• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Poorly Piggy, Advice Needed On Cage Arrangements

Status
Not open for further replies.
cobeans piggys

cobeans piggys

New Born Pup
Joined
May 11, 2015
Messages
9
Reaction score
21
Points
170
Location
Lincolnshire UK
Ok bear with me on this.
My piggy Pirate has an ear infection, she went to the vets yesterday and has her medication. She currently shares her cage with 2 other piggys. I need to monitor her eating and her waste. I have another indoor cage I can put her in, but what I need advice on is should I put her in on her own and put the cages next to each other? (This is the only way to know for sure which poo is hers and how much shes eaten, without totally separating them.) The indoor cage is not really big enough for all 3 of them, but I cannot put the C&C cage they are in downstairs where I can watch them, due to no lid and 2 cats. I do not want to separate her in case of issues re-integrating her with the others if she is away from them too long, and I don't want her getting lonely.
Or should I put all of them in the smaller lidded cage and keep them downstairs and give them extra floortime in the evening when I can shut the cats away and enclose the piggys safely?
Either way would only be a temporary measure while she is treated, so I can monitor her more closely.

Any advice would be welcome

Thanks
 
cobeans piggys said:
Ok bear with me on this.
My piggy Pirate has an ear infection, she went to the vets yesterday and has her medication. She currently shares her cage with 2 other piggys. I need to monitor her eating and her waste. I have another indoor cage I can put her in, but what I need advice on is should I put her in on her own and put the cages next to each other? (This is the only way to know for sure which poo is hers and how much shes eaten, without totally separating them.) The indoor cage is not really big enough for all 3 of them, but I cannot put the C&C cage they are in downstairs where I can watch them, due to no lid and 2 cats. I do not want to separate her in case of issues re-integrating her with the others if she is away from them too long, and I don't want her getting lonely.
Or should I put all of them in the smaller lidded cage and keep them downstairs and give them extra floortime in the evening when I can shut the cats away and enclose the piggys safely?
Either way would only be a temporary measure while she is treated, so I can monitor her more closely.

Any advice would be welcome

Thanks
Click to expand...

Generally, I prefer to keep a piggy with their friends as much as possible unless they are bullies or wishing to remove themselves from the company, but in view of your limitations, the two cages next to each other for close supervision during the critical time would be the next best solution. Wishing you all the best for a speedy recovery!

Please weigh any ill piggy at the same time in the feeding cycle (just before their dinner is a good start) and start topping up with syringe feed once the weight is dipping towards 50g or they are clearly not eating properly in order to keep the guts and the fighting strength going. Add a pinch of probiotics to their food to help counter the often aften appetite dampening impact of an antibiotic and give extra vitamin C (about 1/8 -1/4 of a human tablet, either crumbled on veg or dissolved in 1 ml water and then syringed) to boost the immune system.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
 
Thank you. I have put her in the temporary cage which is pushed up against the other one so noses can touch if they want. She has been sitting munching fresh hay since I put her there, where before she was hiding in the hay tray doing nothing. She is back at the vets tomorrow for a check up, but I am keeping an eye on her. I was told if she wasn't eating to go back and the vet would give me liquid food to give her if necessary. She seems a little better as her eyes aren't flicking anymore. Time will tell.
 
cobeans piggys said:
Thank you. I have put her in the temporary cage which is pushed up against the other one so noses can touch if they want. She has been sitting munching fresh hay since I put her there, where before she was hiding in the hay tray doing nothing. She is back at the vets tomorrow for a check up, but I am keeping an eye on her. I was told if she wasn't eating to go back and the vet would give me liquid food to give her if necessary. She seems a little better as her eyes aren't flicking anymore. Time will tell.
Click to expand...

Please step in with topping up with syringe feed (you can always make it from mushed up pellets; your step-by-step guide covers what to you can in an emergency with what you have got at home) sooner rather than later if necessary. Many vets also underestimate the amounts needed. But it is a very encouraging sign that she is happily eating hay, as that means the ear infection is not so painful as to affect the jaw/chewing.
 
Update on Pirate.
Went back to the vets yesterday and she is responding well. She has lost a little bit of weight but not too much, the vet has given me some recovery food for her to syringe feed as she is not eating her nuggets. She is still eating her hay and fresh foods and has been pooping ok. Her cage was a mess this morning so she must be moving around more when I'm not looking. Back at the vets on monday for another check up. Fingers crossed she's going the right way. x
 
cobeans piggys said:
Update on Pirate.
Went back to the vets yesterday and she is responding well. She has lost a little bit of weight but not too much, the vet has given me some recovery food for her to syringe feed as she is not eating her nuggets. She is still eating her hay and fresh foods and has been pooping ok. Her cage was a mess this morning so she must be moving around more when I'm not looking. Back at the vets on monday for another check up. Fingers crossed she's going the right way. x
Click to expand...

Please continue to weigh her daily to monitor her food intake and weight - this will also help you to spot any deterioration asap, so you can step in and take her to the vets promptly. Hopefully, she is going to make a good recovery.
 
Just been for our last visit at the vets, Pirate has been given the all clear. She is much better, back to her lively self and has regained the weight she had lost.
:yahoo:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top