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What could be wrong with Ben?

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furryfriends (TEAS)

furryfriends (TEAS)

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Ben is my oldest piggy at 5 1/2. He's a bit arthritic but has otherwise always been healthy.

Around lunchtime I put some veggies into the cage he shares with his mate Patch. Ben came straight over and started tucking in. I then went through into the other room to carry on with my painting. After about five minutes I heard a sort of choking, gasping for breath sort of noise and dashed through to find Ben lay down, his whole body jerking and he was making a dreadful noise. I grabbed him out the cage, and wondered if he could be choking. I held him upside down and gently shook him, wondering if I could dislodge something if it was stuck in his throat. Nothing came out, but when he was held against me he seemed a lot calmer. I syringed him some water and he took it really well. I then got the bottom half of the pet carrier and lay him in there and he seemed to be struggling to use his back legs at all. Suddenly he managed to struggle to his legs and before I could stop him he had got out the pet carrier and was dragging himself back towards his cage. I thought it best to put him back with his cage mate, and in all honesty felt he had gone home to die. I covered one side of the cage and he lay very quietly with his mate. He didn't move for about three hours and I kept expecting to find he had gone. Suddenly he stretched himself forward towards the food bowl and started to eat. I went and picked some grass and he ate that too, but still seemed unable to use his back legs. He still seems incredibly weak but in the last ten minutes he has managed to move around the cage a little and he seems to have more use of his legs now.

What could possibly have happened to him? Any ideas? Could he have had a stroke?
 
So sorry to hear about Ben - what a worry! I did immediately wonder if it could be a stroke, as I was reading your message. They can, like humans, lose the feeling / ability to control one side of their body. Can he feel his toes (if you pinch them gently, does he flinch?) - on both back feet?

The fact that he's eating is something to hold on to. I think if it's a stroke they can be quite disorientated for a while, but some piggies seem to 'get over' it to some extent. Obviously at his age, it's a concern... I guess it's a matter of keep him comfortable (I'd leave him with his friend) and see a vet first thing. Hope he's ok

Sophie
x
 
Sorry to hear this Debbie. It does sound like a stroke. Is he still off his back legs? Would calcium help? I dread anything like this happening to mine. Hope Ben will recover for his ordeal. x
 
He seems to have more use of his back legs now although not really wanting to use them as he seems very weak. He's nibbling a bit more grass though and generally doesn't look so shaky.

When I first found him he did seem to recover for a while and I put him on the floor and he moved around, but then he seemed to go downhill again. I am just keeping him warm and quiet for now, and will get him over to Simon first thing in the morning.
 
A stroke usually only affects one side of the body.
It could be a heart problem.
Keep him quiet and warm.
You could give him 0.25ml of Osteocare, it may help if there is a problem with nerve impulse transmisson.
Vitamin E can be helpful in some cases of sudden "paralysis".
Even if none of the above suggested treatments has any beneficial effect they will do no harm.
 
Do you have a stethoscope? You could compare his heart rate and strength of the beat with a healthy pig. It may help in getting a better diagnosis.
 
No unfortunately I haven't got a stethoscope. He's just moved down the cage, not walking properly but bunny hopping. He is using both the legs though and not dragging them. He definitely seems stronger now. He seemed to be getting weaker and weaker and could barely lift his head at one point, he now has proper control of his head.

When I first lifted him out the cage, when he seemed to be choking, one thing I noticed was that he seemed tender around his belly, which wouldn't fit with the stroke diagnosis, but everything else seems to point in that direction.
 
Has he got a head tilt at all? That's usually an after effect of a stroke.

I don't know what else to suggest - but do hope he's ok overnight

Sophie
x
 
No head tilt. He's very quiet and has gone and stood in the corner of the cage. I so hate it when they stand in the corner, I always think it's a bad sign. However, when I go round that side of the cage he lifts his head up to look at me.

Sorry about your nan. I guess it can look like someone is choking when they have a heart attack
 
A stroke is often characterised by the inabilty to walk in a straight line.
I am just wondering if he has colic, as you say he is tender around his belly?
Nothing to be lost by giving one Buscopan Tab. crushed and mixed with water.
 
alcesterpigs said:
A stroke is often characterised by the inabilty to walk in a straight line.
I am just wondering if he has colic, as you say he is tender around his belly?
Nothing to be lost by giving one Buscopan Tab. crushed and mixed with water.
Click to expand...

Yes he can walk straight and in fact he seems to be using his legs a lot more. I guess if his belly was really hurting him maybe that would have made him reluctant to move his back legs

Will give the buscopan tablet a go, definitely worth trying. Thanks.
 
Does his tummy seem distended at all? The sensitivity does suggest it may be tight, he may be a little bloated. I find Infacol works very well with my gassy piggies, have not tried Buscopan yet as the Infacol has worked very well thus far. When Jasmine first had a slight case of bloat, she bunny-hopped instead of walked properly. Pigs with bladder issues - indeed any pain in the tummy area - have been known to be reluctant to walk.

I agree that Buscopan is worth a try at this stage, it sounds like he is doing a lot better in general than he was earlier.

I'm sorry I can't advise on the initial concern of his ''choking'' incident. I too was thinking stroke, but the more info you have given it doesn't seem to quite fit in. Fingers crossed that Ben picks up to his normal self soon. x
 
I hadn't got any buscopan or infacol, so went to the local Spar shop (why do these things always happen on a Sunday night?). They only had Gripe Water so got that. Gave him some and he's now pooing none stop. I can't believe how many he's done and he looks a little brighter too. He's also walking a lot better too. I wonder if he had some sort of blockage.
 
Debbie as you know i was so sad to hear the boy was ill 8...
and then thrilled when you let me know he'd eaten some food xx>>>
Come on Ben xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>
 
Really great that he is pooping so well now! I keep forgetting Gripe Water is an alternative to Infacol. If he did have gas, a large bubble will have made him walk restricted and in pain. Glad things are looking up a bit. How is he this morning?
 
Good news and bad news. He's eating much better today and doesn't seem to have the tenderness in his belly. However, he has little, if no use in his back legs. I know this can happen and piggies can regain the use of their legs, but I am very concerned because Ben already had stiff joints and found walking difficult. I'm going to go and get some Osteocare once i've picked the kids up from school. If anyone has any other suggestions of things to do, please let me know.
 
Even though he's not using his back legs, can he feel it if you pinch his toes?

I've heard Osteocare can work wonders but have never used it myself. Not sure what else to suggest - have you got a good vet near you?
 
Make sure you exercise his legs a number of times each day to help prevent his joints seizing up.
 
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I should have mentioned that the local chemist had to order the liquid Osteocare, I believe you can also get it on the Internet. It used to be readily available over the counter.
I have never used O. in tablet form. Liquid dose is about 0.4ml
 
I always have to remind myself to keep a close eye on pigs that have difficulty walking. Hay can get twisted round their legs/feet. I put them on Vet-Bed in preference, however, I have seen them get stuck on that, permanent on-watch duty!
Keep up with the physio. treatment. Do you have time for a life of your own?
 
Have just spent a bit of time massaging his legs and helping him bear down on them and it seems to be paying off. He's just managed to do about ten steps and seems a lot more on his back legs now.

Life of my own? Hey what's one of those?

I went to the vet today taking seven piggies (four with appointments and three who had gone as company for their cagemates) plus one child! We really take over when we go!
 
I got the liquid Osteocare from Holland & Barratt as everyone else seemed to only do the tablets.

As said, plenty of physio will help keep the joints flexible, so long as he doesn't get too stressed. I'm a huge believer in swimming therapy, or at least a bum dip, to let him waggle his legs without having to put any weight on them that might aggravate any underlying tissue damage. Not to say encouraging him to walk a few steps for himself is a bad thing! :)
 
Thanks, i'll try Holland and Barratt in the morning. I think we have one in town. Will phone first to make sure they have some in.

He seems so much more himself tonight. Eating lots and he seems very bright. Just need to get those legs moving better.
 
Debbie, sounds like he's doing well with your physio - and the swimming seemed to help. Good for you, and sending healing vibes to little Ben.
 
Sorry to hear about Ben :( Our boys (& girls) always do seem to give us worry & cause for concern especially as they get older. Thank goodness he has a good mum who is obviously diong the very best for him. :)

Glad to hear he is starting to improve.

My boys are sending healing squeaks & hugs his & your way

Michele
xxxxx
 
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