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Panda Pig, Old Age Worries

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Sue and Smartie

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I'm not happy about Panda. I have got an appointment to see the vet on Saturday, for a check up.

What's making me worry: his appetite has been decreasing since his last bladder surgery and he has been slowly losing weight. The last couple of days this has been accelerated. He has also been sleeping a lot more.

On the plus side, he is still very active when he's awake, his eyes are bright and alert and his coat is nice & shiny.

He is now at least 5 but is very probably a year or even two older than that.

He's having Critical Care and absolutely grabs the syringe he is so keen on it. He will also eat a little grass but not in the quantities he used to eat. So he is eating, but he can't eat as much as he needs. I suspect he may have something bad growing inside. Hopefully the vet will be able to say.

I find it very difficult with pigs to know when it's time to call it a day. How do you decide?
 
Hugs :hug:to you and Panda. It's so hard looking after elderly piggies and poorly piggies.
As for making that decision we all dread, you have to be guided by Panda, your vet and your conscience. I've got better over the years at making that decision because I honestly believe that it's better to make the decision a short time too soon than even a moment too late. As long as Panda isn't suffering, is able to enjoy his life as a piggy free from pain and discomfort, then it sounds like you still have some precious time to enjoy with him. Make each moment count. Xx
 
As long as he is not displaying any outwards signs of pain, sitting fluffed up etc then that is a good thing. It is difficult as they get older but you know when it is time honestly. Make everyday a good day with him.
Hopefully the vet will give hi ma good check over and the weight loss will be old age, older piggies do lose weight gradually. I would get his teeth checked over buy the vet just to be sure nothing brewing there. Please let us know how he gets on x
 
Bless him, it's never easy when you start to feel this way. But don't lose hope and worry about making any decisions until you have a diagnosis. My elderly sow will/would be 8 in May, 16 months ago she was diagnosed with heart failure and given 2 weeks to live.. She is still here and certainly hasn't lost her will to live. There is always hope as long as your piggy still wants to live.

The fact he's hungry but not eating much normal food suggests it could be a dental issue, which is manageable in most circumstances. To give yourself a break from regular syringe feeds you can offer him critical care made up into a "lumpy mush" rather than a paste and place it in his food bowl- he can then help himself when he gets hungry and u don't need to worry about him going hungry. Even add boiling water to his favourite pellets, mush and let cool then put back in his cage. Given his behaviour you'll probably find he'll devour them! You can also get him a softer hay in the meantime and cut it up with scissors into smaller fragments, and even grate his veg for him.

If he isn't eating much hay then try get him on some fibreplex to support his digestion if he's lacking in fibre.

Hopefully the vet has some good news and he's sorted on Saturday.

All the best x
 
Thanks all. I have made a mash out of his pellets so he has some softer food if he is struggling. Yesterday evening's syringe feed was interesting - he was VERY keen to grab the tube and eat the contents. He ate quite a lot of grass afterwards as well. I've also seen him eating a bit of hay and some Readigrass, so he's not ready to go just yet I think. I expect teeth will be the first thing the vet looks at - if it isn't I shall remind her to look.
I hadn't thought of grating veg but will try that too.
It is difficult giving special food as he's in with his wifey-pigs and one of them is very greedy so she would probably eat most of it! But I can certainly get him out for some hand-feeding so can try these things then.
Thanks again.
 
Here is a pic I have just taken. Panda has eaten a LOT of Critical Care this evening, he was very keen to have it. Now he is helping it down with a bit of fresh grass. I am roaming far & wide to find grass at this time of year!
DSCF5584_zpsfke8x6nu.jpg
 
My Alfie has been at the vet after losing a lot of weight, I've had him nearly 2 years, I wasn't sure of his age when I got him from @pig in the city, although he was thought to be about 3. He has had a thorough check up and they couldn't find anything wrong. They think he may have an infection so he's on metacam and loxicom. Something must be changing as he's gained 2 ounces in 5 days. ;)
 
Sue and Smartie said:
Thanks all. I have made a mash out of his pellets so he has some softer food if he is struggling. Yesterday evening's syringe feed was interesting - he was VERY keen to grab the tube and eat the contents. He ate quite a lot of grass afterwards as well. I've also seen him eating a bit of hay and some Readigrass, so he's not ready to go just yet I think. I expect teeth will be the first thing the vet looks at - if it isn't I shall remind her to look.
I hadn't thought of grating veg but will try that too.
It is difficult giving special food as he's in with his wifey-pigs and one of them is very greedy so she would probably eat most of it! But I can certainly get him out for some hand-feeding so can try these things then.
Thanks again.
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Firstly I think it sounds like you are doing a great job - your piggies look amazing.

When Ruby knocked out her two front teeth I was grating veg for her and would pop her into the laundry basket (with a towel on the bottom and one over the top) for 20 minutes twice a day, so she had a chance to eat her fresh veg ration in her own time. It worked really well, and maybe you could try something like this with your lovely Panda too.
 
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BossHogg said:
My Alfie has been at the vet after losing a lot of weight, I've had him nearly 2 years, I wasn't sure of his age when I got him from @pig in the city, although he was thought to be about 3. He has had a thorough check up and they couldn't find anything wrong. They think he may have an infection so he's on metacam and loxicom. Something must be changing as he's gained 2 ounces in 5 days. ;)
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Hope he continues to improve...maybe those girls are giving him the runaround x
 
Quite possibly, I went in to lock them up for the night, him and Sadie were cuddled up together on the mattress. :D
 
We're back from the vet. We have all come back, thankfully he is still here.
It isn't great news though. He has a mass in his abdomen. I've seen this before and I doubt he has very long to live but he may surprise me yet. Without a lot of further tests it's impossible to tell how big this mass is and I'm reluctant to put him through any further investigations as I want to minimise stress for him. So it's end-of-life care for Panda. That means supplementary feeding and lots of cuddles, keeping him warm and comfy and quiet.
He's had a long life, considering how much he's had wrong with him and I am very sad to be facing saying goodbye. They are never 'just a guinea pig' are they?
 
I'm so sorry it's bad news. No.. They are never "just" anything.. They are family!

A conscious X-ray or scan could give you more info without causing him any distress but I fully understand if you didn't want to pursue that, that is no ones decision but yours as you know your boy better than anyone else ever will.

Is he on pain relief?

I really hope he suprises you xx
 
So sorry to hear the sad news about Panda, and as difficult as it is, I almost think this is sometimes the last gift they give us - this chance to say goodbye.
Wishing you and Panda many sweet moments to cherish in the coming days.
 
So sorry to hear your sad news. Saying goodbye is never easy but you will know when the time is right. Sending my very best wishes for you and Panda.
 
Just a little update and it's not bad news as he is still here. He is still interested in food, especially if I manage to find dandelions or fresh grass for them. When he is awake he looks alert still so I don't think it's quite time for him yet.
I am just taking each day as it comes and making the most of him still being alive as I do not know how many days he has left. But typing this reminds me of one of my first pigs - the vet told me that he would not make it to Christmas (this was in the October). Not only did he see Christmas, he was still with me the next Christmas also :). I am therefore a bit wary of saying that Panda is on his last legs as pigs are full of surprises at times.
 
They are much more robust than we give them credit for. Some pigs are true little soldiers, panda sounds like one of them. My fudge was given 2 weeks in August 2015.. It's 19 days until 2017 and she's still here! She will never get better and will always be a case of making the most of everyday.

Fudge sends some of her mighty strength and courage to panda xx
 
My 6.5 year old boar sends some of his strength and courage too. He was written off by a vet 2 years ago after his second bladder stone surgery and he's still here. He recently surgery for a cyst on his face and his stitches have come out a week early.
 
I'm sorry it wasn't better news. :( Just focus on quality time for him. Sometimes they can surprise us with how tough they are and how long they live (my Sundae has been like that, I would never have thought with multiple health issues that she would live to be 6-1/2, but here she is still.) The fact that he is eating and comfortable is good. Personally, I would let him go on as long as he seems to be comfortable and enjoying his life. ((HUGS)) to you and Panda! You are so right, they are never "just a guinea pig."
 
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