Terrified Toast Has An Uri

[Beans&Toast]

Don't blame yourself - emotions run riot in the vets and you get information overload (well I do). I think I'd stagger the AB from the others for now until you've checked with the vet about when to give them. Hugs to you Toasty and Beams x

Thank you
I'm so relieved it's not cysts but I feel horrible that she's got slight bloat. Is there anything I've done that would cause this?
I'm so careful with their diet making sure it's well balanced
And for the arthritis, would it be best to take the ramp/hayloft away now? I don't want it aggravating her leg, putting her in more pain

 

[flintstones]

The antibiotic could be contributing to the Bloat, so you may find the Bloat completely disappears once the antibiotics are finished.

Great news that toast doesn't have Cyst's, I have a lot of arthritic piggies in the past and all have coped well.

 

[VickiA]

With @flintstones its likely the ABs have brought on slight bloat. Nothing you've done at all. Connie is prone to bloat and ABs usually set her off (as does broccoli and fresh grass!)

I've had piggies with arthritis on long term metacam. If she copes with the ramps then leave them. I just ended up removing high sided trays and replacing with lower sided ones to help avoid up having to climb/jump, but once the metacam was working they were very active again anyway.

 

[Beans&Toast]

Thank you both, thats really helpful.


I've just now noticed Toast barbering again
The vet said that this was most likely being done due to pain, which I now know was bloat and arthritis.
She's had her pain relief and emeprid, why is she still pulling at her fur? It's so distressing to see

 

[Wiebke]

With @flintstones its likely the ABs have brought on slight bloat. Nothing you've done at all. Connie is prone to bloat and ABs usually set her off (as does broccoli and fresh grass!)

I've had piggies with arthritis on long term metacam. If she copes with the ramps then leave them. I just ended up removing high sided trays and replacing with lower sided ones to help avoid up having to climb/jump, but once the metacam was working they were very active again anyway.

I had to switch to lower sided trays and shallower ramps with my arthritic Nerys, but as long as she can manoeuvre her current set-up, leave it.

The slight bloat is likely caused by the upset of the gut flora from the antibiotic; it doesn't just target the bad bacteria, but also the good ones that are necessary for the digestion. Some piggies are more sensitive than others.
Have you got fibreplex? You could also try "poo soup", syringing little amounts of water that you have soaked fresh poos from a healthy piggy in. The latter mimics natural behaviour and is usually quite welcomed by the piggy even though we humans find it a bit gross.
If I were you, I'd go a bit lightly on the veg for the time being.

 

[Beans&Toast]

I had to switch to lower sided trays and shallower ramps with my arthritic Nerys, but as long as she can manoeuvre her current set-up, leave it.

The slight bloat is likely caused by the upset of the gut flora from the antibiotic; it doesn't just target the bad bacteria, but also the good ones that are necessary for the digestion. Some piggies are more sensitive than others.
Have you got fibreplex? You could also try "poo soup", syringing little amounts of water that you have soaked fresh poos from a healthy piggy in. The latter mimics natural behaviour and is usually quite welcomed by the piggy even though we humans find it a bit gross.
If I were you, I'd go a bit lightly on the veg for the time being.

I'll leave it then. She handles it fine I was just worried I'd make it worse but that's good.

She had fibreplex and absolutely detested it and would not take it so she's got bio - Lapis now and it's so easy to trick her into taking it by sprinkling in her food.

I'll try the "soup" tomorrow

 

[VickiA]

Give it time for the meds to kick in properly and see what happens.
Bloat is very painful for piggies and can take some time to improve. Just give it a bit of time on the meds. Oh, and hold off on the fresh veg until her guts are working normally again. Poo soup works wonders.

 

[Beans&Toast]

Give it time for the meds to kick in properly and see what happens.
Bloat is very painful for piggies and can take some time to improve. Just give it a bit of time on the meds. Oh, and hold off on the fresh veg until her guts are working normally again. Poo soup works wonders.

Sorry I know I'm being impatient it's just so distressing to see her doing this. How long before the meds would kick in meaning she feels better? I hate this

 

[eileen]

you can give antibiotics with metaclopromide.i would leave one to two hours between the antibiotics and probiotics .give ab first then probiotics 1 to 2 hours after,cage set up looks good.meds kick 1/2 an hour after being given,cavies have high metabolic rate,the drugs have a very quick half life.hope toast gets better soon.i find vet bed good for older/arthritic cavies.hugs to you.x

 

[Beans&Toast]

you can give antibiotics with metaclopromide.i would leave one to two hours between the antibiotics and probiotics .give ab first then probiotics 1 to 2 hours after,cage set up looks good.meds kick 1/2 an hour after being given,cavies have high metabolic rate,the drugs have a very quick half life.hope toast gets better soon.i find vet bed good for older/arthritic cavies.hugs to you.x

Thank you I use fleece just now, I was thinking about getting vet bed before but just left it. I think I'll look into it again now.

I've just realised I've missed her antibiotic tonight
She gets Sulfatrim 0.3 twice daily, I gave her it this morning with the pro biotic later on but with all the stress at the vets about bloating/ arthritis more meds I've forgot about the second dose of AB.

She's sleeping now. And she's quite grumpy from the pain and all the poking and proding of the xray/scans... Should I give her it now (I think she'd put up quite a fight) or will it be better to wait until the morning? I feel so bad can't believe I forgot it.

 

[eileen]

if she wakes up i would give it or if not leave until the morning.you just need small bit of vet bed where she lays,good for arthritic joints.try to ensure pain relief is given regulerly as will keep toast moving prevent or help disperse bloat,and best thing to keep arthirtic joints moving,it is the same for human beings!you are doing extremely well,toast would not be as well if it was not for your observancy.xx

 

[Beans&Toast]

if she wakes up i would give it or if not leave until the morning.you just need small bit of vet bed where she lays,good for arthritic joints.try to ensure pain relief is given regulerly as will keep toast moving prevent or help disperse bloat,and best thing to keep arthirtic joints moving,it is the same for human beings!you are doing extremely well,toast would not be as well if it was not for your observancy.xx

Thank you so much I really appreciate your help

 

[Beans&Toast]

Managed to get all of Toast's meds into her this morning, to my surprise!
She usually fights the syringe but she took it quite easily, a few head shakes but that was it. Now just wait for round 2 this afternoon..

Got the piggies spending some time together today, to see how they react together after being seperate for 3 days. Fingers crossed...

 

[Beans&Toast]

So the floor time wasn't great...

They were okay for about 40 minutes then Toast was chewing on Beans hair at the back and relentlessly biting the ears again, so she's still being quite agressive dominating Beans.

How long should I keep them seperated with the divider?
Is this something that will stop once Toast's pain is under control and she's off her antibiotics? It's only been the past couple months she's been getting aggressive with Beans now that I know she had bloat and since she's been on her meds..

 

[piggieminder]

It's good news Toast hasn't got cysts or stones which is why I liked your post, but very sad she has arthritis and bloat. What s roller coaster you are on at the moment. I hope Toast feels better soon and she settles down with beans again when she gets rid of that nasty bloat.

 

[Beans&Toast]

It's good news Toast hasn't got cysts or stones which is why I liked your post, but very sad she has arthritis and bloat. What s roller coaster you are on at the moment. I hope Toast feels better soon and she settles down with beans again when she gets rid of that nasty bloat.

Thanks you I just can't wait until Saturday so she can be finished her antibiotics and hopefully that'll get rid of the bloat and I'm hoping the barbering will stop too ( and I'm praying the URI will be gone)
As for the arthritis, I've been quite reassured by people on here that it's something they can live a happy life with once pain relief is under control

 

[Beans&Toast]

Now that the pigs are divided for now, I've noticed Beans doesn't seem too happy about it. Doing a bit more sleeping.
Although I do put them in the hall together for a while, I was thinking of taking away one of the the grids in the divider to let them mingle in their own environment (as opposed to the hall) and see how they get on. And if toast is being too aggressive then just put the grid back so they're divided again.

Would this be okay or do more harm than good? Toast still isn't quite herself as the pain relief has only been given twice I think it'll take a bit longer for it to really get on top of things, so I don't want her bullying Beans but I also hate seeing them pine for each other

I was thinking of removing this middle panel..

 

[eileen]

hi Beans and Toast,i would leave the divider up for a couple of days,so you can see what toast produces urine and poo wise,other wise you will not know whos producing what!with bloat urine and feaces output gives you some idea of progression.hopefully once to the pain is under control and bloat resolved the barbaring may stop.i still have Jerry divided so i can observe urine ,feaces output,also see how much he is eating.but the girls are kissing Jerry through the grids,and Jerry is rumblestrutting up and down the divider and biting the grids!,so i think hes not to putout,boys will be boys,mad about the girls !xx

 

[Beans&Toast]

hi Beans and Toast,i would leave the divider up for a couple of days,so you can see what toast produces urine and poo wise,other wise you will not know whos producing what!with bloat urine and feaces output gives you some idea of progression.hopefully once to the pain is under control and bloat resolved the barbaring may stop.i still have Jerry divided so i can observe urine ,feaces output,also see how much he is eating.but the girls are kissing Jerry through the grids,and Jerry is rumblestrutting up and down the divider and biting the grids!,so i think hes not to putout,boys will be boys,mad about the girls !xx

Funny you should say that because I'm just back from the vets because Toast done a few soft poos this morning then since 12 this afternoon she's only done a few small poos. The vet has changed the emeprid to cisapride to see if that makes a difference and I've to give the Loxicome 0.2 twice a day instead of a full 0.4 at once..
My poor wee pig can't get a break

 

[eileen]

have you been given ranitidine,as i have found that has been very effective with Jerry! ive not given the metocllpromide unless Jerry resembles a beached whale !

 

[Beans&Toast]

I did mention ranitidine (I take this myself ) but she felt emeprid would be better. But as Toast's not done very many poos since yesterday she's changed it to Cisapride.. although they had none in and needs to be ordered in for Monday so I've to continue with emeprid on 1ml a day instead of 2ml a day until I can get the Cisapride. Does this sound right? Not that I'm questioning the vet as such, just seeing if other people have experienced this?

 

[eileen]

yes that sounds right,its just a different motility drug,helps the muscle in the intestine and stomach to move the contents on into the bowel.x

 

[Beans&Toast]

Thank you. I'm hoping the bloat will stop when the antibiotics do, then the emeprid/cisapride can stop too. I hate having her on all these meds. I just hope the Loxicome does its job and helps with the pain.
I am quite worried about the lack of poos though. How long do I let this continue before I take her back to get seen? She's eating and running about fine just not many poos... is this something that could go wrong over night? I'm worried about tonight when I go to bed and something might happen. Although if I have to sit up and watch her it won't be the first time...

 

[flintstones]

Her output is likely from yesterday, was her eating reduced at all?

 

[Poppy'sMum]

If you haven't already, you should step in & syringe feed her to increase the volume of food through her. Cisapride & Zantac (Ranatidine) both work on a different part of the gut to Emeprid, which is why one of them is given alongside Emeprid. You can also use an electric toothbrush to gently vibrate against her tummy or massage her tummy gently unless you have a massage pad you can sit her on x

 

[Beans&Toast]

Her output is likely from yesterday, was her eating reduced at all?

No she's eating fine, munching hay and eating some pellets. She's drinking and running about fine too..

 

[Beans&Toast]

If you haven't already, you should step in & syringe feed her to increase the volume of food through her. Cisapride & Zantac (Ranatidine) both work on a different part of the gut to Emeprid, which is why one of them is given alongside Emeprid. You can also use an electric toothbrush to gently vibrate against her tummy or massage her tummy gently unless you have a massage pad you can sit her on x

Cisapride should be given with Emeprid? My vet has suggested taking her off Emeprid and changing to Cisapride. I think the bloating is purely all the antibiotics she's been on

I'll take her out and give her a little tummy massage

 

[Poppy'sMum]

My vet has given my piggies both before, some vets now prefer to give just Ranatidine or Cisapride now though. If your vet says just Cisapride once you get it then follow their directions Antibiotics do distrupt their guts, particularly Baytril & one of mine didn't tolerate Zithromax at all. Septrin & Marbocyl seemed ok in my case though. A lot depends on the piggy. Is she getting probiotics too? x

 

[Beans&Toast]

My vet has given my piggies both before, some vets now prefer to give just Ranatidine or Cisapride now though. If your vet says just Cisapride once you get it then follow their directions Antibiotics do distrupt their guts, particularly Baytril & one of mine didn't tolerate Zithromax at all. Septrin & Marbocyl seemed ok in my case though. A lot depends on the piggy. Is she getting probiotics too? x

Yeah she was on fibreplex but just would not tolerate it at all so she's on bio Lapis and take that fine.

The last 10 minutes I've had Toast on a hot water bottle (not too hot ) and rubbing her little belly and she's done about 10 poos, a bit more normal sized than the tiny ones earlier

 

[Poppy'sMum]

Yeah she was on fibreplex but just would not tolerate it at all so she's on bio Lapis and take that fine.

The last 10 minutes I've had Toast on a hot water bottle (not too hot ) and rubbing her little belly and she's done about 10 poos, a bit more normal sized than the tiny ones earlier

Waheyyyyy we have lift off lol x