URI - are we seeing the light at the end of the tunnel?

[Teejay]

Hiya, my baby, Squeak, currently has a URI, and was really very poorly over the weekend. He had virtually zero appetite, was completely lethargic and just sat, panting heavily in the corner of the cage, coat all fluffed up and really looking unwell, almost like he'd completely given up on life......heartbreaking......

He's now on antibiotics (had 5 doses so far), and, over the weekend I spent hours and hours hand-feeding him all of his favourite veggies and grass and syringe-feeding him with Recovery food supplement and water.

Last night, he really seemed to turn a corner.....it's obvious he's still very unwell (breathing is still heavier than it should be) but he seemed to have got back his 'cheeky Squeaky spark', he seemed to have got back some of his appetite and was interested in what was going on around him; he actually escaped from the cage while I was cleaning it out (naughty boy!) and then ran popcorning like a loony round the living room, winding up my other piggie, Pudding, through the bars of the cage until I could get him back in! LOL!

So, I'm feeling a little less worried about him, but I have a question; for the past two days, I've been able to devote every waking hour to his recovery, but now I'm back at work, so it's impossible for me to be hand-feeding him as often as I have been. I made sure this morning that he ate something before I left for work, and I left him with loads of his favourite hay, his favourite pellets and a dish of freshly cut grass. I don't have transport, so I can't even pop home from work at any point to feed him.

I'd love to have stayed home to nurse Squeak for a couple more days, but unfortunately that wasn't possible. So, what do you all do when you have poorly piggies and have to go out to work?

Tracey

 

[Glynis]

Oh no sorry to hear about the URI with Squeak
That's great news that he's interested in his food now, you've done a wonderful job in the hand feeding xx>>>
When i have a sick piggie i have on the odd occassion taken them to work, when i leave them at home i panick all day :{ I have been known to rush home at lunchtime to do a syringe feed.
Yup you've done all you can, leaving all his food and treats for him. The fact that he had started to want to eat himself is good.
When you get home check his cage for food eaten, poops and if he's been drinking...... i'd weigh each day too and then you'll know if he's getting enough food by himself.
awwwww loved to hear about him popcorning and setting off his mate Pudding |)
Healing vibes for little Squeak xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[flintstones]

I find this is the situation that stresses me most, I have to work just like you.

When Bette was poorly I would syringe her before I left for work and then when I got home and though the night to make sure she was getting enough I did also take a sickday and beg for holidays to get her to the Vet but it was hard going.

We can only do our best, I do hope your little one keeps getting better!

 

[Wiebke]

I am glad that your baby is feeling better!

I would never be able to have so many piggies if I were not working from home, frankly. All you can do is to top him up before and after work. Could you ask your employer whether you could bring him in to work if he is really badly - but that depends on your job and where you work.

 

[flintstones]

If my pig was extremely poorly I would ask my vet if they could syringe feed well I was at work.

 

[Teejay]

Hi all.....well, I work with people with learning disabilities, so I can just imagine the chaos I'd cause by taking him into work....he wouldn't get a moments' peace with all the interest he'd generate, I reckon!

Funnily enough, I was just coming up to the end of a pre-booked week off work (a stay-cation) when Squeak became ill, and that's why I was able to spend so much time nursing him, but I really had to come back to work today. I did briefly consider calling in to book another emergency day off to spend with Squeaky (just to be on the safe side), but when he seemed so much better last night, I felt a bit happier about leaving him for the day.

It's home time soon, anyway, so I'll soon see how he's coped without his Nurse Tracey on call for him!

Thanks for the replies

 

[AudioHeart]

When I was at uni, and Artie was ill with his URI infection I tried to get home asap, other than that my mum checked on his on her lunch hour. He was left mushed pellets/ porriage oates and hay etc. but spoon fed mushed food on the mornings and evenings....i really wanted to stay home with him though

 

[Teejay]

Hi all, well Squeak is still going from strength to strength, he's almost back to his cheeky, mischevious self! His breathing seems to be almost back to normal, and his coat is laying flat again. He's eating pretty much all of the veggies I give him, loads of fresh grass, stacks of Graze-On (dried grass) and quite a good amount of pellets, and he has a compressed hay cake that he seems to be nibbling at, but he's completely ignoring his long stem hay.

He's had his favourite Alfalfa King Timothy hay, he's had the Timothy hay with herbs (two different varieties), he's had posh expensive welsh meadow hay, he's had cheap meadow hay from the local pet shop, he's had Timothy haylege.....but he completely ignores it all.....

I'm trying to keep him with a constant supply of dried grass and fresh grass in the hope that this will provide sufficient fibre to keep his digestive system healthy.

Anyone have any ideas what I can tempt him with? I think I'll also post this in the 'feed' section!

Tracey

 

[Wiebke]

I found that Hywel was the same with hay when he was poorly and I continued to feed him Critical Care until he started to seriously eat hay again.