavenderjade was spot on!). This should sort him out in a few days and if not, to go back to vet. So I'm more optimistic - even this eve I think the poo is a bit firmer :)
Thanks everyone for your help! I'm learning loads!
 
Hopefully he will be better in a day or so. When he starts his fruit/veggies again I would introduce them slowly, maybe one type of veg per day just to make sure his tummy doesn't get upset again.
 
Hi, I haven't posted for a while, I've been waiting to see whether my boy piggy's gut problems get any better. He's really the same as before and it's been 3 weeks now. I kept him off veg and dry food for about 5 days and gave him fibreplex and he seemed a little improved so I re-introduced the veg, but he's no better now. I re-weighed him today and he's lost weight too. Has anyone got any experience of a pig with long-term diarrhoea? Should I take him off veg again? I'm not convinced it's a dietary cause. What else could it be? Thanks!
 
Hi again FriendlyFox

I haven't had a problem with a piggy with long-term diarrhoea. I have had problems with older boars with impaction and currently with Joey, who is 5 years old, with no formation to his poos, if you know what I mean. He passes no pellets, it is just a mass and he sits in it. rolleyes:(

It is watery poos that your piggy passes all the time?
 
Only a thought - when you re-introduced the veg, did you do it one type per day or a small amount of 2 or 3 types per day? Sometimes re-introducing veg into a piggie's diet can cause upset tummy if not done correctly. 'Chloe' has a problem like this with her piggie Zoe. She has not been on here for a while but if you look through the forum you might get some tips from that. Hope this helps and your piggie is better soon xx
 
When I re-introduced veg I gave him less of 2-3 types and avoided greens, just stuck to carrot, cucumber, tomato.

To answer Goldie's question, the poo isn't completely runny and watery, but still very soft and unformed, and he passes no pellets, I guess it does just come out in bits throughout the day. Does this sound like your piggy? How are you dealing with it?

I've decided to try taking him off the veg again and try some more Fibreplex, though not v optimistic it will help :(
 
FriendlyFox said:
To answer Goldie's question, the poo isn't completely runny and watery, but still very soft and unformed, and he passes no pellets, I guess it does just come out in bits throughout the day. Does this sound like your piggy? How are you dealing with it?
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I am finding it very difficult with Joey now as he is very in-active so sits around all day and therefore sits in his poo. I bathe his bottom regularly in warm water, then use wet-wipes at other times. I also remove the poo from his bottom, either once or twice a day. It is not a nice task, but I do it to keep him comfortable.

Joey isn't eating much either now which is worrying.
Your piggy is eating ok, isn't he?
 
Yes mine's eating fine, and is well in himself, and active. Just the soft-poo problem and getting a bit concerned about the weight loss. I've brought him in the house so I can watch how much he eats as he usually lives with 2 other boys.
 
If he seemed fine before you re-introduced the veg maybe you could try just introducing one type of veg for a week or so and then increase to two types.
 
Thanks for the advice, I'll keep him off veg until he's back to normal and then perhaps be a bit more cautious when I re-introduce it. Hopefully that will sort it.
 
maryh said:
Impaction itself is not lethal,it only becomes life threatening if the boar is not cleaned out and the anus gets blocked completely.

I would think your boar died from some other problem,.
Click to expand...




I believe my boy died of impaction. I cleaned him out many time before nd then he was fine. I noticed a couple days later that he had a little ball barely anything so being stupid I put him back in the cage to clean later cuz i was busy at the time. It must have slipped my mind but 2 days later i found him dead and his butt seem full of poop much worse then 2 days before but it wasnt that bad when i noticed it. I dont know if he died from that or something else.
~ he acted normal and hes been impacted much worse before so y would it kill him?
~ he lives in a cage with his brothers and iv seen him eat their pellets so i dont think its nutrition
~ i feel so horrible knowing i could have saved him, but I'm not sure if impaction what killed him because he was fine 2 days before.
~ i wasnt home the day he died so i cant tell * if he was ok or not.
can * please help me understand why he could have died.:(
 
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