Three Pigs Off To The Vets Today :(

[klee]

Wish me luck.
Ruby had a gassy episode about 2/3 weeks ago and ended up at the vets, we were told to stop the veg and slowly reintroduce it for her. She was still eating and pooing but i gave her a little bit of mushed pellets to regain her proper appetite.
She has been fine up until this week, something has triggered her off again. She had a sore tummy on Tuesday and with some pellet mash and massage she began to improve, but she has a vets appointment as it seems to be a recurring problem.
Both Ruby and Tia have been sneezing a bit as well, but not sure if it is from the hay (as it is fairly dusty when it comes out of the bag) or if it is the start of a uri. It's difficult to tell with Ruby based on what her breathing sounds like as she is quite noisy anyway (always has been), particularly when cleaning, which may be due to her weight.

Edward was coming too, to check he hasn't got any breathing problems if the girls have (he has no symptoms really though), but now I have weighed him this morning and he seems to have lost about 90g since Monday (he was weighed before his veg- so may weigh a little more now)
He is very active and is constantly rumblestrutting, popcorning and zoomying so I assume that will burn some calories, he doesn't eat a huge amount of veg but loves his hay and has been eating more pellets.
I'm finding it very difficult with him as he is so new, I don't know what is normal for him.

 

[MerryPip]

Hope everything goes well.... It sounds just like little Edward is using more calories than he consumes with all that excitement and zooming about but it's always better to get checked. It is really hard to learn what's normal for a new piggy.

Paws crossed for everyone x

 

[Guinea pig slave]

All paws crossed here - please let us know how things go.
Hugs

 

[jenniferanneharris]

Hope all goes well. Let us know how you get on x

 

[klee]

Probably shouldn't have worried too much about Edward. Just weighed him again after his veg and he has put on about 55g in the space of a couple of hours
Part of his problem as well I think, is he is too easily distracted. When he isn't zooming or popcorning, he is rumblestrutting. If the girls come within his eyeline he is off rumblestrutting- whether he is eating or not, his priority is girls not food!

 

[sport_billy]

Let us know how they all get on, all paws and fingers crossed and healing vibes sent to Ruby xx

 

[klee]

Just got back. The vet thinks with Ruby there is definitely some food related trigger as she was fine today when she saw her. The problem is ascertaining what is causing it- whilst the last episode was only a few days ago her system is going to be more sensitive so we will be taking a slowly, slowly approach with veg and trying to find out what the problem veg is. This time i have a feeling it was a small bit of cabbage, but i don't know if it was the same last time. She has also said to give regular probiotics daily to try and prevent it progressing into a bloaty episode- although she has been eating throughout and mostly pooing so thats one good thing.
She suggested biolapsis (has anyone used this?) Or fibreplex (which Ruby mostly spits out) but she said avipro is just as good.
She had a good listen to all of their chests and there were no crackles, muffling and their hearts sound good which is a relief after Esme so we are only able to assume it is the hay .
Weighed Edward after his veg and he had put on 55g, which is alot more than i thought for his little size, I think he just using more energy than he actually eats with all his rumblestrutting, zooming and popcorning.
@sport_billy I know it is still raw, can I ask how you found what veg set Meg off? As we will have to do something similar with Rubes x

 

[sport_billy]

With Moo we had to keep a food diary. Feed one of two foods for several days to check and then try another...

The only foods moo was fine with was Peppers, Parsley, Savoy Cabbage, Carrot and Green Beans (these are bloaty for most pigs)

Cucumber didn't bloat but gave her wet poos..

Love to Ruby x x

 

[klee]

With Moo we had to keep a food diary. Feed one of two foods for several days to check and then try another...

The only foods moo was fine with was Peppers, Parsley, Savoy Cabbage, Carrot and Green Beans (these are bloaty for most pigs)

Cucumber didn't bloat but gave her wet poos..

Love to Ruby x x

Thanks SB I will have to try this. I'll just have to give Edward his own mixture separate and give Tia little tidbits so they are not missing out. Don't want to make Edward any more fussy than he already is.
ETA: just gave Rubes her 1ml of fibreplex which she mostly spat out. Back to avipro tomorrow me thinks...

 

[piggyfan]

Probably shouldn't have worried too much about Edward. Just weighed him again after his veg and he has put on about 55g in the space of a couple of hours
Part of his problem as well I think, is he is too easily distracted. When he isn't zooming or popcorning, he is rumblestrutting. If the girls come within his eyeline he is off rumblestrutting- whether he is eating or not, his priority is girls not food!

Mooli is like that. If he eats alone he will eat well but with the girls he just wants to chase and mount them.

 

[klee]

Starting their food diary this evening. They have got some round lettuce, cucumber and a little fennel all which have been good in the past.
Edward has the addition of his beloved celery as well. Keeping a diary for him so i can see what he actually likes and whether he eats everything.

 

[piggyfan]

That is a great idea.

 

[jenniferanneharris]

good luck with keeping the food diary's for them both :-) hope they are all feeling better soon and thats the good diarys help identify the issues.