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Lump on neck and head tilt

Yes, I feel for you, it’s a nerve racking and emotional time, very stressful and has it’s up and downs. Hope Chunk eats his pepper, we are all rooting for him x
 
So I have tried sliced small pieces of pepper, carrot, broccoli and tonight I managed to find some dandelion leaves. I fed the leaves to him like Kim showed (which he ate for her) but when I try it, he just looks like I’m trying to gag him and he spits it out! :( I’m going to give her a call in the morning as I’m worried that I’ve reduced his syringe feeding but he still isn’t eating to make up the difference. Is it just time or is it likely the medication could be putting him off his food?
 
I don’t reduce the syringe feeding until they’re eating well. What I do is give about 10 to 15 mls of syringe food and then offer them food to eat for themselves. This seems to encourage them to eat. Which antibiotic did she prescribe?
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
I don’t reduce the syringe feeding until they’re eating well. What I do is give about 10 to 15 mls of syringe food and then offer them food to eat for themselves. This seems to encourage them to eat. Which antibiotic did she prescribe?
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I’ve tried several times but he is not having any of it, I really am at my wits end :( she has given him zithromax. I’m going to give him all his meds and a feed as I’m getting nowhere and he is so thin
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
What things are you trying to feed? I go for the foods they don’t normally have as often they then show more interest. Have you tried grass? I would also suggest porridge oats as they’re easy to eat and calorific xx
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I’ve tried all sorts but he’s usually a fussy eater anyway. I’ve picked some nice long grass for him but won’t touch it. He has mouthed at some broccoli and some parsley but not really eaten any of it. Normally those sorts of things don’t last five minutes. The only thing I haven’t tried yet is porridge oats but I can’t see him being keen. I’ll have to get some tomorrow and try.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Zithromax is a brilliant antibiotic. It can affect appetite in a few piggies. I’d keep the syringe food going for now and give the antibiotic time to work xx
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Thank you so much for all your advice, I think I’m just so desperate for him to eat and I’m expecting a miracle. How long does Zithromax usually take to get into the system? I’m currently feeding 12ml of mushed pellets/critical care (and tried some poop soup yesterday too) four times a day as that is all I am able to manage around being at work. Is this enough? Or should I up it again? Sorry for all the questions, I just don’t want to starve the poor boy when he has already lost 1/3 of his normal body weight :(
 
Christian was off his food for a while after his op earlier in the year. My vet said that if he wasn't eating by himself on day 2 or 3 to go back and get some gut stimulant. He wasn't eating so I went back and the vet gave him Ranitidine which started working after a day or so. I was still topping him up with syringe food until he was eating properly again. Has your vet suggested any gut stimulant?
 
Betsy said:
Christian was off his food for a while after his op earlier in the year. My vet said that if he wasn't eating by himself on day 2 or 3 to go back and get some gut stimulant. He wasn't eating so I went back and the vet gave him Ranitidine which started working after a day or so. I was still topping him up with syringe food until he was eating properly again. Has your vet suggested any gut stimulant?
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He is on Emeprid but has only had two doses so far. Chunk hasn’t really eaten anything (other than the odd mouthful) since last Wednesday morning.
 
I feel for you.
Jemimah was off her food too post-op and syringe feeding was stressful.
She ended up with more gut stimulant, Oxbow Critical Care which she hated less than the first lot of recovery stuff.
Eventually she would take cucumber and critical care, alternating the 2.
It felt like weeks but was only a few days before she started eating for herself again.
I still remember my joy when she pooped all over me!
Hang on in there - you’re doing a great job with Chunk
 
Not sure how Emeprid works or the doses. Is that one dose for 2 days or 2 doses in one day?
 
Betsy said:
Not sure how Emeprid works or the doses. Is that one dose for 2 days or 2 doses in one day?
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Sorry I should have explained, he has 0.5ml twice a day so he had his first dose last night, other this morning and just had another tonight.
 
I know each piggy is different and I only have experience with one piggy but with Christian the gut stimulants started working after a couple of days. When I came downstairs (on day 3) to see him inhaling his hay I was so happy!
 
Betsy said:
I know each piggy is different and I only have experience with one piggy but with Christian the gut stimulants started working after a couple of days. When I came downstairs (on day 3) to see him inhaling his hay I was so happy!
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That gives me hope! I think I need to stop expecting him to pick up straight away and give everything a few days to get into his system :)
 
Reggie&Chunk said:
That gives me hope! I think I need to stop expecting him to pick up straight away and give everything a few days to get into his system :)
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Any op is a big thing for a piggy it'll take Chunk time to get better. It takes a good 24-48 hours for all the anaesthetic to get out of his system depending on how much he had and how long he was under for.
 
Can't add any pearls of wisdom but I've been there and it's horrible!

Big hugs! You're doing a great job and he's likely to take his time to get better and then look at you oddly when you try and hand feed him when he's desperate to get to some fresh hay.

Hang in there! Xx
 
Betsy said:
Any op is a big thing for a piggy it'll take Chunk time to get better. It takes a good 24-48 hours for all the anaesthetic to get out of his system depending on how much he had and how long he was under for.
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He’s not had an op, just been prodded and poked a lot and had his teeth done without anaesthetic yesterday. Kim at Cat and Rabbit Clinic thinks he has an middle ear infection so he could have a lot of swelling and discomfort around his ear/throat/jaw that would be making eating painfu. So maybe I am hoping to see results too soon, poor little guy is pooped!
 
He is still bright and I gave him meds and a feed, about to head home in my lunch hour and give him a feed. I spoke to Kim and she said whilst he isn’t eating for himself, to up the amount and add in an extra nighttime feed to keep his strength up. She said there is a possibility there could be an abscess that hasn’t come to a head yet but also that the antibiotics would suppress it, talk about stuck between a rock and a hard place! She said he would also need to pop in sooner than we had hoped to have another dental if he isn’t chewing hard food to keep the sharp edges and ulcer at bay. So got to keep my chin up and keep on feeding :) I’m tired but feel ok knowing that I’ve just got to keep on going and hope that he improves with time :)
 
Keep on going @Reggie&Chunk it seems endless while you are going through it but you will get there in the end. I gave Christian his last night feed at around 11pm to midnight and the next one at around 5am. I just could NOT wake up at 3am to do that feed. I know how exhausting it all is and I don't go out to work either! You are doing really well. Will your work let you take in Chunk? I understand that some places do that way you can feed him in your lunch hour and not have to worry about going home, feeding him and getting back in an hour.
 
Reggie&Chunk said:
He is still bright and I gave him meds and a feed, about to head home in my lunch hour and give him a feed. I spoke to Kim and she said whilst he isn’t eating for himself, to up the amount and add in an extra nighttime feed to keep his strength up. She said there is a possibility there could be an abscess that hasn’t come to a head yet but also that the antibiotics would suppress it, talk about stuck between a rock and a hard place! She said he would also need to pop in sooner than we had hoped to have another dental if he isn’t chewing hard food to keep the sharp edges and ulcer at bay. So got to keep my chin up and keep on feeding :) I’m tired but feel ok knowing that I’ve just got to keep on going and hope that he improves with time :)
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It is hard work, but it should pay off in the end. I must be mad because this is what I choose to do pretty much every day of my life! I don't do night feeds though, unless I have a very poorly piggy, as I need to be able to function the next day. I work full time and also studying for a degree, so need to be able to make rational thoughts.

Do the last feed before you go to bed and then do a morning feed around 6 am. As long as he will take a reasonable amount at each sitting you should be okay. I also put softened nuggets on a plate or saucer in the cage. I don't use a bowl as it can be harder for them to get them out.
 
@Betsy & @furryfriends (TEAS)
I don’t mind doing the middle of the night feed if he really needs it, he currently has 12ml at 5.30am, 1.30pm (soonest I can become of work), 6.30pmish when I get in from work and then about 11.30pm before bed. Maybe I could just increase the amount he is having at these times? Sadly I’m not allowed him at work as I work in the admin office of a cheese factory. I also have to sort my horses and dogs before and after work which would mean I’d have to leave him in the car for over an hour each way :(

I will try a plate of mushed pellets in his cage but that is where he seems to be the most reluctant to eat, he just hides and sleeps. Reggie is also aware that Chunk isn’t his normal self :( he sometimes sits next to where Chunk is sitting (they live separately) but Chunk chatters angrily at him. I think Chunk feels his top pig position is in jepardy as he is poorly :(

Here he is after his lunchtime feed this afternoon :)
 

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Aw, he reminds me of when I was syringe feeding Ted after his first dental. They cut his incisors so short he could not pick up any food. Both of us covered in green mush at first until I got the hang of it! It really is worth all the effort, we all know what you are going through (hell!) Hope your little Chunk picks up soon x
 
Bill & Ted said:
Aw, he reminds me of when I was syringe feeding Ted after his first dental. They cut his incisors so short he could not pick up any food. Both of us covered in green mush at first until I got the hang of it! It really is worth all the effort, we all know what you are going through (hell!) Hope your little Chunk picks up soon x
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Thank you, it’s so nice to have support and kind words from people who know what it’s like! People at work understand because they know my animals are like my babies but they also think I’m a bit nutty for going to all this effort! He is definitely worth it and I would never think twice about doing it :)
 
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