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Toby & Barney's Ear Follow Up

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just wait till you have to deal with ringworm :doh: that is completely a nightmare to deal with!
 
The lasted half an hour and then Toby started to go mental. He got so distressed we had to put them back together. We thought he just wanted to be with Barney - but no! He just wanted out! I can see the prevention of freeranging is going to go well!
 
Pigs can sometimes have a "hyperactive" reaction to topical spot-on.......either the drug (ivermectin) or the organic solvent it is dissolved in (it;s not water soluble).

I am going to take this offline (will PM you) as I think it's important to understand exactly what "free ranging" means for Toby and Barney....and I don;t want to clog up the thread with lots of Q & A.
x
 
I now have 2 freezer drawers dedicated to hay. Just removed my first batch after 24hours so tonight the boys can feast on the tasty stuff instead of that horrible, short, dusty P@H rubbish that was the only kind I could get at short notice!

I haven't heard a squeak out of either of them since they got locked in yesterday morning - they just look so bored and miserable. I know most people have their piggies locked up but my 2 just aren't used to it. I missed having a piggy standing on each of my feet, simultaneously licking my ankles while I chopped their breakfast this morning! :(
 
Only for a short time, Then normal service will be resumed ..... :nod:
 
Goth Mummy said:
I hope everyone is OK in your household @AbiS! I have been thinking of you!
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Thank you so much. I have calmed down a lot now after my initial head spinning panic. The boys have been locked up since yesterday morning and they are so miserable the poor things. I stopped worrying about extra floor time because they are in a huge cage with a big run attached so have plenty of room. They just seem to sleep a lot of the time.

It took me 5hrs yesterday just to get the hutch and run spotless (cleaned + steam cleaned + disinfected). Have cleaned it out again today but didn't steam it. The insecticidal spray hasn't arrived yet so will do that through the week. I can't clean them out every day as just not possible on work days but I will do it as often as possible.

My washing machine and tumbler have been on non-stop for all of their bedding, cosies and our piggle cleaning out/cuddling outfits. Not to mention our throws and blankets. Don't think the lounge has ever been as clean. I still need to clean the carpet but that is a job for next weekend!

All hay will now have 24hrs in the freezer before going anywhere near them. I just really miss having them running around and feel so sorry for them - they have totally stopped talking!

Only 13 days to go!
 
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Oh it is such hard work isnt it. One of my two new boys has lice and as such is confined to the cage they came in and the utility room whilst i sort them out. I know you are so busy and I know what its like to be trying to keep all those spinning plates in the air.
 
Quick update:

I have a great conversation with @Pebble last night - she really reassured me that I am doing everything I can to sort the boys mite problem out and we came up with a plan of action for the next couple of weeks. Not to mention the ongoing support that she has offered to me while we get them back to full health (I have started a list of non-urgent questions for next time I speak to you). Thank you so much!

So I am now on top of the logistics of treating the mites and the cleaning regime etc. We are still a bit uncertain if it is hay mites or mange and if there is an ear infection or not but as they still look in good condition (just some scratching and head shaking) then we have time to play with while we finish the current treatment and then go back to the vet. And it also gives me time to get a handle on the questions I have to ask and tests I need to push for when I take them back if they aren't better.

I also read the thread '2 more dying pigs' and I now know that my situation could be so much worse. The amount of work Pebble is putting in to save Beanie and Dotty is amazing.

And the best thing of all just happened. I just got back in the house and sat beside the hutch to have a chat with them. The pair of them started running around the hutch chattering away to each other and then Toby did some excited squeaky popcorns! I am so happy - it is the first time they have shown any signs of happiness since they got locked up on Saturday morning. Cant wait to see their little faces when I produce their monthly pile of dill later on tonight!
 
AbiS said:
Quick update:

I have a great conversation with @Pebble last night - she really reassured me that I am doing everything I can to sort the boys mite problem out and we came up with a plan of action for the next couple of weeks. Not to mention the ongoing support that she has offered to me while we get them back to full health (I have started a list of non-urgent questions for next time I speak to you). Thank you so much!

So I am now on top of the logistics of treating the mites and the cleaning regime etc. We are still a bit uncertain if it is hay mites or mange and if there is an ear infection or not but as they still look in good condition (just some scratching and head shaking) then we have time to play with while we finish the current treatment and then go back to the vet. And it also gives me time to get a handle on the questions I have to ask and tests I need to push for when I take them back if they aren't better.

I also read the thread '2 more dying pigs' and I now know that my situation could be so much worse. The amount of work Pebble is putting in to save Beanie and Dotty is amazing.

And the best thing of all just happened. I just got back in the house and sat beside the hutch to have a chat with them. The pair of them started running around the hutch chattering away to each other and then Toby did some excited squeaky popcorns! I am so happy - it is the first time they have shown any signs of happiness since they got locked up on Saturday morning. Cant wait to see their little faces when I produce their monthly pile of dill later on tonight!
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Aw how lovely, sounds like your doing a fab job :) Glad your feeling calmer and more positive. xx
 
Well done you show some real commitment to your furry friends ! x
 
I am pleased to be able to say that Toby & Barney don't seem to be scratching their bodies any more and any scratching or shaking is limited to their head and ears. We have no broken skin and 2 piggies who seem relatively happy although a bit bored and swing from letting us have lovely strokes to giving us the stink eye depending on the time of day! Their second dose of Xeno 450 is due on Tuesday and I will be making an appointment some time after that for a follow up as the vet only gave me 2 doses of Xeno rather than 3, I also think they will have still have an ear infection. The vet thought that treating the mites would sort the ears out but that wont happen if there is an active infection there so next appointment I will be asking him to culture the ear swabs so we know exactly what we are dealing with.

They are going to have a lovely (not) bath tomorrow, they can dry and freerange in the bathroom where it will be nice and toasty warm while the hutch and run are getting a full deep clean again, this time with the Johnsons hutch and cage insecticidal cleaner that just arrived this week.

I just wish the weather was warmer so they could have a change of scenery in the garden.
 
Well that's the flea spray ordered for the carpets - I will be busy this weekend. The boys get their second spot on tomorrow, the vet only gave me 2 each - not sure why but I will be taking them back to have their ears looked at again so will ask for another dose each while I am there. No long till they will be back out on the carpet. They have been such good little boys - only a bit grumpy but have got used to things. I think MrS and I are finding it harder than they are. Miss my ankle licks and little paws climbing up legs to tell us its time for treats. The lack of exercise makes me want to stick 'wide load' signs on their bums!
 
I'm so glad that things are improving. Let us know what happens with their ears though....
 
I have just made an appointment to take the boys back to the vet on Wednesday. I think we are almost fixed - they seem a lot calmer and don't scratch as much now but they are still, very occasionally, shaking their heads. I did think that they must still have an ear infection but I only saw toby shake his head once yesterday so I'm not sure. I figure it is better to be safe than sorry.

The lounge has been flea-sprayed and they have been cleaned out regularly and the hutch etc sprayed with insecticidal spray. They have had 2 lice n easy baths. I think we will soon be getting to the point where we can release the beasties! Cant wait!
 
We are just back from the vet where the boys had their ears looked at. Barney kindly bit me so he is in the naughty corner at the moment!
The vet said there was no inflammation to indicate infection but there is discharge so he took swabs for microscopy and if he cant work out what is going on from the slides then he is going to send it for culture. So I guess we just sit and wait!
 
I have just heard from the vet - he looked at the swabs under the microscope and has found that the boys have a bacterial infection. He has prescribed them some more ear drops that I will pick up tomorrow and they have to go back for follow up in a fortnight. Fingers crossed this works.
 
Fingers frimly crossed! At least now you know what is going on!
 
Wiebke said:
Fingers frimly crossed! At least now you know what is going on!
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And he said that he couldn't see any mites of their eggs in their ears so the Xeno has definitely worked. Not sure why he couldn't spot the bacteria last time though. Unless he thought he had found the problem at the eggs so didn't look any further.
 
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