he doesnt seem to be able to eat the hay i had so i went and got finer hay. the hay i usually get is bales so big strands etc. but he ate a whole bowl of food over night.
I've never been convinced by bales of hay - Cheaper, and in theory absolutely fine, but... I worry about storage, particularly at the shop - There could be mice, rats etc using the bales as toilets when nobody is looking! I know someone who got a free mouse (sadly only seen as he scarpered) once in a sealed pack of hay, because there were mice in the store it came from and one had made a small hole and decided to live in the bag!
I now buy my hay online from
www.dustfreehay.co.uk, and although the nature of the hay can vary depending on the harvest, it is always very dry and fresh in the hessian sacks it comes in.
Might be worth getting some Excel herbage or forage, both are good quality hays, a bit pricey but likely to be healthier and with better quality control.
Good news that he ate his normal food though
ok cool will get some dill tomorrow and infacol. 1 ml seems alot though is that correct? sorry dont want to sound rude. how do * know all this? just checking and being careful. i would be the same if someone advise thigns fro my kids lol.
If possible, I'd nip to the 24 hour supermarket for the Infacol and if possible dill tonight. Bloat can come on pretty quickly, and Infacol is very useful to have to hand just in case. I had to the other night, Trembles, one of my girls, was a little off colour after some bagged salad that seemed to disagree with her. Better to give some when it's not needed, than not when it is!
1ml is a fair dose, but Infacol (and other baby gripe relief meds) is inert in terms of the digestive system. What it does is prevents gasses building into large pockets, and makes it easier to pass. I've frequently given 1ml at times it's been needed (or as a precaution when it might be needed), with no side effects. If bloat does rear its ugly head, then 1ml, then if no improvement, 1ml an hour later. I can't back it up with medical certificates, only that it's knowledge I have aquired over time, and used with marked success and never any downsides.
I think Gurney advises Rene something or other for the same reasons, but as I recall the particular Rene tablets suggested have changed ingredients since that was written. Plus grinding down a tablet and mixing into water is a faff compared to sucking a syringe full out a bottle
unless hes just depressed. would he have an infection i do stillhave some baytil? was thinking about giving him metatone tonic too but doen want to give him loads of stuff. sayign that he seemed happier when back with his brother so i will let them play more tomorrow in the day i htink might help.
He may be depressed, but then maybe he just doesn't like the hay! He may also have an infection, but as he may not I wouldn't want to say one way or the other on the Baytril idea. I know I've found myself late at night with a sick piggie and dug out the antibiotics, but I would never suggest anyone else do that! Metatone is good stuff, but as all the goodies are in a glucose solution I'd be wary in case of bloat. Best thing is probably lots of attention and a choice of foods, try and pick his mood up a little and see if he can do the work for himself. Excersize is essential for healthy gut motility, and if he's not wanting to move around much, either give him plenty of floor space and "encourage" him to move, or think about a little swimming therapy. The action of paddling with his back legs will raise his metabolic rate and stimulate his digestion. Important not to let him get too stressed, and if he's not a great swimmer just hold his back end in some warm water in a sink, being care to ensure you've got a firm hold of him so he can't hurt himself. Also he needs to be kept warm, and after a bath he needs to be dried and snuggled for quite some time.
I've used swimming therapy in piggies with poor gut motility before, one of mine was very poorly for a while and had terrible problems with her bottom. A quick splash around and things would start to make an appearance out of her, though it was a daily process till her guts got back on track.
I really can't stress enough the importance of seeing a vet with a clue as soon as possible to ascertain if this is just a mild backup in his back end, or a more serious condition for which he'd need proper treatment. I know many will suggest Buscopan, and I used to use it myself, but in rare cases it can be counterproductive and when you give it you're having to guess it's correct. Metachlopromide has to be given by a vet in an injection, so in theory at least the vet has a better idea as to whether it's required or not.
