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Lilly has been having coughing fits

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Toffeewoffee

Toffeewoffee

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For a few weeks now, Lilly (our 4.5 year old neutered boar) has had random little coughs, not necessarily when eating, but lately it seems to have become more frequent and sometimes he will cough 2 or 3 times in one sitting. It is not effecting him in the slightest, he hasn't lost any weight, he is happily munching away, weeing and pooing normally etc.

But this morning he had another little spat of coughing and i decided i am going to have it looked at, - i know piggies do cough, but this isn't normal. So he has an appointment for 2.30pm today, sadly i will be working but my OH is going to take him.

Just wondered if anyone has any suggestions or experiences with this, what to suggest to the vet, any particular meds to ask for, anything to ask them to check etc etc etc?

He lives with 3 other sows who are not effected by it, their bedding has not changed.

Thanks xx
 
Have you changed anything else recently? Hay brand? How you feed hay (floor vs hay rack) etc.

I found that feeding Jeff hay via a hay rack caused a frequent hooting cough. This was remedied by feeding hay from the floor.

I know in horses, racehorses and horses with reapiratory disease especially, they feed hay from the ground as the stretching the neck up to reach a rack/net opens the airways more and dust etc. can get into the airways.

I have an intermittent cougher at veg time, still trying to work out who!
 
No the hay has stayed the same, and it is fed out of a rack, but he is usually nowhere near the hay when he coughs, i have seen before that you suggested feeding hay from the floor and took note of it and thought i will try it if it seems to be causing a problem, but this morning for example he was about to go into his house, he hadn't been near the hay or food....... he had done a few popcorns as he knew i was preparing their breakfast. xx
 
I'm stumped then :))

Good luck at the vets, I hope there's nothing wrong! I mean we cough from time to time when we're not unwell. Pigs are enough to turn you grey with worry sometimes!
 
Good luck with Lilly, let us know how he gets on. Is he hooting or just coughing?
 
I am sure its nothing to worry about, as i say its been going on for a while, but its not effecting him, hence why we haven't been to the vets sooner.

Edit: He is just coughing, sometimes it will be just one little piggy cough, another time it will be 2 maybe 3 in a row.

xx
 
An amount of coughing is normal, but increased coughing is always worth getting checked out, to listen to their chest, heart etc. coughing can be indicative of a heart problem for example.

Vets ain't cheap, but you can't put a price on peace of kind!

(is it just me or is a piggy cough the most adorable thing ever?!)
 
Exactly Amanda, I would never put the cost of anything before their health! I would get myself into serious debt before i ever let them suffer.

You do have me worried now though with the heart problem suggestion..... but before i read too much into it i will see what the vet says, but any info you have would be appreciated....

And Yes piggie coughs are just adorable, i still aww everytime i hear one xx

xx
 
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Well the vet did a thorough examination, listened to his heart, his lungs, put a thermometer up his bum, a thingy down his throat to have a look and all looks and sounds good and clear, he says he thinks it could be a reaction to their bedding (although it hasn't changed) and we only use dust extracted hay..... So we have 10 day course of Baytril 0.4mls which i will give in 2 x 0.2ml doses.

xx
 
Lilly had his dose last night and dose this morning, and already seems so much better, not 1 cough! But he knows what is going on, he will not let me catch him easily and he does fight the syringe, then gives up when he rememberes i am bigger than him, much stronger than him, and no amount of struggling is going to help! :)) I will try to get a pic of him taking his meds.

xx
 
Glad to hear he is on the mend, give him some cuddles from us. The girls and Miss Moo said him healing wheeks x
 
Toffeewoffee said:
Lilly had his dose last night and dose this morning, and already seems so much better, not 1 cough! But he knows what is going on, he will not let me catch him easily and he does fight the syringe, then gives up when he rememberes i am bigger than him, much stronger than him, and no amount of struggling is going to help! :)) I will try to get a pic of him taking his meds.

xx
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Have you ever tasted baytril? It's vile!

I always have a syringe of something yummy (fruit purée, Ribena squash etc.) to give them afterwards, A) to wash it down (or stop them spitting it out!) and B) so that they don't build an association between syringes and bad tastes!

Offering their favorite food immediately after also works, Maggie used to get a little chunk of banana :))
 
Yes i have tasted it out of curiosity and i agree its the most disgusting thing ever, so i usually have some veg waiting to give him straight after, he loves parsly!

xx
 
How's Lilly now?

I'm interested as flossie has started with a little cough, and I've changed the bedding to newspaper and hay for two wheeks now. Hmm, might try for one wheek on fleece just to see if there's a difference. Or did the baytril clear it up?
 
The Baytril did the trick, ten days of 0.4ls (which i gave in 2 dose) cleared it up completely, it seems so strange that for weeks and weeks before he had been coughing like he had with no other ill effects, then as soon as he starts the baytril, no more coughing! Very pleased with him.

Hope flossie is better soon x
 
Well that's great news on lilly. I'm keeping an eye on flossie at the moment, she's getting extra cuddles soo can keep a closer check on her.

It's good to know.
X
 
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