Syringe Feeding Resistant Pig

[darcidual]

My 5 year old has a respiratory infection. I took her to an exotic vet on Wednesday and she's on arthrocam 1.5mg/ml and baytril 2.5% (both 0.1ml every 24h). I noticed a drop in her appetite (also Wednesday) and have been feeding Emeraid Herbivore - as prescribed by the exotic vet.

She will not take the medication or the formula easily. At first it was a slight struggle. I swaddled her in a towel and was feeding in 0.5ml increments. Later in the day, she had three feeds and took willingly and it made it so much easier. I don't know why she went from wriggly to calm but it felt like a blessing.

However, since 10pm last night (Thursday) I am STRUGGLING to get this girl to feed at all. I feel very cruel but also so worried that if I don't get anything in her, that she'll go into complete stasis.

She is still nibbling at veg/hay but not interested in pellets or water. She is pooping but no often and not much.

Please help, I feel like I'm at my wits end

 

[GuineaDobbin]

I'm sorry you're dealing with this, it's a stressful, awful time.

My pointers for relaxed pig feeding (assuming you have read the guides already):

• Make sure you are comfortable: set up as many cushions, pillows, blankets etc... as you need that you don't need to support yourself (a comfortable human is more comforting to a pig)
• Make Pig as comfortable as possible: stroke a bit, prime with a favourite veggie if they will take it
• Support under Pig with a firm floor if possible. If they are determined not to play ball, I hold front legs and upper body in hand, supporting their bottom in my elbow/on forearm. You can be very firm and not hurt them, they tend to be more cooperative once they realise they are stuck fast. Slackness may seem kinder, but it isn't
• Talk to Pig. I let mine know when they are being scooped, what I plan to do and what i am doing as I do it. 'Scoop scoop', 'feeding time', 'munch munch', 'drink drink' etc.. as I do it. Distinctive pronunciation and consistent intonation means they learn what is happening fast.
• Good backstrokes with each mouthful of food. Encourages chewing and swallowing
• When finished, talk to pig, let them know 'all done, all done'. They will relax after a few feeds usually once they understand the horror is over. A few minutes of cuddles and gentle strokes and a veg reward when they will take it.

Make sure the feeding paste is a good consistency, not too thick, not too runny, into the cheek. I find a reluctant pig will take 0.25ml or 0.3ml at a time much more readily.

You're doing great, the trick is to keep calm and destress when it gets too much.

 

[darcidual]

Thank you for your response. I read the guide before posting and saw some useful tips which I have implemented.

Since posting, she has stopped nibbling at anything now and I think she's bloated. She's hunched and appears to be in pain.

Even though I've been giving her enough, how has this happened? I'm going to give pain relief and feed through the night and call the vet in the morning. I've heard vibration and massage can help too.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear this

If you think she is bloating and is no longer eating at all, then she ideally needs to see an out of hours vet tonight. If her belly feels hard at all, then she definitely needs to be seen as an emergency.

Make sure to weigh her every morning so you can be sure she is getting enough feed to keep her weight stable.

They can only take around 0.3ml in their mouth at a time.

I hope she is ok

Wiebke's Guide to Tummy Trouble
Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support Levels

 

[Roselina]

I hope she is ok

 

[Mrs Tiggy Winkle]

Healing vibes to your girl.

 

[GuineaDobbin]

I hope you both got through the night alright.

We find bloaty pigs benefit enormously from massage, they sometimes squeak in protest at first but as they deflate they appreciate the relief.

Bloat can happen at any time, for many reasons, that is not your fault. You're doing the best you can for Pig.

See if your vet will increase the painkillers dose, I'm not familiar with that particular brand but with the quanity of the active ingredient it seems very low for anything but a very small pig.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Arthrocam (1.5 mg/ml) is dog version Metacam so actually the one piggies really benefit from. (Cat version is 0.5mg/ml so three times weaker).
However 0.1ml per 24 hours is a low dose but still better than cat version.
It would probably have been fine for its anti-inflammatory properties for a respiratory infection but probably isn’t enough for pain relief from bloat

I hope your piggy is ok