Very sick pig, please help

[Tillypop]

Hi,

I'm writing for my mum's piggies who have been through the mill with health problems. This morning mum found Ruby lying still with her head at a funny angle. She can't really move and her eyes are rolling around. It's come as a huge shock because she was fine last night.

She is already being treated for a respiratory infection caught from her cagemate, and didn't seem to be responding to the treatment at first, although my mum rang last night to say she was finally improving.

My mum's absolutely devastated and I don't live near her to help. I just wanted to know if anybody has any ideas what we're looking at or a vet in Mansfield they trust? Of course mum is taking her to the vets as soon as they open but if anyone has a recommendation it would be appreciated.

Thanks so much
x

 

[Suzygpr]

It sounds like an ear infection - loss of balance, head tilt, eyes rolling.

A vet, antibiotics, maybe a steroid injection and luck that you've acted quickly should make all the difference in the world.

Suzy x

 

[Tillypop]

Thank you so much Suzy, it took a bit of the worry away to get an idea of what was going on before she went to the vet.
It is indeed an ear infection and she had a steroid injection. The vet has ordered new antibiotics for her to start on tomorrow (she's already on Baytril for a respiratory infection but it doesn't seem to be helping). She still has a head tilt and struggles to balance but she did eat lots of cucumber and fresh grass this afternoon and made more of an effort to move about. She can't get to water to drink in her present state, should we force some down her, or will she be alright with cucumber for fluid?

Thanks
Sally x

 

[gizzy]

Hi there , if she is eating cucumber , l would defiantly not chance syringing water into her , especially as she already has Repertory problems, .

Ruby sounds like she has the will to fight the two infections , l hope the new antibiotics help her .

what is the new anti B ?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!

I am very sorry about the poorly girl!

Please get hold of some probiotic (ask your vet) to keep the guts going and the weight up as much as possible to give her a better chance. Weigh her daily.

I don't think that she will get severely dehydrated with plenty of fresh grass and cucumbers, but you can offer her a syringe of water and see whether she is interested. make sure that it doesn't taste of baytril, though! Try to get some vitamin C into her; an extra slice of pepper of any colour, broccoli or a bit of fresh parsley will do the trick.

You could also discuss with your vet whether some diuretic may help with your respiratory problems. it is recommended to ease the breathing.

 

[Glynis]

sending ruby lots of healing wheeeeeks from us all xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[*Nibbles&Nugget*]

So sorry to hear you have a sick piggy. One of my piggies was in a similar state with an inner ear infection. He was prescibed septrin and metacam (the metacam was because he seemed to be in pain whenever someone touched his ears) We also fed him critical care the first five days afterwards because he wasn't eating and we wanted to make sure he was getting water. Then we just kept him quiet and calm.

Bingo now has a permanant head tilt which used to bother me more than him. Just wanted you to know it can get better!

Amy
x

 

[flintstones]

My Fred had an inner eye infection, it's so frightening to see he kept running in a circle to the right, he would fall over and start running again in the circle. I brought out the cage and he just lay there. I phone the Vet and he asked me to look at eyes they where rolling from left - right.

We went to the vet, he was given a steroid injection along with a 14 day of Baytril. Thankfully my boy recovered quickly and we caught it very early so he never did go off his food. He was left with a very slight head tilt to his right but is fine now, and no longer has a head tilt.

Weigh my daily and if he isn't eating you will need to syringe feed him little often to keep his guts moving.

I hope your boy improves soon.

Ps - even if he looks better do not stop his course of Antibiotics before the course is finished.

 

[Tillypop]

Thanks everyone for your advice and support, I'm so glad I joined this forum!

gizzy: she's being put on septrin, mum's back at the vets now with her to pick it up.

We're keeping an eye on her weight which is stable and giving her lots of fresh veggies to eat, and she's keeping up a healthy appetite. So far no improvement to the head tilt but her eyes have stopped rolling so much and she can move around a little but does fall over quite a bit.

I'm coming home from uni to keep an eye on her tomorrow while mum's at work - so fingers and piggy toes crossed for her.

Sally x

 

[maceycleo]

Does your mum drive? I can recommend a good vet in barnsley if this is not too far? Her name is carmen and she is at the hoyland branch of abbey vets. She was recommended to me by another forum member and she has been great with one of my long term ill piggies.

 

[Tillypop]

Does your mum drive? I can recommend a good vet in barnsley if this is not too far? Her name is carmen and she is at the hoyland branch of abbey vets. She was recommended to me by another forum member and she has been great with one of my long term ill piggies.

Thanks for this she does drive and I'll pass on the recommendation but I think she's happy with the vet she went to yesterday - seems to know what he's doing and has been very supportive. Anyway I'm grateful for the recommendation for my own two piglings as we're based in Sheffield so not too far away

x

 

[Tillypop]

So sorry to hear you have a sick piggy.
Bingo now has a permanant head tilt which used to bother me more than him. Just wanted you to know it can get better!

Amy
x

Hi Amy, just wondering did it take Bingo a little while to get used to his tilt?
Ruby seems to be on the mend and she's definitely pootling around but the tilt is showing no signs of going away. Sometimes it looks better but then she tries to groom herself and falls on her back.

It's so upsetting to watch. When we tried to put her and Hattie back together Hattie started bullying her and knocking her off balance which is pretty sad. Before this Ruby was so nosy and cheeky, really full of herself and now it's so pitiful to see her struggling to wash, poor little girl
I just want to know if she can still have a good quality of life and get some of her spirit back.

x