Squeeky - Gut Motility issue.

[susie_q]

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Squeeky is a 3 and a half year old agouti sheltie x boar. He was neutered on the 11th of November 2009, and recovered very well from the operation. At the same time as his castration he had a sebaceous cyst about just under an inch removed from his rear at the same time. It had begun to ooze skin oil a little, but otherwise was causing him no issues. Due to the oozing my vet and I decided to remove it to prevent any infection getting in.

Last night it was observed that Squeeky was slightly off his food - but he had recently had a young girl pig placed next to him so I assumed he was distracted by the forbidden love through the bars.

This morning he was still off his food but ate some grass and cucumber when presented, but it was noticed that his droppings had become small, slimy (covered in a sort of clear mucus) and he was off his water too.

At 4 o'clock (approx three hours ago now) the decision was made to take him to vet. Upon feeling his gut the vet observed some sort of internal "impaction" - a mass in his guts, which Squeeky winced at when pressure was applied.

He has been given pain relief, "something to get his guts moving" (the doesage and what I shall find out tomorrow) and I've been told to syringe feed/syringe water down him through the night to keep him hydrated. We've to revisit the vet tomorrow.

So far he is showing no signs of bloat, is eagerly taking the science recovery (with added vit c and probiotic) but is disliking syringes of water.

My questions - I would greaty appreicate anyone elses experiences with intestinal blockages, how they were treated and the outcome.

I would also like to know if there are any "home remedies" I could use - I read that peter gurney suggests liquid paraffin in the cases of injestion of plastic etc, but am not entirely sure that would benefit in such a case.[/FONT]

 

[alcesterpigs]

Small pellets covered in clear mucous are indicative of dehydration, you must give him water even though he is getting some fluid from the food you are giving him.
Buscopan would help reduce the muscle spasm in his gut which would make it easier for the pellets to be expelled.
I would not give him liquid paraffin because it may cause his gut to completely empty all of the "good" contents ie the normal bacteria. You then would need to give him pre-biotics. Vicious circle! I would leave him be tonight, I would hope that he shows improvement by morning.

 

[susie_q]

Thanks AP Roughly, how much water should I be aiming to give him? I'm currently giving him roughly 4-5ml every hour and a half or so. Anymore and I worry about it going into his lungs as he'll happily just sit it in his mouth and let it dribble.

I have watered down the science recovery more than recommended amount in the hopes that the flavour of it is encouraging him to eat it! (Although exactly how much I can't be certain, probably about twice.) Unfortunatly I have no pure cranberry to add to water to encourage him to drink that.

 

[alcesterpigs]

That is a good amount of water, he must need it!
Fingers crossed.

 

[Laura-CCC4]

How is he this morning, Susie?

 

[susie_q]

Squeeky is much more perky this am, thanks Laura. =D

During the night his droppings firmed up (and enlarged, but are still smaller than usual) and stopped being covered in mucous, and he really seems to enjoy having the extremely watered down science recovery syringed into his mouth. During the night at four am he took about 15ml, and then this am he took 10ml - he would've taken more I am sure but I broke plunger on the syringe D=

We returned to the vet, and he had a good feel of his gut and said that the impaction had changed shape - from a solid round grape to a more elongated shape and had certainly decreased in size.

He gave him another dose of the motility drug (metoclopramide 10mg/2ml injection amp) and was given more metacam (0.5% 0.2ml) and some baytril (2.5%, 0.5ml) . I've to keep syringing feeding and tomorrow to begin giving him metacam and baytril orally. Returning to the vet on monday, unless I am unhappy with his progress and then to go back tomorrow.

I have since returned him to his cage (unfortunatly I had to have in a carrier last night as I am dog sitting in a strangers house and couldn't leave him at home!) and he perked up right away and ate some parsley like he hadn't been fed before. He also started to tuck into some hay, so I think I'm going to keep him on food and the watered down science recovery.

I am sure I have discovered the cause of the blockage - I recently put all my pigs onto megazorb and one of the first things he did was eat it ¬.¬ I had noticed he had been nibbling at it a few days ago, but it's odd because he had been bedded on megazorb before (at teadragons) and she never observed him eating it. I honestly can't think of anything else that may have caused it.

So he has been moved back onto fleece, and tunneled straight under it to start eating the newspaper.

 

[Laura-CCC4]

Oh silly Squeeky bless him, you'd think he'd learn his lesson about eating his bedding!

It is great to hear how much better he is doing this morning. Fingers crossed he's fully recovered very soon.

 

[flintstones]

Love it... Maybe you should try giving him some food now and then, then maybe he wouldn't need to eat his bedding lol! Just kidding!

I'm so glad he is on the mend, and that he has such a good piggy mummy! xx>>>

 

[susie_q]

I know Laura! I was wondering if piggies were capable of making the connection between eating something and then getting a sore tummy - I now doubt this to be the case!

I really want to move my pigs off of fleece as it's getting too much for me with so many of them on it, and sharing a washing machine with two other people (who always complain about hairs!) so any advice about stopping pigs eating their bedding would be appreciated!